Tug Of Law (Bernadette Mackenna Cases Book 4)

by D. R. Bailey

  There was a collective sigh from the assembled guests and a self-conscious giggle from Bernadette and Eve. They were still holding hands, and their gaze did not waver.

  “So, let’s instead of being solemn discuss this as being a happy occasion where we join these two people forevermore one with the other in the bonds of matrimony. Where they will each give their vows and exchange rings symbolising their lifelong commitment to each other. I couldn’t be happier or more privileged to have been asked to perform this ceremony today.”

  He paused and smiled at Bernadette and Eve. They broke their gaze momentarily and smiled back.

  “Now, just remember, that as you say these vows, you do not do so lightly, nor frivolously, but seriously and with meaning and intent. Intent to keep your vows to each other and to stay the course you both have set. You will make your commitment in front of the assembled guests who act as collective witness to the public plighting of your troth. All of them here, I am sure, wish you happiness, and a long life filled with love together.”

  He paused once more before continuing.

  “If you are both ready, then I shall ask you to make your commitment and say your vows.”

  “I’m ready,” said Bernadette.

  “Me too, more than ready,” Eve said to accompanying laughter.

  “Then first to you, Bernadette. That’s right keep holding hands just as you have been doing. Now do you, Bernadette Mackenna take Eve White to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, to cherish and to love, and to keep faithfully unto her as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do!” said Bernadette her voice was confident but tinged with emotion.

  “Very well, you may say your vows if you have them.”

  “I do,” said Bernadette shifting her gaze back to Eve, “Eve, my darling. I never thought I would stand here today and finally be able to call you my own. When you came into my life, I was lost, I was alone, I was adrift. You anchored me, you saved me, and you have become my safe harbour for always. I promise to love you every day, in every way I can. I promise to be faithful, to be truthful, to withhold nothing from you. I promise to keep no secrets and to always treat you with respect, and give all my love to you, unconditionally and without reservation. What is mine is yours and becomes ours forevermore. I love you, so much… so very much… you are my whole life, you are my everything and I give myself wholly to you for now and for always.”

  She surprised herself by not crying although her eyes were wet and so were Eve’s. She had spoken clearly and in a strong voice which had come from somewhere to match the occasion. Perhaps it was her long experience at the bar, she mused.

  “Very nice, very fitting, lovely in fact,” said Brian, turning to Eve, “And now, Eve White, do you take Bernadette Mackenna to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, to cherish and to love, and to keep faithfully unto her as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do, yes. I really, really do!” said Eve half smiling and half crying. A lone tear tracked its way down her cheek unheeded.

  “You may now say your vows, Eve,” said Brian.

  “My darling Bernadette,” Eve began and then finding it hard to continue had to stop.

  “I’m the one who’s supposed to be crying,” Bernadette whispered, “You’re the strong one.”

  “Not today, darling, not today,” said Eve in a choked-up voice.

  “Take your time,” said Brian smiling benevolently on them.

  Eve paused, dashed a few tears away and started again, “My darling, I told you that from the first moment I saw you I loved you, and all of this time I love you still… more and even more… every day…”

  There was a muffled sob from D’Arcy and Bernadette shot a glance around to see Imogen with an arm around her shoulder handing her a tissue.

  “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me, and I don’t think I ever will, because words are not enough… for that… fuck… shit… oh… sorry…” Eve choked on a sob herself.

  The was a titter at the swear words, but everyone was held in the thrall of this moment of real and extreme depth of emotion.

  Eve continued with difficulty, having to pause and stop between the words, to try and compose herself as best she could, rather than breaking down completely, “I… I just want you to know, that I will always take care of you… I will nurture… you. I promise you… I will never… never… ever leave you… and you must always… remember… that… you must…”

  Her words were punctuated by deep breaths and attempts to prevent herself from crying. Though by now tears were running unheeded down Bernadette’s cheeks.

  “I will take care of you… oh, I’ve said that… well, I’ll be doing it twice, then…” Eve laughed through her own tears. “Every day in, and in… every way… I know I’ve tested you sometimes… I’ve tested your love… perhaps… but from now until forever I am yours, in my heart… my body… and my soul. I’m yours unconditionally with all the love I have and all the love I can give.”

  She finished a little stronger. Bernadette mouthed, “I love you” at her.

  “Beautiful words from both of you I’m sure everyone would agree,” Brian said after waiting a moment for the room to settle. There was not a dry eye in the audience following Eve’s very emotional and heartfelt delivery. “Now you shall both perform an exchange of rings symbolising your love in an unending circle of infinity.”

  Carragh, who had been standing to one side, stepped forward with the rings and handed them to Brian. D’Arcy had evidently decided it was safest to entrust them to him.

  Brian held up the rings. “These, as I said, are a symbol of your love, and very lovely rings they are too.”

  Eve had chosen golden bands patterned with a Celtic design, and inside were inscriptions which Bernadette could not quite read.

  “So this one, is Eve’s I believe,” said Brian, reading the inscription, “And inside it says, ‘Eve in true love forevermore from Bernadette’.”

  There was a chorus of ‘ahs’ at this revelation as Brian handing the ring to Bernadette. She turned it over in her hand.

  “Do you like it?” Eve whispered.

  “It’s perfect.” Bernadette smiled.

  “So, place the ring on the fourth finger of Eve’s left hand, Bernadette, and say after me…”

  Bernadette did so and held Eve’s hand which was trembling ever so slightly in her own.

  “With this ring,” Brian began.

  “With this ring.”

  “I thee wed.”

  “I thee wed.”

  “I will love and cherish you.”

  “I will love and cherish you.”

  “Until the end of our days.”

  “Until the end of our days.”

  “And let this ring be a symbol of my vows to you and my everlasting love for you.”

  “And let this ring be a symbol of my vows to you and my everlasting love for you.”

  Bernadette could not resist bringing Eve’s hand up to her lips and planting a kiss in Eve’s palm, then wrapping it over.

  “Now, Eve, here is the ring for Bernadette, which has the same inscription, and do likewise placing it on Bernadette’s ring finger.”

  Eve did so, and then repeated the words, just as Bernadette had done.

  When this was done, Brian smiled upon them benevolently, and said, “And so by the exchanging of vows, and rings, before your wonderful friends, we have completed the ceremony and it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you both married. You may now kiss your respective bride.”

  Bernadette moved in almost shyly to take Eve in her arms, and their lips met with a burning fire. Somehow on this day, it felt more intense and more poignant than it ever had.

  The entire audience stood up, and applauded, shouting, and hooting with pleasure. The kiss which seemed to last a long time, finally ended, and they stood hand in hand together and married at l
ong last. Both of them had cried, and neither of them cared, because it had been a momentous occasion for them both. For some marriage was perhaps not an important thing, but for Bernadette and Eve, it was a public declaration of the love they shared, and their commitment. It was something they both had wanted, and now they had done it.

  Bernadette and Eve smiled, photos were taken, and then the string quartet struck up Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, and Eve said, “Shall we go?”

  They stepped down together and hand in hand walked back down the aisle to the sweet strains of Mozart, everyone was cheering, clapping as they went. The two of them were smiling. Eve led her back into the dining room, and then to one of D’Arcy’s living rooms where she shut the door.

  “Well, Mrs Mackenna,” said Bernadette with a smile lurking around her lips.

  “Indeed, Mrs Mackenna,” Eve said advancing on her purposefully, “I’m going to kiss you properly before they fix our makeup.”

  “Oh God, yes please do!”

  Their lips met and time stood still. Bernadette felt nothing but the perfect sweetness of two lips meeting and the fireworks going off in her head. Although they were both burning up with desire, the wedding dresses and the occasion prevented them from taking it further. Eventually, their lips parted, and they stood holding each other.

  “That was so beautiful,” Bernadette told her, “Thank you, thank you for making everything so perfect.”

  “You liked it?”

  “I loved it. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.”

  “Well, it’s not over, we’re having a meal shortly, and then there will be dancing. We’ve got an Irish band to play a mix of modern and folk music, not too loud all the time,” Eve laughed.

  “Wonderful.”

  “And you’ve to make a speech.”

  “What about you?”

  “Oh well.”

  “You have to make one too,” Bernadette insisted.

  “Oh, you…”

  “I can’t believe you and Imogen having been planning this for months.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. It was the biggest secret ever but a good one.”

  “You are forgiven, completely.” Bernadette kissed her. “For everything.”

  “Everything?” Eve’s eyes grew wider.

  “Well, why what else have you done?” Bernadette laughed.

  “Oh, nothing, I’m just teasing you.”

  “Witch!”

  “Your witch now, your witchy wife now.”

  “I know.” Bernadette held up her rings to look at them. “Did Imogen help you choose these?”

  “I cannot tell a lie.”

  “I ought to give her a good spanking,” Bernadette laughed.

  “Except she’d love that,” Eve giggled.

  “I’m glad you both did this, honestly, because without the two of you this would never have happened. I would have procrastinated forever about it.”

  “Exactly, see I’m not just your average naughty housewife.”

  “You’re not a housewife,” Bernadette said severely.

  “Oh, but I am now, I’m Eve Mackenna, wife of the famous Bernadette Mackenna.”

  “Oh, you, you’re an artist too, in your own right.”

  “Yes, but you’ll always be my heroine, forevermore.”

  “Oh, Eve…”

  They kissed again, and then Eve poured them both a glass of sparkling water from a bottle thoughtfully provided for the purpose.

  “What happens now?” Bernadette asked her.

  “They are getting the marquee ready for the wedding feast, and Imogen will come and get us shortly. We’ll go and receive everyone’s congratulations, have photos taken. People have given us some gifts which we will open later. Then we’ll have the meal, and get changed, relax, and then have a dance in the evening and more food. How’s that sound?”

  “Exhausting,” Bernadette laughed, “And you left one thing out.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The part where I get to fuck you, of course, darling.”

  “Oh well, that goes without saying. We can perhaps have a little afternoon session, don’t you think?”

  “Yes… please.”

  “I’m yours now, you don’t have to say please.”

  “But I want to.”

  “OK.”

  They kissed once more and sat down to wait.

  ✽✽✽

  It was not long at all before Imogen bustled in with Nicky and Sharon in tow.

  “There you are!” she exclaimed, “Now then, we need to fix your makeup and then you’ve got the meet and greet, have photos and we’ve got the wedding feast.”

  “You picked the right person for the job, Eve, a proper dominatrix,” Bernadette quipped.

  “Well, I’ve my whip upstairs so don’t make me go and get it,” Imogen laughed.

  Nicky and Sharon thought this was very amusing, while they set about adjusting Bernadette and Eve’s makeup.

  “You think she’s joking,” Bernadette said sardonically.

  Once their makeup was sorted, Imogen whisked them outside where a great cheer went up as they appeared. In the marquee, people were bustling around rearranging stuff into tables, and there were delicious smells emanating from behind the marquee where apparently the caterers had set up a kitchen. Bernadette firmly pushed any thoughts of cost from her mind. Her attention was soon taken up with amiably chatting to their guests standing beside Eve.

  All of her staff were there, along with partners, if they had them. Bernadette’s Uncle Donal was there and although she thought perhaps he would have liked to give her away, apparently Eve had discussed it beforehand and he was fine with her best friends doing it instead. Olivia had come with Carole and so had Brogan and his wife Stella. Valentino and Sophia from the gallery had been invited. One of two of Eve’s friends from the gym where she had been working as a personal trainer were also present. As were, Emily O’Neal and her sister, Natasha, from a previous case, along with Oonagh Flanagan, and her mother, whom she had also represented. Eve had also asked along with D’Arcy’s agent, Oscar Childe, and his assistant, Gelda. Bernadette’s good friend Patrick Kelly, a psychologist with whom she attended university was also a guest. Constantina, the housekeeper, had been given the day off and was swanning around with her friend Juanita.

  In short, all of these people meant something to Bernadette or Eve, friends, and also clients, whom they had at one time or another formed a bond. They came up to talk, and congratulate them on getting married, and for such a wonderful wedding. Uncle Donal gave them both a big hug and made them promise to come and spend some time with him soon.

  “I was very surprised and touched to receive an invite,” said Brogan when it was his turn, and having introduced his wife Stella.

  “I couldn’t not invite you,” said Bernadette.

  “Well, you are very kind, and I’m honoured,” said Brogan kissing her hand in a most chivalrous fashion.

  “I’ve told Jack he’s not to overindulge in the alcohol department,” Stella chimed in, “Don’t want him underperforming later.”

  “Yes… hurumm… well... I don’t think they want so many details… Stella… hurumm… my love.”

  “Oh hush, Jack, they seem like old friends already.”

  “You see what I have to put up with,” Brogan said crustily.

  “You two really must come to dinner soon, I’ll invite you! Jack has told me so much about you, I feel as if we are practically neighbours,” Stella said, and her laughter trilled across the lawn like so many musical notes.

  At the end of the fairly long line were Olivia and Carole.

  “Well, you two, tied the knot, good job!” said Olivia smiling.

  “Yes, well done,” Carole put in.

  “It was a beautiful ceremony, quite lovely.” Olivia smiled.

  “Thank you, it’s all down to Eve, and Imogen.”

  “Ah, Imogen, not
surprised to hear she had a hand in it.”

  Carole squeezed Olivia’s hand possessively on hearing this.

  “You never know,” said Eve, “It might be you one day.”

  “Hmm, chance would be a fine thing,” Olivia laughed, “Someone would have to ask me first.”

  Carole coloured up at this pointed remark.

  “Carole, it’s lovely to see you, thanks for coming,” said Bernadette trying to steer the conversation away from controversial topics.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Carole averred.

  Imogen arrived at their side abruptly and said, “That’s enough chatting for now, you can do all the talking you want later. It’s time for the photographs.”

  “She’s the boss today, in her element, she is.” Bernadette laughed as they allowed themselves to be led away into the garden for couples’ photos, photos with Imogen and D’Arcy, and then all the group shots.

  “You’ll be pleased to know that’s the last one,” said Imogen satisfied once the final group photo had been taken.

  She spoke to the photographer briefly, who disappeared and then the maître d called their attention by banging a gong extremely loudly.

  “Ladies, and gentlemen, please taking your seats for the wedding feast,” he announced in stentorian tones.

  Imogen made Bernadette and Imogen stay back until all the guests were seated and then she let them walk in. She followed behind them with D’Arcy. Everyone clapped and cheered once more as they took their seat on a table which had been placed on the podium. Bernadette sat next to Eve. D’Arcy and Imogen sat on either side of them. The other circular tables were arranged around the marquee in a nice cluster, so nobody was too far apart.

  The wedding feast turned out to be excellent. It was a sit-down meal with servers bustling between tables like busy bees around a hive. The starters were a choice of mixed green salad with a raspberry-infused vinaigrette, deconstructed bruschetta, Mini shrimp salad rolls and an assorted charcuterie board. Bernadette and Eve opted to share a plate of each, pronouncing it beautiful. The mains were a choice from lightly seasoned trout with parsley-caper vinaigrette, spring vegetable risotto, grilled rack of lamb with asparagus, or herb-roasted chicken and rice with fresh apricot. Bernadette opted for the lamb, and Eve for the chicken, although they ended up sharing again. Finally, the dessert offered traditional sticky toffee pudding with custard, trifle or apple crumble. There would be a cheeseboard to follow for those who had the room.