by Martina Cole
‘Now when we get back from the church, you and I will sort out the caterers, right?’
Eileen nodded in agreement and Frankie Barber, who was the chef in charge of the wedding breakfast, sighed heavily. It was only a small gathering but it was going to be perfect, he was determined on that. Despite what these two old bats might think. He kept that to himself, though, he wasn’t stupid. After all, the same old bats were the mothers of enough villains to repopulate Chicago!
As Sarah watched her daughter and her soon-to-be son-in-law walking together in the rolling grounds of the new house in Essex she sighed with contentment.
At last her Maura was to be married. At fifty-one years of age she was finally shedding the name of Ryan, and Sarah knew in her heart that after all her trials and tribulations her daughter would finally find peace in the arms of Kenneth Smith.
Carla was watching her. She caught her grand-daughter’s eye and smiled. ‘You all right there, lovey?’
Sarah knew it would be hard on her today.
‘They look good together, Mum, don’t they?’
Garry’s voice made them jump. Sarah turned to see her son and that little child he lived with standing in the doorway. Leonie was dressed in the finest Versace could offer and still looked like she should be charging men for her time, but Sarah swallowed down the thought and hugged the girl to her. She rather liked her really.
‘You look gorgeous, child.’
‘Thanks.’
Leonie being Leonie didn’t think to return the compliment.
‘Lee is outside with Sheila and the kids. Shall I send them through to the garden, Sarah, and we’ll serve the champagne there?’
Sarah nodded at Frankie. She knew he was trying to get rid of her but he had another think coming if he thought she was going to let him rule the roost this day. Winking at Eileen, she carried out a tray of glasses and passed them to a subdued Joey who, smiling nervously, placed them on one of the trestle tables by the patio. He was still not forgiven and he knew it. Garry, Roy and Lee still blanked him and he knew it was going to take a long time to get back on an even keel with everyone.
Marge’s loud voice could be heard reverberating all over the garden as she screamed with pleasure when she saw Maura in her white wedding suit.
‘You look fucking handsome, girl.’
Maura hugged her hard and Dennis said loudly: ‘You only take my Marge anywhere twice, the second time to apologise.’
Kenny laughed and Garry watched as the big man followed Maura’s every move devotedly.
Roy came out holding his grandson in his arms. Walking over to Maura, he said gently, ‘You are doing the right thing, Maws.’
She smiled happily.
‘I know that, Roy.’
‘I wonder what this little one will turn out like?’
He was gazing into his grandson’s unreadable eyes.
‘He’ll be all right, Roy.’
He kissed the child’s downy head and smiled.
‘Maura Ryan getting married, eh? I never thought I would see the day.’
‘Neither did I.’ Then she said seriously, ‘Do you think I’m too old for all this, Roy, honestly?’
She swept out her arm to encompass the garden and the house all decorated for what could be mistaken for a society wedding.
‘No, I do not! You deserve this happiness, Maura. More than anyone else I have ever known in my life, you deserve to be happy. And you will be happy with Kenny, he loves you so much.’
Baby Michael started to cry, he was hungry, and Maura looked on as her brother walked back to the house where the baby would be fed and changed to make him happy again. Then she watched as the guests all started to arrive and saw her mother’s deep happiness because her only daughter was finally going to be married, and she knew she had done the right thing.
Alicia ran to her with her arms outstretched. Maura picked the child up and hugged her tightly to her.
‘Maura Smith. Daddy said that’s his favourite name now, along with mine, of course.’
Maura grinned as she said honestly, ‘Funnily enough, it’s my favourite name now as well!’ She kissed the little girl on one rounded cheek. ‘Along with the name Alicia Smith, of course.’
They laughed as they walked back across the lawn together, holding hands, their faces radiant in the sunshine.
Kenny was waiting for them, and Maura knew he would always wait for her from now on and the knowledge made her feel good inside and out.