Page 100 of Stolen Mafia Vows
“You didn’t let me finish.” Terry rolls his eyes. He looks surprisingly well for a man who almost died and had to have a bullet removed from his chest. “I was going to say that he can’t take you back to Ireland until he does this properly.”
Emily furrows her brow. “Does what properly?”
“The proposal. The wedding. Marriage. The whole shebang. You have no idea how much grief I got from your mom when she found out that you’d gotten married in fucking Scotland of all places.”
Emily chuckles, and it’s the most beautiful sound in the whole world. How could I ever get bored with listening to her laughter, and watching her beautiful smile?
Her eyes meet mine and she gives me the briefest nod.
“Sir,” I address Terry, “can I have your permission to marry?—”
“Hold it right there.” Terry raises a hand, then drops it weakly back onto the bed, and my heart starts thudding in confusion. “My wife will be here any moment. If we’re doing this, we’re not doing it without her.”
On cue, I hear voices from outside the hospital room. The door flies open, bouncing on its hinges, and Moira Murray-Keegan breezes in with a waft of honey-toned perfume.
From the little Emily told me about her mom, I kind of got the sense that she was the one in control, and that her children were all scared of her. First impression now: Moira is Mother Earth, a formidable force, a powerhouse of a woman, who is used to calling the shots.
But when she skirts around the bed, leans over Terry, and kisses him while squeezing his hand, I also see that she is a woman with a big heart. A caring, nurturing woman who has raised five amazing human beings.
She turns around to face me, and I hesitate under her scrutiny. Finally, she says, “If you ever hurt my daughter, you’ll have me to deal with. Do you understand?”
“Completely. But I promise you that I would rather gouge out my own eyes than hurt Emily.”
Moira’s dark eyes soften, and she gestures for me to move closer and hug her. She has the same build as Emily, curvy and strong, as if fueled by a solid ball of energy at her core, and I pity anyone who tries to cross her. She reminds me a little of my mom.
She releases me and perches on the edge of the bed, instinctively smothering Terry’s free hand with hers. “I hope you didn’t start without me.”
Terry winks at me. “I warned him that it was more than his life was worth.”
They both stare at me, and I find my own face flushing from all the attention. I want to get it right this time. I want Emily to be proud of me.
“Sir, ma’am,” I begin, “I’m in love with your daughter. I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy because she means the world to me. Sheismy world. So, I would like your permission to marry her.”
They both watch me, their expressions neutral.
“Please,” I add. “I apologize for not asking sooner, but I promise you that my intentions were never dishonorable. I fell in love with Emily the moment I first saw her.”
I’m babbling to fill the silence because they’re making me feel anxious.
Then, they both smile at the same time as if connected by telepathy, and Moira says, “Go on then, what are you waiting for?”
I don’t need to be told twice. I drop onto one knee in front of Emily, who releases her dad’s hand and sits up straighter in the visitor’s seat.
“Emily…” I take her hand and raise it to my lips. “A chroi.I don’t want a world without you in it. I will go wherever you want me to go. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. And I’ll be happy if you are my wife. Will you marry me?”
Emily opens her mouth to speak as Moira says, “Hold on.”
She leaves the bed and comes to stand beside us, hands on her hips. This isn’t quite the proposal I’d envisaged, but I know how much her parents’ approval means to Emily.
“Where’s the ring?” Moira asks.
“I have my gran’s wedding ring.” I pull the gold band from my pocket and hold it between thumb and forefinger for Moira to inspect. “But it feels wrong proposing with a wedding ring.”
“What does it mean to you, Eoghan?” Moira inspects the ring without touching it.
“It means love, home, family.” I pause. “I felt … humbled when Gran gave me her ring. Emily is my love,mo chuisle, my pulse.”
“Emily?” Moira turns to her daughter.
