Page 1 of Sam's Forever
CHAPTER 1
CROW & O’SHEA FAMILY MEETING
SAM
‘Fuck me,’who’d have thought organising a wedding would be so fucking complicated. I sort of understood. I mean, Ally and I came from massive families. Granted, not all were blood, but they were family just the same.
To complicate things, not all our family lived in the UK, including my biological dad and his family. Trying to find a day that suited everyone was a feat in itself; we’d finally got that down to September 20th. Everyone that mattered now had the date in their diary, and the invites would be going out this week.
“Do you think it’s too late to elope?” Ally asks me in an exhausted voice. Taking my attention from the road, I turn my head a little towards her. Every time I see her, I wonder how I got this lucky. Not only is Ally gorgeous in every way, but she also has a beautiful soul and has been running herself ragged trying to make everyone happy. I love her from the depths of my soul, and I’m about done with people making what is meant to be our day into a circus. I didn’t like the toll it was taking on my Old Lady.
That ended today, or I was cancelling it all, and Ally and I’d get married just the two of us. This day was meant to be about us, not everyone else. We had the date set, and if someone wantedto change it or anything but what Ally wanted for our wedding, they’d have to go through me.
“Hey, give me a minute, baby,” I say, checking in my rear-view mirror for traffic. Seeing none, I flick on my indicator and pull over onto the shoulder, putting my hazard lights on. Once we’re parked safely, I turn towards Ally. Unbuckling her seat belt, I tug her towards me. She climbs over the centre console and sinks onto my lap, burying her face in my throat. Her tears are warm on my skin, and anger fills me.
Tilting her face up towards mine, I wipe at the tears on her cheeks. “Listen to me, beautiful, this is your day. If you don’t like something, you tell them. I get that everyone is excited, but this day is about us, not them.”
“I don’t want to upset anyone,” she whispers. “I didn’t expect it to get this out of control. It makes me want to say fuck it and we go to the registrars and be done with it all.”
Pressing my lips to her temple, I tell her, “If that’s what you want, we’ll do that. All you have to do is tell me, and I’ll organise it. I’m about ready to be done with this craziness. All I want is you. I don’t care about anything. If you can’t say no, let me know, and I’ll do it for you. I have no issue pissing anyone off if what they’re doing is upsetting you.”
“Even our mothers?” Ally chuckles softly.
“Even our mothers, baby. You and what you want are more important than anything. I don’t care if it pisses your dad or my dad off.”
Ally tilts her head back on my shoulder; she’s smiling, “I love you, Sam.”
“I love you too, beautiful. Now before we get to your parents’ place, tell me what you want from our day.”
Ally’s quiet as she thinks before she replies, “I want us, our closest family, and friends. I don’t care about second cousins twice removed, business associates, and all the other crap. I don’t need anywhere fancy; I’d do it at Crow Manor if there wasn’t so much construction happening with the renovations.
“Finger foods where we can all mingle and simple cake with cupcakes for everyone to eat. I don’t want a sit-down meal, and I don’t care about speeches. I do want a father-daughter dance, though.”
“Consider it done, baby. Leave it to me, okay?”
Ally’s eyes search mine for a minute, then she smiles, and my heart skips a beat like it does every time she smiles at me with so much love; I’ve a hard time believing it’s all for me. Reaching up, she presses her lips to mine, tongue gently caressing my lips, seeking entry. I don’t deny her, deepening the kiss. When our lips part, I press my forehead to hers.
“You’ll always come first, baby. From now on, anything that doesn’t sit right with you, let me know, and I’ll handle it.”
Ally nods, looking relieved, “Okay.”
We both turn as a vehicle comes to a stop next to us. When I see it’s Alec and Bren, I open my window.
“Everything okay?” Alec wants to know. When he sees Ally’s tear-stained face, he frowns. “Don’t move,” he orders. Pulling up in front of us, he gets out of his vehicle. Going around to Bren’s door, he helps her out. Bren checks in the back where I know Lexie will be but must be happy because before long, they’re walking towards us hand in hand.
“What’s going on?” Bren wants to know when she sees that Ally’s upset.
“I just want to get married,” Ally explains. “I don’t want all the circus that this is turning into. This week it’s been about trying to find a venue big enough for everyone. I don’t even know some of these people. I just want our closest family and friends. I know Dad comes from a big family, but I don’t know all of them, and I’m not sure why we have to have clients at our wedding. If this wedding was for one of our parents, I’d understand, but it’s mine and Sam’s wedding.” Ally’s voice starts to tremble once more, and I can tell she’s about to burst into tears again. Rubbing her back, I pull her against my chest and look at my sister and her Old Man.
Bren has a contemplative look on her face when she asks, “Ally, what do you think of the old Star Hotel? Have you ever been there?”
Bren’s talking about a Victorian hotel on the outskirts of Feannag Village. It had been beautiful in its heyday; built with cream stone, it had four turrets and was on a large acreage with beautiful gardens. I’d been inside once when Mum had been doing a job there and remembered it having a large, beautiful foyer with a chandelier, original tile floors, and two sweeping staircases that took you up to the rooms. It also had a gorgeous ballroom.
“I love it, but it’s been sold and they’re not taking bookings because of renovations.”
“I know,” Bren grins. “I bought it, but if I can get it done by September, would you like to have your wedding there? You and Sam can be my guinea pigs. Any of your out-of-town family can stay there no charge. That’s one less thing for you to worry about. If you tell me what food you want, I’ll speak to the staff I’m keeping and see what we can do.”
“Really?” Ally asks, looking relieved. “That would be amazing. We’ll pay you, though.”
