Page 99 of River
CHAPTER 26
Irish Wedding
River
I would have never chosen a winter wedding for myself, but I had to admit that the lovely contrast between the rainy and windy weather outside and the warmth and beauty of the church inside was dramatic.
A woman with long wavy red hair and a green velvet dress with long sleeves sat in the back playing a Celtic harp.
Noah looked around and took everything in. I could tell he was surprised to see several of the guests in kilts.
“I thought kilts were for Scots,” he whispered.
“Some Irish wear them for special occasions,” I explained as we walked up to the rows where my family were already seated.
Atlas, Jolene, and their baby girl Rose stood up to greet us. Nathan and Serena looked like they’d just stepped out of a magazine with their stylish clothes, but they didn’t have their baby with them.
“Where’s the little one?” I whispered to Nathan as I slid in to sit next to him and Serena.
“We brought the nanny, and she’s taking care of him while we’re in church. Hello.” Nathan reached over me to shake hands with Noah. “I’m Nathan, and this is my wife, Serena.”
To Noah’s credit, he didn’t look starstruck when he shook hands with them.
From the row in front of us, Charles, Liv, and Saffron turned and waved.
“Where’s Lumi?” I asked in a soft voice and looked around.
“Up front.” My adoptive mother, Liv, pointed to the first row where Lumi sat.
Maximum went up to say hello and received a big hug from Damian while Lumi turned and waved at us.
When her eyes landed on Noah, she arched a brow and looked back at me with a facial expression so subtle that only those of us who knew her best would be able to tell that she was impressed.
I straightened up in my chair. Lumi had never approved of any of my boyfriends. Not really.
I’d called her after my trip to Ireland on Tuesday and babbled about my feelings for Noah and how wonderful he was. Lumi had been genuinely excited for me.
Over the next ten minutes, the church filled with guests while I explained who I knew from the people around us. By the altar stood the groom, Owen, a large man with graying hair whom I’d only met a handful of times. To his right stood a young man whom I guessed to be his son.
When the sound of Irish uillean pipes sounded from the balcony in the back of the church, we all turned to see three dashing musicians in full regalia playing.
“Are those bagpipes?” Noah asked me.
“They’re called uillean pipes, and they’re smaller and sweeter in their sound. The Highland bagpipes that they use in Scotland are much louder. They’re announcing the bride’s arrival.” We all stood up and turned our attention to the double doors, which were closed.
I’d just said it when the door opened, and Kit came walking in with the biggest smile on her face. Her father walked with her and looked proud.
I waved as Kit passed us. She looked lovely in her white dress and with her red hair plaited with flowers.
The ceremony took around thirty minutes with the priest performing both handfasting and the exchange of rings before he blessed their marriage and announced them man and wife.
When Kit and Owen walked out hand in hand, they were led by one of the pipers who played a lyrical tune.
“What was that thing the priest did when he bound their hands?” Noah asked.
“It’s called handfasting and is an ancient Celtic tradition. Back in the olden days, it was a commitment ritual that allowed the couple to live together for a year and a day to see if they were compatible.”
“What if they weren’t?”
