Are You Ready? (35 page)

Ali put down her glass and tried to read a magazine, but she was still distracted by her phone. It had been great getting the good-luck messages but there was one person she hadn't heard from – Robin. Last night
he had sent some drunken message through, but Ali hadn't been able to decipher what he'd attempted to say. She knew they couldn't see each other today, it was bad luck to, but she had been disappointed that last night he hadn't been much use in the pub or back in the house, and now he wasn't even texting her. As she left the hairdresser's her Mum took a last photo, and the whole staff wished her luck. Her mum and sisters were not going to be finished for a few more minutes so Ali decided to head back to the house to relax. Just as she walked out, with her veil flying through the air, she ran right into Mark Searson. She froze. Mark and Ali had gone out for years: all through school, and even the first year of college. He had been her childhood sweetheart, and they had eventually broken up because his life was always going to be in Kilkenny, while Ali had wanted to settle in Dublin. Mark and Robin had been Ali's only two boyfriends.

‘Ali, my God, you look great,' he said while giving her a kiss. ‘I'd heard about your big day. Your dad is telling everyone how proud he is. Congrats.'

Ali was too shocked to say anything. One minute she had been feeling let down and disappointed by Robin and now here she was meeting her childhood sweetheart. Was it a sign from God?

‘Wow, makes you wonder, doesn't it?' he said. ‘All those years we talked about marriage?' He avoided meeting her eyes.

Ali literally had to lean against the wall to stop herself falling over.

Finally, he made eye-contact. ‘I'm sorry for saying
that, it is your big day. Good luck, Ali, your fella is a lucky man.' And with that he was gone.

Ali drove home in silence, ignoring her ringing phone, and went straight up the stairs to her bedroom, but just as she went to close her door her dad shouted up that Robin's brother, who was also his best man, had dropped something in for her and it was on her bed.

Ali saw a note and small box on the bed. She opened the note.

Ali, I can't believe it is our wedding day! I'm so sorry for getting drunk last night, and not being more help with the marquee and all. I tried to ring you late last night but your phone was off, I hope you slept well.

Ali opened the felt-covered box, there was her wedding ring, exactly how she had picked it out, but inside it was now inscribed ‘
No One but You
'.

A tear rolled down Ali's face. How could I have ever have doubted him? she thought. Then she got up and started getting ready. I'm going to be right on time today, I can't wait to marry the man of my dreams. Oh, get me to the church on time, she hummed to herself as she took out her dress and shoes.

Robin stood at the top of the church, with his brother and best man beside him. He scanned the crowd, it was a sea of faces, all looking at him with big and encouraging smiles. He could hear the sound of the church organ and see friends and family among the flowers, all dressed up, waiting for Ali to arrive. Robin had been waiting for this day since he had met Ali, and now as he stood in his tuxedo he realized how lucky he was.

Just then he heard a car arrive, and the church music change. The back door of the church opened and in walked Ali accompanied by her dad. Robin gasped: she looked like an angel, amazing. She walked up the aisle to the noise of cameras clicking and people wishing her good luck. When she finally got to the altar, Ali's dad handed her over to Robin. Robin gave her a big kiss.

‘I love you,' he said, and with that the church ceremony began, and Ali and Robin became husband and wife. It was perfect.

Ali sat down with a glass of champagne in her hand. As her friends recounted how they felt when Ali walked up the aisle, Ali looked around. It had been a wonderful day. Really, the best of her life. The church had not only looked stunning, but the music, readings and blessing of the rings had gone to plan. Ali had felt blessed to have everyone she cared about and who cared for her all under one roof, helping her celebrate her marriage. After taking many pictures down at the river on the farm, they had made it into the marquee, which had been transformed that morning and filled with flowers, lights and music. And as everyone was welcomed with champagne Ali was told over and over how beautiful and glowing she looked. Robin had been as proud as punch and hadn't been able to stop squeezing her. Molly's food had been amazing, too, and Ali had never seen her dad ask for thirds before! Molly had really established herself as a professional and wonderful caterer. And even though Molly had had to keep avoiding the band, and especially the lead
singer, Will, all night, she had seemed delighted by how her catering had gone. When the guests found out that Sarah had been the artist who designed the wedding invite, Ali had seen many of the girls ask for her number, with requests to do wedding, christening and birthday invites.

Ali looked down at her left hand, with its now gleaming gold wedding band. She still couldn't believe it. She was married and loving every minute of it. As she walked onto the dance floor to join Robin, she passed her two sisters – who had been asked to dance by the groomsmen – and her parents dancing and chatting, and she even saw Ben and Laura dancing, Ben hadn't left Laura's side all day!

Robin slipped his arms around Ali. He was so handsome, good and kind.

‘How are you, wife?' he asked.

‘I am blissfully happy, husband!'

Life is wonderful, Ali thought, as she looked around at all the people she loved and cared about. The day had brought change, and as she looked back over the last few months she thought of all the changes that she and her friends had made, and all the changes that still lay ahead of them, but she welcomed those changes, because that was what life was about, and she was ready for it.

THE END

To my editor, Francesca Liversidge. Thank you for giving me a chance and publishing my first book.

A big thank you to Lucie Jordan and all the team at Transworld, for their hard work, help and kindness.

To all at Gill Hess Ltd, Dublin, in particular Gill and Simon Hess, Declan Heaney and Helen Gleed O'Connor.

To my soulmate and gorgeous husband Mick. From a romantic proposal in Capetown to our becoming new parents, you have made me so happy. With your big, kind heart you are a great husband and father.

To my beautiful new baby daughter Holly – as I wrote each page of this book you were there. You are such a sweetheart and I love you.

To my wonderful family, the Conlon-McKennas! Thanks to my mum, Marita, for your encouragement, support, love and friendship. It started with a ‘flip' and I never looked back! From a childhood filled with homemade puppet theatres, starting up our own local
newspaper and countless hours of painting, writing and singing, is it any wonder I wanted to write?

To my dad, James. Bet you can't believe there is another writer in the family! Thanks for looking after us all so well.

To my two sisters, Laura and Fiona, and my brother, James. You are my best friends and I would be lost without you all. You make me laugh every day, and I think we are all still enjoying the best childhood ever!

To my in-laws, the Heartys. You have all been so kind, welcoming and generous to me. Thank you to Tom, Breda, Liz, John, Geoff and little Rebecca.

I want to thank my friends, especially the Mount Anville girls, for all the years of friendship, fun and support.

To my friend Kim McGowan – from our summer adventure in Montauk to countless hours of laughing and chatting – you are such a great friend. Thank you for always being so kind, supportive, interested and caring.

Thanks to John Phelan for being such a kind and generous friend. From our days in the Blackrock Opera to Commerce exams at UCD, you are always there to help.

To my wonderful teacher Sister Joan Hutchinson who always made English class so interesting and literature so much fun. I hope this book will make you proud!

Amanda Hearty is in her twenties and lives in Blackrock, Co. Dublin with her husband Michael and their baby daughter Holly. Amanda works in a busy Dublin publishers, and studied Commerce at UCD and has a Masters in Marketing from the Smurfit School of Business, Dublin. Growing up in a house full of books, writing, dreams and ideas, and with her mother, Marita Conlon-McKenna, being a very successful author, it was inevitable that Amanda would finally put pen to paper and begin to write.
Are You Ready?
is her first novel.

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ARE YOU READY?

A TRANSWORLD IRELAND BOOK: 9781848270046

VERSION 1.0 EPUB ISBM: 9781407036007

First published in Great Britain in 2008 by Transworld Ireland a division of Transworld Publishers Transworld Ireland paperback edition published 2009

Copyright © Amanda Hearty 2008

Amanda Hearty has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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