Echoes of Grace

by Caragh Bell

  ‘Any sign of Tara?’ said Laura from the side of her mouth.

  Aurora scanned the square for a red-haired woman. ‘No.’

  Laura relaxed and took out a gold fan she had purchased. ‘The heat is shocking,’ she complained, shielding her face from the sun. ‘My clothes are sticking to me already.’ She was wearing a dark-green dress which fell to just above the knee. She wore a light-green shawl and her heels were her trusty old four-inch Louboutins. She had a packet of cigarettes stashed in her clutch bag in case of emergency. Christian hated it when she smoked but she wouldn’t be in contact with him so it didn’t matter. She smiled to herself. The night before had been incredible. She had arrived at Room 234 to find him on the balcony in an open-necked grey shirt with a bottle of Cristal on ice. ‘I missed you, baby,’ he drawled, motioning for her to sit on his lap. Vacating his room at five thirty had been exciting, especially when she almost bumped into Sarah, Lydia’s older sister, who was on her way for a run.

  Aurora was watching the French guests. ‘Strange to have such a large French contingent, isn’t it? I mean, to an American-Irish wedding in Italy!’

  ‘Yes – easy to forget the French connection – but it means a lot to Luca that they’re here. He’s still mourning his beloved grandmother’s death. His greatest sadness is that the old lady died before Sienna was born, Chris tells me.’ She fanned her face rapidly. ‘Luca is fluent in French although you wouldn’t think it.’

  ‘Wouldn’t think it?’

  ‘Well, he’s just so American, isn’t he? It’s all baseball and Hershey Bars and Jell-O.’ She shaded her eyes from the sun. ‘Of course, Christian speaks it like a native. It’s so sexy. That time we were in Antibes, he kept being mistaken for a local.’

  ‘Thank God you took French for A-level.’

  ‘Mais oui.’ Laura smiled. ‘I’ll have to brush up for when I meet the family officially.’

  Aurora kissed her cheek lightly. ‘I’m so sorry to abandon you, but I have to meet the organist inside the church. It’s getting late.’

  ‘It’s fine,’ she said, fanning her face. ‘Tyler is about to make a beeline for me and even though he drives me bananas, he’ll do quite nicely as a chaperone.’

  The cool dark church was a welcome contrast to the blazing heat outside. She walked up to the altar and smiled at the priest.

  ‘Buon giorno,’ she said slowly. ‘Sono Aurora –sono cantante.’ James had given her a few phrases to learn the night before.

  The priest laughed. ‘Jesus, I haven’t a clue what you’re saying. Wait till I get my iPhone and I’ll Google Translate.’

  ‘Oh, you’re Irish!’ she said in relief. ‘Thank goodness.’

  ‘Father Colum,’ he said, shaking her hand. ‘Lydia’s cousin on her father’s side. They flew me over to do the honours.’

  ‘Aurora Sinclair, the singer.’

  ‘Oh, great stuff,’ he said. ‘The fella playing the organ has been looking for you.’

  ‘Is he Italian?’ she asked. ‘I’m afraid my vocabulary is limited.’

  ‘Not at all, girl. He’s from Bandon, a small town in County Cork. His name’s Mike. I’ll just call him there.’

  He disappeared into the vestry.

  Aurora gazed around the chapel. Statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus stood in the corner with rows and rows of candles in front of them. The altar itself was simple: just a table with a white cloth and a bunch of flowers. The pews were mahogany and each one had a white rose pinned to the outside bench.

  Father Colum arrived back with a small man in his fifties. ‘This is Mike,’ he said pleasantly. ‘You two should have an old practice there before the groom arrives.’

  ‘Hello,’ said Mike. ‘You ready to roll?’

  Aurora smiled at him. ‘I’ll just warm up and then we’re all set.’

  The church started to fill up. The bride’s family were on the left and the groom’s on the right. Aurora decided to stand to the side of the altar so that she could see Mike on the organ nearby. That way he could nod as a cue for her to sing.

  She scanned the faces in front of her. A woman with blonde curls and a large blue hat sat in the front pew. Focusing in on her face, Aurora could see that she was the image of Molly so she ascertained that it was Helen Kelly, Lydia’s mother. Behind her was a young man who resembled Lydia. Molly had mentioned a brother who was adored, so it had to be him. An older couple sat by them – they had to be Nana Peggy and her husband Jack, Lydia’s paternal grandparents.

  Laura took a seat next to Joe a few rows behind the immediate family. He looked smart in a grey suit and shiny black shoes. ‘Well, hello,’ he said, squinting at her in his Buddy Holly glasses. ‘I’m liking the dress.’

  ‘Why, thank you,’ she answered, pleased. ‘You look very smart too.’

  ‘Which is surprising,’ he said drily. ‘I was out with Giacomo until three this morning.’

  ‘Are you in love?’

  ‘Almost.’ He sighed. ‘To be fair, he doesn’t have much English, but we don’t need conversation. He’s my dream guy.’

  ‘Pack him away in your suitcase and bring him home.’

  ‘That’s a plan.’

  The French contingent on Luca’s side of the church were all talking loudly and incessantly. God, thought Laura, isn’t it the Italians who are supposed to be voluble?

  James appeared and took some photos of the guests, artfully catching impromptu shots of expressions and conversations. Then he turned and stared at Aurora. Her dress was gold and shimmery: a full-length figure-hugging gown with a cowl neckline and thin straps. Her long hair was piled up on her head and gold earrings dangled from her ears. Laura had painted her eyes with a blend of browns and golds and light gloss accentuated her full lips. Slowly he lifted the camera and took picture after picture.

  ‘Stop!’ she said, blushing. ‘I’m only the singer.’

  He lowered the camera and gazed at her. Eventually he spoke. ‘Glad the ice cream and pasta didn’t have an adverse effect on the dress.’

  She laughed. ‘Well, it was a tight squeeze, I have to say.’

  ‘It’s perfect.’

  Craig and Luca marched up the aisle together, in dark-grey Armani suits, with fuchsia-red cravats, to applause from the congregation.

  James took a couple of shots and then waited until they were standing at the top of the aisle to proceed. Craig looked relaxed and jovial, talking nonsense to Luca to distract him. James regarded the groom through the lens. He had tousled blond hair and sallow skin. His bone structure gave him a haughty look and he had a long straight nose and blue eyes. He looked lithe and toned. Only the muscle flickering in his cheek portrayed how nervous he was. Every now and then he would glance down the aisle and exhale loudly.

  A small red-haired woman in a violet dress and a large black hat approached him. She smoothed his suit and picked a piece of fluff off his sleeve. He bent down and she whispered something in his ear.

  Aurora regarded the woman curiously. Tara Jacob: Luca’s mother. Christian’s ex-wife.

  Tara retreated and sat in the front pew. She took a tissue from her bag and dabbed her eyes. Aurora glanced down at Laura who seemed to shrink in her pew. She could sense how uncomfortable her stepsister felt. It was truly awkward. As if on cue, Christian arrived, looking a million dollars in a black suit. Laura shrank down even further. He went straight up to Luca.

  ‘Good luck,’ he said gruffly, patting him on the back.

  Then he went back down to sit next to his ex-wife. ‘Tara,’ he said curtly.

  She smiled tightly and turned away.

  The crowd began to get restless. The women started fanning themselves in the heat and the men adjusted their long legs in the narrow pews. Mike the organist started to play some Beethoven in the background.

  ‘Where is she?’ muttered Luca to Craig. ‘She’s late.’ He ran his fingers through his hair.

  ‘She’ll be here. Don’t worry.’

  ‘Oh, I’d say she’s done a ru
nner!’ Lydia’s brother proclaimed helpfully from his pew.

  ‘Ollie!’ said Helen warningly. ‘It’s no time for jokes. Your sister will arrive any minute.’

  Val took out his phone. ‘Will I ring Colin? He’s with them.’

  Ollie laughed. ‘Knowing that crew, they’re in the pub.’

  ‘Ollie!’ said Helen sharply as Luca’s head swung around. ‘They most certainly are not in the pub. Shur, Sienna is with them.’

  Tyler sauntered over from the groom’s side of the church. ‘Whassup, ya’ll?’ he asked, his red hair flopping over his eyes. ‘Have we got a no-show?’

  ‘No,’ said Val, hanging up the phone. ‘It’s as we suspected – they stopped for a quick Prosecco. Nothing to panic about.’

  ‘Ha!’ Ollie high-fived himself. ‘I knew it.’

  Helen looked uncomfortable. ‘I’m sure they’ll be here any minute . . .’

  Tyler flopped down on the seat next to Laura. ‘I guess I’ll sit here,’ he said, giving her a smouldering look. ‘I can’t talk French to that crew over there.’

  ‘If you must,’ said Laura stiffly.

  The organ resonated through the church, startling the guests, as Mike launched into a thundering rendition of Handel’s Water Music Suite Two.

  Craig patted Luca’s back and made silly faces but the groom didn’t react. His handsome face was set and he kept checking his watch. A baby started crying down the back. The heat was making everyone cranky and restless. Helen Kelly prayed that her daughter would arrive.

  Someone answered her prayers. Suddenly there they were: Sam and Molly in long fuchsia-red dresses, Colin holding Mini Seán and Sienna’s hands and, behind them, Lydia and her father Seán silhouetted against the light.

  ‘They’re here!’ announced Helen in relief.

  Luca visibly relaxed. Aurora watched him smile as the organist changed to ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’. Samantha raised her head and put her shoulders back. At a nod from Colin, she went first, her long dress swishing as she walked by. James snapped madly as she approached and took her place at the top of the aisle.

  ‘You’re gorgeous, Sammy,’ mouthed Craig in her direction.

  Next came Molly, in her identical floor-length red dress. Her blonde curls were pinned to the top of her head and she laughed as she advanced, waving at random people.

  ‘Looking a bit pink-cheeked there, Mol,’ said Ollie with a smirk as she passed. ‘Prosecco nice, was it?’

  Next came Colin, dressed in a grey suit with a fuchsia-red cravat. Trailing along behind him was Lydia’s nephew, Mini Seán, decked out in a miniature grey suit and a little fuchsia cravat. He carried a small silver cushion as if it were made of glass, his eyes riveted on the two gold rings pinned on top as if he was afraid they would jump off.

  Colin climbed the altar steps to stand with the ‘other bridesmaids’ while Craig came to meet Mini Seán. Smiling, he relieved the little boy of the two rings. Mini Seán’s sigh of relief was audible. He turned and his mother Sarah welcomed him with open arms and sat him next to her in the first pew.

  ‘You were brilliant, Seánie,’ she said, kissing him on the forehead. ‘All that practice paid off.’

  ‘Practice?’ echoed Ollie. ‘He’s only three.’

  ‘Oh, he has been weeks walking up and down the corridor at home,’ said Sarah. ‘You know how organised I like to be.’

  Finally, a small blonde toddler danced up the aisle. Sienna, looking angelic in a white dress with a full skirt, a fuchsia-red sash around her waist and matching ballet slippers on her feet. Around her head, resting on her blonde curls, was a garland of little red-and-purple flowers.

  Then, suddenly, she swung round and raced back down the aisle.

  ‘Sienna!’ called Helen. ‘Come to Nana!’

  ‘No!’ she yelled. ‘No – Nana bold!’

  The congregation laughed as she pulled a white rose from its position at the end of a pew.

  Suddenly she spotted Christian. ‘Papi Istin!’ she shouted gleefully, running back up to the top of the aisle.

  Stepping out of the pew, he swung her up in his arms and over his head. ‘Hey, baby girl!’

  ‘Weeeeee!’ she screamed in delight. ‘Weeeeee!’

  ‘Sienna, be quiet!’ said Helen firmly. ‘Mummy is on the way.’

  ‘No!’ she said vehemently. ‘No, Nana!’

  Sarah raised her eyes to heaven. ‘No discipline.’

  Sienna then spotted Luca and held out her arms. ‘Daddy! Sisi, Daddy!’

  Luca walked down and took her from his father.

  ‘You’ve got to be quiet, Sisi,’ he said softly into her blonde curls. ‘Mama’s coming.’

  ‘Okay, Daddy,’ she said, stroking his hair.

  Luca handed her over to Helen and went back to take up position on the altar.

  Mike stopped playing the organ for a moment and silence reigned. Then, he began the ‘Bridal March’ and everyone got to their feet.

  And there she was.

  Aurora’s breath caught in her throat. Coming towards her was a vision in white. Her gown has a fitted bodice and a full skirt, with layers of chiffon floating to the ground. Her lace veil was cathedral length. It covered her face as she walked towards Luca. Seán Kelly, her father, looked proud as punch, his grey morning suit matching his grey hair.

  Then Aurora noticed Luca’s face as Lydia approached. The intensity of his gaze sent shivers down her spine. How she would love to be looked at in that way!

  Seán put Lydia’s hand in Luca’s and went down to join his wife in the front row.

  ‘Mama princess!’ said Sienna, struggling to get free from Helen’s grasp. ‘Mama Elsa!’

  Luca lifted Lydia’s veil and exposed her face. Then he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her thoroughly. On and on they kissed, and the priest jokingly checked his watch.

  ‘I love you,’ Luca whispered at last with his eyes closed.

  Lydia smiled as James’ camera flashed.

  Father Colum greeted the congregation and welcomed the bride and groom. ‘Better late than never, I suppose,’ he quipped, winking at Lydia.

  In no time at all, it was Aurora’s turn to sing. Mike nodded and she launched into ‘Ave Maria’.Helen felt shivers go down her spine as she sang. Her voice was pure and soared over the guests. James took photo after photo but Aurora didn’t notice. She had her eyes closed and was lost in the music. Even Sienna was soothed by the song, her head resting on Helen’s shoulder. At the end, there was stunned silence.

  Father Colum, who had been lost in the music, pulled himself together. ‘Sorry to digress, but that deserves a bualadh bos.’ He began to clap loudly.

  ‘A what?’ said Christian.

  ‘It’s Gaelic for a clap,’ said Tara stiffly.

  Aurora blushed as the crowd erupted.

  Lydia smiled at her and mouthed, ‘Amazing.’

  Father Colum stood between Lydia and Luca. ‘Have you come here of your own accord?’

  ‘We have.’

  ‘Will you love and honour each other for as long as you both shall live?’

  ‘We will.’

  ‘Will you be prepared to accept children and bring them up according to the law of Christ?’

  ‘We will.’

  ‘Too late for that!’ shouted Ollie.

  ‘Now,’ said Father Colum, taking both their hands and joining them together. ‘Declare your consent before God and his Church.’

  James took close-ups of Luca’s face as his blue eyes locked with Lydia’s.

  ‘I, Luca, take you, Lydia, to be my wife. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer . . .’

  ‘Well, thanks to the massive inheritance he got from his dead granny, it’ll be for richer,’ said Joe to Laura.

  ‘. . . in sickness and in health, till death do us part.’ Luca smiled his heart-breaking smile.

  James snapped and snapped, taking every angle he could.

  ‘I, Lydia, take you, Luca, to be my husband . . .’

&nbs
p; Helen wiped a tear from her eye. Tara dabbed hers with a tissue. Colin was openly crying. Even Christian looked moved as they exchanged vows.

  ‘This is crazy shit,’ said Tyler on Laura’s right. ‘To see The Jacob up there looking at her like that.’

  ‘The Jacob?’ Laura snorted. ‘Why do you call him that?’

  ‘Because he was the prom king in high school, every girl wanted to sleep with him and every guy wanted to be his bud. He was my hero, man.’

  ‘Well, he is quite attractive,’ admitted Laura.

  Tyler swatted his red hair out of his eyes. ‘It’s so crazy to see him around Lydia. He was such a player and now he’s like totally in love.’

  ‘Yes, they’re very sweet.’

  ‘Warms my heart.’

  They exchanged rings and Colin stared pointedly down at Val, mouthing, ‘You see, easy peasy. Two minutes and it’s over.’

  Father Colum held up the chalice and gave communion to the happy couple. Mike launched into ‘Panis Angelicus’.

  The guests stood up to receive the host and Lydia called Sienna up to her. ‘How’s my baby?’ she said, picking her up and kissing her soft cheek. ‘I love you.’

  ‘Mama,’ she said, nuzzling her neck.

  Luca stared at the gold ring on his hand. It fit perfectly and it felt like it had always been there. Everything made sense now. Everything seemed right in the world. He closed his eyes and thought of Mimi, his grandmother. He could sense her approval. He could almost see her wise old face smiling lovingly.

  They reached the final verse of the hymn. Mike nodded at Aurora and she smiled. She started to sing, her voice angelic, and the small church resonated with sound.

  ‘Panis Angelicus, fit panis hominum . . .’

  Straight after the first line, Mike followed her with the organ, harmonising in the place of a choir.

  ‘Jeez, you could listen to her all day,’ said Molly dreamily. ‘It makes me shiver.’

  ‘How long is left?’ asked Joe. ‘I’m about to melt. Plus all that gin last night has made me dehydrated.’

  ‘They sign something and then there’ll be photos and that’s it,’ said Laura. ‘I spotted a small bar across the road. We should slip over in a bit.’