by Joan Jonker
Phoebe, surrounded by her bridesmaids and family friends, followed Paul with her eyes. She was so happy she wanted to cry, for her dream had come true. She was now Mrs McDonough. Paul came back and put his arm round her, just as Corker was announcing, ‘I’m going to ask the bride and groom to take to the floor for the first dance. Then the party can begin.’
The gramophone picked up speed, and Paul led his wife into the middle of the floor. The record he’d bought specially for the occasion brought a smile to Phoebe’s face, and to her surprise and joy Paul began to sing, ‘You Stole My Heart Away’. He held her tight, and gazing into each other’s eyes they forgot everyone but themselves and their love for each other. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Even Corker, all six foot five of him, was moved to shed a few tears of happiness.
It was eight o’clock when Paul whispered in Phoebe’s ear, ‘Why don’t you go and get changed, pet? Yer don’t want to get stains on yer wedding dress. I’ll come with yer, and yer can hang yer dress in the wardrobe where it’s safe, and change into yer going away outfit.’
Corker was standing near, and he said, ‘That’s a good idea, sweetheart. Yer don’t want to ruin yer dress.’
‘Yes, I think I will. Paul bought me a new dress and coat, I’ll change into them. He calls it my going away outfit, except we aren’t going away.’
‘Give yer dad a kiss, sweetheart, before yer go.’ Corker said, holding out his arms. ‘Yer look beautiful, and I’ve been so proud of yer today. And Paul. Yer’ve got a good one there, I’ll never have to worry about yer.’ He beckoned Ellen over. ‘Phoebe’s going to change her dress, in case yer wonder where she is. Paul’s going with her, so she’ll be all right. Give yer daughter a kiss.’
An hour passed, and Ellen said, ‘They’re a long time, love, they should be back by now.’
‘Ellen, sweetheart, they’ve just got married, they’re probably kissing and cuddling. Have a heart, be happy for them.’
Half an hour later, Corker waited for a record to finish, then called for some hush. ‘I’ve got something to tell yer, then yer can go back to enjoying yerselves. I’ve been asked by the bridegroom to pass on a message. Him and Phoebe won’t be coming back to the party, and he’s told me to tell yer he doesn’t want yer to think they were mean for not telling yer this themselves. Even Phoebe didn’t have any idea, when she went home to change, that she wouldn’t be back. Paul had a surprise for her. He’d booked a room in the Adelphi hotel for tonight as a wedding present for her.’
There was silence for just a few seconds, then there came laughter, clapping of hands and cheers. Then Nellie pulled Molly into the middle of the floor for an Irish jig. Molly made sure she was decent by not lifting her skirt as high as her mate, but the little woman went from a jig to a reel, singing at the top of her voice that her son’s spending the night in the poshest hotel in Liverpool meant the McDonoughs were going up in the world. And to the delight of those clapping to her dancing, she also showed that even going up in the world wasn’t going to stop her wearing fleecy-lined bloomers.