Jerry Dwyer bustled around moving chairs, sorting people by height, and when finally satisfied, shuffled over to his photographic equipment.
‘Hold the pose,’ he commanded as he took the photos of the wedding group. ‘And now, just the bride and groom please, so the rest of ye can all g’w’on inside for a spot o’ hooch now ye’ll be pleased to know.’
Louis and Cat sat rigidly, afraid to move, as Jerry took more photographs until he finally announced he was finished.
‘There,’ Jerry said, ‘captured for all time and ye can show yer grandchildren the photographs one day.’ He laughed as he began to pack up his equipment and promised to send copies of the photographs to England once he had developed them.
‘Well Cat, now that’s over shall we join the rest?’ Louis suggested.
‘Sure, only I just want a few moments with Mummy and Dada.’
Louis smiled at her and made his way inside. The noise was beyond ordinary speaking level and he had to push his way through the crowd to order a glass of porter. He leaned against the bar watching the band tune up.
So, he thought, I’ve finally done it! I’m now a married man. He turned the names over in his mind; Mrs. Ross; Mrs. Catherine Ross; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ross. My wife! It sounded so strange to him, yet oddly comforting. No longer alone but part of a couple.
He saw Cat come into the bar with her parents. She was looking for him among the crowd so he waved to draw her attention. She caught his gaze and in that instant he felt so elated he wanted to shout out with exhilaration , let my wife through, but instead decorum reigned and he merely moved towards her through the crush and said nothing.
The bandleader announced that the bride and groom would take the floor for the first dance, and gently Louis and Cat were guided to the space set aside for dancing. They stood facing one another and his arm went round her waist as she slipped her hand into his, and they began dancing, much to everyone’s delight.
After a while the music grew faster and Cat broke away from Louis as she performed the dance so familiar to her, but totally unknown to him.
He stood watching; fascinated. She pulled up her dress so that her feet, freed from the material, tapped and banged the floor as she performed a traditional Irish dance.
Her footwork amazed him. The crowd clapped in time with the music and Cat swirled and danced, her cheeks glowing as Louis dropped back into the crowd, watching his woman.
He felt he was witnessing a performance that would outstrip any world-class performer. He had no idea she could dance like this.
Cat’s sisters then joined her on the floor and soon the Delaney women took up the whole area. The party was in full swing!
By midnight things showed no sign of slowing down but Cat and Louis decided to slip away, knowing they had a long journey back to England in the morning.