by L. A. Casey
“What’s that for?” I asked, warily.
“I have to blindfold you, it’s part of the instructions… is that okay?”
He wanted to blindfold me?
I cleared my throat.
“Yeah,” I said. “I trust you.”
I did trust him. This was Ash, my friend. I trusted him with my life.
He tightened the fabric around my head and I listened as he buckled his seatbelt and stuck his key in the ignition and started his car.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“How can I be ready when I don’t know where we’re goin’?” I replied.
“You’re just going to have to trust me, Angel.”
He was going to meet real angels if he didn’t give me answers soon.
Ash pulled out of the car park, and pulled onto the main road. I tapped my fingertips on the box as we drove, and I worked really hard to be patient but it was very difficult. When twenty minutes had passed I came to the conclusion that I had no more patience and felt I was near my breaking point.
“Where are you bringin’—”
“Don’t ask because I’m not telling you.”
“Ash,” I groaned. “Come on, mate, give me a break.”
“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase don’t distract the driver?”
I wanted to thump him.
“You suck.”
“Still not telling you.”
I let go of my box and crossed my arms over my chest like a five year old who didn’t get her way. Ash wasn’t bothered though, he only laughed at my little tantrum.
“We’ll be there in about one minute if these sets of lights stay green.”
They did stay green because he didn’t slow down. I sat very still as we pulled into an area that had very uneven ground if by the way Ash’s car was jumping around was anything to go by. When we exited the car, I waited for him to come around my side and help me out. I held onto my box and Ash held my bag with one hand, and took my arm with his other as he instructed me to walk.
“It’s bloody freezin’,” I grumbled after Ash instructed me to take my time as we climbed a few steps.
I listened as a large door was opened and felt Ash’s hand on my lower back as he nudged me forward. I jumped when Ash let the door go and it shut behind us with a little force.
“You could have done that gentler!” I chastised.
“Sorry, mum,” he chuckled and took my arm once more.
He told me he brought me to a room and that I was to take a seat. I sat down when he told me it was safe to do so and almost instantly I heard a door open.
“Ah, right on time.” The voice belonged to a female that I had never heard before.
“Branna, listen to me carefully, okay?” Ash began. “This lady, Sandy, is going to remove your blindfold and do your make-up and hair for you. You’re not to open your eyes, not even once. Sandy won’t speak to you, so don’t try and get any info from her. Got it?”
“You’re a right bloody arsehole, do you know that?” I grumbled.
Ash tittered. “I’m aware of it, yep.”
I sighed. “You’re obviously goin’ through a lot of trouble to surprise me with Ryder so I’ll bite. I’ll do what you ask, okay?”
Ash was satisfied with my answer because I felt my blindfold being removed and I listened to Sandy when she spoke only to tell me what she was going to do while I was in her care. I wasn’t good at keeping track of time, but I think I was in the room Ash brought me to for forty minutes or so while she applied makeup to my face, and curled my hair with a curling iron then pinned it up and plated some kind of braid, too.
I broke a rule and tried to get some information out of Sandy, but she took whatever vow of silence Ash made her take very seriously.
When she asked me to stand up I did. She gently put the blindfold back around my eyes, but it was much looser that before so it would smudge my makeup. After Sandy left the room, I jumped with fright when I heard familiar female voices.
“Bronagh?” I questioned. “Ado, Keela, Lana? Is that you four?”
“Yep,” my sister chirped.
I sighed with relief. “What the hell is goin’ on?”
“It’s a surprise,” Aideen stated. “And don’t say Hell here.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“No questions!” she quipped.
“Mate, come on!” I pleaded.
“You aren’t gettin’ any information from us, Bran, so zip it.” Keela chuckled, making me groan.
“Okay, fine,” I grumbled. “What’re you four doin’ in here?”
“We’ve to help you get dressed,” my sister said and I think she was about to cry from her tone of voice.
“Bronagh?” I pressed. “Are you okay?”
“She’s fine,” Alannah chirped. “Now, let’s get you out of your work uniform and dressed.”
I knew better than to ask another question so I gestured with my hand for them to get it over with. They took my blindfold off once more and I forgot about it altogether because I was bloody mortified when I was stripped down to my birthday suit and used my hands to try and retain some modesty. Apparently wearing new under garments that was bought for me was very important.
When I got my underwear on Aideen put something around my thigh that had me asking all kind of questions, but she said I’d find out soon enough if I stopped asking questions.
I was quiet until they made me put on heels, then opened my box—I bloody heard them open it—and put on a dress that I’m pretty sure was inside of it.
“It didn’t crease,” my sister said in a relieved breath. “Thank God.”
They put the dress on me and it was a snug fit and floor length. It felt like a very elegant dress, so I ran my hands over it and asked, “Is this lace?”
“Most of it is,” Alannah replied.
I shivered when my sister clipped a necklace around my neck, but I smiled when she kissed my cheek. She removed the blindfold after I promised not to open my eyes, but it was very hard they I heard everyone’s sniffles.
“Okay, why’re you all bloody cryin’?” I asked, impatiently. “What’s goin’ on?”
“You look beautiful,” Bronagh whispered. “Just like ma.”
Like our mother?
“Bronagh, what is—”
“Come with us,” she cut me off. “It’s time.”
Time for what?
“I’m about to blow a fuse,” I said as I grabbed onto the hands that took hold of my forearms.
We only walked a maximum of twenty steps when I was brought to a halt and my sister said, “We’re going inside now, and when you hear the sound of a door shutting, I want you to open your eyes then when you’re ready, I know you’ll follow us.”
“Follow you where?” I asked my sister.
I heard the clip clop of heels then the sound of a door shutting. I sighed and shook my head before I slowly opened my eyes. I almost jumped out of my skin when in front of me was a floor length mirror, and in the reflection was… me.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered and covered my mouth with my hand.
I looked down at myself and touched the dress I wore and the necklace that dangled from my neck, too. My mother’s necklace. I would know it anywhere. It was silver with diamonds set in an intricate pattern. I remember admiring it as a young girl and always begging her to let me wear it.
“One day, sweetheart.” She told me with a breath taking smile. “One day when you’re old enough to understand the significance of diamonds and forever you can wear it.”
“I think that day has come, ma,” I said aloud, knowing she was right beside me.
I felt her. My father, too.
With a lump in my throat, I looked back into the mirror, and roamed my eyes over my dress. I was wearing was the most beautiful, delicately laced white sheath gown I had ever laid my eyes upon. The bodice had a deep v-neck with straps that went over my shoulders. It was simple but elegant and perfect.
It was
the dress I showed my sister weeks ago when we were looking at bridal magazines for fun. It was even more beautiful than it looked on the model in the photos.
“Me weddin’ dress,” I whispered.
I’m wearing a bloody wedding dress.
My heart began to pound against my chest as I reached up and touched my beautiful hair that was clipped up into a stylish updo of curls with a French braid plated across the front of my head acting as a hairband.
My makeup was done beautifully too. It matched my light skin tone perfectly.
I managed to tear my gaze away from myself when I noticed next to the full length mirror that was clearly put in the hallway just for me was a side table with a few items on it. I walked up to it and picked up a card that had a message for me.
Branna,
Your dress is something new, your gartar is something blue, your necklace is something old and borrowed, but not quite as sweet as you.
Meet me at the altar.
I’m waiting for you,
Ry x
I sucked in a deep breath, and had to re-read the message on the card a couple of times before I could think clearly. Ryder wanted me to meet him at the altar, in a wedding dress with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
I carefully pulled up my dress until I saw the blue gartar that I felt Aideen put on me before I realised what it was.
“They’re all in on it,” I gasped as I lowered my dress back down to the floor.
My sister and my friends, they got me ready for my wedding. That was why they were crying, and my sister said I looked like my mother.
Oh, my God!
“If you cry and ruin your makeup, I’m not taking the heat for it.”
I spun around when Ash’s voice broke through my thoughts and I stared at him with my mouth agape, while he stared right back with me with the same expression.
“Branna,” he breathed. “Wow!”
I looked down at my dress then back up to him.
“I can’t believe any of this.”
My friend smiled a big toothy smile. “I can, you told me how brilliant Ryder is to you, and how much he adores you. This proves it.”
I quickly fanned my face with the card with his message on it to keep my tears at bay. And I had to fan faster when music began to play inside what I now knew was a church hall. Ash walked over to me and picked up the beautiful bouquet of peach and white roses from the table and handed them to me.
“That’s our cue, Angel,” he said as I touched the stunning arrangment.
“Our cue?” I repeated.
“It’d be my honour if you’d allow me to give you away, Bran,” he said, his eyes a little glassy.
“Oh, Ash,” I whispered. “Yes. Yes, I would love for you to give me away. I love you!”
“And I love you,” he said, his voice breaking. “You’re my best friend and you deserve every bit of happiness in life. No one deserves it more, Bran.”
“Don’t cry,” I said to myself. “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
“Are you ready?” Ash asked and wiped his eyes with his free hand.
“You have no idea how ready,” I replied, still not wrapping my head around what was happening.
Ash and I began to walk forward, and I gasped when the huge double doors that lead to the stunning church hall opened wide automatically. We stepped forward into the hall, and the first thing I saw were flowers that matched my bouquet were tied in the same stunning arrangement on the end of each bench I passed by as I walked down the aisle.
The next thing I noticed was Bronagh, Aideen, Keela and Alannah were standing to the left of the church altar in matching floor length peach dresses. Bronagh was holding Georgie who was wearing a tiny version of the dress, too.
I shifted my eyes to the right and saw Kane, Alec, Dominic and Damien standing to the right of the altar in matching black suits with peach ties, and Kane was holding Jax who matched the lads with a tiny tailored suit.
Sally, who was sitting on the front row of benches next to her husband, twisted in my direction with a smile in place. All eyes were on me. Especially his. I could feel my skin tingling as his gaze lingered on me. Ryder was in the middle of the altar, wearing a black suit and peach tie like his brothers, as he stood next to the current Parish priest.
“Nanananana!” Jax suddenly shouted.
Without hesitation I said, “Heya, darlin’.”
He was seven months old now, and I claimed he was saying my name because he said it often, probably because there were a lot of N and A letters that he had fun with. The rest of the time he blew spit bubbles, and murmured gibberish.
He was a delight.
“You ready to become Mrs Slater?” Ash murmured to me as we walked.
I sucked in a breath before I said, “Hell yes.”
That made him chuckle under his breath.
We neared the end of the aisle, and for the life of me I couldn’t look away from Ryder. His eyes were trained on me too, and I felt every flick of his gaze caress me.
When we reached the altar, the priest asked Ash a question, and he replied, but I missed it because I was too focused on Ryder. I snapped out of it when he stepped forward and took my hand that Ash was offering him.
“Thanks, Ash,” Ryder said, gratitude in his voice.
“Take care of her,” my friend replied then winked at me before he took a seat on the front bench next to Sally and her husband.
How the hell had she gotten here with Doctor Harris, and how she was dressed up in pretty clothes when I literally saw her an hour ago was beyond me.
I turned my attention to Ryder when he squeezed my hand.
“Ry,” I whispered.
He had tears in his eyes as he said, “You look so beautiful, sweetness.”
Warmth filled my pounding heart when he suddenly dropped to his knee and reached for my left hand, which I gave to him freely.
“What’re doin’?” I asked, my heart pounding against my chest.
“I didn’t do it correctly the first time around, but I want to start off by doing it the right way now.”
Oh, my God.
“There’s no one but you, Bran,” Ryder began, his chest puffed out. “I never thought I’d be the type to settle down and get married until you, quite literally, fell into my life. I never thought I’d want a wife, a family, and someone to love me as much as you do until you smiled in my direction and took my breath away. I never thought, after everything I’ve been through in my life, that someone as beautiful, smart and selfless as you would stick by my side through thick and thin, but you have. I’m not perfect, and I have my flaws, but you love me in spite of that. You have changed me, and my entire life for the better. You love my brothers, like they are your own, and you made us part of your family. You’ve given me purpose. Will you do me the greatest of honour of being my wife?”
It took the might of God and willpower I never knew I had not to burst into tears there and then. I squeezed his hand to the point of pain and said, “Yes!”
Ryder’s shoulders sagged with relief, and I heard practically everyone release a shaky breath. I looked to my family and friends and raised a brow, “You all thought after six years I was lettin’ him out of this church without puttin’ a ring on me finger, really?”
Everyone laughed, even the priest.
“We were hoping you’d say that,” Ryder chuckled as he got to his feet.
“You don’t need to hope anymore.” I took his other hand in mine and said, “I’m ready.”
“Really ready?” he asked.
I nodded, forcing back the tears that gathered when he told me how much I meant to him. “I’ve never been more ready for anythin’ in me entire life. I need to be your wife, honey.”
He leaned his forehead down, and rubbed the tip of his nose against mine. With his voice, and body, trembling he said, “You’re my everything, sweetness.”
“And you’re mine.”
His lip twitched.
“Have I surprised you?”
I closed my eyes and breathed him in. I bathed in his scent, touch, and the love he offered me in waves. I re-opened my eyes, and looked up into his shining ones.
“Surprised me?” I repeated. “I don’t think I’ll ever feel like this is real. You have given me everything I didn’t know I wanted in a weddin’. Thank you so much.”
Ryder hugged me tightly before we separated, held hands and looked at the priest.
With a smile he began to read prayers, and I’m sorry to say that it all became background noise because my entire focus was on the man before me. He clouded all of my senses, and I had zero problems with that.
I was pulled from my Ryder clouded thoughts when the priest asked me if I wanted to recite the standard vows to take Ryder as my husband, but I told him I wanted to go with my own. I stuck to the original first line then spoke from my heart.
“I, Branna Fiadh Murphy, take you, Ryder James Slater, to be my husband. I promise to never leave you. I promise to always be there to say good night. I promise to never go to bed angry. I promise to always take care of you, to love you, to cherish you. I promise my heart, body and soul to you—forever. I love you so much, darlin’.”
I held my breath when Ryder began to speak.
“I, Ryder James Slater, take you, Branna Fiadh Murphy, to be my wife.” I beamed when he decided to do the same with his vows to me, and repeat it back to me what I said instead of sticking to the original one.
I looked to my right when my sister stepped up with Georgie and together—with a little more take than give from Georgie—they gave me a beautiful silver band that I slipped onto Ryder’s ring finger, and Kane stepped up and gave him the matching ring that he slipped onto mine.
It was magic.
And if I thought it was a dream before, it most definitely was when Ryder surprised me again. He turned and took a beautiful candle with lace tied around the middle with names engraved on it in gold from Kane.
My parents’ names.
A sob tore from me before Ryder even spoke, and he smiled at me when he saw how touched I was.
“Branna,” he began, “I know that if your parents were here today they would be so proud of the woman you have become. We light this candle today in remembrance of them. In honour of them. They raised the woman who I love more than life itself and I wish so much that they could be sitting with us today.”