Mother of the Bride
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Authors: Marita Conlon-McKenna
THE BRIDE
Marita Conlon-McKenna
TRANSWORLD IRELAND
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Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781409094371
TRANSWORLD IRELAND
an imprint of The Random House Group Limited
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First published in 2010 by Transworld Ireland,
a division of Transworld Publishers
Copyright © Marita Conlon-McKenna 2010
Marita Conlon-McKenna has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781848270374
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2Â Â 4Â Â 6Â Â 8Â Â 10Â Â 9Â Â 7Â Â 5Â Â 3Â Â 1
For James with love
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Also by Marita Conlon-McKenna
THE MAGDALEN
PROMISED LAND
MIRACLE WOMAN
THE STONE HOUSE
THE HAT SHOP ON THE CORNER
THE MATCHMAKER
For my family, James, Mandy, Laura, Fiona and James, son-in-law Michael Hearty and little granddaughter Holly.
Special thanks to Mandy and Michael â a wonderful bride and groom! Also thanks to Tom and Breda for being such great in-laws. What a perfect summer wedding we all enjoyed.
To my agent, Caroline Sheldon, for all her support and belief over the years. Also thanks to Rosemarie and Jessica Buckman.
Thank you to my editor Linda Evans. What a delight to find that we are on the same page! It's been great working together.
To all the team at Transworld UK, especially my copy-editor, Lucy Pinney, for her sensitive work on the text, and to Vivien Garrett and Sarah Whitaker. Aislinn Casey for spreading the word! Also thanks to Eoin McHugh at Transworld Ireland. Thanks for all your work on my book, it is much appreciated.
To Gill and Simon Hess, Declan Heaney and Helen Gleed O'Connor and all in Gill Hess Dublin. What a great team!
Special thanks to Francesca Liversidge for all her support and encouragement and friendship over the years.
Thanks to Grace Murphy for the medical advice. (Any errors are my own).
Thanks to Barbara MacKenzie, cake-maker extraordinaire, for all her wedding wisdom.
For all the wonderful friends who enrich my life. You are the best!
Helen O'Connor listened to the deep rumbling snores coming from the other side of the bed. Looking at Paddy's contented face, as he snored on oblivious, she resisted the urge to thump him or turn him over. Instead she snuggled down under the cosy quilt, trying to lull herself into her usual deep sleep.
The house was quiet, the sound from the big grandfather clock in the hall strangely comforting as Helen turned over. She was tired, and could feel herself relax as the familiar comfort of their big bed worked its magic. She was almost asleep when the phone beside the bed began to ring. A quick glance at the bedside clock showed her that the time was after midnight. Concerned, she began to sit up as she answered it; beside her, Paddy was already beginning to rouse himself and wake.
âHello!' she answered, barely able to disguise the trepidation in her voice. Calls in the middle of the night usually signalled trouble of some sort. She held her breath, anxious.
âMum, it's all right. It's Amy. I'm just phoning to tell you that Daniel and I have got engaged.' Their elder daughter, Amy, was breathless
with excitement on the phone. âWe're in Venice, and it's so romantic. Dan proposed on this lovely little bridge over the canal as the sun went down, and then we went for dinner to this amazing restaurant called La Rondine. We're so happy. Can you believe it, Dan and I are going to get married?'
âAmy and Dan have just got engaged!' Helen shouted, shaking Paddy awake. âOh, Amy, that's wonderful news.' Helen was so happy for them both. Amy and her boyfriend Daniel were touring around Italy for a week, and were flying back from Florence at the weekend. Although they had only been together for about two and a half years, Helen and Paddy had secretly hoped that this relationship would work out. They both really liked Daniel, and felt he would make a great son-in-law; everything that the parents of a daughter would wish for. âCongratulations to you and Dan, we're so pleased for you.'
âMum, Dan and I don't want a long engagement,' Amy continued. âWe want to get married next summer!'
âNext summer!' Helen was a little surprised. From what she could gather, weddings took a lot of organizing. Still, if that's what Amy and Dan wanted. âThat sounds perfect. Here, I'll put you on to your dad. He's dying to congratulate you, too.'
Paddy at this stage was propped against the pillows, gesticulating madly that he wanted to talk to Amy. Helen passed him the phone, and craned to listen to the conversation.
âAmy, pet, congratulations. We're delighted. Dan's a lovely fellow, and I know that you'll be happy together,' Paddy said, trying to control his emotion. âFrom the minute I met him I knew that he would always take good care of you. And now he's going to marry
my little girl
!'
âOh, Dad,' Amy wailed. âI'm glad that you and Mum are so pleased for us. It's just so exciting.'
âPut Daniel on the phone a minute,' prompted Paddy. âWe want to tell him just how happy we are with the good news.'
They both pulled the phone off each other telling Daniel Quinn just how happy they were at the prospect of his joining the O'Connor clan. And they were both reassured by his promises to take care of their elder daughter.
âMammy, is Ciara there? I want to tell her too!'
Paddy yelled for their younger daughter, Ciara. Her dark hair standing on end, she arrived like a zombie in black pyjama bottoms and an ancient T-shirt, and grabbed the phone off them.
âHey, Amy, I can't believe it. You and Dan getting engaged . . . it's so grown up!'
She curled up on top of their bed as she chatted with Amy, eventually passing back the phone. Helen listened as Amy excitedly went through every detail of the proposal and told them she was sending them a photo of her engagement ring from her cell phone. Ciara went and grabbed her phone as the image appeared on the screen, and passed it to them, Helen being struck by the technology that could enable her to see the ring on her daughter's finger, even though she was in Italy and they were back home here in Dublin. All of them admired Amy's beautiful diamond ring.
âIt's absolutely gorgeous.'
âMum, listen, we've got to go! We have to phone Dan's parents and Ronan and Jess, but we're dying to see you all next week, when we can celebrate properly together.'
âGood night, love,' Helen said as the call ended, Ciara, Paddy and herself all agreeing that the engagement was great news.
âShe asked me to be a bridesmaid,' yawned Ciara. âDoes that mean I have to wear some disgusting frilly dress or something?'
âThat's great,' said Helen, wondering how in heaven's name Amy was going to get her normally Goth-styled sister into anything resembling a bridesmaid dress. âI'm sure you'll be a wonderful bridesmaid and a great help to Amy.'