‘Hurry, or we’ll be late,’ called Paddy up the stairs as they raced to get ready for the wedding rehearsal to be held in St Mary’s Church.
Helen applied a fresh coat of lipstick and checked that her hair and make-up were fine as she shut the bedroom door. Father Tom was going to take them all through the things they had to do during the wedding ceremony on Friday, and make sure that Amy and Dan weren’t too nervous.
‘Mum, have you seen my black wedges?’ called Ciara, throwing all the shoes and boots in the hall cupboard out on to the floor in a heap till she found the precious pair she wanted.
Helen smiled. She had forgotten how quiet things had been for the past two months with her younger daughter away. Ciara looked well after the trip to Thailand. Her normally pale skin had turned a soft golden colour, and she seemed more relaxed and calmer. As Paddy said: sitting on a beach contemplating the universe had done her some good!
Amy and Dan were already in the church, talking to the priest and Liam, when a few minutes later Eddie and Carmel and their two other sons, Rob and Dylan, arrived, too. Helen glanced around nervously, looking for Jess. It wasn’t like Jess to be late. Ronan arrived with Krista in tow and a few minutes later Jess appeared, all out of breath.
‘Sorry I’m late, but school starts on Monday and I was in checking on things and getting my classroom organized!’ she apologized, slipping into a bench.
Father Tom got them to gather around him as he explained the format of the ceremony: the welcome, the readings, the lighting of the candles, the marriage ceremony itself, followed by Communion, the blessing and finally the signing of the register and the long walk back down the aisle for the happily married couple.
‘Now, the first thing we will practise is the words Amy and Dan have to say to each other, as that is what everyone, including me, wants to hear.’
Amy stepped up to the altar. Her hand was shaking as she read from the booklet and, filled with emotion, her voice was barely audible.
‘I know that we have a microphone, but, Amy, you need to speak up a bit,’ encouraged the priest.
She tried again, but even though she was louder this time she totally forgot what she was saying. Then she took a deep breath and, concentrating totally on Dan, repeated exactly what she was meant to say.
Dan, taking his turn, missed the words, panicked, forgot everything, then turned bright red with embarrassment.
‘Dan, why don’t you have a go again?’ urged Father Tom.
Dan was almost as bad the second time, and it took four attempts before he lost the shake in his voice and was calm enough to remember the words of the marriage ceremony properly.
‘Dan, you’ll have the booklet with the words of the ceremony if you get stuck,’ assured the priest.
Helen thanked heaven that Father Tom had insisted on a rehearsal for everyone, as he made the young couple go through the actual marriage ceremony and exchange of rings until they had it perfectly and were both relaxed and calm.
Ronan and Rob both went up to practise the Bible readings they were doing for the wedding. Then Dylan and Ciara and Liam went through the prayers they would say for friends and family.
‘Now, let’s have the two mothers bringing up the gifts,’ suggested Father Tom, making Helen and Carmel practise getting in and out of the bench without tripping, and carrying the gifts to the altar.
‘Now I think that perhaps we will all be ready for this marriage on Friday.’ He laughed as they all stood around the altar together and said a few prayers.
‘Marriage is a precious gift,’ he said, ‘and not to be undertaken lightly. It is one of the most important sacraments in the church: the sacrament that binds a man and a woman together for the rest of their natural life and into eternity. It is the sacrament of love and joy, of honesty and truth and unselfishness, as a man and woman vow to always care for each other and to be each other’s friends in good times and in bad.’
Helen could feel a lump in her throat as she listened to Father Tom.
‘Paddy, do you mind me asking how long you and Helen have been married?’ he asked.
‘Thirty-three years. Our anniversary was in May,’ said Paddy proudly.
‘And what about you, Eddie? How long have you and Carmel been married?’ Father Tom asked, turning to the Quinns.
‘Thirty-six years,’ said Eddie. ‘We got married in London. I was only a lowly intern but Carmel worked night and day as a nurse to keep us going.’
‘Have any of you ever thought of renewing your marriage vows?’ asked the priest, glancing at them.
Helen used to think people getting married a second time was just for celebrities and Hollywood stars, but when Paddy had been lying in hospital in intensive care with machines and tubes and equipment all around him, she had wished that she could let him know just how much she still loved him and that she hadn’t regretted a single day of their marriage and would do it all again if given the chance.
‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘I have. It’s something that I would like to do some time.’
‘I have, too,’ said Paddy.
‘Yes,’ said Eddie, taking Carmel’s hand.
Carmel nodded quietly in agreement.
‘Well, would you each like to renew your marriage vows here this evening with me, and with your children and family as witnesses?’ Father Tom asked.
‘Yes,’ the four of them said, without the slightest hesitation, all certain and sure that this was something they wanted to do.
Helen held Paddy’s hand as Father Tom guided them through their vows, the words somehow more meaningful and beautiful with their three grown-up children standing watching.
‘I do,’ Helen said, eyes shining as she kissed Paddy, feeling like she was a young bride again and that the years had slipped away from them.
Carmel looked nervous as Eddie stood beside her and the priest got them also to repeat their vows. Eddie fought to compose himself as their boys looked on.
The children and their friends gave a huge hurrah, and congratulated the two couples as Father Tom finished.
‘Mum, I can’t believe it, you and Dad getting married again in front of us all.’ Amy hugged Helen. ‘It was so lovely. I’m so proud of you both.’
‘You and Dad are the best,’ said Ciara, wrapping her arms around Helen fiercely. ‘I love you, Mum.’
Ronan came over, his eyes shining as he congratulated them both. He kissed his girlfriend Krista, and Helen could see that her tall young son had decided that the quiet Polish girl with the long blonde hair and beautiful eyes standing beside him in the church would in time be his own bride.
They all thanked Father Tom.
‘I can’t wait till Friday when it’s our turn.’ Dan beamed at them all, wrapping his arms around Amy.
‘I booked a big table for dinner for everyone to have a bite to eat over in Fitzgerald’s,’ said Paddy as they crossed the street to the local pub.
Helen’s mind was in a spin as they sat down, Paddy ordering drinks for everyone to celebrate their own form of wedding that had just taken place. Helen could see that Carmel had been equally moved by the experience, and the two of them thanked Father Tom profusely for making them reflect on their own marriages as they renewed their vows.
‘I feel wonderful,’ said Helen, sipping a glass of wine. ‘It was so special that I will never forget tonight.’
Glancing around the table she could see that everyone was having fun as Liam regaled them with stories about Dan’s stag night in Edinburgh. Over at the far side she could see that Jess was sitting beside Rob, Dan’s older brother, chatting easily. Ciara was telling Dylan and Krista and Ronan all about her travels in Thailand. Paddy looked tired and a little pale, and she was glad to see him with his pint in hand sitting down near Eddie.
She was a lucky woman: blessed with a good husband, a happy marriage and a wonderful family. Tonight, renewing her marriage vows with Paddy, the man she had always loved, had made her realize just how much their marriage meant to her.
‘To the Quinns and the O’Connors!’ toasted Liam, getting everyone to raise their glasses.