As Kate sat in the passenger seat of the vintage car on the way to the church, she felt a massive lump in her throat. She had spent the last hour faking a smile for the photos and it had felt like an eternity.
Her dad was driving the cherry red 1965 Ford Mustang, and they would arrive at the church in a matter of minutes. She had planned to have a chauffeur drive them, but Tom had a thing for Mustangs and insisted he drive. She wanted to tell him how she was feeling but it was such an awful thing to unburden onto someone. Especially considering he was looking so forward to walking her down the aisle. He had always said throughout his life that he hoped he would be alive for the rite of passage of giving her away. What if his cancer came back and he never got the chance? She didn’t want to rob him of that.
He probably had no clue how terrible she was feeling internally. She certainly looked the part of the bride, after all. Chloe had fixed her makeup and she was back looking pristinely perfect. But inside, Kate was screaming. She still had no clue what to say in her vows. The engagement ring in the locket had been a complete curveball. Why on earth had she been stupid enough to open it?
Ignorance would have been bliss.
But now she knew the truth and there was no going back. She missed hating Trevor. She wanted to go back to seeing him as the fuckboy who broke her heart. But she was the monster who had broken his. And she had hoarded his grandmother’s ring for almost a decade. His grand romantic gesture was literally like something from a Taylor Swift song, and she had completely ruined everything. All those nights crying over him as she listened to ‘Wildest Dreams’ had been self-inflicted torture that could have been avoided with an honest conversation.
The car pulled up in front of the church and she looked out at the tall building. The videographer was outside, getting a shot of the car pulling up. Niall was there too, getting photos for the wedding album.
Kate felt like getting sick. But perhaps if she could just get through today, the rest of her life would be fine. It might not be a life full of joy but it would be a safe, secure life without pain. That was something, wasn’t it?
‘Here we are, pet,’ her father said as he turned off the engine.
‘Yep . . . here we are,’ she said. She knew she was supposed to open the door. But she just wanted to drive off anywhere.
Anywhere but here.
‘Come on, pet, tell me what’s wrong,’ Tom said. He was more shrewd than she had given him credit for.
‘I’m a bit of an emotional mess if I’m being honest, Dad.’
‘Well yeah. I’m old but I’m not stupid. What’s wrong?’
‘I love Norman, Dad, but I’m not in love with him. He’s not the one,’ she admitted.
‘Ah . . . I see. But is there someone you are in love with?’
‘Yes. But he’s gone. He wants nothing to do with me. So it’s pointless even feeling like this. Longing for a man who doesn’t even want me. It’s pathetic.’
‘It’s never pathetic to admit how you feel, pet,’ Tom said. ‘But you probably shouldn’t have waited until the very last minute. Everyone is waiting for you inside.’
‘I know,’ Kate sighed. ‘I can’t let everyone down.’
‘Well, you shouldn’t get married just to please everyone else. Are you absolutely sure the other fella wants nothing to do with ya?’
‘Yep. He told me right to my face.’
‘Well, maybe that’s your answer. I’d hate for you to run to him only for him to turn you away again.’
‘That’s exactly my fear. I don’t think my self-esteem could handle a double rejection.’
‘If it makes you feel any better, pet, we all have the one that got away,’ Tom said.
‘Mam wasn’t your first choice?’ Kate asked.
‘If I’m being honest, no. But we made it work. We both chose to be happy.’
‘But how did you put up with her? She’s so smothering.’
‘Isn’t that obvious, pet?’ he smiled.
‘No.’
‘Because she gave me you. How could I not love her for that?’ Tom said.
It was a genuine heartfelt sentiment that gave Kate hope for the future. Perhaps this feeling would pass. She had always been taught that love was a choice.
It was time to choose Norman.
‘Thanks, Dad,’ Kate smiled before giving him a hug. ‘We’d better not keep them waiting any longer.’
Kate and her father walked to the church door. She knew people were probably wondering if she had done a runner. It was time to get a grip.
The show had to go on.
Kate got out of the car and saw the girls standing in the church doorway along with the pageboy, Norman’s nephew, and the flower girl, Kate’s younger cousin. Niall was snapping pics as she walked towards them.
‘Ready, Kate?’ Chloe asked.
‘Last chance if you want me to fake a seizure,’ Siobhan offered.
‘No, it’s okay, girls,’ Kate said. ‘I’m ready.’
Siobhan opened the church door and began to walk down the aisle with Chloe and Natalie. The pageboy entered next, with the rings on their ceremonial cushion. Then it was time for the flower girl to enter. But her little cousin Suzie was giving her a strange look.
‘Why aren’t you smiling?’ Suzie asked her before she entered the church. Children always asked the most no-nonsense questions.
‘Oh,’ Kate said, taken aback. ‘I just have a lot on my mind.’
‘I can’t wait for my wedding. I’m going to smile for the whole day.’
It made Kate think about how she had envisioned this moment her entire life. How she had manifested the perfect wedding since she was a little girl. She was wearing an immaculate white dress with her veil resting elegantly upon her wavy auburn hair, just as she had always imagined. Except she wasn’t smiling. Her lifelong dream.
Now a nightmare.
‘Be careful what you wish for, Suzie,’ Kate said.
The flower girl opened the church door and began to walk down the aisle.
Now it was Kate’s turn. ‘Ready, Dad?’ she said, linking arms with her father.
‘I’m ready, darling,’ he said. ‘But are you?’
‘As I’ll ever be,’ Kate said, accepting her fate.
The doors opened and the organ player began playing ‘Here Comes the Bride’.
Everyone turned around to see Kate’s entrance. Their eyes all widened with joy when they saw how amazing she looked in the dress. She painted a smile on her face and began to walk down the aisle.
At the altar, Kate could see Norman waiting for her. Why the hell was there a part of her that still wanted to turn and run? Now was not the time for ridiculous intrusive thoughts. She needed to get it together. It was too late to do a runner now anyway.
But what the hell was she going to say for her vows? This was her last chance to think of some poetic words before the ceremony began. And her mind was still a complete blank.
Then, before she knew it, she was at the altar and Norman was pulling back her veil. She said a silent prayer that the words would magically come to her when it was her turn to speak.
‘Hi,’ Norman smiled, when he saw her face.
‘Hi,’ she said back.
Really? Was that all he had to say to her? Not even, ‘You look beautiful?’
Let it go, she told herself. It was her wedding day. There was no need to fester on the small things.
The music stopped and people took their seats as the priest began to speak.
‘We are gathered here today in the sight of God to join together Norman Cox and Kate O’Connor in holy matrimony, which is an honourable estate, instituted by God . . .’ Father O’Toole began.
His voice was incredibly dull. She had wanted a modern priest who would make things a little more entertaining. Instead, she got one who was doing everything by the book. Literally. He was taking forever to say each word which made every passing second unbearable. He had horrifically bad breath too, and all Kate could smell was the foul odour of gum disease. Suddenly, Elvis didn’t seem like such a bad officiant.
‘. . . Marriage should not be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Into this holy estate, Norman Cox and Kate O’Connor come now to be joined. Therefore, if anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, speak now or for ever hold your peace.’
Kate’s heart was in her mouth.
She wanted someone to object. Was Siobhan’s fake seizure offer still on the table? She wanted to object to her own wedding, but she was afraid.
Afraid of ruining her own life.
‘Wonderful,’ Father O’Toole said. ‘We will begin with a reading from the Apostle Paul, the first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13: Love is patient, love is kind . . .’
Great, a prayer. That gave Kate a few seconds to think of some vows. What did she love about Norman? She needed to make a mental list of some bullet points to guide her.
Why was she completely blanking on everything? Norman literally ticked every box on her list! So why couldn’t she name a single point on the list to save her life? All she could think about were the things she loved about Trevor.
But loving Trevor was hopeless.
It wasn’t a Corinthians reading she needed.
She needed a Hail Mary.
‘. . . through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen,’ Father O’Toole concluded.
‘Amen,’ everyone replied.
‘Oh yes, amen,’ Kate said, snapping out of her daze.
‘I believe the bride and groom have prepared their own vows, is that right?’ Father O’Toole asked.
‘Yes,’ Norman said, taking a flashcard out of his jacket pocket. He cleared his throat and began to speak. ‘Kate, I knew we were perfect for each other the moment we met. You had a toothache, I was a dentist. Need I say more? It certainly doesn’t get much more romantic than that. The day I removed your wisdom teeth, I knew you were a keeper. And when I gave you that crown, I knew you’d be my queen. And when we are old together, I will give you a perfect set of veneers to make sure you never stop smiling . . .’
The guests smiled at the words, but Kate immediately cringed. She didn’t want to be an old lady with a perfect set of teeth, faking a smile for the rest of her life.
‘. . . I can’t wait for you to make me the happiest man in the world,’ Norman said, wrapping up.
That was a weird thing to say, Kate thought to herself. Was it her job to make him the happiest man in the world? Why not say, ‘I can’t wait to make you the happiest woman in the world’? Was she overthinking?
Shit.
It was her turn to give her vows. But she didn’t have any. And her mind was more blank than ever. All eyes were on her and she couldn’t get a word out.
Kate’s silence was being noticed. She could hear whispers and coughs in the aisles.
‘This is when you tell everyone how much you love me,’ Norman joked to the guests, who laughed awkwardly.
‘Well . . . I . . .’ Kate began to stutter.
Siobhan looked at Natalie and Chloe with wide eyes, but they were helpless. They couldn’t speak for her. It was up to Kate to get the words out.
‘Eh . . . so . . . sorry, I’m just trying to find the perfect words,’ Kate said in a fluster.
‘Well, hurry up, you’re embarrassing yourself,’ Norman whispered.
She felt as if that nightmare she had was becoming a reality. All that was left to happen was for her teeth to start falling out. ‘Love . . . love is . . .’ Kate waffled. ‘. . . Well, it’s love . . .’
‘Kate, get it together. You’re making a show of me,’ Norman whispered again, louder this time.
It was only then that Kate made her decision.
She couldn’t go through with it. A life with Norman wasn’t what her heart wanted. She didn’t want the life that had been prescribed for her by her mother and society. Even if that meant being alone, it was better than living in another person’s version of happily ever after. Kate’s days of people pleasing were officially over. But she was about to leave her own wedding early. How on earth was she going to tell Norman and the 200 people watching her?
Her heart was in her mouth.
‘Norman, I’m so sorry but I can’t mar—’ she began.
But before Kate could finish her sentence, she heard the BANG of the church doors swinging open. A gust of wind swept down the aisle, blowing the hat right off Margaret’s head. Everyone turned around in shock to see who had caused such an unholy ruckus.
And when Kate turned her head, there he was.
The only man she had ever loved.
The only man she ever would love.
The one and only.
Trevor Fucking Rush.
‘STOP THE WEDDING!’ Trevor roared, barging in with a piece of paper in his hand.
The crowd gasped as they watched him approach the altar like a madman. Kate almost fainted in disbelief. Surely this wasn’t really happening. She looked over at the girls and saw their jaws on the floor.
Had Trevor Rush really just barged into her wedding?
‘What is the meaning of this?’ Norman said, dumbfounded. ‘Who the hell are you?’
‘I’m Kate’s husband,’ Trevor said, arriving at the altar.
‘EXCUSE ME?’ Norman said, in pure and utter shock.
‘Jesus, girls, my fanny’s going ninety!’ Siobhan whispered.
‘Same!’ Chloe and Natalie whispered back.
‘Our annulment was denied, Freckles,’ Trevor said. ‘You messed up the paperwork.’
‘What?’ Kate said, getting her voice back. ‘What do you mean?’ Kate never messed up paperwork. She loved paperwork!
‘The judge rejected our annulment because you signed it incorrectly,’ Trevor said, handing her the papers.
‘What annulment?’ Norman said. ‘Somebody tell me what the hell is going on!’
‘You almost married a married woman, Norton,’ Trevor said
‘It’s Norman!’
‘It’s irrelevant,’ Trevor said. ‘She’s married to me, which means you can’t legally marry her.’
‘Well, I can’t marry two people if one of them is already married,’ Father O’Toole said.
Kate looked down at the papers and didn’t see any problem.
‘I don’t understand – we filled in all the sections,’ she said.
‘Yeah, but look at your signature,’ Trevor instructed.
Kate looked down to see her signature. Kate O’Connor. ‘I signed it Kate O’Connor. That’s my name.’
‘No, it’s not. It’s Kate Rush. You took my name, Freckles. The judge said the marriage can’t be annulled unless your correct legal name is used. So you’re going to have to cross out O’Connor and sign it as Kate Rush.’
‘What in God’s name is he talking about?’ Norman screeched.
‘Stay out of this, Norbit,’ Trevor said.
‘IT’S NORMAN!’
‘Well, if your fiancée simply signs the annulment with her correct legal name, I can be on my way,’ Trevor said, his lips curling into a devious grin. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Trevor Fucking Rush at his finest.
‘KATE, WHAT IS THIS BASTARD TALKING ABOUT?’ Norman shouted, demanding an explanation.
‘He’s telling the truth, Norman,’ Kate admitted. ‘This man is my husband.’
‘WHAT? Then sign that fucking paper and get rid of him!’
Kate looked around the church at everyone staring in horror. Her mother in particular had the most unholy grimace she had ever seen. Her dad, however, couldn’t help but smile. He nodded his head at her and Kate knew exactly what it meant.
He had just given her away.
‘I’ll sign the annulment,’ Kate said, turning back to Trevor. ‘Under one condition . . .’
‘What condition?’ Trevor replied.
‘You have to go on three dates with me,’ Kate smirked.
‘KATE!’ Norman squealed.
‘That’s three conditions,’ Trevor said, raising an eyebrow.
‘Those are the terms,’ Kate said.
A coy smile painted itself across Trevor’s face. ‘Well, then I guess I have no choice but to agree,’ he said.
‘EVERYBODY SHUT UP! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?’ Norman cried at the top of his lungs.
Ignoring him, Kate stormed over to her mother and held out her hand. ‘Give me the ring.’
‘Kate, have you lost your Goddamned mind?’ Margaret snapped.
‘No, mother. I think I’ve finally found it,’ she said, snatching the bag out of Margaret’s hands. She grabbed her phone and slipped Trevor’s engagement ring onto her finger where it belonged.
‘Yes!’ Siobhan said. ‘Team Trevor all the way!’
‘Kate, you better start fucking explaining yourself!’ Norman said.
‘Everything he said is true, Norman,’ Kate said, walking back over. ‘I’m already married. And for the past nine years, I was already engaged. I just didn’t know it.’
‘Is this some kind of elaborate joke? I made you who you are. Before me you were just another delusional hack going absolutely nowhere!’
Kate felt her entire relationship with Norman flash before her eyes. His words were too specific for it to be a coincidence. He was the anonymous troll who had commented on her song. He was the one who had caused her to give up on her dream.
‘It was you,’ Kate said, disgusted. ‘You’re the one who left that hate comment.’
‘It wasn’t a hate comment, Kate, it was an honest comment. I couldn’t let you embarrass yourself with that cringey music!’
‘Actually, her song just hit one million streams on YouTube,’ Trevor said, a glint of pride in his eyes.
‘I don’t care if it hits one billion streams!’ Norman screamed. ‘Kate, are you actually going to throw away what we have for this prick? Are you really that worthless?’
‘Call her worthless one more time and I’ll knock those veneers clean out of your mouth,’ Trevor said, deadly serious.
Norman looked Trevor up and down. ‘Not if I knock you out first!’ he shot back, lunging forward with a poorly aimed fist.
Trevor was poised and ready, however, side-stepping to avoid the clumsy attack with ease.
Overcommitted and off-balance, Norman tripped over his own feet, falling face-first towards the ground. The crowd held their collective breath as he plummeted, the silence shattered by the splintering of Norman’s two front teeth on the hard church floor.
‘MY VENEERS!’ he cried, clutching his mouth as the chipped porcelain abandoned his smile.
‘Hmm . . . that was easier than I thought,’ Trevor shrugged.
‘How could you do this to me, you bitch?’ Norman roared as he desperately tried to pick his teeth up off the floor. ‘Are you not even going to apologize?’
‘Well, Norman,’ Kate said, looking down on him. ‘I’m sorry you feel that way.’
‘Ready, darling?’ Trevor asked, turning to Kate.
‘Abso-fucking-lutely.’
Kate took Trevor’s hand as they darted out of the church’s grand entrance and hopped into their red getaway car. Behind them, the congregation spilled out, in a colourful flurry, Margaret still trying to get her hat back on her head.
Norman emerged from the mass, still cradling his two front teeth in his hand. His roar of outrage was drowned by the Mustang’s mighty growl as Trevor ignited the engine with a wicked smirk. Before anyone could stop them, he slammed the accelerator and the two were bolting towards freedom.
‘Oh my God,’ Kate said, pumping with adrenaline. ‘Trevor, how did you even find me?’
‘Are you kidding?’ he laughed. ‘You wouldn’t shut up about the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook. Maybe subconsciously you always wanted me to come and save you.’
‘Maybe you’re right.’
‘I was serious about your song hitting one million streams by the way.’
‘You mean our song?’
‘The first of many, I hope,’ Trevor said. ‘Charlie said a lot of record labels are interested in hearing more.’
‘Then we’ll just have to give them more.’
‘And Charlie also wants Natalie’s phone number,’ Trevor laughed.
‘That can certainly be arranged,’ Kate smiled.
‘But you know what this means though, don’t you?’
‘Back to Vegas?’
‘Nope. The Vegas curse is broken. We can go wherever we want.’
‘As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we go,’ Kate said, her heart full of genuine joy. ‘But Trevor, what made you come back?’
‘Vinnie called to tell me the annulment was denied. He told me what you said.’
‘And I meant every word of it. I love you, Trevor. I always have and I always will.’
‘Well, you haven’t won me back just yet, Freckles,’ he said, playfully. ‘You have three dates to make me admit that I’m still in love with you.’
‘And that’s exactly what I intend to do,’ she smiled. ‘Get ready for the honeymoon of your dreams.’
Kate felt her phone vibrating like crazy, and she immediately knew why. She opened the group chat to see exactly what she expected.
Chloe: Kate, that was iconic!!!
Siobhan: Obsessed!!!
#TeamTrevor all the way baby!
Natalie: norman who???
Siobhan: My fanny’s still throbbin tbh
Chloe: So proud of you Kate!!!
Kate: Thanks girls, I love you all so much!
See you after my honeymoon x
Kate smiled uncontrollably as she closed the group chat and turned to face Trevor.
‘So what’s the plan, Freckles?’ he asked.
‘You know what?’ Kate smiled as she took the clips out of her hair. ‘Why don’t we just see what happens?’
‘It’s nice to finally have you back, Kate.’
Trevor smiled and leaned over to kiss his wife. After nine long years, Kate was finally back in a red Mustang beside her ride or die, with no plan whatsoever.
And she had never felt more free.
But she couldn’t help but laugh at the one thing she had always known in her heart and soul ever since she was a little girl.
Because Kate’s wedding truly was the happiest day of her life.