Hope Remains: A Hope Springs Fanfiction

Chapter 36

The wedding was to take place two weeks after the storm, when Finbarr had completely healed. Neither had wanted a long engagement, they had circled around each other for far too long. Emma was ready to crash right into Finbarr.

The days before the wedding flew by in a blur of preparations, punctuated by stolen moments with Finbarr. He was still heartbroken over the loss of Grady, but spending time together seemed to ease that burden. She loved the evenings best of all when he would come and sit with her on the porch swing. The air was turning colder, but wrapped in each others arms, neither seemed to notice. Sometimes Eimear would come out and beg a story from Finbarr, which he always relented to without too much persuasion. Sometimes the rest of the family would gather around to listen as well. If they could do nothing else but this for the rest of their lives, she knew she would be the happiest woman on earth.

The day before the wedding, she stood in the yard, hanging laundry. She heard a rolicking whistle coming up the lane and she knew who it was before she could see him. Finbarr whistled Brennan's Reel as he made his way carefully up the lane. Without Grady to guide him, he had to rely on his cane, making his progress much slower.

"A fine good day to you, Finbarr," she called as she made her way toward him for a kiss. "What brings you by?"

"I came to get some flour for Ma," he grinned. "You'd think she was baking for an army the way she's been going."

She giggled, quickly stifling it into a mock pout. "You didn't come to see me?"

"Of course I did," he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "Why do you think I was so quick to volunteer when Ma asked?"

Emma laughed into his next kiss. "You've saved me from an afternoon of boredom. I've been doing wash all day."

"That doesn't sound like a very romantic way to spend the day before your wedding, does it?" Katie chuckled from behind them, making Emma jump. She hadn't heard her come up, but clearly Finbarr had.

"You're interruptin' a fine bit of snugglin'," he grinned, laying on an Irish accent thick as his father's. "If I ask nicely, will you leave us alone for a few minutes?"

Katie pushed back a grin, raising her finger in a scolding manner. Emma would have thought she was serious, if it hadn't been for the twinkle in her eyes.

"Is that any way to talk to your future mother-in-law?"

The effect of her scolding was quite ruined by a laugh, making his grin widen.

"My apologies."

"Just so you know," Katie replied as she walked away. "I'm on the porch churning butter. Behave yourselves."

Her cheeks pinked slightly as Katie left them together. She knew full well that Katie was teasing, but it didn't make it less embarrassing.

"I think we can behave ourselves," Finbarr tossed her a wicked grin. "Right after this."

He pulled her behind the cotton sheets on the line. He slipped one hand to the back of her neck, the other to her back and pulled her close for another kiss. His lips were insistent and inviting, making her heart race. She was glad when his hand moved from the center of her back to her waist, because her legs were beginning to feel unstable. She fell into him, into his kiss. The way he kissed her made her heart sing.

"I can see you," Katie called, causing the two of them to pull apart. He grinned unrepentantly, no sign of a blush on his cheeks.

"Can I help you hang the laundry?" he asked. She felt a little surprise, even though she had seen him function completely on his own for years, it still sometimes astounded her that he knew or sensed things without having to be told.