When Catherine saw her family standing on the quayside waving up at her she cried with joy. Even her aunt Maggie had turned up, sitting on the cart like Queen Victoria herself.
The young couple stepped off the boat carrying a child each. Breege took hold of Maisie while Mary snatched her grandson from his father’s tight grip.
Hugs and kisses were exchanged while Patrick and James stood aloof, having shared a brief handshake.
“Look at her ladyship, sitting up there on her throne, like the Queen herself,” Catherine gave a little curtsy to her aunt.
“Myself and the King here are quite happy in each other’s company. Isn’t that so, Rí?” Maggie called out to the donkey. “It took me so long to climb up here, I’ve no intention of repeating it for ye all to see and make fun of. Here, hand me up those poor wee mites before the life is squeezed out of them.”
As Tom and Maisie were being lifted up to join their great-aunt, one of the ship’s crew came over to Patrick and spoke to him. The young man nodded and pointed to the cart. James watched as the crewman walked away and wondered what his son-in-law was up to. Patrick could see him staring and skirted around the women, who were still embracing each other, tears of joy glistening on their cheeks.
“I brought something over from England but it’s a wee bit heavy. Is it alright with you if we hoist it onto the cart?” Patrick inquired of James.
“I see you’ve already made the arrangement with one of the crew, so you might as well get on with it. As long as it doesn’t do any damage, mind,” was James’s blunt reply.
Patrick cringed inwardly at the tone of his father-in-law’s voice. He silently berated himself for not speaking to him first about using his cart to transport the surprise he had organized for Catherine.
“I’m sorry Maggie, you’ll have to come down from your throne until we load something onto the cart. Here, let me help you,” the young man held his arms up to her.
“You’re a gentleman, Patrick, and no doubt about it,” Maggie shot her brother a dagger of a look.
Putting her hands on the broad, muscular shoulders of the ex-quarryman, the older woman was taken aback at the change in him.
“I do declare, Patrick Gallagher, you’ve turned into a fine figure of a man,” Maggie said, pinching his arms.
The young father’s face coloured as he lifted his children down from the cart and handed them to Mary and Breege, before leading the donkey further along the quayside. He saw where the winch for lifting the cargo was positioned on the boat and placed the cart where one of the crew had directed. When Patrick looked back at his family he was amused by the confused look on their faces and beckoned to Catherine.
“What are you up to now?” she asked when she reached him.
Patrick stood her in front of him, facing the cart, and told her to close her eyes.
“On no account are you to open them, no matter what sounds you hear. I have a surprise for you,” Patrick said as he steadied the donkey.
“What manner of a surprise is it that you have need of a cart?” Catherine looked back at her children and laughed. “I think your da has brought an elephant with him, all the way from England,” she called out.
“Put your hands over your eyes, Catherine. No peeking, do you hear?” said Patrick.
Doing as she was told, the young wife felt foolish standing by the cart with her eyes shut tight and her family watching, along with a few other spectators. She heard the squeal of the pulleys as the ropes strained with the weight of their burden and then a soft thud amid the creaking of wood. The donkey tried to move forward as the cart took the load and the sound of his hooves stamping on the ground almost made Catherine open her eyes.
“You can look now,” she heard Patrick say.
The sight of her old stove perched on top of the cart made her screech with delight as she threw herself into the young man’s arms. Her heart swelled with joy at the love Patrick must have had for her, to go to all that trouble.
“You are the best husband any woman could wish for, Patrick Gallagher.”
“Ah sure, I was only thinking of myself. Now you have no excuse not to make me a fine meal, have you?” Patrick teased.