God Gave Me You 31
"You look beautiful." Patrick whispered as she met him at the altar, taking her hand in his.
Shelagh smiled, but before she could reply the vicar began speaking. Drawing her gaze away, she squeezed his hand feeling him reciprocate immediately.
The ceremony, which Shelagh would later have no recollection of except for the look in her husband's eye and the feeling of their joined hands, went off without a hitch. Well, considering the maiden of honor was a toddler with a short attention span who ended up sitting on her godmothers lap halfway through the exchanging of rings, and the best man was a sometimes moody twelve year old who wouldn't stop twitching at his tie.
"I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife." Reverend Hereward paused before speaking directly to Patrick. "You may now kiss the bride."
As they turned towards each other, their whispered conversation only audible to themselves, Patrick knew he'd never be happier than this moment.
He bent down to kiss her, passionately but not overly so, seeing as they were standing in front of all their friends and family. As a cheer erupted through the church, they began making their way up the aisle and out to the waiting car that would take them to their reception.
Toasts had been given, photographs taken and cake cut. Angela and her brother, both on a sugar high thanks to inadequate supervision and Sister Monica Joan, were playing a game of hide and seek around the community centre. Patrick had been stood in the corner, watching his wife deep in conversation with a handful of the nurses until a slow tune began playing from the record player.
"Excuse me, ladies. Hate to interrupt, but I've come to steal my bride away for a proper dance." He held out his hand, not even trying to hide his smile as Shelagh took it and he led her out to the makeshift dance floor.
"Happy?"
"Yes. So very, very much."
They danced in silence for a few moments more until Patrick noticed her gazing around the room, her lips pursed as if she didn't know how to voice her next thought.
"Is everything alright?"
She nodded before speaking softly. "The party is lovely, dearest, but..."
"What is it, Shelagh?"
"How long do we have to stay?"
Swallowing thickly, he pulled her closer as they danced.
"Just say the word, my love, and we'll go."
Shelagh looked down at their feet and blushed before meeting his eyes and beaming at him. She took her hand from his chest and placed it on his shoulder for leverage, standing on tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"Take me home."
Patrick felt his chest constrict, and he clutched her harder against his body. It took all his self control to not give in to the overwhelming passion he felt for his wife in that moment.
"Right then..." he cleared his throat, trying to tamp down his emotions and get a hold of himself. "Let's find the children, and we can say our goodbyes."
The couple made their way around the room to thank their guests, their joined hands never parting. After trying to explain to Angela that 'Mummy and Daddy would only be gone for a few days', that she'd have much more fun with Sister Julienne and awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact with several of the nurses, they made their way out to Patrick's waiting car.
Since they were now able to have a longer honeymoon, their plans of staying in a West End hotel had been scratched for a trip out to the West Country the following morning. Their wedding night, however, would be spent in their home.
Pulling up to the flat, Patrick turned to Shelagh and kissed her palm the same way he had years before. Making his way around the car, he opened the passenger side and ushered her to the front door, his hands fumbling with the keys before finally getting the door open.
"Home at last, Mrs. Turner!"
Shelagh smiled at her husband as he gestured for her to go in. She began to take a step forward but was jolted as she felt hands wrap around her waist and lift her into the air.
"Oh! Patrick Turner, put me down this instant! You'll do your back in!"
"Such little faith in your husband, already? I'll have you know, my medical bag weighs more than you do!"
Giving up the pretense of being angry at him, she couldn't stop herself from laughing as he swung her around, using her foot to close the front door behind them, then gently placed her down on the floor, his hands never leaving her waist.
"Well then, what now Mrs. Turner?" He asked her cheekily as she grinned back at him.
"Well, I am quite tired...and we do have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow."
Patrick's face fell for a moment, thinking he'd come to the wrong conclusion of what was going to happen tonight. Shelagh, unable to keep a straight face any longer, burst into a giggle.
"Patrick...it's our wedding night. I'd quite like to turn in."
His shoulders relaxed as he let out the breath he'd been holding.
"Are you certain?" He asked, leaning closer to her lips.
"Completely." She bridged the gap between them, giving herself over to the feelings she no longer had to keep hidden inside.
He pulled away from her, breathless after several moments. "Give me just a minute. I'll be right back." He quickly went down the hall towards the bedrooms, emerging a moment later with his jacket stripped off and his tie loosened a bit. He held out his hand for her as he returned, ushering her back the way he came.
She opened the door to his bedroom, now theirs, and stood speechless at the sight in front of her. Candles flickered on the vanity and bedside tables with roses strewn across the bed. He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his head on her shoulder.
"Oh, Patrick." Shelagh breathed out, barely audible, voice half-choked with tears.
"There wasn't the chance for any of this...before." He stuttered over the words. "I wanted our first time to be romantic, for you to know how much I love you."
"I do know. It's as much as I love you. And I plan on making sure you know that every day for the rest of our lives."
She turned in his embrace and closed the door, locking them in, the intimacies of their marital bed shared only between themselves.