Reunited

CHAPTER TWELVE

KEELY STOOD outside the judge's chambers, clutching the small bouquet of white roses and trying to calm herself. She hadn't expected to be so nervous. The decision to marry Rafe had been easy to make. She just hadn't realized the impact of that decision until this very moment. In less than an hour, she was going to be Mrs. Rafe Kendrick. Her stomach lurched and a wave of nausea washed over her. "Oh, God," she murmured.

"What's wrong?" Rafe asked. He sat calmly on a wooden bench, watching her pace back and forth in front of him.

"Nothing," Keely said.

"You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," she insisted.

He reached for her hand. "Sweetheart, why don't you sit down and relax? It's going to be a little while."

"Relax?" Keely asked, trying to keep the hysterical edge from her voice. "It's my wedding day. How can I relax?" She stared at him shrewdly. "And why aren't you nervous? You're the groom. Aren't you supposed to be having second thoughts right about now? You should be throwing up on my shoes!"

Rafe pulled her down to sit next to him on the bench. "No, I'm not nervous. I'm marrying the woman I love today. Why would I have second thoughts?"

"Because that's what grooms do!" Keely said. Another surge of nausea overwhelmed her and she pressed her fingertips to her lips. "Oh, God."

Rafe cursed softly, then slipped his hand over her nape and gently pushed her head down. "Breathe," he said. He chuckled softly.

"What's so funny?" Keely asked.

"Isn't this where we started? It has a perfect kind of symmetry, doesn't it?" Keely groaned and Rafe gently rubbed her back. "If you don't want to go through with this today, we can always come back another time. The license is good for three months."

Maybe they had rushed into this a little too impulsively. Keely had always struggled with her impetuous nature, that dominant gene that she now knew came from the Quinn side of the family. How many tales had she heard in the past few weeks about all the dangerous and reckless things her brothers had done? And here she was, following suit.

But this was marriage, the biggest decision of her life. Maybe she should have taken a little more time in planning a real wedding, given herself a chance to get used to the idea of happily ever after. "Do you want to get married today?"

Rafe tipped her chin up until her gaze met his. "I want whatever you want, Keely. I get the feeling I may have pushed you a little too hard for this. Maybe we should wait until you've told your parents. They really should be here."

"Well, now is a fine time to start backtracking," she muttered, plucking at the pearl-encrusted jacket that covered her sheath dress. "I bought this new dress, you've got a surprise honeymoon planned, I-"

"You'll save the dress and we'll freeze the cake and take a vacation instead of a honeymoon. But that's not going to change my feelings for you. I love you and I'm willing to wait if that's what you decide."

"No," she said, sitting up. She drew a deep breath. "I'm ready. There's no reason to wait."

"You don't want your mother to attend the ceremony and your father to walk you down the aisle?"

She had always dreamed of the fairy-tale wedding-the beautiful white gown and the flower-bedecked church, her friends and family all gathered around and the bridal march swelling from the organ as she walked down the aisle. "They've made that impossible," she said. "And I've accepted that."

The door to the judge's chambers opened and his clerk stepped out. "Kendrick-Quinn marriage. You're next."

Keely quickly stood up and smoothed her skirt, fighting back her nerves. Rafe rose, then took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm. Then he looked up and down the hall. "I guess this is it," he said.

They stepped inside and found Judge Williams waiting for them. He shook Rafe's hand, then introduced himself to Keely. "Well, here we are. Why don't we step into my office? Do you have witnesses?"

Rafe glanced at Keely. "We did. She should be here any minute. I don't know what's keeping Sylvie."

"Your clerk can be a witness, can't she?" Keely asked. "Or we could just go out into the hall and find someone?"

"We can do that if you like," the judge replied. "Or we can wait for a few more minutes. I'm not due back in court for another fifteen minutes. The ceremony only takes three or four."

Keely swallowed hard. The most important event in her life reduced to three or four minutes. Somehow she'd expected it to be so much more…grandiose, more dignified. She drew in a sharp breath. But this was what it was! And now that she'd decided to marry Rafe, she wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. Not even an absent witness. "No, I'd rather proceed."

Judge Williams nodded to his clerk and she returned a few moments later with an elderly couple. She introduced them as the Swansons, married fifty-two years. The couple took their place at the rear of the judge's office and waited. The judge opened a small book. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of these witnesses to join this man and this woman in matrimony."

Keely tried to listen to the words of the ceremony, but everything seemed to be happening so fast. She wanted to ask the judge to slow down, or even to stop, to give her time to absorb the whole experience. Was this what all brides went through, this odd surreal feeling, as if the wedding was happening to someone else?

"Is there anyone here who can show just cause why these two people should not be married?" The judge smiled, then looked over to the Swansons. They shook their heads. "I didn't think so."

Suddenly, the door to the judge's chambers burst open and Conor Quinn strode inside. "I object to this wedding," he said. "Am I too late?" Dylan followed him through the door, dressed in his BFD uniform, followed by the twins, then Liam and finally Brendan.

The judge's assistant rushed in behind them all, flustered. "I'm sorry, Judge Williams. I couldn't stop them."

"We object to this wedding," Brendan shouted. He turned to Conor. "Or did you already object?"

Judge Williams frowned, then turned his attention back to Keely and Rafe. "They're objecting."

"Go on," Keely whispered. "Don't listen to them. They're just my brothers. We knew they'd object, that's why we didn't invite them to the wedding."

"I'm afraid I'm compelled to listen to them," the judge said. He cleared his throat. "Under what grounds do you object?"

"Under the grounds that I don't think my sister should get married today," Conor said.

"I agree." Keely's brothers turned around, then slowly stepped aside as Fiona walked into the office. "I don't think this is a good idea, Keely."

Seamus followed her inside and added his two cents. "I agree."

Keely cursed softly. "What are you all doing here? How did you know where to find us?"

"I called your mother last night," Rafe admitted. "And I had Sylvie call Seamus and your brothers about an hour ago and extend an invitation."

Keely gasped, staring at him in shock. "Why would you do something like that?" She hit him with her bouquet, sending flower petals showering to the floor. "Why would you purposely try to ruin our wedding?"

"Because they're your family, Keely, and they should be here, objections or not."

"But they don't want us to get married," Keely cried. "Not today. Not ever."

Rafe shrugged. "I think they deserve to know that we've decided to get married. I don't want to get married in secret, Keely. We've been living like that ever since I proposed. We're going to start living our lives out in the open now so we should do it right from the start."

She stared up into his gaze for a long moment. He had a point. This was no way to start a marriage, sneaking off without letting anyone know. She was happy to be marrying Rafe and she wanted everyone to know. Keely drew a ragged breath, then turned to her family. "Thank you all for coming. I can understand why you've tried to stop our wedding, but it's not going to do any good. I'm going to marry Rafe. I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Now, either you can accept that and accept him, or you'll be seeing a lot less of me. It's your decision." Keely grabbed Rafe's hand and gave it a squeeze. "If you support our decision, you're welcome to stay for the rest of the ceremony. If you don't, you're welcome to leave."

They all stood silently, like repentant school children. Keely waited for all of them to march out. But then Conor stepped forward. "If Kendrick is the man you really love, then I guess we'll learn to-"

"Tolerate him," Dylan interrupted.

"Maybe even like him," added Liam.

"We're never going to love him, so you can forget that," Sean finished.

Conor stepped closer and took her hand. "But you should have a real wedding, Keely," he said. "At a church with a priest and with all your friends and all the trimmings. You deserve that. You're our only sister."

Keely turned her attention to her mother. "What do you have to say about this?" "I would be happier if you had the wedding you've always dreamed of-even if it is to a man you barely know. You are my only daughter and I want you to do it right. In a church, with a priest." She turned to Judge Williams. "Not that you're not a fine judge and I'm sure quite competent at putting criminals in jail. But this is my daughter we're talking about here."

Seamus cleared his throat. "And I'd like the chance to walk you down the aisle," he added.

The door burst open again, and Olivia, Meggie and Amy stumbled into the office, followed by the judge's clerk. She gave the judge a frustrated look, then backed out of the office and closed the door.

"I understand there's a wedding happening here today," Olivia said. "You'd think a good husband would at least invite his wife to accompany him."

Keely smiled at the three women. Besides Rafe, they were the only people in the room who really supported her choice. And now that they were here, she felt even more resolved to marry Rafe.

"I appreciate all your input and understand your feelings," Keely said to Conor. "But my wedding is my wedding. And though it isn't the most perfect of ceremonies, now that you're all here, it's a lot closer to what I'd hoped for. I am going to marry Rafe to day. Right here and right now."

Conor stepped forward and held out his hand to Rafe. Rafe smiled and grabbed his hand, giving it a firm shake. In turn, each of the brothers did the same. Olivia, Meggie and Amy then stepped up and kissed Keely's cheek.

Then, to Keely's amazement, her mother moved to stand at her side. "I think we've taken care of all our objections," Fiona said. "Please, proceed."

The judge cleared his throat. "Once again, can any one show just cause why these two should not be married?" He glanced around the room, looking at each of her brothers individually, then turning his gaze to her parents. They both shook their heads. He opened his mouth to continue, but then Rafe's voice interrupted him.

"I have just cause," he said softly. "I don't think we should get married today."

Keely gasped, then turned to stare at him. "What?"

Rafe grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the door. "Excuse us for a minute. We'll be right back."

When they reached the outer office, Rafe closed the door behind them. Then he drew Keely over to a leather sofa and gently pushed her down. He sat be side her and grabbed her hands in his. "I don't think we should get married today."

"You don't want to marry me?" Keely asked, tears threatening. "Of course I do. Just not today. Sweetheart, your mother said it. This isn't the wedding you've always dreamed about. And you said it-it's not perfect. You deserve that perfect wedding, in a church, with a priest and a long, white veil. And I want to give that to you."

"But a wedding like that takes time to plan."

"Not necessarily. And now that we have your family's support, maybe we should take a few more days and make it just right. The flowers, the dress, maybe a tux for me, and some bridesmaids for you. My mother might even be able to see it."

The idea appealed to Keely. Maybe that's what was missing from this ceremony-all of her dreams. "I guess we could do that. It would be a little more expensive to plan things so quickly, but now that my family is behind us, why not?" Keely giggled, then wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a fierce hug. "So when should we get married? In June? A June wedding would be nice."

"How does a week from Saturday sound? We can delay the honeymoon for a week. Can you get every thing together that quickly? Money is no object."

Keely nodded, her excitement growing. They wouldn't have to wait! "I can. We'll have to buy the dresses off the rack, but that's no problem. I'll even have time to make a really great cake. I have the perfect design. And maybe we can have the reception at the pub. With the proper decorations, it could look so perfect."

Rafe drew back and gave her a soft kiss. "Then it's settled. I guess we should probably go tell your family."

"We could leave them in there, wondering what's going on," she said devilishly.

He stood, then pulled her up beside him. "That's a bit impulsive, don't you think?"

"But it would serve them right for everything they put us through." She glanced over at the clerk who was busy trying to appear as if she were working rather than eavesdropping. "Excuse me, but can you tell the people in Judge Williams chambers that we're not going to get married today?"

"You're not?" she said.

Keely shook her head. "Nope. And once they settle down from that little bit of news, ask them to keep a week from Saturday open on their schedules."

With that, Keely wrapped her hand around Rafe's arm and walked to the door. "Let's go," she said. "We have a wedding to plan."

THEY STOOD in the center of the stone circle, holding hands and staring up at the fluffy white clouds racing across the sky. "It's a magical place," Keely said. "I felt it the first time I came here." She looked at her husband, then pushed up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss. "And a perfect place for a honeymoon."

In truth, everything had been perfect, from the moment she walked down the aisle of the chapel with her father, to this moment, standing on the cliff high above the sea, the same spot she'd stood on months ago.

She'd had Amy, Meggie, Olivia and Sylvie Arnold as her bridesmaids and Rafe had chosen Conor as his best man. The chapel had been filled with flowers, the air heavy with the sent of roses and beeswax candles. They'd married at seven in the evening, and after the ceremony, had enjoyed a catered reception at Quinn's Pub. There had been dancing and champagne toasts, all enjoyed by the patrons who just happened to stop in. Seamus had laughed and joked and had even pulled her mother out onto the dance floor for a lusty Irish jig. And the cake had been a masterpiece of Irish lace and tiny shamrocks. It had all been perfect.

"What are you thinking about?" Rafe murmured. Keely sighed softly. "Our wedding. How wonderful it all was."

"It was great," he said, drawing her into his arms and hugging her. "I just wish the honeymoon was better."

Keely looked up at him. "What do you mean? You're not having fun?"

"You don't think it's too cold? I should have checked the weather before I decided to surprise you with Ireland."

Though they were bundled up against the near-freezing temperatures, Keely didn't mind at all. "Rafe, we've been here four days and this is the first time we've left the room." He had rented them the most exquisite suite at Waterford Castle and they'd spent most of their days curled up on the sofa in front of the fireplace and their nights making love in the huge carved bed. "There isn't any other place I'd rather be."

"Then you're deliriously happy?" Rafe asked.

"Absolutely. I had the wedding I've always dreamed about, I'm married to the man I love, my family has been reunited. What more could I want?"

"I can think of a few more things," Rafe said.

"What?"

"Children might be nice."

Keely smiled. "Really? We never talked much about children. I guess I just assumed we'd wait."

"Do you want to wait?"

"Not necessarily. I'd like to have a big family. I grew up an only child and so did you. I've always wanted to have three or four…or five."

"Well, I think you'd make a wonderful mother. And I know I'd make a terrific father. So all we really need now is the baby."

Keely laughed and have him a hug. "Your money was able to buy a quickie wedding, Rafe, but no matter how determined you are for instant gratification, a baby takes nine months."

"Then maybe we should get started." Rafe reached for the zipper of Keely's jacket and slowly pulled it down.

"What? Right here?"

Rafe glanced around. "Why not? We made love in the bathroom of the plane on the way over. Your idea, not mine, may I remind you. This place is much more secluded. A few very cold cows and some seagulls. Not much of an audience. You aren't losing your reckless streak now that you're a married woman, are you?"

Keely grabbed the front of his jacket and yanked him toward her. Then she gave him a very pagan kiss, filled with wild promise and unfettered passion. What better place to start a family, she mused, than here in such a magical spot? "Is that a dare, Mr. Kendrick?"

"I think it might be, Mrs. Kendrick."

"Well, if you want me, then you're going to have to catch me." With that, she gave him a gentle shove, then raced across the slippery ground, weaving in and out of the tall stones.

When she'd left Ireland the first time, Keely had wondered if her life would ever be the same again, if she'd ever really know who she was. But there was no confusion anymore. She was the woman who loved Rafe Kendrick and would spend the rest of her life loving him. She was the daughter and the sister who had brought her family back together again after so many years apart. And someday soon, she'd be a mother.

But, most of all, she was a Quinn, descended from a long line of clever and courageous Mighty Quinns who had inhabited this special land. Over time, Keely knew that she'd come back to Ireland again and again, to soak in the magic of a land she'd grown to love. Yes, she was a Quinn. And here, in this spot, at this moment, Keely felt like the mightiest Quinn of them all.