Hey guys, I really loved writing this chapter so I hope you love it too!
I'm going away to the Philippines for three weeks and I'm not sure if I'll have the opportunity to write while I'm there or not so the next update could take some time (unless I can write during the 12 hour plane rides!)
Anyway, enjoy chapter 11, it's a special one for me. :)
Peace and love,
Renee.
...
After spending the majority of the afternoon with Grace's family, Grace, Oliver, Annie and Mrs. Pugh took the evening train from Little Island to the city of Cork.
Oliver had arranged a car to collect them from the train station and take them over the bridge crossing the River Lee, to the Imperial Hotel where they would be staying for the next few nights.
Grace's family would be taking the train from Little Island into Cork city the next day to join them and to show them all the local sites.
After several days at sea, a train trip, and all the emotion and excitement of meeting the Maguires, The Warbucks' and Mrs. Pugh were exhausted by the time they reached the hotel and got settled into their rooms. They all slept very well that night and the following morning, rose again feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
The four of them walked down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and ate happily, chatting excitedly about what they planned to do that day with the cousins, before they all made their way to the lobby to wait for their car which would be picking them up to drive them to the train station where they would meet Malachy, Mary and their children.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, please forgive me everyone, I seem to have left my hat in my room", Mrs. Pugh stopped in her stride as they neared the entrance of the hotel.
"Oh, no matter Mrs. Pugh. We'll wait for you while you go and get it", Oliver smiled at her in a friendly way.
Grace frowned at her husband. "Why don't you or I go up and get it for her?"
"Oh no, no, no. This is your honeymoon and not one moment of it should be spent with the two of you apart. Besides which, I'm sure Mr. Warbucks doesn't want to go rifling through my luggage", Mrs. Pugh reasoned with a light chuckle.
"Well, alright. We'll wait right here for you", Grace said, still feeling a little bit bad about making the older woman walk all the way to her room and back.
"I'll go and let the driver know we'll be slightly delayed", Oliver said as Mrs. Pugh left the group and he headed for the front door of the hotel.
Grace cast her eyes towards her daughter. "Was that strange to you?"
"What, Mommy?"
"Mrs. Pugh being so insistent that she be the one to go upstairs to get her hat."
"Maybe she's not just going to get her hat. Maybe there's something else she has to do that she doesn't want us to know about." The girl pursed her lips, as if she was embarrassed about her assumption, but Grace sighed with a smile. "You're quite right." She narrowed her eyes at the child. "How did you get so wise, young lady?"
Annie shrugged with a small giggle. Her Father returned to them and the family waited a few minutes more until Mrs. Pugh came back as well with a cheerful smile on her face. "Alrighty! Shall we be off?"
"Yes we shall", Oliver answered her with a smile on his face as well.
When they met the Maguires at the train station, Malachy was pushing baby Archie in a wicker stroller while Mary clung onto the little hands of Cormac and Donovan who were both itching to get away and explore. Young Elaine walked quietly at her Mother's side but her footsteps sped up when she spotted Annie ahead of them on the platform.
"Annie!" The girl grinned, rushing forward to embrace her cousin. "Hi Elaine! How was the train ride? It's awfully bumpy isn't it?"
Elaine nodded. "My bottom's a wee bit numb after it." Both girls giggled behind their hands.
They all walked out of the bustling train station to the car park. The Pullman limousine Oliver had rented could seat seven people, and being that there were ten of them altogether, as well as their driver, each of the children had to sit on one of the adult's laps.
Oliver sat up front next to the driver with Annie on his knee. Mary and Malachy were in the middle with their two elder sons and Grace and Mrs. Pugh sat in the back with Archie and Elaine.
Their first stop was the spectacular Blackrock Castle. Annie was beside herself with excitement to see an actual real-life castle, especially after all the fun she'd had playing on hers at home over the Summer.
The guide explained the history of the castle and everyone was fascinated, the Americans in particular. Annie's eyes were wide as she stared up at the massive, historic stone structure.
The guide showed them to the basement where there was an old cannon. The children had much fun taking turns pretending to load and fire it.
Everyone climbed to the top tower and they all gazed out across the River Lee. The boys found some sticks and pretended they were knights and the sticks were their swords.
"Come along boys, we've got another castle to see before lunch", Mary ushered them down off the tower.
"Another castle?!" Annie blurted in amazement. "How many castles are there in Ireland?"
"Quite a lot, darlin'", Mary chuckled in reply.
"Golly!" Annie was very impressed.
They drove out of Cork city and a little way into the country to Blarney Castle. All of them climbed to the top where Malachy explained the tradition of kissing the Blarney stone. "It's said to give you good luck, and to give anyone who kisses it the gift of the gab."
Oliver took Annie by the shoulders, holding her back from the stoneface and covering her mouth with his hand. "Well, you certainly don't need any help with that", he teased his daughter and she made a face at him while the others laughed.
Once they'd all kissed the stone, they piled back into the car yet again and returned to the city where they went to The English Market to buy food for lunch. They purchased bread and cheeses and cold cuts of meat which Oliver paid for of course, before they all skipped outside again and across the street to where there was a small patch of grass where they could sit and eat their lunch. It was a splendidly warm and cloudless day, perfect for a picnic.
Once they'd all finished eating and the children had begun to get restless and chase each other, Oliver glanced at his watch and said, "Well, I think after all of that delicious food, a little walk will do us all the world of good, what do you all think?"
"Shouldn't we let our food settle a little more?" Grace suggested.
"Oh but Grace, the city is calling us, beckoning us to explore it!" Oliver said with a flourish and Grace laughed, quite taken aback by his sudden theatrics.
"Well, alright then, explore it we shall", she laughed softly again, looping her arm through his.
They group walked for just a few minutes until they reached the grand looking "St Peter and Paul's church."
"Look, Gracie", Mary said gently to her cousin and Grace stared up at the high-steepled cathedral in wonderment.
"Oh Mary, it feels so sacred and so joyous to be standing here. Thank you, dear cousin", Grace's eyes filled with tears. She reached over and pulled Annie to her side. "My Mother and Father were married in this church in the year eighteen-ninety-five."
"Wow, that's a long time ago", Annie remarked, making the adults laugh.
"Well it was a few years before you were born, my darling. A few years before I was born in fa-" the end of Grace's sentence died on her lips as she turned to look at her husband and found him no longer standing beside her, but kneeling on the ground next to her.
"Oliver, what-", her words were cut short again as she noticed the glistening diamond ring in his hand.
"Grace, will you marry me?" He asked her directly but in a soft tone.
An astonished chuckle fell from Grace's mouth. "We're already married."
Oliver stood, Grace automatically reaching out to help him to his feet. He took her hands in his and smiled at her. "I mean will you marry me right here and now?"
Grace stared at him, her face still a picture of complete confusion.
Oliver elaborated for her benefit. "With Mary's assistance, I have arranged for us to have a convalidation ceremony, to bless us and our marriage, here in the church where your parents made their vows."
Grace blinked slowly at him in bewilderment. "But Oliver, you're not Catholic."
"Actually, I am." His expression became slightly sheepish. "Not a practicing one, obviously, but…I was baptized in the Catholic church when I was just sixteen days old. I received my first communion at the age of seven…not long before my Father died, followed shortly thereafter by my Mother." A cloud crossed his face. "Admittedly I rather lost my faith after that."
Grace looked at her husband empathetically, squeezing his hands which she was still holding on to.
"Well, here I was thinking I knew all there was to know about you, Oliver Warbucks, but you just surprise me more and more each day", she said tenderly.
"So is that a yes?" He prompted her with a small grin.
Tears formed in her eyes as she became quite overwhelmed with love for him. "How could my answer ever be anything else?"
She and Oliver beamed at one another, until Grace had a sudden realization. "Oh, but I don't have anything suitable to wear."
Oliver cleared his throat and flicked his head towards the black Rolls Royce that had just pulled up beside them. The driver got out and opened the back door for Mrs. Pugh who leaned in and pulled out an elegant light blue gown.
"Thank you my good man", Oliver thanked the driver who had clearly, unbeknownst to Grace, arrived at a very well-strategized moment.
"Mrs. Pugh", Grace breathed, her voice a mixture of surprise, accusation and pure love for her friend. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
The older woman laughed heartily. Grace turned to look at the rest of her family, her eyes wide with realization. "You all knew about this!"
Malachy and Mary smiled while the children giggled with delight.
Grace shook her head, turning back to Mrs. Pugh. "This morning with the hat. You went and got my dress then, didn't you?"
Mrs. Pugh tittered. "I had to be quite sneaky. Patrick here was waiting to meet me outside of our rooms when I went back upstairs to get my hat", the driver of the car smiled and nodded his head towards Grace.
Grace laughed at the dedication of everyone involved. "Well you've all been very devious…" she grinned widely and emotionally. "And I love you all so dearly for it."
"We love you too", Oliver told her sincerely. He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss upon her cheek. "I'll see you at the altar." He and Malachy walked into the church together, leaving the women and children behind.
"Will you be by my side?" Grace requested of Mary who nodded. "Of course I will."
"Oh but Mrs. Pugh…", Grace turned to the older woman who simply shook her head and handed the dress to her. "I had the honor the first time around, it should be your cousin with you now, especially since this church is such a special place to your family." She gave Grace a bright smile. "The children and I will be watching proudly from the pews."
Grace gave her cook and dear friend a grateful smile before she and Mary went to the church and found a private side chamber where Grace could change into her dress.
"I can't believe you and Oliver arranged all of this. I'm so overwhelmed and so thankful", Grace said to Mary sincerely.
"Our Mothers'd be beaming with pride", Mary smiled tearfully.
Grace nodded with tears in her own eyes.
A few minutes later, Grace and Mary joined Oliver and Malachy at the altar. An elderly, kindly looking priest stood at the pulpit. Grace stood by Oliver's side, Mary and Malachy flanking them. Grace took her husband's hand as she came to stand beside him.
"Dearly beloved", the priest addressed the small congregation in the comparatively enormous church. "You have come together in the house of the church so that in the presence of the church's minister your intention to enter into marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal."
Oliver gently squeezed Grace's hand, making her smile lightly and feel quite overwhelmed yet again with adoration.
"Christ abundantly blesses the love that binds you. Through a special sacrament he enriches and strengthens those he has already consecrated by holy baptism so that they may be faithful to each other forever and assume all the responsibilities of married life. And so now in the presence of God, I ask you to state your intentions."
They had of course had no rehearsal for the service, but Grace and Oliver were already aware of the correct responses to the Priest's questions.
"Oliver and Grace, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
"We have", the couple answered together.
"Are you prepared as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"
"We are", they both smiled.
As they spoke their consent, it occurred to Grace just how special this moment was. Not just to be married here, in the church where her parents said their vows, and with her family surrounding her, but to be married under God and with love in both hers and Oliver's hearts, and in their vows. It was quite a contrast to their original wedding, and it was absolutely the right and necessary thing to do, she felt.
"Oliver and Grace, since it is your intention to enter the covenant of holy matrimony, please now join your hands and declare your consent before God and his church."
The two of them turned to face each other and joined their hands that weren't already linked.
"Oliver, do you take Grace for your lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"
"I do", he said reverently, filling Grace and himself with yet another surge of emotion.
The priest asked the same of Grace and she replied softly and tenderly. "I do."
"May the Lord and his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the church and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessing within you. What God joins together, let no one put asunder."
The priest stepped forward and smiled gently at them both. "Will you give your rings to one another, please?"
Oliver and Grace slid their wedding rings off their fingers with a small degree of difficulty. The symbolism of that made Grace smile, knowing that her ring and what it signified had become so much a part of her, and now it would even more so, especially as it was joined by the beautiful engagement ring that Oliver had gotten for her.
"May the Lord bless these rings which you will give to one another as a sign of love and fidelity, amen."
"Oliver, please repeat these words - Grace, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Olive recited the words perfectly in response before sliding Grace's ring back onto her finger. She flexed it, feeling a sense of relief to have it back on again, not having realized how strange it felt not to be wearing it, even just for a moment.
The priest asked her to recite the same platitude before she placed Oliver's ring back onto his finger also. Oliver too stretched his hand out and sighed in contentment, raising his eyes to Grace and smiling at her lovingly.
The priest addressed the others in the church. "Dear brothers and sisters, let us now accompany this new family with our prayers that the mutual love of this couple may grow daily. For this bride and groom, we pray to the Lord."
"Lord hear our prayer", the adults among the group responded, all of the children looking inquisitively at them as the priest spoke again. "For their relatives and friends and for all who have assisted this couple, we pray to the Lord."
From her seat, Mrs. Pugh looked encouragingly at the little ones as they joined her in answering "Lord hear our prayer."
"For all families throughout the world and for lasting peace among all peoples, we pray to the Lord."
"Lord hear our prayer."
"For all members of our families who have passed from this world and for all the faithful departed, we pray to the Lord."
Grace and Oliver felt a pang in both of their hearts, thinking of their parents and wishing they could have been there with them. Especially Grace for whom this whole experience would have meant so much.
"Lord hear our prayer."
The priest motioned to the step in front of where he stood and Oliver and Grace knelt down upon it to be blessed by him.
"Dear brothers and sisters, let us humbly pray to the Lord that on these his servants now married in Christ, he may make of one heart and love, those he has joined by his holy covenant."
"Lord, look now in favor of these your servants joined together in marriage who've asked to be strengthened by your blessing. Send down on them the grace of the holy spirit and pour your love into their hearts that they may remain faithful in the marriage covenant. May the sanctity of love and peace abide in your daughter Grace. May her husband Oliver entrust his heart to her so that acknowledging her as his equal, and to show her new honor. May he cherish her always with the same love that Christ has for her."
Tears slipped down Grace's cheeks as the priest spoke his prayer and sentiment, recognizing her as someone who was special in the eyes of God, as well as in the eyes of her husband who had been the center of her world for so long.
"Lord, we implore that you make these your servants hold fast to their faith and keep your commands. May they be blameless in all they do and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear witness to Christ before all and grant that reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope they will come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord, amen."
He blessed the couple. "May almighty God bless you as you go forward in peace. Brothers and sisters, I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Warbucks." The priest smiled happily at Oliver and Grace who turned to offer each other a similarly joyous smile as well before pressing their lips softly together.
Mary, Malachy, Mrs. Pugh and the children all applauded the couple loudly as they separated again and turned to face them all.
Everyone came and hugged Oliver and Grace with words of congratulations for them. Mrs. Pugh said to them quietly, "Now, Patrick will drive you back to the hotel. Annie and I will return later this evening, but I don't even want the two of you to think of us until tomorrow night. This is now officially your honeymoon. You're to spend the next twenty-four hours alone, just the two of you. Understood?"
Oliver gave her a wry smile and answered, "Yes, boss."
Mrs Pugh placed a hand on each of their arms and told them, "I'm absolutely over the moon for you. You both deserve every happiness in the world."
Grace bent forward and wrapped Mrs. Pugh in a tight hug, "Thank you."
She pulled back and turned to hug her daughter as well. "Annie, please be good for Mrs. Pugh. We'll see you tomorrow evening, alright?"
"Actually Mommy, is it alright if I go back to my cousin's house and stay with them tonight?"
Mary and Malachy simply smiled and Mary shrugged. "The more the merrier."
Grace smiled gratefully at her before nodding her own ascent. Annie and Elaine both cheered in excitement.
"Well, there you go. Now you can have the night off. Enjoy yourself. You've earned it", Oliver winked at Mrs. Pugh who beamed in return.
The family waved them goodbye as Oliver took Grace's hand and helped her into the Rolls Royce before climbing in next to her. "Oh, I almost forgot. This belongs to you", he said suavely, taking out the sparkling diamond ring from his pocket. Now that Grace was focused on it without being so completely blindsided, she noticed how magnificent it was, how it shone so brightly.
She shook her head, her eyes meeting his as he took it out of the box and slid it onto her finger. "Oh Oliver, I…I really don't know what to say, or how to thank you for everything you've done today. I'm just gobsmacked."
Oliver chuckled and laced his fingers through hers. "It's my pleasure, dearest."
The drive back to the hotel was short so within a few minutes, Grace and Oliver were back in their room, alone together.
Oliver removed his shoes and socks and loosened his tie while Grace also removed her shoes and unpinned her hair. They sat side by side at the end of the hotel bed, the air of expectation hanging between them.
Grace's eyes lingered on her husband as he unbuttoned his waistcoat. "Oliver, what you did for me today…"
"You've already thanked me enough times, Grace, really", he gave her an amused yet pleased look.
"I just want you to know how much I truly appreciate it and how much I love you for it", she told him emotively.
He sighed with a gentle smile. "You know I will do anything to make you happy."
"You really mean that, don't you?" Grace queried, seeing the sincerity in his eyes.
Oliver's expression became serious, wanting to make her believe his words. "Yes, I do."
Drawing in a deep breath for courage, Grace reached over and took his hand. "Oliver…" she swallowed anxiously. "You know how much I love Annie. I feel so privileged to be her Mother. You and she mean everything to me."
Oliver's brow furrowed inquisitively. "Yes, I know."
"It's just that I've been feeling in my heart for some time now, a desire, a…yearning for a child of my own. Of our own."
Oliver's eyes went wide in surprise. Under the lights of the room they appeared to Grace to be sparkling.
"But what you said that night at the art gallery to Mrs. Appleby, how you felt you were too advanced in years to have a baby. Well, it's put a certain amount of doubt in my mind and so I've been hesitant to bring the topic up with you."
"Grace…that night at the gallery, we weren't even together as a couple yet. I was simply attempting to deflect the idea because I thought you might be uncomfortable speaking about it. I mean, I'll admit, I'm not confident that I would have the energy required to be a Father to a small child, but knowing that it would mean so much to you…of course I'm willing to try."
Relief and joy flooded Grace's face, her eyes filling with tears as she threw her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder.
"You do realize there's no guarantee that we'll even be able to conceive? But again, I'm willing to try", Oliver chuckled softly.
Grace smiled against his neck as he kissed the side of her head tenderly, then moved to kiss her cheek, and then her lips which met his enthusiastically.
Grace hummed, reaching up to curl her fingers around his collar, pulling him closer to her and returning his kiss with vigor.
She didn't know if it was the convalidation of their marriage vows or the fact that he'd expressed his willingness to try for a baby, but Grace was absolutely on fire for him.
Twisting herself to face him, she swung her leg over his thighs, hoisting herself up onto his lap.
Oliver moaned against her mouth and she did too, in reply as he dug his fingers into the flesh of her womanly hips.
She undid the buttons of his shirt hastily, causing him to groan at her eagerness.
She continued to kiss him fervently, their passion escalating with every second. Taking her by surprise, he flipped them so that he was above her and Grace whimpered at the flood of desire that hit her.
Knowing that now their love making was not only for the purposes of giving and receiving pleasure but the potential to create life, each sensation, each emotion was heightened. Knowing also that their marriage had been sanctified, the shared experience suddenly became something so profound.
As they reached their moments of climax, Grace had tears in her eyes and she gripped her husband and lover tightly feeling such utter love and devotion for him.
He kissed her tenderly as he lay by her side. "Come what may, that was wonderful", he smiled at her. Grace nodded in agreement and Oliver reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Until the day I die and even after that, I will love you Oliver Warbucks."
He pressed his forehead to hers and spoke emotively, opening his heart wide open to her. "Time won't outlast my love for you, Grace Warbucks."
