Page 199 of Destined Lovers

Before I open her box, I remember something.

“Has my mam ever been to your place in Ballyclare?” I ask Agnes.

“Aye, your da loved my property, and a few times when he was trying to impress your mam, he would bring her there and set up picnics or romantic walks. It’s how I knew your mam was the one. Why do you ask?”

I smile, “Because she brought me there in my dream, it was a little foggy in my head, so I didn’t realize it was there until just now.”

I reach down and start to open Agnes's gift and stop once I see what it is.

“Agnes, no.”No way.

“I insist. This is your borrowed item.”

When Agnes got married, she wore a beautiful hairpiece adorned with small diamonds and pearls that lined the clip. The piece was passed down from generation to generation in her family.

I can’t possibly wear this.

“You’re my family, Nora. You have to wear it.” She says and gets up to signify the conversation is over.

Well, I guess that’s that.

I turn towards Declan, grab his face and kiss him with all my might, while he chuckles against my lips.

I still can’t get over it.

I’m marrying my best friend today.

27

Declan

After a frantic afternoonof all the women getting ready, we finally made it to our appointment at the city registry office on time, Maeve and Agnes by our side.

Nora is sitting across from me, hand in hand, with Maeve and Agnes attached to her other side. She’s laughing at whatever Maeve has just said, with pure joy bubbling out of her.

In all the years I’ve known Nora, I’ve never seen her as beautiful as I do now, with a bright, contagious smile, full of happiness, despite the information Agnes shared about her parents earlier.

Agnes was worried, but I knew my girl wouldn’t let the sadness outshine the happiness she’s yearned for her whole life.

She took it in stride and made the best of it.

I think, in some ways, it was therapeutic for her after the court case. It released her pent-up emotions, letting her move on easier and guilt-free.

While she was getting ready earlier, I sneakily watched her from afar to ensure she was still okay, and to no surprise, her happiness faltered not once.

So I continued my watch as she curled her gorgeous red hair, pulling one side back with Agnes borrowed headpiece, finishing it off with a crown of baby’s breath and a bright red lip.

I watched as she slipped on her elegant silk dress and sprayed the new perfume that Agnes made her, especially for her wedding night.

I want to remember these memories for eternity.

Because no part of today is more or less important…the day the love of my life officially becomes mine.

Not that she hasn’t always been mine, and I hers, but there’s something special about the sanctity of marriage, and I don’t mean religiously. I mean in a way that our love is so sacred to one another, neither of us gave up over the many years we were apart.

Nora saved her body for me, and my soul waited patiently until she returned. Somehow we stayed connected even from afar.

So today means more than her taking my surname. It means we’re finally and officially connected, a fresh start with the past in the past.

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