Getting Approval

The torrential rain kept up the rest of the afternoon and lasted until the early hours of the morning. It was raining hard enough Colleen didn't attempt to make the short trip back to Mrs. MacDiarmid's.

"Rory will have the good sense to stay put," Mrs. Branson declared. She sent Colleen up to sleep in Rory's room for the night. "No one in the town will say a thing with your mother and his Auntie here," she declared. "Everyone will know where he's been anyway, if I don't mistake the gossip chain in these parts."

By morning the rain had stopped. Colleen's cloths were dry enough she made her way back over to Mrs. MacDiarmid's to get cleaned up and a fresh change of cloths. Rory showed up a bit later, looking worse for wear and splattered with mud from the open countryside. Mrs. Branson stepped outside for a moment to let him know about the events of the previous afternoon.

"So, it's settled then," he said. His concern for Colleen was obvious.

"I think so. Her mother finally understands. She does have some legitimate concerns but she didn't voice them well. A few words from you should still them."

"Very well, then," Rory said. "I'll just go and see Colleen first."

Rory was back in a few minutes.

"Colleen's busy getting cleaned up. Hello, Mrs. Drake. It's nice to see you."

"Rory, you're looking well, if a little tired. You're not working too hard are you?"

"Hard enough to stay out of trouble," he said with a grin. "I'll just go and get cleaned up. I don't have any hours today. Unless there's an emergency I'm free all day. We can talk when Colleen returns."

He grabbed the kettles of hot water Mrs. Branson had waiting for him on the back of the stove and headed off to the washroom for a bath. An hour later Rory headed over to retrieve Colleen. It was market day and a perfect time to introduce her to the locals and the people he now considered friends. They entered the kitchen hand in hand.

"I'd like your permission to marry your daughter," Rory asked Mrs. Drake. "I'll treat her well and take good care of her."

"Of course you will, Rory. I just hope you've thought this through," Mrs. Drake replied. "Where are you planning on getting married?"

"We can be married in six weeks here in the village church. We'll invite the entire town and anyone who wants to come from the surrounding villages. It will be an event."

"I only saw one church when we drove through town yesterday," Mrs. Drake said.

"That's right," Rory replied. "We'll be married there."

"I'm going to convert, Mummy," Colleen said quietly.

Her mother sat down with a flop on a chair.

"We'll be living in Ireland. People in these parts are Catholic, like Rory. It will make things easier," Colleen continued.

"You two seem to have everything worked out," Mrs. Drake said. "I can't stop you. You go right ahead."

"Mummy, please. Try to be understanding."

"Colleen is right," Rory contributed. "People around here are suspicious of anyone who isn't Catholic. There are lots of tourists here so they are more accepting of the non-Irish than in other places. If we get married in the church everyone will accept Colleen. They're good people round here. It will work out with or without your permission."

"You seem to have thought this through. If its what you really want, then fine you have my permission. I don't know what your father will say."

"Hopefully, he will be happy for us," Colleen said.

"I want to go introduce Colleen, you and Mrs. Branson around today. The town's people will be excited at the prospect of a big wedding with out of town guests. It's off season for tourists. They'll be so happy that they will have business for the hotels and guesthouses they'll forget Colleen is English. If they think you're happy about the wedding, it will go a long way."

"And just how are you planning to orchestrate such a large affair?" Mrs. Drake inquired.

"That's easy," Rory said. "The town's people will do it."

"Colleen doesn't have the cloths and fancy manners to pull something like this off," Mrs. Drake was still skeptical.

"We'll write to Lady Sybil. She'll raid her sisters cast offs and Colleen will have more than enough cloths in the blink of an eye. Manners are more a state of mind than anything else. The crowd from England will be happy I'm marrying someone I love and loves me back."

"You can't mean to invite the nobility!" Mrs. Drake said.

"Why wouldn't I?" Rory questioned her. "At least the ones that had a hand in raising me and my education. Plus I have friends from medical school. Now everyone get ready and we'll head into town. If you can't be happy don't come."

Rory was getting irritated but at the same time was looking forward to shutting down all the questions he was getting about his sweetheart from across the water. It wasn't long and the four of them were headed into town. Mrs. Branson was carrying a basket for some shopping. It was late fall and there would still be winter produce coming in from the farms. Rory's bachelor larder needed stocking if she would be staying for the next six weeks and cooking for the three of them.

It wasn't long before Mrs. Shay, Mrs. Donnelly and Mrs. Lonogan came bustling up the street together and stopped right in front of them.

"Doctor, how nice to see you and your guests in town," Mrs. Shay said.

"Hello ladies," Rory said. "I'd like you all to meet my fiancée Colleen Drake from Yorkshire, my Aunt Mrs. Branson from Dublin and Colleen's mother Mrs. Drake."

"How do you do? It's very nice to meet you all," Mrs. Donnelly said.

"Oh never mind all that Aoife," Mrs. Lonogan shushed her. She had too many unanswered questions and now was her chance. "You told us all you didn't have a sweetheart, doctor and now you do."

"I didn't when I first arrived," Rory said. He was trying not to laugh. "Colleen and I had something of a lover's tiff and broke things off. She reconsidered and came to find me. My Aunt has come up to stay until the wedding to help out."

"Are you getting married here?" Mrs. Shay asked.

"Yes, we are. We've already talked to Father O'Bierne. The wedding is set for six weeks from now. We want to invite everyone from the town and the surrounding villages. As well, we'll be inviting family and friends from England. We wanted to ask you, Mrs. Lonogan to orchestrate things for us and help Colleen out with the planning. Show her the ropes around here if you might?"

Mrs. Lonogan flushed with the honor the doctor was bestowing on her.

"Oh yes, I'd be happy to. Everyone will be so excited with the news. There is so much to plan and so many people to tell. Will you be staying until the wedding Mrs. Drake?"

"No, I'll be leaving tomorrow to return home. My husband is just finishing up with the harvest. We'll be back up for the wedding," she said with a smile. She was forcing herself to put on a good front for her daughter's and Rory's sake. She was coming around a bit and with these women's obvious excitement she was feeling a bit of relief that her daughter would be accepted in their midst.

"You ladies must come round to tea later today," Mrs. Lonogan invited. "We'll have to get the planning underway right away. My friends and I will get everything under control. Don't worry about a thing."

"Thank you, Mrs. Lonogan," Colleen said. "We'll be happy to accept."

"Yes, I'd like to get to know more of my nephew's friends and neighbors," Mrs. Branson contributed. "I'd best get on with some shopping. I need to fill Rory's larder. You know how bachelors are I'm sure."

"Oh yes of course," Mrs. Donnelly chimed in. "Don't worry about a thing. We'll take care of it."

"Until later ladies," Rory said as they took their leave from the three locals. The three ladies were busy chattering and planning in the middle of the street already.

"Now you've done it," Rory told Mrs. Branson with a laugh. "I can't wait to see what shows up."

"What ever do you mean?" she replied quizzically. "I do need to do some shopping."

"Just wait and see," he said with a chuckle.

The shopping took quite a long time as absolutely everyone they came across stopped to be introduced to Dr. Lester's fiancée and "company". The word about the wedding was spreading like wildfire through the town and people were excited. It was teatime by the time they were finished. Rory dropped the ladies off at Mrs. Lonogan's and took Mrs. Branson's basket to carry back with him. He arrived home to find three crates with an assortment of vegetables, sausages and bread on his back doorstep. He put away the groceries then took his fishing rod and a sandwich and headed to the cliffs for an hour or two of Cod fishing in the company of his dog.

Colleen, Mrs. Branson and Mrs. Drake weren't prepared for the group that greeted them when they arrived at Mrs. Lonogan's. Half a dozen ladies were assembled in her parlor all busy chatting up a storm. They had all kinds of questions and already had decided who would be baking the cake and where the reception would be held.

Colleen smiled widely and flushed and fluttered every time Rory's name was mentioned. Her standard reply became, "whatever you ladies think is best," when asked about her opinion on their decisions. She was obviously in love, which won over the hearts of the ladies in the room quickly.

"Now dear, since you're from England we have to ask are you Catholic," Mrs. Lonogan inquired. Mrs. Drake tensed slightly at the question.

"I'm converting. I meet with Father O'Bierne tomorrow," Colleen said happily.

"Oh how lovely," one of the ladies chirped up. "You won't have any trouble around here in that case."

Mrs. Drake finally relaxed and began to get into the mood of planning a wedding in earnest.

Mrs. Branson took over when the topic of the bride's trousseau came up.

"My daughter-in-law's sisters both married well. I'm sure both of her sisters will have all kinds of clothing to contribute they are no longer in need of," Mrs. Branson said. "Colleen will be well outfitted as befits a doctor's wife."

Her comment got a chorus of approving nods. These ladies all worked and contributed to their households. Wasting money on frivolous items wasn't in their scope of approval.

"Yes, how sensible," Mrs. Lonogan agreed. She was so obviously the leader of the pack in the small town that all the other heads nodded in agreement when she gave her approval on something.

By the time the ladies headed back to the cottage it was late and they were worn out from meeting so many of the town folk and all the planning. They arrived to find Rory chopping potatoes for fish and chips.

"I caught two Cod while you ladies were at tea," he said. "Wait until you try fish that is this fresh."

Mrs. Branson was carrying a jar of honey that had been left on the doorstop. She stopped and stared when she opened the door to the pantry. The shelves were stuffed.

"Rory, where did all this come from," she asked incredulously. Colleen and Mrs. Drake went to see what she was looking at.

"You mentioned in town that my larder was less than satisfactory. The town folks are generous. You won't have to shop the rest of the time you are here."

"You were right about this place," Colleen said dashing over to slide her arms around Rory's waist. "I love it here already."