Saturday 29th August.
Saturday morning I was woken rather abruptly.
“Brian!” Debbie shouted banging on my bedroom door.
I stared in disbelief at the alarm clock, which reads 08:43, as I asked her what was wrong.
“It’s exactly a month since Tracey died,” she answered, “I promised Tony I would go to ten o’clock mass with them – damn it – I’ll never make it now.”
“Yes you will, Debbie,” I assured her, throwing off the quilt, “I’ll drive you.”
“Thanks,” she called, “I really appreciate it. I’ll be ready to go in two minutes.”
We wasted no time speeding to Saint Simon’s church adjusting our clothes and brushing our hair, with Tracey’s hairbrush, which was still inside the glove box, as we went.
We reached the church with a few minutes to spare to join Tony and Catherine in a front pew kissing them as we met.
I felt very uneasy throughout the service, especially as Father Brennan kept giving us sideways glances.
Then, just before the service concluded he made the unusual step of leaving the altar to come and stand before us.
“I want to see you two in the vestry after Mass.” he ordered.
“Yes sir,” I replied nervously taking Debbie’s sweaty hand to help allay any fear, which proved pointless as I was scared stiff and I’m sure I looked it.
Assuring Tony and Catherine that we would see them later we made our way kneeling at the ‘usual’ spot.
“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?”
Father Brennan bellowed as we timidly walked hand in hand towards him into the vestry.
“We are getting married.” I called somewhat defiantly.
“Oh, you bloody think so?” He replied detecting my defiance.
“We know so sir,” I called, “and if you won’t marry us we’ll find somebody who will.”
I could feel Debbie trembling in silent fear as he fixed us with a menacing stare.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t marry you,” he hissed through clenched teeth,
“I just want to find out what the hell is going on?” He was livid and wanted us to know it.
Pointing to two chairs he ordered us to sit while he sighed loudly and crossed to a cupboard to remove his ornate vestments.
“I know why you’re all here today,” he sighed calmly blessing himself,
“It’s exactly one month since Tracey - God rest her immortal soul - had her accident.”
“Yes Father.” I quietly confirmed.
“Exactly one month ago,” he called pointing a menacing finger at me,
“You were getting married to one girl, now you’re intending to marry somebody else.”
He fumbled with a cigarette packet and using shaky fingers he took one out, placed it between his lips and lit it.
“I take it,” he blew a cloud of smoke towards Debbie, “that you are Deborah?”
“Yes Father.” she timidly replied.
He silently nodded, shook his head, put the cigarette to his lips, took a long deep puff, held his breath for a few seconds as his eyes flitted between me and Debbie, then heaving a long sigh he blew a cloud of smoke at us and smiled.
“I don’t know what to make of you,” he laughed, offering us a cigarette.
I was tempted to accept one to calm the tension in my bones, but we both politely declined.
“I just don’t know what to make of you.” he repeated.
“You could make us husband and wife.” I smiled pushing my luck and we all knew it.
Every time Tracey’s name was mentioned Father Brennan solemnly blessed himself.
“It was only a few months ago,” he said wagging a smoky digit at me,
You came here professing your undying love for Tracey - God rest her soul - now, within a few weeks of her death you want to marry somebody else in her place?”
“I realise it sounds a little bit unusual, Sir,” I smiled, “but I truly want to marry Debbie.”
“A little bit unusual?” he laughed, “It’s incredible.”
“Debbie, do you fully understand, child, what marriage is all about?”
“Yes Father, I do.” Debbie defiantly replied.
He must have had his doubts, because he lectured us for the next hour to make sure we fully understood the commitment.
“You know,” he said once we confirmed our understanding,
“What really puzzles me about this wedding is that Tony and Catherine Collins wholeheartedly approve of it.”
I fixed him in a cold, smiling stare that told him that he was beaten.
“Okay Debbie,” he conceded. “Do you really want to marry this man of your own free will, to love, honour and cherish him, forsaking all others, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death you do part?”
“Yes Father, I really do.” Debbie smiled.
“And you Brian? He asked, “Are you sure you want to marry ‘this’ girl.”
“Indeed sir, I really do.”
“Forsaking all others, and so on and so forth and all that stuff I just said?”
“Absolutely sir, you’d better believe I do.”
“Brian, would you mind if I have a quiet word with Debbie on her own?”
“No problem,” I smiled, “I’ll wait for you outside.” I left them alone.
I crossed the altar, knelt in the ‘usual’ spot, and walked to where several candles glowed.
Taking a fresh candle I lit it saying a silent prayer to Tracey for any guidance she could give me as I waited, wondering what Father Brennan wanted with Debbie.
I was well out of my depth emotionally and didn’t know what to do if he raised an objection to my marriage to Debbie.
As I silently whispered my pleas to Tracey I found that every time I spoke her name I imitated Father Brennan by blessing myself.
I waited and worried for several minutes until Debbie emerged from the vestry followed by Father Brennan.
“Okay,” he sighed; “It’s a date then.” he smiled shaking my hand.
“I hope to God, you will both be very happy.”
We all smiled broadly as we thanked him and left arm in arm.
“By the way, Father,” I called back; “You could add this to your list of memorable weddings.”
We could still hear his laughter as we kissed in my car.
Debbie glowed with radiance as I started the engine and headed home.
“It was looking a bit ‘iffy’ there for a while.” she sighed heavily.
I could tell she was visibly shaken by the meeting with the priest and by their actions when they emerged she must have convinced him that she had thought long and hard about this path she has chosen to pursue.
“Nothing’s going to stop us now, princess,” I assured her, “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” she smiled, “I was scared back there, but, I wasn’t afraid with you beside me.
Tell me where are we headed?”
“That back there was only the fear of God,” I warned her,
“Now we have to face a bigger obstacle. The fear of man, or to be more precise, Woman.
Mum would like a word.”
I felt very nervous as we pulled up outside my parent’s house.
The last thing I wanted to do was upset Mum but I understood her concerns and respected her opinion.
We sat for a few minutes in the car as I assured Debbie, falsely, there was nothing to be afraid of then as Dad came out to the front door to ferry another box of groceries inside we could hide no longer.
Dad smiled on seeing Debbie heading towards him and he held his arms out to hug her.
“How are you doing kid?” he smiled hugging her.
“I’m fine sir.” she smiled back.
“You’re certainly looking great,” holding her at arms-length noticing her radiant glow.
“Thank you sir,” Debbie smiled with a slight curtsey, “I feel great.”
“So!” Mum called from th
e porch door, “You’ve decided to make an appearance then.”
Mum descended the four steps from the porch and crossed to hug Debbie as a gesture of welcome then slipping an arm around her shoulder she led her inside the house saying, “I would like a quiet word with you, my dear.”
Rather apprehensively Debbie was led up the steps and inside as I looked forlornly at Dad.
“Don’t ask,” he sighed, “Your mother and I have done nothing but argue since you broke the news.”
“Is she still against it?” I asked.
“She’s not against you marrying Debbie,” he replied,
“She just thinks you’re rushing into it too quickly that’s all.
She only wants what’s best for you and doesn’t want to see you, or Debbie, getting hurt.”
“I know Dad,” I assured him concerned at the news of them arguing because of me,
“I’m sorry, but I want to marry Debbie, and I will marry her regardless of what anybody says.” We hugged as he sighed.
“I know you will son because you’ve got your mother’s determined streak in you.
Believe me, your mother knows better than anybody how it can make or break you.”
I helped ferry the last of his boxes to the kitchen in silence until Mum called me into the living room while Dad remained to make a pot of tea.
I listened intently to Mum as she relayed her fears for our future but she knew that our minds were already made up and nothing could rock our determination to get married.
“Okay,” Mum conceded, “I can only pray that you’ll be as happy in thirty years time as we are just now and when your son comes to you and says he wants to marry somebody, you won’t have the doubts we’ve had this past fortnight.”
We all hugged until Louise came into the living room to find out what all the commotion was about - so we all hugged her too.
“Okay princess,” I sighed entering the safety of my car, “we’re on the home run now.”
“Thank God,” she breathed a sigh of relief, “now nobody can stand in our way?”
“Absolutely nobody.” I smiled and kissed her. “It’s just you and me against the world, kid.” we laughed as I started the engine.
“Tell me,” she asked, “what does your mum do?”
“She helps out at a crèche.” I replied and had only moved a few yards when Debbie shouted, “STOP!”
Debbie beamed her angelic smile as she licked her lips, opened the car door, and got out.
I wondered what she was up to until she opened the rear door, lifted one of her boxes and carried it to the front door and laughed loudly as she handed the box to a puzzled Louise, instructing her to give it to mum, before she returned to her seat.
“Debbie, I love you.” I smiled and kissed her as she repaid the compliment and we set off for Yorkhill Hospital to deliver the remaining four boxes.
Life with Debbie would be anything but dull. I could tell that my life would be full of surprises, as my already intense love for her seemed to continue growing by the hour.
I drove to Tony’s house and we sat in the garden talking about our future until it grew dark.
I left to drive, very contented, back east.