Page 1 of An Irish Hope

CHAPTER ONE

“And do you, Colin Eamon Fairall, take Kara Elizabeth Browne to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

Aisling sighed, catching her sister’s eye. Aurora looked as touched as she did, and was probably already wondering how soon it might be before Aidan Quinn, the Aussie lawyer she’d started dating last year, might pop the question. And, just like with Kara, they’d all be thrilled to welcome him to the family. Aidan’s work with domestic violence victims only confirmed his good guy status, and Rory had already visited him in Australia this year. She’d gone to see him during the hotel’s winter season, their slow season, catching something of the Australian summer that was unlike the heat she’d ever experienced here before, or so she’d said. Her visit for Valentine’s Day had been wonderful, only deepening the connection they shared, something that, like Colin’s relationship with Kara, had started with the lightning bolt of awareness that seemed part of the Fairall legacy.

Aisling’s skin prickled, and she glanced out across the congregation. Would she meet someone today? Was one of the guests here her perfect match? She’d not yet met the man who had sparkled her heart to life, but if the experience of her father, brother and now sister was to be believed, the person who drew that sense of soul-tingling connection was the person she was destined to love, like God Himself had woven a special bond within the Fairall DNA.

She shifted the bouquet of cream and apricot roses, meeting the gaze of her father’s sister, who sat next to Mam and represented the last of the older generation of the Fairalls. She smiled, but in Aunty Aine’s eyes she recognised sorrow that Aisling’s father wasn’t here to share this special day.

Colin was the head of the family household now, and had been for five years or so. And while nearly all of them were happy about that, Fiona, their eldest sibling was not.

Aisling peeked over her shoulder, offering Fiona a smile, but received a jousted stare back, Fiona’s smile frozen and fake. Gee willikins. The woman might be her sister, but Fiona needed to be careful that the wind didn’t change, and her face be forever fixed like that. But while Fiona liked Kara well enough, or said she did anyway, her offense at Da’s selection of Colin as the head of the Killorglin Group seemed like a bruise that would never heal. Fiona clearly needed to practice some of the forgiveness that she once said she believed in. Not that any of them were terribly sure what Fiona believed these days…

The minister cleared his throat, scooting Aisling’s attention back to the happy couple. That’s right. She needed to concentrate. She was as much on show as the bride and groom, and she needed to behave appropriately.

The emerald green strapless gown was the perfect colour for her sisters and herself, the tone the exact match that made their skin and hair glow. And yes, it might be a wee bit tighter than at the last dress fitting, but it wasn’t like a girl had any choice but to stress eat her way through university final exams. She smoothed the skirt, hoping the clouds she could see in the distance would know well enough to stay away, and the ceremony could continue on the lawns of the Castle Griffin Hotel.

The hotel might’ve been established on their family home, but they’d booked it out for this weekend. Well, for all except one guest and his friend who had promised to stay away, or so Rory had said. Aisling hadn’t seen him yet, and had zero desire to anyway, seeing as he was basically an intrusion to the family and friends of Colin and Kara who were here. Like, who insisted on coming to a hotel which had been privately booked?

Luckily for him, Aisling had been engrossed in her final semester of studies at Cork, so she hadn’t known, otherwise she definitely would have advised against it. Unluckily for her, Rory and Mam’s hearts were softer than hers, so they’d said that he could stay, murmuring something about a deposit that had been paid and this was the last weekend to use it. She thought that bad management on his behalf, seeing as he’d had a whole year to redeem it, but no. He was here on the hotel grounds somewhere, and she hoped she didn’t run into him. There was no accounting for what she might do or say. Especially as “passionate” was how her siblings always described her.

“Colin and Kara have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of a ring. Therefore in the name of God I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Colin smiled at Kara, his look so full of tenderness and joy that Aisling’s insides clenched. Oh, Kara was blessed to have Colin love her. And seeing Kara’s family was so incredibly small now, save for a second cousin—a Sir William Fitzbrowne, no less—and some equally distant cousins overseas who couldn’t afford to attend the wedding, Aisling and her sisters had determined to be the siblings Kara had never had.

Colin kissed Kara, bending her backwards in a kiss that sparked laughter and applause—and Aisling’s wolf-whistle.

“Stop making it all about you,” Fiona hissed from behind her.

“I’m not,” she murmured, joining the applause as Colin held Kara’s hand up high and they walked down the aisle.

Rory followed, clutching Aidan’s arm, then it was Aisling’s turn to grasp the arm of her groomsman. Declan O’Curran had originally been slated to partner Fiona, but Fiona had thrown such a hissy fit that he’d been swapped for Aisling’s original partner, one of Colin’s married university friends, whose every conversation was about the triumphs and trials of his new baby daughter. And as Declan was married, well, divorced now, and Aisling had known him forever so he was as much of a big brother as anything else, he produced exactly zero tingles also.

They posed for photos, then the rounds of kisses and hugs began. Canapes and glasses of champagne were passed around as the wedding guests mingled, while the wedding party took yet more photos. Soon they would move inside to the hotel restaurant, where the hotel chef had promised to outdo himself today, but right now she was hungry.

While the photographer took some more of Colin and Kara, Aisling snatched a mini toast topped with cream cheese and caviar, and stuffed it in her mouth. Maybe it was the speed of eating, but crumbs fell onto her décolletage, and sifted inside her dress. Not the look she was going for. She tried fishing them out, but there was no easy way to remove crumbs from inside her bodice. Especially not with her mother and aunt’s horrified expressions as they looked on.

“It’s just some crumbs,” she assured.

“Oh my goodness, Ash,” Fiona muttered. “Why can’t you just behave for once?”

“I didn’t mean to spill anything.”

“Need my hankie?” Declan said.

“No, but thanks for offering.” It was kind but no way would she take his handkerchief. Who knew where it had been?

“I know you have all been standing here for a while, but let’s just have one last one picture,” their photographer called.

Aisling smiled, her cheeks getting sore, then finally relaxed, her smile coming off as she rubbed her aching face. “I didn’t know we were supposed to exercise our cheek muscles before doing this today,” she complained to Rory.

“You didn’t get that memo?” Rory teased.

“Same as Fiona didn’t get the memo to be nice,” she grumbled.

“Hey, how is my beautiful girlfriend doing? Do you need a drink?” Aidan wrapped an arm around Rory, which saw her instantly turn to give him a big smooch.