Page 130 of Vengeful Union

In the end, he couldn’t bear to sell the house he’d grown up in, to get rid of all the physical reminders of his mother. And I couldn’t be happier. I get to be with Rory but also be near my family.

I hear a faint cry and smile, knowing that’s probably my nephew crying, angry that he hasn’t gotten his lunch. He was born just three weeks ago, and Declan looked flustered but happy when they arrived at the venue earlier.

My father meets me at the end of the aisle, tears in his green eyes.

“You look so much like your Ma. So beautiful.” He takes my hand and brings my knuckles to his lips.

I smile brightly, fighting tears. “Da, don’t say that. You’re going to make me cry off all my makeup.”

He stands beside me, sticking out his arm.

I loop my hand around his bicep and try to keep breathing deeply.

“Are you okay,a’stor?”

I look over at him. “As long as Rory’s standing at the altar, I’ll be fine.”

Da chuckles. “Aye. He’s there, love, don’t you worry.”

The music starts, the traditional bridal march. Call me old-fashioned, but most of our wedding is Irish Catholic traditional, including the hand-fasting ceremony.

My parents had been married in Ireland during a hand-fasting ceremony, and all my life I’ve wanted the same for my wedding.

Da insisted on footing the bill, even though Rory let him know he’d inherited all of his father’s ill-gotten money. Da is pretty traditional, too.

The ushers open the double doors, and we walk down the aisle.

Rory’s looking down at his feet at first, but as the doors open, he looks up at me.

His eyes travel up my dress, locking on mine.

His expression is blank, but I catch him wiping at his eyes when I get closer, and suddenly I’m fighting tears all over again.

I try to focus on the priest.

“Who gives this bride away?”

“Her Ma, who is in heaven, and me,” Da says, choking back a sob, and I squeeze his arm.

He lingers for a long time before letting go of my hand, but finally, he makes his way to the front row to sit.

I can’t keep my eyes off Rory, who looks amazing in a charcoal-gray suit.

My brothers are dressed all in black, and even Gray is in the groom’s party.

Gray and Rory have become fast friends since that first dinner.

The priest looks at us and at the crowd behind us. “We’re gathered here today to join the hands and hearts of Rory Murphy and Lara Burke. And they’ll be quite literally tying the knot with a traditional hand-fasting ceremony.”

He chuckles at the titters in the crowd.

He continues the ceremony, asking Rory to repeat vows and then me, all as he ties our hands together with an elaborate yellow ribbon.

My heart races so fast that I can barely contain myself, only listening just enough to the vows to repeat them.

I’m so excited to start my future with Rory that adrenaline is rushing through me.

The ceremony goes by in a blur.

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