Gypsy Wedding by Kate Lace Page A

him?’
    ‘And why wouldn’t I?’ Except as she said that it was Jordan’s face in her mind, not Liam’s.
     
    It was gone two by the time Johnnie got his three daughters and their mother all piled into the white saloon. Billy and Jon-Boy had gone ahead to the church on their bikes as, being boys, it didn’t matter if they were out in public unescorted, but there was no way that a good gypsy family would let two unmarried daughters out in public without a chaperone. In any case, the church was across town and too far for the girls to walk in their heels.
    Shania wriggled with excitement on the back seat. ‘Do we know for certain Mikey is going to be there?’ she whispered to her sister.
    ‘I would think so. Why not?’
    ‘I don’t know. It’d be just my bad luck that he mightn’t make it.’
    ‘You’ll find out soon enough. And if he’s not, there’ll be other occasions.’
    ‘I know but what’ll I do if he doesn’t show?’
    ‘I don’t know. Try and get grabbed by someone else?’ Vicky suggested.
    ‘No! I only want Mikey.’
    ‘Then you’d best hope he doesn’t let you down.’ Shania looked crestfallen so Vicky gave her a hug. ‘But I’m sure he’ll be there.’
    They approached the church and could see that there was some degree of chaos outside it. The bride had already arrived and was busy posing for pictures with her entourage of bridesmaids. Theresa looked lovely in her huge puffball of a dress that was in the palest pink. The bodice was covered in little crystals that sparkled like diamonds in the bright summer sun. Her attendants were in deep cerise – a lovely contrast, thought Vicky.
    Waving at Theresa and her bridesmaids the O’Rourke family made their way into the church, stopping to cross themselves with holy water and genuflect to the altar as they made their way to an empty pew. The boys, who had already arrived, joined them. Ahead she could see the groom standing nervously and self-consciously at the front of the nave, his best man by his side. The poor lad looked scared witless. Staring at Seamus wasn’t going to help his nerves so she turned her attention to the other traveller families in all their finery. It made her feel proud to think of the effort everyone had made to look their best to celebrate Theresa’s wedding. Across the aisle sat Liam and his family. She gave him a warm smile. Vicky noticed with approval that he scrubbed up well in a shirt and tie. And there behind him was Mikey. Vicky nudged Shania.
    ‘You’re all right. He’s here.’
    ‘I know.’ Her voice came out in a squeak she was so excited. Vicky couldn’t help but smile.
    A minute or so later the organ began to belt out the wedding march. The congregation stopped chatting and laughing and rose to watch Theresa and her bridesmaids make their grand entrance, their magnificent dresses filling the aisle with net and chiffon and the church with colour.
    ‘It’ll be you next,’ Shania whispered to Vicky as Theresa reached the altar.
    Vicky nodded, not wanting to speak. Was she really ready for this step?
     
    The party afterwards was at a local hotel. The bride and groom set off ahead of their guests in a gaily decorated pony and trap while the rest of the traveller families got themselves sorted into cars and taxis. Billy and Jon-Boy careered after the carriage on their bikes, determined to get to the reception before their family, which, given the amount of time it took Johnnie and Mary-Rose to greet all their many friends as they came out of the church, wasn’t going to be much of a challenge.
    Finally Johnnie and his womenfolk were back in the car and ten minutes later they pulled up in the big car park of the local hotel. More photographs were being taken of the bride, the groom, the best man and the bridesmaids. Their parents and siblings were being rounded up to join in the group shots and the scene was one of cheerful chaos. Eventually, the photographer seemed to think he had enough pictures