Lucy - Now Completed!

Part 32 - 6th October 1969

Following the service, Lucy and Paul posed for photographs taken by a photographer Paul knew. After pictures of the couple and family groups were taken, Lucy wondered what, if anything, was going to happen next. She turned to Sue and asked whether she was expected to return to her room now. Sue grinned at her.

"Paul, are you ready?" she called.

Paul came over to where she was stood with Lucy.

"Ready for what Paul?" Lucy asked.

"Wait and see!" He kissed her softly then linked her arm. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said to the group, "If you would like to follow Lucy and I."

"Close your eyes baby." Paul whispered then lead Lucy through a door at the side of the chapel. "You can look now love!"

Lucy opened her eyes and looked around the room. There was a long table down one wall covered with plates of food and decorated with ribbon swags and flowers. The centre piece of which was a three tiered wedding cake. In the rest of the room, tables had been arranged so that people could sit together and talk. Lucy gasped in surprise.

"When was all this arranged?" she said in surprise.

"Well we had to have some kind of wedding breakfast Lucy love!" Paul kissed her, "You do like it?"

"Oh Paul, I love it! Thank you!"

He beamed at her. "Right. You and me are going to collect our food first then you MUST sit down and rest for a while. Sue keeps looking at me when you walk around too much!"

Lucy sat at the nearest table. "You go and get me some food husband! You know what I like. I'll wait here and be a good wife!"

Grinning, Paul left her and the rest of the guests followed him to the buffet. Jim McCartney came and sat by Lucy, concerned to know she was feeling well.

"I'm great Jim." Lucy smiled at the man she liked so much, "Has Paul told you our news?"

Jim gave Lucy a gentle hug. "You've made my son so happy Lucy love. You've given him his confidence back. And now, your marriage and knowing there's going to be twins, it's fantastic news!"

"Thanks Jim."

Paul came and sat by her. "Hiya dad. Enjoy the service?"

Jim hugged his son. "Congratulations to the pair of you! I was just telling Lucy how pleased I am that you're finally wed. I'm looking forward to being a granddad again too!"

Paul thanked his dad then then Jim left the couple alone to get some food too. The room was full of the happy buzz of conversation as people ate their food and talked. People came to Paul and Lucy frequently to congratulate them and wish Lucy well with the pregnancy. Then, about an hour later, Mike McCartney stood up and walked to the front of the room. He used a spoon and tapped the side of his glass to get everyone's attention.

"Right you lot!" he called, "Stop filling your faces and listen please!" The conversations stopped and everyone looked expectantly at Mike. "It's time for all those embarrassing speeches we get at weddings!" Someone whistled, making Mike grin, "And it's time for me to get my own back on our kid!" Paul groaned to Lucy and she laughed. "But first, I'd like to present Daniel Jackson...the father of the very gorgeous bride."

Lucy watched as Daniel came forward. He shook hands with Mike then faced the group. Lucy clutched Paul's hand tightly, wondering what her dad was going to say.

"As Lucy's dad," he began, "I've often wondered what I would say in my speech when the day came that she would get married. You see, Lucy and I have always been very close. We had to be since we lost her amazing mum when Lucy was just eight years old." He looked to Lucy who was wiping tears away already. "No tears love!" he called, "Not today!" He turned back to his audience. "People expected me to hand my daughter over to her grandmother to care for. It was seen as the 'done' thing for a widower to raise children, especially a daughter. I had no intention of letting my Lucy go. We became a team. We held each other together and as the years went by, my daughter was also my best friend! She was a good girl at school. Clever and hardworking and I remember the first time she began to mention boys. Then I knew my little girl was growing up!