by Joan Jonker
Dorothy turned to smile at her sister. ‘Yeah, our kid, good luck. I’d kiss yer but we’d both end up with lipstick on our cheeks. So I’ll throw yer one, like we used to do when we were kids.’
Phoebe raised a hand and pretended to catch the kiss. ‘Got it, our Dorothy, and I’ll hold it until I get to the church.’
Two doors away, Paul McDonough was pacing up and down, his eyes fixed on the floor, his face rigid with nerves. And while they looked on, unable to get any response to their questions, Nellie and George were finding it hard to believe that their fun-loving, easy-going son had been reduced to a bag of nerves on his wedding day.
‘If yer don’t sit down, lad, ye’re going to wear the lino out,’ Nellie told him, ‘and I can’t afford to replace it.’ When there was no reply, she decided to try a shock treatment. ‘It’s getting near time for the car to call for you and Steve, but I don’t think ye’re in a fit state to get married, so I’ll cancel everything before it’s too late.’ She winked at her husband, then said, ‘George, will you run up and tell Steve not to come down, and we’ll explain later why there’s been a delay. While you do that, I’ll call and tell Phoebe and Corker. It’ll be a terrible shock for the poor girl, but better to be told now than be left standing on her own at the altar.’
Phoebe’s name had the desired effect, and Paul stopped in his tracks. ‘What are yer doing, Mam? Don’t yer go upsetting Phoebe. I’ll be all right, just give me time.’ He pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘I got meself all worked up with nerves, and me mind went completely blank.’
‘I’ll make yer a cup of tea, lad, and that might calm yer down. But yer’ll have to drink it quick, because Steve will be here any minute.’
As Nellie bustled out to the kitchen, George told his son, ‘Ye’re not the only one ever to have had wedding nerves, lad. I was the same meself the day I married yer mam. Running around like a madman I was. Me ma, God bless her, threw a cup of cold water over me face, and that soon brought me round.’
Paul’s senses were coming to life, and he managed a grin when he told his father, ‘Don’t tell me mam that, Dad. I don’t fancy having water poured on me new suit, or on me shirt and tie.’
There was a rap on the window, and George hastened to open the door to his eldest son. ‘Ye’re just in time, lad, ’cos five minutes ago yer mam was going to call the wedding off. Yer brother wasn’t able to talk, he was like a man possessed.’
The two brothers hugged each other, then Steve said, ‘I went through the same thing.’ He was an inch or two smaller than Paul, but just as handsome, with dimples appearing when he smiled. ‘The night before I got married I had a nightmare and woke up in a cold sweat. I dreamt I was sitting on the front pew in the church, and Jill never turned up.’
Nellie heard that as she carried a cup of tea from the kitchen. ‘Don’t be putting ideas into his head, son, ’cos he was like a bear with a sore head when he came down for his breakfast, and he went from that to being deaf and dumb.’ She handed the cup to Paul. ‘Drink that before the car arrives, while I get Steve’s buttonhole.’
Steve happened to be looking in the direction of the window, and he saw the car go past, then heard it braking to a stop. He put the stem of the carnation through his buttonhole as he walked to open the door, while calling over his shoulder, ‘Time to go now, Paul, whether yer feel up to it or not. We can’t keep the car waiting. It’s got to drop us off, then come back to pick up some of the guests!’
It wasn’t often Nellie showed her emotion, but she couldn’t hold the tears back when she hugged her youngest son. The last of her children to get married. ‘Don’t cry, Mam,’ Paul said, a shaky smile on his face. ‘Yer’ll ruin me new suit.’
Then Nellie and George were waving their two sons off, while a few nosy neighbours looked on. A little later on, all the neighbours would be out, and on their way to the church. A wedding in the street brought some excitement into their lives. The Bennetts and McDonoughs always put a good show on, and that was expected. But today was a Corkhill wedding, and no one would miss it, for the big man, Sinbad to the youngsters, was very popular, and very much respected.
Corker and Phoebe were alone in the house. Ellen had gone in one of the cars with Molly and Nellie, after a very tearful goodbye to her daughter and husband. The bridesmaids were on their way to the church, and in ten minutes the wedding car was due to arrive.
‘Do I look all right, Dad?’ Phoebe’s lips were trembling as she looked up into her father’s face. ‘Will I come up to Paul’s expectations?’
Corker, the gentle giant, was so proud he thought his heart would burst. ‘Sweetheart, you look very beautiful, like a fairy princess. Paul will be so proud of you, he’ll think he’s the luckiest man in Liverpool. And I think I have the most beautiful daughter any man could ask for. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.’
‘Me mam looked lovely, didn’t she? Her dress and hat really suited her. She should get dressed up more often.’
‘If your mam wore a sack, she’d still be beautiful to me,’ Corker said. ‘I consider meself a very lucky man indeed. Lovely wife and lovely children, what more can a man ask for?’ Then he stroked his beard as his loud guffaw filled the room. ‘And what about the two best mates, Molly and Nellie? Didn’t they both look splendid? Their hats will be the talk of the neighbourhood. And did yer see the way Nellie bowed her head and waved a hand to the neighbours before getting into the car? The only difference between Nellie and the Queen was the curtsy. The Queen would have been treated to bent knees, while Nellie and Molly were treated to shouts of admiration from friends.’
‘Dad, the car’s here.’ Phoebe began to panic. She knew all the people in the street would be out, except those who had gone to the church, and her tummy felt as though it was full of butterflies. ‘Do I look all right?’
‘No, yer don’t look all right, sweetheart, yer look beautiful.’ Corker opened the front door and held out a hand to help Phoebe down the steps. And then the women who had waited for this moment shouted out words of praise and good wishes. ‘Yer look a treat, queen,’ one woman shouted. From another: ‘I love yer dress, it’s beautiful.’ Corker was helping his daughter into the car when he noticed Victoria and Mary Watson standing on the step opposite. He asked Phoebe if she would step out again, just for a few seconds, so Victoria could see her in all her glory. And the onlookers applauded this, for Victoria was respected by one and all. The warmth and friendliness relaxed Phoebe, and she blew a kiss to the old lady before being helped into the car by her very proud father.
The bridesmaids were ready for the bride when she arrived. They were running a little late, and Father Kelly had been out once to see what the hold-up was. So after congratulating Phoebe on looking so lovely, Lily and the other girls quickly took their places behind her and Corker. Lily was paired with Dorothy, Jill with Doreen, then Rosie with Ruthie. And how lovely they all looked in their deep red dresses, with their posies of white daisies. The friends and neighbours who had been waiting in the church grounds shouted encouragement and praise, and were rewarded with a shy smile from Phoebe and a wave from Corker. Then, after Lily had adjusted Phoebe’s veil, and made sure the folds in her beautiful dress were hanging right, she handed the bride to be a large posy of deep red carnations. The colour contrast was perfect.
An assistant of Father Kelly came to see if they were ready, and at a sign from him the organ began to play. ‘Slowly now,’ Lily whispered, ‘keep in step.’
Corker squeezed his daughter’s hand as he led her into the aisle, and told her, ‘This is the proudest moment of my life, sweetheart.’
In the front right pew, Steve stood beside his brother, who was more than a little nervous. ‘She looks beautiful, Paul, you’re a lucky man. Turn round.’
Paul licked his lips, then turned. And he gasped when he saw the vision walking slowly towards him. He made to run towards her, but Steve was quick to pull him back. ‘Wait until she’s on a level with us, then you step out and I’ll fo
llow. And keep calm, wait until Uncle Corker hands her over to yer. And before yer ask, yes, I have got the rings.’
There were murmurs from the people in the church, which had filled up as those who had been outside had made their way to the pews. The sight of Phoebe, looking so beautiful, and her handsome, towering father, was not something they saw very often. In the pews on the other side of the aisle stood family and friends. Nellie, looking a million dollars, stood at the end of the pew, with George next to her, both looking as proud as Punch. Also in the same pew were Molly and Jack, smiling at their lovely daughters and daughter-in-law. Molly, wearing her new outfit, looked very elegant, and was given the thumbs up by Ruthie.
Gordon and Peter were in the pew behind, with Bella, and looked very smart in their new suits, with their red buttonholes. The seating had been arranged to suit everyone. Tommy, Archie and Phil were behind the McDonoughs, while Bridie and Bob stood behind their daughter and Jack. The rest of the congregation, enough to fill almost every seat, were friends and neighbours.
Everything moved like clockwork. Corker handed his daughter over to Paul, then stepped back to take a seat beside his tearful wife. Ellen gripped his arm. ‘She looks beautiful, and so happy.’
Phoebe was happy, and it showed in her eyes and smile. And Paul thought his heart would burst. Somewhere in the back of his mind he remembered her saying she would knock him for six. Well, she’d done more than that, for he’d never known such love and happiness. And when they were facing the priest, holding hands, Paul wanted to share his emotion. ‘Isn’t she beautiful, Father?’ he asked. The priest was taken aback, for no one had ever brought that into the marriage ceremony before. But he couldn’t ignore the question completely, so he smiled and nodded before continuing the ceremony of joining two people in holy matrimony.
Corker had booked a professional photographer, and after the ceremony and the signing of the marriage documents, the newly-weds walked arm in arm down the aisle, followed by their bridesmaids. From every pew they passed there were voices congratulating them, and saying it was a wonderful wedding and how they made a perfect couple.
After that it was really hectic. The photographer was ready with his camera on a tripod. First the camera clicked the bride on her own, then with Paul. Then they were asked to stand by a tree, posing this way and that. After that it was with the bridesmaids, the parents, the Corkhill family, the McDonoughs and the Bennetts. Corker was snap happy, he wanted everything on film to remember the day by. And price was no object.
The photographer was closing his tripod, after having taken more photographs than at any other wedding, when Corker approached him. ‘Before you pack up, could you just take two more photographs, please? You will be adequately paid for the extras, and your time. You won’t need the stand, and I’ll keep my eye on it so it comes to no harm.’
‘I thought I had caught everyone on the photographs. Who have I missed out?’
‘Oh, yer’ve done a wonderful job, been very patient,’ Corker told him, ‘but I would like two special photographs. One is of the two ladies standing over there with the fancy hats on, and the other is of the elderly couple with them.’
And so it was that Nellie and Molly were photographed in their finery, with Nellie striking a pose she thought would do her hat justice. Then they gave way to Bridie and Bob, who were overcome to be having their first ever proper photo taken. And it was a toss up who was the proudest, Nellie, or Molly’s parents.
Covered in confetti, and looking radiant, Phoebe and Paul returned to the wedding car for the journey to Hanley’s reception rooms, where they would stand to welcome their guests. The bridesmaids would follow them in two cars.
When the car moved forward, Phoebe and her new husband looked through the back window and waved to the large crowd of well-wishers who were still shouting words of congratulation. And to the onlookers’ delight, making it a perfect ending for them, Paul and Phoebe shared a kiss.
Settling back against the leather seat, and holding Phoebe’s hand, Paul asked, ‘Well, how does it feel to be Mrs McDonough?’
‘Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I didn’t think there was so much happiness in the world. I feel so happy, and lucky, I could cry.’
‘Don’t you dare go all soppy on me, Phoebe McDonough, and definitely no tears. I don’t want to kiss someone with tears running down her face, or the driver will think I’m kissing yer against yer will. So pucker those delicious lips, and keep them puckered until we get to the reception rooms. In between kisses I’ll tell yer how beautiful you are, and how much I love yer.’
The reception room was full, and noisy with many different conversations going on at the same time. Paul and Phoebe were standing in the centre, arms round each other’s waists, and talking to Corker and Ellen about how well everything had gone, and thanking them for giving them a wedding they would remember all their lives. ‘The Hanleys have come up trumps again,’ Corker said. ‘The wedding cake is a work of art, and the tables are set with food fit for a royal wedding. They’ve thought of everything, with wedding napkins, sparkling glasses by each plate, and enough food to sink a ship. I’ll nip down after we’ve eaten, and invite them up this evening after the shop closes. They’ll enjoy joining the party.’
‘I think it’s time to sit down for the meal,’ Ellen said, ‘because if everyone feels like me, they’ll be starving. The bride and groom in the centre by the wedding cake, and there’s cards at every setting with the guests’ names on. So you and Paul take yer seats, sweetheart, and yer dad and Paul’s dad will see everyone to their seats.’
The bridesmaids found themselves on the top table, three either side, with spaces left for Nellie and George to sit next to the groom, and Corker and Ellen next to Phoebe. On one of the side tables sat Molly and Jack with Bridie and Bob. The other side table seated Steve, the best man who would be making a speech, with Archie and Phil. And on the far table were the youngsters, Gordon, Peter, and Bella, who was chatting away, feeling very grown-up and important. Peter was as chatty, but Gordon had eyes only for Ruthie, and he couldn’t wait for the meal to be over so he could sit near her.
Glasses were filled, and Steve stood to say the few words he’d rehearsed, before toasting the newly-weds. ‘My young brother, he of the dancing feet, has finally realized there is life outside a dance hall. I never thought it would happen, but then I was reckoning without the beautiful Phoebe. And I think everyone here will agree that Phoebe does look very beautiful today in her wedding gown. We must also give praise to the six bridesmaids, who also look beautiful . . .’
‘Hang on, hang on!’ Nellie jumped up so quickly she sent her chair flying backwards, and her hat fell forward to cover her eyes. ‘You just hang on there, lad, and give someone else the chance to get a word in.’
She looked so comical, pointing a finger in the direction she thought Steve was standing, and her face visible only from the nose down, that like everyone else in the room Steve couldn’t keep the laughter back, and he was chuckling when he asked, ‘Who is that woman under the hat? I seem to recognize the voice, it sounds familiar, but I’m blowed if I can put a name to it.’ His dimples deep, he winked broadly. ‘However, would the person sitting next to her kindly explain that I am the best man, trying to make a speech and invite everyone to raise their glasses. But I can hardly do that with a hat interrupting me!’
There were roars of laughter when Nellie pushed the hat back, only for it to fall forward again when she began to speak. ‘Listen to me, lad. Hi ham the mother of the groom, hand hi ham hentitled to speak up.’ Nellie was sure her posh way of talking went with her hat. ‘So just pipe down, hif yer don’t mind.’
Steve looked at the piece of paper in his hand, on which he’d written his best man’s speech. And to roars of laughter, he screwed it up and threw it over his shoulder. ‘Mam, I’m not only best man, but I’m yer son as well!’
‘I know that, soft lad, and if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be here.’
; Corker’s guffaw was so loud it could be heard in the shop down below. ‘George, ye’re not going to let that go unchallenged, are yer? Remind yer dear wife that if it wasn’t for you, there wouldn’t have been a wedding, and none of us would be here.’
Nellie pushed her hat back and with a determined look on her face she anchored it down with a chubby hand. ‘Jimmy Corkhill, big and all as yer are, I’ll not let yer talk about my feller like that.’ She looked down at George. ‘Are yer just going to sit there like a bleeding stuffed dummy and let him make fun of yer? If you won’t thump him one, then hold me while I stand on a chair and I’ll thump him.’
George eyed his wife and quietly asked, ‘Why would yer want to thump Corker when he’s right in what he said? I am in a way responsible for this wedding.’
This was too much for Nellie to take in, so she went back to Steve, and was about to say something when he beat her to it. ‘Mam, if yer hadn’t jumped in with both feet, ready for a fight, then I could have finished me best man’s speech, in which I was going to say that, as usual, Mrs Nellie McDonough and her mate, Mrs Molly Bennett, stole some of the limelight as they always do, by looking elegant in their stylish hats and dresses.’
Nellie’s mouth puckered. ‘Ay, did yer hear that, Molly? Doesn’t our Steve make a good best man? Got a way with words, he has. That’s ’cos he takes after me.’
George pulled on her arm. ‘Will yer sit down, Nellie, so we can all eat our meal in peace.’ With her bosom firm after praise, Nellie did as she was told, and no one was more surprised than George.
The tables had been cleared and the chairs pushed back to make room for dancing. And Paul gave his new wife a kiss before telling her, ‘I want a word with yer dad, pet. I won’t be long.’
