The party lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. There was so much to celebrate besides the marriage of Darren and Cailin. The reunion of Conner with his parents and the first opportunity to see their first grandchild was a bonus that no one expected, especially Maura and Philip. And Cailin's gran was in attendance and had the opportunity to meet Rorey, her distant relative.
Besides her boss, a few of the girls from her office made the trip across the pond for the wedding. Not surprisingly, they found a couple of Darren's friends to be quite accommodating and charming. Cailin would not be surprised to hear of one or two deciding to come back and visit again soon. Declan seemed to take a liking to one of the GOTT girls from Derry. She was wearing a huge smile all night long. In passing Cailin warned Declan that he better be a perfect gentleman with her, or Darren would be coming after him. Declan laughed commenting that he was always a slightly imperfect gentleman, but he did get the warning.
When Conner and Darren had a minute to talk, Conner explained that he, Jessica and little John were in attendance at the wedding. They had slipped in the side door while Darren was outside waiting for Cailin to arrive. They stayed at the back of the church so as not to be seen and sneaked out as soon as the ceremony was over, so they could get to the hotel and hide in their room until Declan told them all was ready. Conner laughed when Darren told him how upset he was after the ceremony.
“Brother, I just had to pull this one last one over on you,” Conner teased. And they hugged until they almost fell over. Maura and Philip took John up to the room to bed so that Jessica and Conner could enjoy the party.
Keith kept the music rocking the house much of the night. Damian sang a couple of popular tunes, and Ryan joined in with a few of his new songs that had just been written. At some point the music turned from dance and rock music to an Irish session with everyone sitting around listening to tunes they had grown up hearing all around.
And as always with the band, there were a few lasses for whom Keith, Damian and Ryan had caught their eyes and sat mesmerized watching the musicians.
Most of the attendees had reservations at the Connemara Coast Hotel for the night ,knowing it would be a long party and there would be much drinking and craic. It must have been around four in the morning when the crowd grew thin and the band packed up. The bar had officially closed hours earlier, but Declan made sure there was an extra supply of whiskey and beer under a table.
Cailin and the other young women headed off to their rooms while the men had their last few toasts of the night.
Tomorrow began a new life for Cailin as the wife of Darren Ryan.
Thinking back to her summer vacation, which in itself was a get away from New York City, Cailin smiled knowing that she was now exactly where she belonged. Only new adventures awaited both Cailin and Darren together as a couple and she knew that whatever life threw at them, they would weather any storm.
End.
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Travels in Eire #75
Declan lead Cailin and Darren into the reception room at the Connemara Coast Hotel.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Mr. and Mrs. have arrived, finally!” he announced as they entered to a huge cheer.
Cailin and Darren were lead to the center of a long table decorated in white linens and crystal glasses. Everything seemed to sparkle, including the chandelier in the center of the room. The colors were lush deep greens and blues with draperies bordering the windows that looked out past the rocky shore to Galway Bay. The bride and groom were flanked by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. As Cailin and Darren looked past their table they saw their families sitting a round tables just to the outside of the long table with a dance floor set up right in front of them.
Suddenly there was a uproar of clinking of crystal glasses calling for a kiss between the bride and groom. Cailin and Darren obliged willingly with a long loving kiss. Then a shorter tapping of a glass followed by a “here, here” for an announcement.
Declan was the bearer of the glass and appeared ready to make the first official toast. He began,
“A first official toast is a very special one and should always be given by a family member. I may be a great friend of Darren's, but I'm not a family member.”
As Declan held everyone's attention and continued his speech on family, that seemed to be endless, a figure slipped in the door and quietly moved to the back of the room.
“So to conclude this toast, I ask, is there a family member who would like to make this first toast to our lovely couple?” Declan glanced over to Philip as if he expected Philip to make the toast.
The lone figure at the back of the room announced, “I would be honored to bring the first toast to this celebration for my brother and his new wife!”
The room was abuzz. Maura suddenly broke down in tears and Philip was holding her, while Philip himself was beaming. Their son, Conner, had come home.
As he talked, Conner moved to the center of the room. Darren's older brother had a polish to him that Darren had not seen before. Obviously this had to do with his banking job in America. Darren also noticed out of the corner of his eye that Jessica, Conner's wife had slipped into the room holding their son, John. Maura did not catch this yet as her eyes were glued to Conner.
“My brother has discovered that there are some very special women who come here to visit and end up stealing an Irishman's heart. His Irish sweetheart will be there for him when times are difficult, and when times are sweet. This I know as I have found my American sweetheart who fills my everyday. Conner glanced back to Jessica as she acknowledged Conner's statement.
And my toast is this Irish blessing:
There are 4 things you must never do: lie, steal, cheat, or drink.
But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
If you must cheat, cheat death.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away...
May you both live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.
Slainte!”
And the party began.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Mr. and Mrs. have arrived, finally!” he announced as they entered to a huge cheer.
Cailin and Darren were lead to the center of a long table decorated in white linens and crystal glasses. Everything seemed to sparkle, including the chandelier in the center of the room. The colors were lush deep greens and blues with draperies bordering the windows that looked out past the rocky shore to Galway Bay. The bride and groom were flanked by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. As Cailin and Darren looked past their table they saw their families sitting a round tables just to the outside of the long table with a dance floor set up right in front of them.
Suddenly there was a uproar of clinking of crystal glasses calling for a kiss between the bride and groom. Cailin and Darren obliged willingly with a long loving kiss. Then a shorter tapping of a glass followed by a “here, here” for an announcement.
Declan was the bearer of the glass and appeared ready to make the first official toast. He began,
“A first official toast is a very special one and should always be given by a family member. I may be a great friend of Darren's, but I'm not a family member.”
As Declan held everyone's attention and continued his speech on family, that seemed to be endless, a figure slipped in the door and quietly moved to the back of the room.
“So to conclude this toast, I ask, is there a family member who would like to make this first toast to our lovely couple?” Declan glanced over to Philip as if he expected Philip to make the toast.
The lone figure at the back of the room announced, “I would be honored to bring the first toast to this celebration for my brother and his new wife!”
The room was abuzz. Maura suddenly broke down in tears and Philip was holding her, while Philip himself was beaming. Their son, Conner, had come home.
As he talked, Conner moved to the center of the room. Darren's older brother had a polish to him that Darren had not seen before. Obviously this had to do with his banking job in America. Darren also noticed out of the corner of his eye that Jessica, Conner's wife had slipped into the room holding their son, John. Maura did not catch this yet as her eyes were glued to Conner.
“My brother has discovered that there are some very special women who come here to visit and end up stealing an Irishman's heart. His Irish sweetheart will be there for him when times are difficult, and when times are sweet. This I know as I have found my American sweetheart who fills my everyday. Conner glanced back to Jessica as she acknowledged Conner's statement.
And my toast is this Irish blessing:
There are 4 things you must never do: lie, steal, cheat, or drink.
But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
If you must cheat, cheat death.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away...
May you both live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.
Slainte!”
And the party began.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Travels in Eire #74
The ride to the Connemara Coast Hotel was in Darren's parent's car, but it was just Darren and Cailin. They wanted to have just a few moments together to savor the ceremony and would not have the time as the day wore on. Cailin noticed that Darren seemed a little distracted. She had become more adept at reading him over time. Most emotions she could easily read, but there was something else here.
“Darren, is everything okay? What is it?” Cailin gently tried to pry Darren's closed demeanor open.
“I just thought....No I was sure......It was supposed to be......,” is all Darren would say.
“Darren, you are making no sense. What was supposed to be?” Cailin was totally confused.
“I trusted him to make it happen. He told me he could handle it just fine.” and now Darren was getting angry.
“Darren, stop! Pull over here!” Cailin demanded and Darren responded by pulling to the side of the road just a short way from the hotel.
Darren turned to Cailin and responded, “My brother.”
“What about your brother?” Cailin realized there was something she did not know about that was not happening the way Darren had planned.
“He was supposed to fly over with his wife and baby and be here for the wedding. He promised he would make this visit. I thought I would see him at the church, but I didn't. I haven't heard from him for the last 3 days when they were supposed to leave America,” Darren's voice was shaking from both concern and disappointment.
“Darren, there is nothing you can do about it at this point. We have a few hundred guests waiting for us at a reception. What about your parents? Do they know?” Cailin was still trying to get some information from Darren.
“It was to be a huge surprise for them with my brother coming to visit with his wife and the baby. I was so worried about you arriving at the church late that I totally forgot that I should have seen him also. Then there was the rush to the ceremony and now,” Darren was almost shaking. “I have no way to contact him.”
“Darren, I don't know how to help you through this. I'm really surprised about this whole thing. You never told me either. I wish I knew what to do for you,” Cailin was on the verge of tears with worry for Darren's brother. “We can't sit here like this. We need to get to the reception and have someone help. I'm sure your da would know what to do.”
“Cailin, I need to get over this. It's OUR wedding day and I'm ruining it with this problem that has upset me so much. I'll share the information with my parents when we have a minute at the reception and then we'll all work it out together.” Darren was putting on his work face as a problem solver and determined not to let this spoil the reception.
As they turned into the parking lot Declan was pacing back and forth in front of the door. He had a worried look on his face that lit up when he saw Cailin and Darren pull in.
“What in God's earth has taken the two of you so long? The hotel rooms are here! Everyone is waitin' on ya,” he shouted breathlessly. “And Darren I need you first. There's some trouble a brewin', and we need to take care of it. Cailin can you just wait here for a few?” Declan ordered. He seemed so much more in charge than earlier today.
It was only a few moments when Darren returned and seemed a lot more relaxed.
“Darren, what was that all about?” Cailin knew something was up.
“All in due time, honey, all in due time,” and he smiled the smile that caught Cailn's eye from the beginning.
“Darren, is everything okay? What is it?” Cailin gently tried to pry Darren's closed demeanor open.
“I just thought....No I was sure......It was supposed to be......,” is all Darren would say.
“Darren, you are making no sense. What was supposed to be?” Cailin was totally confused.
“I trusted him to make it happen. He told me he could handle it just fine.” and now Darren was getting angry.
“Darren, stop! Pull over here!” Cailin demanded and Darren responded by pulling to the side of the road just a short way from the hotel.
Darren turned to Cailin and responded, “My brother.”
“What about your brother?” Cailin realized there was something she did not know about that was not happening the way Darren had planned.
“He was supposed to fly over with his wife and baby and be here for the wedding. He promised he would make this visit. I thought I would see him at the church, but I didn't. I haven't heard from him for the last 3 days when they were supposed to leave America,” Darren's voice was shaking from both concern and disappointment.
“Darren, there is nothing you can do about it at this point. We have a few hundred guests waiting for us at a reception. What about your parents? Do they know?” Cailin was still trying to get some information from Darren.
“It was to be a huge surprise for them with my brother coming to visit with his wife and the baby. I was so worried about you arriving at the church late that I totally forgot that I should have seen him also. Then there was the rush to the ceremony and now,” Darren was almost shaking. “I have no way to contact him.”
“Darren, I don't know how to help you through this. I'm really surprised about this whole thing. You never told me either. I wish I knew what to do for you,” Cailin was on the verge of tears with worry for Darren's brother. “We can't sit here like this. We need to get to the reception and have someone help. I'm sure your da would know what to do.”
“Cailin, I need to get over this. It's OUR wedding day and I'm ruining it with this problem that has upset me so much. I'll share the information with my parents when we have a minute at the reception and then we'll all work it out together.” Darren was putting on his work face as a problem solver and determined not to let this spoil the reception.
As they turned into the parking lot Declan was pacing back and forth in front of the door. He had a worried look on his face that lit up when he saw Cailin and Darren pull in.
“What in God's earth has taken the two of you so long? The hotel rooms are here! Everyone is waitin' on ya,” he shouted breathlessly. “And Darren I need you first. There's some trouble a brewin', and we need to take care of it. Cailin can you just wait here for a few?” Declan ordered. He seemed so much more in charge than earlier today.
It was only a few moments when Darren returned and seemed a lot more relaxed.
“Darren, what was that all about?” Cailin knew something was up.
“All in due time, honey, all in due time,” and he smiled the smile that caught Cailn's eye from the beginning.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Travels in Eire #73
Cailin sat in the back of the car with her gown carefully placed so as not to wrinkle or soil it. Her mother sat next to her and her father sat next to Declan. The church was only a few miles away, so it was a short drive and would only take a few minutes. At least that was what everyone thought!
Just as Declan turned on to the main road heading toward the church, the car started to make a strange sound. Declan calmed everyone with his words, “No worries all, it always does that.”
But as they traveled the road the sound turned into a grinding, and then everyone could smell something burning. Declan pulled over to the side of the road and started shouting, “Everyone out, quickly!”
As Cailin exited the car she could see black smoke coming from the engine compartment. She, her mum and dad had a look of horror on their faces. Declan just had a dumbfounded look of surprise.
“Guess we are going to have to find some alternative transportation,” Declan announced.
None of the passengers had their cell phones with them and there was no one they could contact at this point. Cailin was trying to stay calm, but in her anger all she could do was laugh. Before she realized it, all of them were roaring with laughter.
“Okay, I'm going to start walking,” Cailin announced. “There doesn't seem to be any traffic on the road today, so there is no catching a ride.”
What a scene, with Cailin's mum and dad helping Cailin to hold up the train to her gown as they walked down the road followed by Declan as he mumbled to himself about the fact that he should have had his car fixed before this. On a calm summer day this would have been fine, but as always on the Connemara coast there is at least a slight breezed coming off Galway Bay, or sometimes a strong wind. Today was a moderate breeze and Cailin's veil was like a tail on a kite, blowing in the wind, as they walked along. They still had about a mile to go and were already late for the ceremony.
As they walked they started to hear a sound behind them. It was a clopping sound of a horse and cart. Declan hailed down the driver and before anyone knew it, Cailin and crew were situated in the cart trotting down the road behind a white Connemara pony. The cart was not made for passengers, so here was Cailin sitting on the back with her legs hanging off and her gown carefully tucked up still trying to keep it fresh and clean. The fresh part was pretty much gone now, but she did the best and her mum held her veil from flying all over as they trotted along.
It did take longer than expected and as they arrived at the church a few people were standing outside looking for them to arrive, including a worried Darren. When he saw this pony and cart coming down the road and got a glimpse of Cailin in her white gown he doubled over in laughter. It was just so much like their lives – everything totally unexpected.
One of the groomsmen headed in to the church to let everyone know that Cailin had arrived. Once everyone was in place, and Mary and Sean seated, the ceremony began. Despite the wrinkles and slight soils in Cailin's gown, and extra tendrils of her unruly hair that had fallen from her up do, Darren looked down the aisle knowing in his heart there was no one else he would have chosen to be his wife. Life would bring many unexpected surprises and they would weather them together both in joy and sadness.
The ceremony that followed was touching and memorable. Ryan's voice and choice of music carried the congregation through with tears and laughter. The church was full of well-wishers and friendly faces. Cailin and Darren tried to absorb every minute.
They suddenly realized it will all done as the priest asked to turn to the congregation and introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Darren Ryan. A huge cheer filled the sanctuary as Darrren and Cailin headed out of the church and on to the reception at the Connemara Coast Hotel.
Just as Declan turned on to the main road heading toward the church, the car started to make a strange sound. Declan calmed everyone with his words, “No worries all, it always does that.”
But as they traveled the road the sound turned into a grinding, and then everyone could smell something burning. Declan pulled over to the side of the road and started shouting, “Everyone out, quickly!”
As Cailin exited the car she could see black smoke coming from the engine compartment. She, her mum and dad had a look of horror on their faces. Declan just had a dumbfounded look of surprise.
“Guess we are going to have to find some alternative transportation,” Declan announced.
None of the passengers had their cell phones with them and there was no one they could contact at this point. Cailin was trying to stay calm, but in her anger all she could do was laugh. Before she realized it, all of them were roaring with laughter.
“Okay, I'm going to start walking,” Cailin announced. “There doesn't seem to be any traffic on the road today, so there is no catching a ride.”
What a scene, with Cailin's mum and dad helping Cailin to hold up the train to her gown as they walked down the road followed by Declan as he mumbled to himself about the fact that he should have had his car fixed before this. On a calm summer day this would have been fine, but as always on the Connemara coast there is at least a slight breezed coming off Galway Bay, or sometimes a strong wind. Today was a moderate breeze and Cailin's veil was like a tail on a kite, blowing in the wind, as they walked along. They still had about a mile to go and were already late for the ceremony.
As they walked they started to hear a sound behind them. It was a clopping sound of a horse and cart. Declan hailed down the driver and before anyone knew it, Cailin and crew were situated in the cart trotting down the road behind a white Connemara pony. The cart was not made for passengers, so here was Cailin sitting on the back with her legs hanging off and her gown carefully tucked up still trying to keep it fresh and clean. The fresh part was pretty much gone now, but she did the best and her mum held her veil from flying all over as they trotted along.
It did take longer than expected and as they arrived at the church a few people were standing outside looking for them to arrive, including a worried Darren. When he saw this pony and cart coming down the road and got a glimpse of Cailin in her white gown he doubled over in laughter. It was just so much like their lives – everything totally unexpected.
One of the groomsmen headed in to the church to let everyone know that Cailin had arrived. Once everyone was in place, and Mary and Sean seated, the ceremony began. Despite the wrinkles and slight soils in Cailin's gown, and extra tendrils of her unruly hair that had fallen from her up do, Darren looked down the aisle knowing in his heart there was no one else he would have chosen to be his wife. Life would bring many unexpected surprises and they would weather them together both in joy and sadness.
The ceremony that followed was touching and memorable. Ryan's voice and choice of music carried the congregation through with tears and laughter. The church was full of well-wishers and friendly faces. Cailin and Darren tried to absorb every minute.
They suddenly realized it will all done as the priest asked to turn to the congregation and introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Darren Ryan. A huge cheer filled the sanctuary as Darrren and Cailin headed out of the church and on to the reception at the Connemara Coast Hotel.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Travels in Eire #64
Cailin and Darren were pretty much attached to each other as the evening began. This was mostly so that Cailin could introduce Darren to the friends and relatives and help him remember who he had met along the way. There was no question that Darren was a charmer. Everyone loved his Irish accent and wonderful smile. He could be selling Irish dirt and everyone would be buying! As Darren felt more relaxed he and Cailin moved around the room separately.
It could have been the drinks, or just the casual atmosphere but Cailin was really enjoying herself. She had been so tense about this party, but everything was going just perfect.
That was until Shannon arrived at the party. Shannon was a friend from the office, but Cailin didn't know that she had been invited. Bonnie, her co-worker, and Rob, her boss, were at the party and neither had said anything about Shannon attending. Unfortunately Shannon was not alone, and it appeared that she had been doing some drinking before she arrived. Shannon, evidently, was crashing the party with none other than Nick!
Cailin's relaxed feeling suddenly turned to panic as she searched across the room for Darren. Darren saw her and immediately headed over to where she was.
“What's the matter Cailin?” Darren asked as he reached Cailin and noticed her color had turned ashen.
“He ruins everything,” is all Cailin could respond.
Darren immediately picked up on what was going on as Nick approached the two of them.
“Well Cailin, sweetie, I just couldn't let this party happen without me.” Nick leaned over to grab Cailin and was met with a strong arm on the shoulder that stopped him in his tracks.
“So you're the one who threw her away for me to find? Gotta say I'm the lucky man here. Nice to meet you, I'm Darren, Cailin's fiancé,” Darren put his hand out to interrupt Nick's movement to Cailin and stop his aggressive posture.
Nick was so taken aback that he was suddenly speechless.
“Here, let me get you a drink,” Darren was ever the master at this, and Cailin was so happy for that. He pulled Cailin toward the bar as he went to get Nick's drink.
“So give me the the five second version here so I can get some liquor in him and talk him into leaving,” Darren was obviously in charge here.
“Old boyfriend, Nick, who was a....” Cailin couldn't even finish.
“Got it Cailin. Leave this all to me,” Darren seemed to have a plan in place already.
“Nick”, he called across the room, “Come on over and have a little toast with me.”
Darren gently nudged Cailin back into the party. She dreaded what was going to happen, but had to leave this to Darren. She turned around to see Darren hand Nick a double shot of Jameson. Cailin had never seen Nick drunk before and was worried he might be a very mean drunk. He was a big guy, had played football in high school.
“Cailin dear, come over hear and meet our new neighbor,” Cailin's mom was calling and she could no longer watch what was going on between Darren and Nick. Cailin couldn't remember how long it had been since Darren sent her away. Every time she tried to peek at what was going on, she was pulled further away.
That was until she heard some loud noise coming from the bar area.
“Slainte!!” “Slainte!!” “Salinte!!” Cailin turned around to see Darren and Nick in a challenge of Jameson shots! She knew from her father that is was never a good idea to challenge an Irishman to a duel of shots. She also noticed that her father had put a chair just behind Nick. As Nick lifted his hand and tilted his head back for the next shot, he fell back into the chair and passed out.
There was a huge cheer throughout the room. And Darren politely raised his last shot as a toast to the crowd and downed it like a champion. Cailin walked over the Darren and wrapped her arms around him. She couldn't have been happier.
“Darlin, I'm as drunk as a skunk. Can we say our good nights now?” Darren whispered in her ear as he leaned on Cailin for support.
“I'm thinking this is the perfect end to the night Darren,” Cailin whispered back.
They watched Sean and another neighbor help Nick out the door with Shannon as they had called a taxi to get him home. Nick was going to have a sore head the next morning and not want to do anything. He had been beaten at his own macho game and lost. It was all over now.
Cailin and Darren bid their farewells to the guests as they headed up the stairs. Darren was more difficult to maneuver that Cailin would imagine, but she managed to get him into bed, and pull off his clothes as he fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
Cailin smiled as she left Darren's room and entered hers. Darren was her knight in shining armor tonight. No man had ever done anything like this before for her. She continued to smile as she climbed into bed and pulled up the covers and fell sound asleep.
The party had been a huge success. And tomorrow she would be shopping for her wedding dress with Ruth.
It could have been the drinks, or just the casual atmosphere but Cailin was really enjoying herself. She had been so tense about this party, but everything was going just perfect.
That was until Shannon arrived at the party. Shannon was a friend from the office, but Cailin didn't know that she had been invited. Bonnie, her co-worker, and Rob, her boss, were at the party and neither had said anything about Shannon attending. Unfortunately Shannon was not alone, and it appeared that she had been doing some drinking before she arrived. Shannon, evidently, was crashing the party with none other than Nick!
Cailin's relaxed feeling suddenly turned to panic as she searched across the room for Darren. Darren saw her and immediately headed over to where she was.
“What's the matter Cailin?” Darren asked as he reached Cailin and noticed her color had turned ashen.
“He ruins everything,” is all Cailin could respond.
Darren immediately picked up on what was going on as Nick approached the two of them.
“Well Cailin, sweetie, I just couldn't let this party happen without me.” Nick leaned over to grab Cailin and was met with a strong arm on the shoulder that stopped him in his tracks.
“So you're the one who threw her away for me to find? Gotta say I'm the lucky man here. Nice to meet you, I'm Darren, Cailin's fiancé,” Darren put his hand out to interrupt Nick's movement to Cailin and stop his aggressive posture.
Nick was so taken aback that he was suddenly speechless.
“Here, let me get you a drink,” Darren was ever the master at this, and Cailin was so happy for that. He pulled Cailin toward the bar as he went to get Nick's drink.
“So give me the the five second version here so I can get some liquor in him and talk him into leaving,” Darren was obviously in charge here.
“Old boyfriend, Nick, who was a....” Cailin couldn't even finish.
“Got it Cailin. Leave this all to me,” Darren seemed to have a plan in place already.
“Nick”, he called across the room, “Come on over and have a little toast with me.”
Darren gently nudged Cailin back into the party. She dreaded what was going to happen, but had to leave this to Darren. She turned around to see Darren hand Nick a double shot of Jameson. Cailin had never seen Nick drunk before and was worried he might be a very mean drunk. He was a big guy, had played football in high school.
“Cailin dear, come over hear and meet our new neighbor,” Cailin's mom was calling and she could no longer watch what was going on between Darren and Nick. Cailin couldn't remember how long it had been since Darren sent her away. Every time she tried to peek at what was going on, she was pulled further away.
That was until she heard some loud noise coming from the bar area.
“Slainte!!” “Slainte!!” “Salinte!!” Cailin turned around to see Darren and Nick in a challenge of Jameson shots! She knew from her father that is was never a good idea to challenge an Irishman to a duel of shots. She also noticed that her father had put a chair just behind Nick. As Nick lifted his hand and tilted his head back for the next shot, he fell back into the chair and passed out.
There was a huge cheer throughout the room. And Darren politely raised his last shot as a toast to the crowd and downed it like a champion. Cailin walked over the Darren and wrapped her arms around him. She couldn't have been happier.
“Darlin, I'm as drunk as a skunk. Can we say our good nights now?” Darren whispered in her ear as he leaned on Cailin for support.
“I'm thinking this is the perfect end to the night Darren,” Cailin whispered back.
They watched Sean and another neighbor help Nick out the door with Shannon as they had called a taxi to get him home. Nick was going to have a sore head the next morning and not want to do anything. He had been beaten at his own macho game and lost. It was all over now.
Cailin and Darren bid their farewells to the guests as they headed up the stairs. Darren was more difficult to maneuver that Cailin would imagine, but she managed to get him into bed, and pull off his clothes as he fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
Cailin smiled as she left Darren's room and entered hers. Darren was her knight in shining armor tonight. No man had ever done anything like this before for her. She continued to smile as she climbed into bed and pulled up the covers and fell sound asleep.
The party had been a huge success. And tomorrow she would be shopping for her wedding dress with Ruth.
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