by Clare Revell
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes. Just tired, that’s all.”
They drank in silence, not needing to say anything. He finished his cocoa and kissed her cheek. “I should let you sleep. I still need to iron my shirt for tomorrow. And polish my boots.”
“Jarrie, would you sleep here tonight?” Color touched her cheeks. “I mean, the spare room, not here, here.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not the done thing for the groom to sleep over the night before the wedding. Besides, my uniform is over at Liam’s.”
“Don’t care. I don’t want to be alone.”
“You’re not. You’ve got Patrick in my room, and your parents staying in the other room. Liam and I are on the other end of the phone. You’ll be fine.” He gathered her into his arms and gave her a lingering kiss. “See you in church.”
“You bet you will.” Tiredness was evident in her voice, and she looked almost as pale as the sheets. “Top drawer in the dresser. There’s something for you.”
Jared got up and opened the drawer. He pulled out a small box with a gold bow on it. “This one?”
“It’s a wedding present. Want you to have it now.”
“I don’t have yours with me.” He felt bad for not thinking. “I can come back with it.”
“Tomorrow’s fine.” She yawned, her eyes closing. “Tired…”
“Thank you, hon.” He opened the box, tears filling his eyes as he gazed down at the gold cufflinks with a tiny diamond and his initials. “Oh, hon…” He glanced up, to find her fast asleep.
23
Niamh looked at herself in the mirror as her mum and Jacqui fussed around her, smoothing the skirt of her dress. It looked even more amazing this morning. Butterflies tossed and turned and she placed a hand cautiously over her stomach, glad her secret was still a secret. Despite what the doctor had said the previous evening, she hadn’t let herself believe until an hour ago when she’d finally plucked up the courage to do the test she had bought when the doctor first suggested pregnancy the previous week.
Just hope Jarrie will be pleased, Lord. After all he did say barefoot, pregnant and in a shift. Although it’s kind of weird being a pregnant bride—although we’re still married, I just don’t remember. I assumed my missed periods were down to stress or just recovering from the car crash. A baby never crossed my mind. But what I don’t understand is if things were so bad between us before the car crash, why did we make love anyway? Old time’s sake maybe? A last ditch attempt at trying to patch things up? Whatever the reason, thank You. Keep the child safe within me. I’ll tell Jarrie later. And the others when we get home.
She took a deep breath. I love him, there’s not a single doubt on that score. Just wish I could remember everything. Sure the odd conversation had come back to her, usually in flash backs, but it wasn’t the same. For Jared this would be a simple reaffirmation of their vows. But she would be committing her life to him for the first time.
Jacqui looked at her. “You look beautiful, Niamh.”
Niamh felt and saw the color rise in her cheeks in the mirror. “So long as Jarrie likes it, that’s all that matters. He still thinks I’m wearing jeans.” She winced and rubbed her temple.
“Are you all right?”
“I’ve got a really bad headache. I woke with it and it’s getting worse.”
“Do you want something for it??”
“No, it’s just nerves. Or the after effects of the fire yesterday. It’ll go.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s time, isn’t it?”
Just then, her father’s voice echoed up the stairs. “The cars are here. We need to go if we’re going to be on time.”
****
Jared straightened his dress uniform and glanced in the mirror at Liam. “Does it look all right?”
Liam smiled. “It’s fine. You could have gone for a tux this time, you know.”
“Yeah, I know, but I wanted to wear this, like I did before. This may be a renewal of vows for me, but for Niamh it’s her first wedding. Even if she is going to turn up in jeans.”
“Jeans?” Liam said surprised.
Jared nodded. “She couldn’t find a dress, got really upset over it. So I told her she could wear what she had on if she wanted. She looked down at herself and agreed. Jeans and a T-shirt. And when I pushed it, she told me she’d got the old, new, borrowed and blue. Jeans, a shirt and socks.”
Liam shook his head. “I doubt it. She’d never wear that to church on a Sunday, never mind to a wedding. She’ll find a dress of some description.”
“Maybe, but so long as she turns up, I’m not bothered what she wears.” Jared looked at himself in the mirror and pulled his cap on. “OK, let’s go do this.”
****
Niamh arrived at the church to find Pastor Jack waiting for her. “You look beautiful,” Pastor Jack told her. “I’ll go tell him you’re here.”
“Thank you.” She tugged at her dress, convinced it was tight across her stomach, but it probably wasn’t.
Her father smiled at her. “Ready?”
“More than ready.” She closed her eyes for a moment, the headache surging. “Maybe I should have taken something for the headache. Too late now.”
The music started as Niamh toed off her old shoes and stood barefoot on the carpet. She slowly made her way into the church and up the aisle. She kept her eyes fixed on Jared. He was standing facing forwards, not daring to turn around.
Please turn around. I can’t do this without seeing your face.
Jared turned around and his eyes widened as he took in what she was wearing. Shock then delight crossed his face. He beamed at her, love filling his eyes and spilling from every pore. When she reached him, he grabbed her hand. “Wow,” he whispered. “You look amazing. You bought a dress.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “So do you. And of course, I did. Cassie designed and made it. How could I refuse the royal dressmaker? Besides, you did say you’d marry me barefoot and in a shift. We just fancied up the shift.” She lifted her skirt slightly. “See.”
Jared grinned at the sight of her toes. “I wasn’t serious.”
“Well, Cassie and I figured, why not. Not often a girl gets to do this twice.”
The service began and after the first hymn and introductory speeches, Pastor Jack began the wedding proper. Jared and Niamh both answered the legal declarations before Niamh’s dad made a joke about giving her away again, which even Niamh found funny.
Then they turned to face each other, holding hands tightly.
Pastor Jack turned Jared. “Will you, Jared, take Niamh to be your lawful wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, and forsaking all others keep only unto her as long as you both shall live?”
Jared grinned at Niamh. “I will.”
Pastor Jack smiled at him and turned to Niamh. “Will you, Niamh, take Jared to be your lawful wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, and forsaking all others keep only unto him as long as you both shall live?”
Niamh took a deep breath and looked straight at Jared. “I will.” She blinked slightly, her head hurting more now than when she had left home.
For a moment, there were two Jared’s.
Don’t let me faint. Please, let me just get through this.
Jared looked at Niamh and took her hand, repeating his vows after Pastor Jack. “I, Jared Jason, take thee, Niamh Frances, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. In sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge thee my faithfulness.”
Niamh looked at him. The headache peaked, and she staggered slightly. Tears poured down her face as a sudden influx of memories filled her. She’d done this before. She remembered standing here, exchanging vows with him, different vows, but she remembered. She glanced around the church, her whole body trembling now. She knew the face
s in the congregation, really knew them. And she knew without a doubt just how she’d gotten pregnant—making up after the fight two weeks before the crash.
Pastor Jack’s voice echoed. “Niamh, if you repeat after me. I, Niamh Frances, take thee, Jared Jason…”
Everything spun as she remembered their honeymoon in Guernsey, being pregnant before, walks in the park and teasing Jared over dinner. Her hand rose to her head, the pain and sudden influx of too many memories, making her dizzy.
Jared looked at her worriedly as her whole body went cold and numb. “Hon?” he said. “What’s wrong?”
A quiet murmur broke out amongst the congregation.
Niamh looked at him, tears falling uncontrollably. Everything spun and went dark and she fell.
****
Jared pulled her into his arms, holding her gently. He knelt and laid her on the floor, his fingers automatically going to find a pulse.
Pastor Jack looked over the congregation. “Is there a doctor here?”
Footsteps ran down the aisle and a suited figure knelt beside him. Jared looked up. “Derek…”
Dr. Derek Clay smiled at him. “Did she eat this morning?” he asked starting to check Niamh over.
Her mum nodded. “She wasn’t hungry, but she ate. She’s been complaining of a headache. It’s a bad one. She refused pain meds, but wouldn’t say why.”
Dr. Clay nodded. “I want to check her over completely. May we use the vestry, Pastor?”
“Of course.”
Niamh groaned and opened her eyes, blinking hard.
Jared immediately leaned over her. “Hon?” He gently sat her up, his arm around her. “Let’s get you into the vestry, so Derek can check you over.”
Niamh shook her head. “No, I’m OK.”
“Please, just come and sit down for a minute. Get away from everyone looking at you.”
“OK.”
“Then let’s take you through,” Dr. Clay said. He helped Jared move her over to the vestry.
As they left the chapel, Pastor Jack announced a hymn and the organ started playing. Jared helped Niamh into the chair and sat next to her.
Dr. Clay took her wrist again. “How’s your head? Your mum said you have a headache?”
“Really bad one,” she whispered. “Just need a minute.”
“Then let me give you something for it.”
“No.” The word came out hard and fast and surprised Jared.
He sat quietly, giving the doctor room to work.
What’s wrong? She’s shaking like a leaf. Did I push her into this? Is this an after effect of yesterday? Maybe I should have cancelled or postponed the service.
He took a deep breath and took her hand. “What is it? Hon, if you can’t do this, if you don’t want to marry me...” His voice trailed off, a sick, devastated feeling welling up inside him. He was all too aware of his family, Niamh’s family, and their friends standing in the chapel, singing, probably wondering if there was actually going to be a wedding.
Just like he was.
He took a deep breath and continued. “If you can’t marry me, then we can stop now. It’s fine.”
Niamh looked up at him. “No, I want to marry you.” She drew in a deep, sharp breath. “The headache just got a bit much for a moment.”
“Then maybe you should take the meds Derek offered.”
“I can’t. I’ll explain later, I promise.” Her gaze held his, her eyes glistening. “I love you. I want to marry you. Now.”
“I’m glad. I love you, too. Are you sure you’re all right? You want some water or something?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Have you got a tissue?”
He nodded. He pulled one from his pocket and handed it to her. “Don’t want it back though,” he teased as she used it.
“Just as well,” she answered, tucking it up her sleeve. “I’m fine now.”
Dr. Clay looked at her. “As soon as the service is over, I want you back in here so I can check you over again. Is there a reason you’re refusing pain meds?”
“That’s fine and yes, but I’ll tell you later. Please don’t make me keep refusing them. Right now, I just want to get married.”
Jared offered her a hand up and led her back into the church and over to where Pastor Jack stood.
He stopped singing and smiled hesitantly at them. “Is everything OK?”
“Everything’s fine. I’m sorry,” Niamh apologized. “I have this really bad headache, that’s all.”
“Are you all right to continue?”
Niamh nodded. She took a deep breath and looked at Jared taking his hands again. The hymn finished and the congregation sat down.
Pastor Jack looked at them. “We’re going to continue as Niamh is feeling better and wishes to carry on with the wedding.”
Liam dropped a hand on Jared’s shoulder as he stood next to him again. “Is she really OK?”
“Other than having a headache and being stubborn, she’s fine.”
“I am here, you know,” Niamh told them. She rolled her eyes. “This is meant to be a wedding, not a circus.”
Jared snorted. “Too late for that.”
Pastor Jack looked at Niamh. “Repeat after me. I, Niamh Frances, take thee, Jared Jason, to be my wedded husband.”
Niamh looked at him and then at Jared. A small smile started at the corners of her mouth and spread over her entire face. Her eyes sparkled and then lit up like Christmas tree lights. “I, Niamh Frances, take you, Jared Jason, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep.”
As she spoke Jared’s eyes filled with tears and his heart welled up within him, until he thought it might burst with joy. Those were the vows she had originally used when she first married him eight years ago. He let the tears fall, not bothering to wipe them away.
She finished speaking and looked at Pastor Jack, smiled slightly and then looked at Jared. She reached up on tiptoe and whispered into his ear so only he could hear. “I remember. Everything.”
He pulled her into a hug. “Oh, hon,” he whispered. “That’s the best wedding present a man could ask for.”
She hugged him. “I love you Jarrie Jace,” she told him.
He looked at her and kissed her soundly.
Pastor Jack gave them a moment and then coughed slightly. “We haven’t got to that part yet,” he said gently.
Jared smiled awkwardly at him. “Sorry. She just got her memory back. All of it.”
At that, the whole church erupted into rapturous applause.
Niamh blushed hard and buried her face in Jared’s jacket while he just hugged her, a huge grin on his face.
Once things had calmed down, Pastor Jack nodded to Liam who placed the rings on the Bible. Pastor Jack then offered them to Jared.
Jared took the smaller of the two and placing it half way down Niamh’s finger said, “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. Again.” He slid the ring the rest of the way down and raised her hand to his lips, kissing it.
Niamh took the other ring and put it onto his finger. “I give thee this ring as the token of the covenant made between us this day and the pledge of our mutual love.” She slid the ring on completely and kissed his fingers.
Pastor Jack smiled at them. He spoke a few more words and then smiled again. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. Again...”
Jared grinned and pulled Niamh into his arms, kissing her.
Pastor Jack turned to the congregation. “I give you Mr. and Mrs. Harkin.”
As rapturous applause broke out again, Niamh looked at him, a huge grin on her face. She kept her voice low enough
for only him to hear. “I have a question for you, Mr. Harkin.”
“What’s that, Mrs. Harkin?”
“You know this separate bedroom thing we had going on…”
Jared raised an eyebrow. Where was she going with this? And was now the time? She sure knows how to pick her moments, Lord. “Uh, yes, but I actually have every intention of sharing your room tonight.”
“I didn’t mean that. I meant, could we redecorate what was your room?”
He scrunched his nose. “Is this the time to talk about this?”
Her grin widened. “I have a wedding present for you…Daddy.”
His heart leapt within him, tears filled his eyes. Lord, does she mean? Are you not only giving her back to me whole, but a child as well? “Daddy? Niamh, are you pregnant?”
Niamh nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. “Yeah. Two weeks before the car crash, when we made up the fight. ’Sides you did say barefoot, in a shift and pregnant. I’m just fulfilling the obey part of the vows.” She kissed him. “I love you.”
He lowered his face to hers, kissing her, not caring they were the center of attention. Everything was all right. God willing, they’d get their happily ever after.
Thank you for purchasing this White Rose Publishing title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.pelicanbookgroup.com.
For questions or more information, contact us at [email protected].
White Rose Publishing
Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Love™
an imprint of Pelican Ventures Book Group
www.PelicanBookGroup.com
May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG