Page 104 of Stolen Mafia Vows
He has slowed down a little since he got shot, spending more time at home with Mom, and visiting me and Eoghan in Ireland, and although he hasn’t admitted it out loud, I wonder if he’s enjoying his enforced retirement more than he expected to.
“Shall we?” he asks.
I hesitate. “Have you seen Declan?”
Eoghan’s father has been elusive since Ruairi’s funeral. Several times, we found him sitting by his eldest son’s grave in the churchyard, and he mistook Eoghan for Ruairi when we approached him. But lately, he has been disappearing for days at a time, switching his phone off, and not even checking up on family business when he returns.
Everyone has been worried about him, and I know that Eoghan is concerned that he might not be here for the wedding.
Dad’s face crumples. “Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll be here.”
I wish I could be so certain. I know how disappointed Eoghan will be if his pa isn’t here to be his best man; he has even asked his uncle Donal to take his place if he doesn’t show.
We make our way slowly down the grand staircase in the center of the castle and through to the Orangerie where the wedding ceremony will take place. The guests have already taken their seats, but Eoghan’s Gran is waiting outside the room when we arrive.
“Orla, is everything alright?” I untangle my arm from my dad’s and go to her, taking her hand in mine.
Her eyes are pink and puffy, and she raises a handkerchief to her nose, dabbing it primly. She is wearing a plum-colored two-piece outfit with a matching hat, but the lines creasing her forehead are a dead giveaway that she’s stressed about her son’s whereabouts.
“I thought that he would be here for the wedding. He promised, Emily.”
I glance at my dad, and his shoulders slump. I feel so helpless. There’s no point telling her that her son will be alright when I don’t know where he goes or what he does when he disappears.
Instead, I wrap my arms around her and let her cry onto my shoulder.
Footsteps approach us from the front of the castle, and a voice says, “I’m not too late, am I?”
“Declan?” Orla pulls away from me and stares at her son, teary-eyed. “Where have you been?”
“I had stuff to sort out before my son’s wedding.” He turns to me. “You look beautiful, Emily. I know I haven’t been present a lot lately, but I just want you to know that I’m proud of you. Both of you.”
For the first time, I can see the resemblance between Eoghan and his father. He looks younger, brighter, more alive, and I murmur a silent prayer of gratitude to the universe for returning him to us in time for the wedding.
“Perhaps you should tell Eoghan,” I say, gesturing to the Orangerie. “He’s waiting for you.”
“I will. But first, I want to give you this.” He slides an official document from his suit pocket and hands it to me. “It’s my wedding gift to you both.”
I unfold the document and read the words Title Deeds printed in flowery cursive across the top. “What is it?”
“It’s a plot of land for you to build your animal sanctuary.” He exchanges glances with my dad, a smile finally tugging at the corners ofhis mouth.
“Oh my God, thank you!” I hug him tightly, my pulse racing with excitement. For the gift, for Declan getting here in time, for the wedding.
“I should go inside,” Declan says. “Don’t want to hold up the ceremony.”
He links arms with his mom, and they enter the Orangerie together.
“Happy?” Dad offers me his arm.
“I’ve never been happier.”
We walk to the doorway as Christina Perri’s song ‘A Thousand Years’ starts playing through the sound system. At the other end of the aisle, Eoghan and his pa turn around to face me, their faces alight with their smiles, and I finally understand: marrying Eoghan is the wedding I wanted all along.
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