Evenings greetings to all my readers,
here's a much better, lengthier and more plot moving alonger chapter for you all! It contains wedding prep but very little Turnadette action alas, I'm going to have the wedding chapter as either 23 or 24, depending on how 22 pans out!
I would like to say that this chapter has a few notes on the Catholic church, I did not write it as an anti-Catholic diatribe or anything! And I sincerely apologise to anyone I offend, it wasn't meant to be offensive but just the thoughts of a particular character!
I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I liked writing it and I have mental images of how Shelagh's wedding dress is going to look, but just like Patrick you're just going to have to wait until the big day to find out about it.
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far, you're all brilliant and I love to hear what you guys think - because that's why I write! So please do continue if you want!
Enjoy xx
This chapter's song is:
The Kooks – She moves in her own way
So at my show on Monday I was told that someday you'd be on your way to better things. It's not about your make-up, or how you try to shape up to these tiresome paper dreams. Paper dreams honey. So now you pour your heart out, you're telling me you're far out you're all about to lie down for your cause. But you don't pull my strings, cause I'm a better man. Moving on to better things. But uh oh, I love her because she moves in her own way, but uh oh, she came to my show just to hear about my day …
"Will you get a move on!"
"I am I am – I just need to find some shoes!"
"There's a pair here!"
"Which ones?"
"Uhh … they're green pumps?"
"Urgh they'll have to do … have you seen my keys?"
"They're in my hand! Come on Shelagh, we've got an appointment to keep!"
"Molly, it's 20 minutes away and since I'm the bride they're not exactly going to turn me away are they!"
"Urgh – you are IMPOSSIBLE!"
"OK – I'm ready, lets go." Grabbing her jacket off of the back of the sofa and switching off the radio as she ran through the flat. Shealgh paused at the front door and threw her sister a smile. "Thanks for this Molly, you're a star."
"No I'm not, I'm just a nice patient sister – now come along!"
Shelagh ran a hand along the rail of dresses and cocking her head to one side, she cast an eye across the sea of white. Pulling off her glasses she turned to the highly efficient blond sales assistant who was perched gently on the arm of the sofa with a patient and interested look permanently etched on her features.
"I'm after something … simple …"
"Simple's possible. Were you thinking of white or ivory?"
"I'm not sure … I just don't want a meringue or glitter or sequins or frills!"
"OK so no meringues, no glitter, no sequins and no frills. Well I imagine we could manage that. What about length?"
"Umm, I'm not sure, I mean I don't want a big train or anything … Molls?"
"Well could you have a proper long one without a train?" Replied Molly, casting an eye around the room,
"If you don't mind?" added in the sales assistant with a smile. "I would suggest a shorter style, perhaps a skirt that comes to just below the knee? Think … Audrey Hepburn! I think it would eventuate your legs since you're a little … uhh ..."
"Short? It's fine, you can call me short! So you think something shorter?"
"I think you should try some dresses on and see what you think!"
*Me and T are just going to go and sort out suits and then shall we meet at the church? Px*
*Sounds good – me and Molls are still going strong with the wedding dress shop S x*
*Rather you than me! Px*
"Right." Said Patrick pocketing his mobile, looking up he watched his 12 year old son stand awkwardly in his black suit in the middle of the room, while a pair of men critically watched the boy, "Uhh – what do you think son? It's a bit …"
"Black?" replied his son scornfully.
"Well funereal perhaps! I mean I like black suits but Tim just looks like he's … well he's at a wake. Shall we try the grey suit?"
"Did you want that as the three piece?"
"I think we should yes …"
"And for you Sir, you'll be in the grey too of course."
"Uhh … of course!"
"The slim fit is very fashionable at the moment, with a single breasted jacket."
"Right well – I guess you're the experts!"
"We like to think so sir, and for your ties?"
"I think … I think that I am a terrible judge of ties as my girlfriend will attest and that I'll leave that particular decision up to you!"
"Why don't you ask your fiancé yourself? And we'll go and find a suit in your size sir."
*TIES! COLOUR? HELP! Px*
*Pastels would be a good choice I think! Sxxx*
"Sir?"
"Uhh – the lady says pastels so … it'll be pastels I guess!"
Patrick was taking the last drag on his cigarette as Shelagh cycled up along the road, she gave him a quick wave as she checked the traffic and jumped the curb to lock her bike to the church railings. Having struggled with the padlock she swung her bag onto her back and stepped over towards Patrick, she swung her hands around his neck and leant up to kiss him with a wide grin.
"You look very cheerful love?"
"Well I've picked my dress and I love it, and I'm marrying you and I've got a georgous son in law and it's only 5 weeks until the new series of Downton Abbey – I'm in a good mood! How was your suit shopping?"
"Alright I think, I mean the suits are ordered and that's really all we could ask for! Ready?"
"Yeah, you alright Tim?"
"Yeah thanks Shelagh, how was your dress shopping?"
"Good, secretive but good! Shall we go in?"
"Let go." Said Shelagh, slipping her hand into Patrick's and the three walked towards the church doors, half open and pinned with a sign that warned thieves against stealing. Inside the cool church there was a familiar smell of wood polish, dust and books frequently opened and replaced. While neither were particularly religious both had been raised in their respective faiths, with his family being originally from Ireland and being raised Catholic, Patrick had never particularly enjoyed religion his primary memories of it were being a small boy in Blackpool being made to repent for sins that he wasn't sure that he had committed by their elderly priest who although he had presumably had the best intentions, the image of whom still made Patrick feel inherently guilty. He hadn't set foot in any kind of religious building since Clair's funeral but, for Shelagh it was important and that was something that he had to do.
The vicar, an man in his late 50's, was sat on the edge of pew talking briskly into his mobile phone, catching sight off the family he raised hand and nodded towards the other side of the church with a look of apology on his face as he mouthed builders at them and rolled his eyes. Sitting themselves down onto the free pews they looked around the chapel, it was different from the Catholic coliseum that Patrick had attended as a boy, and a little less scary, his breaths came a little easier. He turned to face Shelagh beside him and gave her a smile, reaching beside him for her hand, he gave it a tight squeeze.
"I am so so sorry!" Said the vicar, pocketing his mobile and walking over to the trio with a smile, "I'm trying to get the church roof repaired and it's proving a little tricky. I don't suppose you know anything about 18th century gabled roofs do you?"
"I can't say that it's really my area of expertise, I'm afraid!" replied Patrick.
"No, nor is it any one else in the East London area it would appear! Excuse me, I'm the Reverend David Morris, I'll assume that you are Miss McDonald, we spoke on the telephone?"
"Yes we did, how do you do, Shelagh please. This is my boyfriend Patrick."
"Of course, Dr Turner, you were indeed mentioned."
"I imagine I was, uh … please I'm Dr Turner in work, Patrick. And this here's my boy Tim!"
"Tim, how do you do, it is a pleasure!"
"Hi …"
"… He's a … uh … man of few words." Added Patrick with a smile, giving his son a reproachful look,
"Well, having spoken with Shelagh, I know that she is christened, and I believe that you yourself were christened into the Catholic church? Not that it matters much these days, back when I was fresh out of theological college we were much more strict!"
"Is it going to be an issue?" asked Patrick.
"No! Lord no, in my opinion marriage is about two people who love one another and want to support one another for the rest of their lives, making the ultimate commitment to each other in front of their friends and family. If we start saying that everyone married must be church of England, then we invalidate any couple who are Sikh or Muslim or Jewish or Athiests. As a man of God, I believe that as long as two people marry for the right reasons … then who am I to judge in which faith, if any at all, they choose to do it. Now – let's get down to the nitty gritty shall we!? In terms of legality, I'll assume, but obviously still have to check. that neither of you has any reason why can't legally marry? No wives or husbands, You're not related?"
"No … no as far as we know we're not related! I've had a Scottish registrar's certificate thingy sent down, you know to say that there's no impediment. And, my passport's here somewhere."
"Excellent, excellent …" Murmered the vicar, scanning the document. "And you Patrick?"
"I have my certificate of no impediment, and my passport … and my wife's death certificate …"
"Ahh, I am sorry, I didn't know."
"It's quite alright. Here it is."
"Thank you … a marriage is a trying thing for anyone, any couple to go through. Even more so where there is a bereavement on one side, my chapel, and myself are always here for either quiet reflection or for … a chat you know."
"Thank you Vicar, thank you but … this marriage isn't about Clair. It's about Tim and me and Shelagh being a family. Clair was a massive part of our lives, mine and Tim's, and I wouldn't swop all of that for the world, but I'm marrying Shelagh because I love her, and for some reason she'll have me. I'm not marrying her because I lost Clair, I'm marrying her and I lost Clair."
"A commendable attitude Dr Turner, I'll assume that you feel equally strongly Miss McDonald?"
"I do, I … I never thought that I'd meet anyone like Patrick, and I certainly never thought I'd be lucky enough to have a man like that want me. I've never been more certain of anything in my life. I mean I'm sure that you must meet couples that say that all the time … but I know that when I'm happy I want to share it with Patrick, when I'm hurt or sad I want him there, when I'm furious and want to have him assassinated by KGB spies … I'm still scared of losing him because … I wouldn't know what I would be doing now if I didn't have my two boys… so yeah."
"Well, I'm convinced. Tim? Any thoughts?"
"I dunno … umm … no I mean like it's good and stuff. Shelagh's nice, she's one of the nicest people I've ever met … like and she like puts up with Dad and me, and she makes dead nice toast and stuff so I guess it's good. I mean it's really good … yeah."
"Lovely, absolutely lovely. Well I see no problems here, obviously the banns will have to be read, and we'll put you in the wedding book, so that any … uh … objections, can be brought up before the ceremony. Now, any thought about dates?"