Gracie by Marie Maxwell

for the pernickety photographer who was waiting in the grounds with his camera set up, and an assistant on hand to make sure they did exactly as they were told. While this was going on, the guests grouped into their familiar cliques as inevitably occurred at family gatherings; Sean’s family and friends on one side, and Gracie’s on the other.
    The respective mothers glared across the divide, two equally competitive and assertive women who each wanted to be seen as the senior mother-in-law of the occasion. But although they both pursed their lips with disapproval a few times, neither said anything out of the way.
    But all in all, everything about the day was as perfect as Gracie had hoped for. Despite a few showers the sun shone down at all the right moments, everyone turned up and the day went off without even a minor hitch. George Wheaton and Fred McCabe got on like the proverbial house on fire, as did Gracie and Sean’s respective sisters.
    The twins were accompanied by their fiancés, with Jeanette being in a bit of a huff because she and her twin sister weren’t invited to be bridesmaids. Being polar opposite in personality Jennifer, ever the silent observer, didn’t seem to mind at all. She stayed in the background all day, quietly watching and absorbing the proceedings rather than actually joining in.
    And then it was all over. It was just one day in their lives but it was a life-changing day for Gracie McCabe, who was no longer sitting on the shelf contemplating spinsterhood. After a few words in church she was Mrs Sean Donnelly, wife and respectable woman.
    That night, together for the first time in their new flat near the Palace hotel, Gracie determined she would not give the man called Edward Woodfield another thought. Ever.
    As they lay entwined together in the marital bed, she listened to Sean snoring peacefully and forced from her mind all thoughts of Edward, and the twinge of regret she had at not meeting him at another time in her life.
    She looked at the ceiling and determined to focus only on Sean, her new husband and the father of her future children.
    Bright and early the next morning, Ruby and Johnnie drove them to the station to see them off on the honeymoon Sean’s parents had unexpectedly given them.
    They were both excited as they headed off for a week in a boarding house in Great Yarmouth, and by the time they came back, happy and relaxed, Gracie was totally focused on her new husband and their future together.
    Edward Woodfield, meanwhile, had been forcibly tucked away in the back of her mind as a moment of pre-marital madness, and the signet ring and the piece of paper were in the hands of Ruby, who had been charged with posting the ring back to him as soon as possible.
    A new chapter in the life of Gracie McCabe, now Donnelly, was about to begin.

NINE
Six months later
    ‘Guess what, Sean?’ Gracie said, pausing for effect. ‘I’m expecting. I went to see the doctor this morning and in about six months’ time you’re going to be a father!’
    Gracie smiled at her husband across the dining table, looking forward to his reaction. He’d made no secret of how much he wanted them to start a family just as soon as possible.
    ‘Oh, that’s wonderful …’ Sean rocked forward in his chair and smiled widely. ‘I’ve been waiting so long for that news. When did you know? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?’
    ‘I didn’t want to say until the doctor confirmed it, just in case I was wrong, but it looks like we’ve struck lucky …’ Gracie smiled.
    ‘Not lucky at all, Gracie darling; it was just a matter of time. The Donnellys are a fertile family, and this just proves it with another Donnelly baby to add to the collection. Hopefully I’ll have a son. We need a boy to carry down the family name.’ Sean stood up and went over to hug his wife. ‘I can’t wait to tell me Mam, she’ll be so happy.’
    ‘Well, I was thinking about it this afternoon after I got back from the doctors, and