With nothing much else planned for the day, the newlyweds stayed at the Padre’s insistence. The small group of parishioners stayed to celebrate with tea and tiny sandwiches. Everyone commented on how beautiful the bride looked and how handsome the groom. Everyone also whispered about the best man, who looked all day as if he’d eaten something rotten, half pucker half grimace.

“Is Ainsel all right? He seems to be irritated. Well, more than usual.”

“He’s fine, just enjoy the party.” Brendan kissed Cassie on the nose and they held hands as the parishioners smiled and swirled around them, eating cucumber sandwiches and tiny ginger cookies.

That evening, after all the day’s excitement had worn a bit thin, Cassie and Brendan found themselves back in their hotel room, alone at last. Brendan leaned down and kissed Cassie’s nose then tilted her chin up and placed his lips softly on hers. As always, the joining of their lips sent shivers down Cassie’s spine as well as sparkles behind her eyelids. For a moment she was nervous, tonight, after all they had been through, would be their first night of intimacy, well, physical intimacy. Her nerves and fears melted at Brendan’s soft touch in the small of her back and she pressed up closer to him, wishing she and he could melt into each other.

After a brief fumbling with buttons, Cassie’s beautiful gown pooled around her feet. She stepped out of it and Brendan whistled at the sight of her nearly nude body. Cassie grinned and reached down to pick up the gown. It was her only wedding dress, after all, and she wanted their daughter or daughters to wear it at their wedding. Brendan helped her hang it on the padded satin hanger. They reached for each other and spent the rest of their waking moments exploring each other’s bodies, eventually consummating their marriage in spectacular style.