“You’ve waited long enough,” she’d told them. “Luke and I want to share this day with you, if you don’t mind. And we’d like it to be simple, right here in your garden. I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for the start of our marriage.”
“If you’re certain, then nothing would please us more,” Nell had assured her.
Beside her now, Mick gave her arm a squeeze. “You sure about this, Ma? It’s not too late to make a run for it.”
“Stop that!” she scolded. “You know I want to marry Dillon.”
Mick grinned. “Just checking. Sometimes women can be fickle.”
“I’ve loved the man for more than sixty years,” she said. “There’s nothing fickle about that.” She gave him a rueful look. “And that’s meant as no disrespect to your father. He was a wonderful man, and he gave me three of the most amazing sons a woman could ever hope to have. I have no regrets on that score, either.”
“I know,” Mick said quietly. “And you deserve this, Ma. Dad would want it for you, too. I know he would. You deserve Dillon’s love and the happiness it will bring to your life.”
“I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’m grateful for it. It’s a blessing at my age to find this kind of joy. I feel like the girl I was when he and I first met.”
“Would you two stop with the heart-to-heart chat en route to the priest?” Luke called out from his place beside Dillon. “I have a bride back there, too, you know.”
The entire family laughed at his impatience. It had been a while coming, but there was no denying it now.
“Behave,” Moira called back. “It’s not too late for me to change my mind.”
Beside Nell, Mick chuckled. “So much for a solemn, dignified ceremony.”
“Oh, who needs that?” Nell said. “We’re O’Briens. We do things our own way.”
“So we do,” Mick said quietly. He bent down and kissed her cheek before placing her hand in Dillon’s. “God bless, Ma. I love you.”
“I’ve always been able to count on that,” she told him, misty-eyed even though she’d sworn that today was not a day for tears, even of the happy variety.
Then Moira was there, her hand in Luke’s, and the priest began the service. He’d argued for holding the ceremony at the church in the traditional way, but Nell had been adamant.
“The Lord is everywhere,” she’d insisted. “And this town, the beautiful bay, they’re a part of who I am. I want to be surrounded by family and friends in God’s setting.”
He’d had no further argument for that.
As they said their vows, all four voices rang out strong and sure, the promises carried on the breeze.
“I will love you now, and always,” Luke assured Moira.
“And I will love you with the very best part of who I am,” she responded.
Dillon gave his granddaughter a wink before turning to Nell. “My love for you has been a constant for a very long time, through a lifetime apart and too little time together. For whatever time we are given, I will count you as my greatest blessing.”
Once more, Nell felt her eyes sting with unexpected tears as she heard his heartfelt words. She glanced around at her family, took in the scenery and the garden that meant so much to her, then faced Dillon.
“All of this—the blessings I’ve had throughout a rich, fulfilled life—pale beside this chance to share the rest of my life with you. For the one thing I’ve always believed is that it is the people who live in our hearts who make us strong, who give us hope. There may be tears along the way, but in the end without those we love, there can be no true happiness. I’ve had great joy as an O’Brien all these years, and I will continue to take pride in the name and in this incredible family.” She smiled at Dillon. “But I will embrace being an O’Malley for as long as we both shall live.”
When the priest would have concluded the ceremony, Nell stopped him, drawing laughter when she said, “I’m not done just yet. I don’t plan to do this again, so indulge me.”
She turned to Luke and Moira. “Though my name may be changing today, the family is gaining another O’Brien who’ll do the name proud. Moira, when the reviews of your show rolled in, no one could have been more thrilled than we were. You have an exceptional talent and, if you’ll take one last bit of advice on this day of all days, it’s to stay true to your heart. There are many paths open to you, and I have no doubt that you can succeed at whichever one you choose. All I ask is that you choose wisely.” She grinned. “And I wouldn’t mind a few more great-grandbabies.”
The words had no sooner left her mouth than there was a startled gasp from the front row. Nell turned to see Connie clutching her stomach.
“How about one more grandchild first?” Thomas asked, his complexion pale. “I think we can grant you that any minute now, if you can wrap this up so I can get my wife to the hospital.”
The declaration that Dillon and Nell, and Moira and Luke, were wed was made in a rush and then the entire family piled into cars and headed for the hospital to await the arrival of Thomas’s first child. Sean Michael O’Brien came into the world, screaming impatiently, barely an hour after they got there.
It was late evening before the wedding reception finally got back on track. Nell was already beyond eager for bed and a
