Ava Comes Home (44 page)
Then it was Libby's turn. As she started up the aisle, she couldn't believe all the people there. They'd only invited family and the place was packed. It took a moment to realize all these people were her family. How incredibly lucky she was.
And then she saw him.
Seamus stood there in his new dark suit with a blue satin tie. His best man, Jack, stood beside him wearing the same thing. He saw her and he smiled that smile of his and he never looked away from her. She realized she wasn't going to cry and neither was he. There had been enough tears shed in their lifetimes. This was a happy day. Such a very happy day.
Besides, there were enough tears among the guests. She heard Aunt Vi wailing in the background, with Maurice and Harold a close second.
She was suddenly beside him and Uncle Angus kissed her. He placed her hand in Seamus's hand and answered “I do” when the minister asked, “Who giveth away this woman to this man?”
She didn't remember a word of it. She saw his smile and felt his hand in hers. But she did remember saying, “I, Elizabeth Ruby MacKinnon, take you, Seamus Duncan O'Reilly, to be my lawfully wedded husband.” And she heard him say loud and clear, “And I, Seamus Duncan O'Reilly, take you, Elizabeth Ruby MacKinnon, to be my lawfully wedded wife. Forever and ever and ever.”
Everyone laughed.
It was time for the ring. Jack searched in his left pocket and got a panicked look on his face. His father pointed to the right one. He produced it and shouted, “I found it!”
Seamus placed a wedding band on her finger and she placed one on his and they held each other's hands as the minister said, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may kiss your bride.” And when he kissed her, the whole church erupted with applause and joyous shouts. They parted laughing. She turned around and kissed Lola, who looked like a raccoon thanks to her awful mascara, and then she grabbed Sarah's hand and Seamus grabbed Jack's and cried, “Come on, everybody. Let's eat.”
They ran down the aisle as a family.
It was one heck of a party.
Libby and Seamus had a small glass of champagne and toasted themselves, but that was all. They were too excited to eat or drink. After a few happy hours with their loved ones, Seamus reached for her hand and they quietly slipped away as the celebration went on without them.
They weren't going on a honeymoon. Libby's refusal to leave the island was one problem and Seamus said since the rest of their lives were going to be one big honeymoon anyway, why bother?
They knew where they were going. They drove into his yard and left the car. It was a warm night so they walked down to the beach.
“Help,” she laughed. “I'm getting stuck. I'm punching holes in the grass.”
“Already, she's a pain.” He went over, lifted her up on his back and piggy-backed her down to the beach. She let her heels fall into the grass. They sat on the log for a while, looking up at the full moon that shone on the water.
“I have something to give you,” Seamus said.
“Silly, I told you not to buy me anything.”
“I had it already.”
He dug in the sand.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting your present.”
“Yippee, a clam!” she laughed.
“Yeah, you wait,” he smirked.
He finally unearthed the small velvet box and handed it to her. She smiled and opened it but the paper fell out first. She unfolded it and looked at the picture. “Thank you. Did Sarah do this?”
“Yes, but look on the back.”
She turned it over. “Dearest Libby, I love you. Seamus. And in coloured pencil no less.” She smiled. “You're sweet.” She leaned over to kiss him but he grabbed the box. “Hey, wait a minute.” He took the ring out of the box and knelt in front of her. “Mrs. Seamus Duncan O'Reilly, will you marry me?”
“Why, Mr. O'Reilly, I believe I already did.”
“I think you're right.” He placed the diamond on her finger and she held it out for him to see. “It's perfect.”
They looked at each other. She stood up, smiled, and then took off down the beach. He ran after her, but she was quick. She ran through the surf in her bare feet, holding up her gown. As she ran, he knew he'd seen this before. The night he saw her from his balcony. This was it, as if somewhere in time this moment had been foreseen and he'd been given a little glimpse, a small lifeline to hang onto.
He watched her in slow motion. She turned around, laughing at him, her beautiful blonde hair cascading down her back. That beautiâful laugh he waited a whole lifetime for. She was like a dream and then suddenly she was very real.
“You can't catch me.”
Of course he did, and she knew he would. He carried her up to the dunes and lay her down on the edge of the field. He got down beside her. She reached up and put her hands through his hair.
“I remember the scent of wild strawberries the night of our prom. Do you?”
He nodded.
“I love wild strawberries,” she whispered. “Almost as much as I love you.”
He kissed her then, and all he could remember afterwards was how soft her skin was, how sweet her mouth was, how stars and strawberries and the saltwater breeze made him drunk with desire. His breathing became ragged and he groaned with the wanting of her, and just before he fell over into that heavenly darkness, she said, “Don't stop. Don't ever, ever stop.”
Lesley Crewe is the author of
Shoot Me
(2006) and
Relative Happiness
(2005), which was shortlisted for the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. Previously a freelance writer and columnist for
Cape
Bretoner Magazine
, she currently writes a column for
Cahoots
online magazine. Born in Montreal, Lesley lives in Homeville, Nova Scotia.