Chapter 52

After the signing of the register,Donnie and Tom acting as witnesses,Andy took Luke’s hand and,to Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks,led him out of the annex.In bright sunshine they made their way toward the iron bridge which spanned the river that separated the annex from the main hotel.

To Luke’s surprise,his uncles and his father walked in front of them and crossed the bridge before them.

Andy looked at Luke;silently asking him what was happening.Luke shrugged;he didn’t have a clue.As soon as they stepped onto the bridge,his uncles started to sing.

As they continued to cross the bridge,Luke gripped Andy’s hand tightly.Tingles were running up and down his spine and he could no longer see because of the tears rolling down his cheeks.His male relatives were singing one of the few hymns he’d enjoyed singing as a child in the chapel choir.

“Did you know about this?”Andy asked him,once they’d reached the other side and his uncleshad finished singing.

Luke wiped his eyes.“No,I didn’t.”

One by one the uncles came up and shook his and Andy’s hands.Each said a few words of encouragement,or told them it had been a lovely service.Luke was overwhelmed at their acceptance or willingness to set aside their discomfort.

His dad was the last to approach.He enveloped Luke in a hug.“Proud of you,son.”

“Oh,Dad.I love you.Thanks for doing this,it—”Luke’s tears had returned in abundance.

“It was a pleasure.You can take the man out of Wales,but you can’t take Wales out of the man.”

Luke nodded.

“But it’s your Auntie Gwen you need to thank.It was all her idea.”

Luke didn’t have to wait long to thank her,because she was standing to the side,talking with Andy.

Andy shook her hand vigorously.“Thank you.I know this has meant more to Luke,but I…well…thank you.”He seemed to be almost as emotional as Luke.

“But Auntie Gwen,you shouldn’t have,”Luke said,finally getting a hold of his emotions.“Calon Lan—”turning to Andy he said,“…It means a pure heart…is a hymn.We could get into trouble for having something religious during a civil ceremony.”

“Ach,”she waved her hand in dismissal.“I thought of that.They didn’t sing it inside the place where you got married.”

“True,but—”Andy started.

“And those arrogant,ignorant English bastards who made the stupid rule don’t speak Welsh,so what they don’t know can’t hurt them.”

Little did she know that Matthew was standing just behind her.To her credit when she turned round she gave him a challenging stare.Matthew just laughed and held up his hands.“Like you said,I don’t speak Welsh,so as far as I’m concerned,it was a secular Welsh folk song.”

“Exactly,”Gwen said,eyeing him carefully.

Matthew turned to Andy and Luke.“Congratulations,you two.I’ve officiated at many of these ceremonies,but yours was one of the happiest,best organised and most joyous.”

Luke had been too preoccupied earlier to notice,but his gaydar was pinging as they stood talking with the registrar.They both asked him to attend the reception as their guest,but he said he had another ceremony to do,and so bade them his leave.

The taking of photographs seemed to go on forever.Luke knew it was something Andy had been dreading.He’d agreed to let Tom apply some foundation make-up to hide his scars,but his man was beginning to sweat under the surprisingly warm May sunshine.

After the photographer had taken a picture of Craig and Toby holding hands,Luke asked,“So,it’ll be your turn next,then?”

“Er,well.It’s a bit early to say that.”Toby ducked his head.

Luke knew they’d both applied to the same universities,Leeds as first choice,Hull as their second.Craig wanted to study history;Luke wasn’t sure what subject Toby had chosen.

“Who’s that talking to Andy?”Luke asked,spotting his partner in earnest conversation witha six-foot tall,stocky man with receding brown hair.His oval face broke out into a wide,happy smile as he nodded at something Andy was telling him.The man looked strong;there was a definite family resemblance.

Craig laughed.“Oh,that’s Uncle Andy’s Uncle Andy.”

“Huh?”

“He’s the man Uncle Andy bought the pig farm from.I’d forgotten he’d said he was coming over from The Netherlands.”

Luke left Craig and Toby and approached the two Andy’s,remembering that his Andy had said something about how he’d invited his uncle,but hadn’t expected that he’d come.

“Hey,love.I’d like you to meet my Uncle Andy.”

“Hello,”Luke accepted the proffered hand.“It’s nice of you to come all this way.”He couldn’t help noticing the man’s thick biceps,another family trait.

The older Andy smiled,“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.Thank you both for inviting me.”

The photographer began to pack up his equipment,and people were starting to enter the hotel,no doubt to freshen up before the reception.

Turning to Luke,Andy asked,“So,love of mine,shall we go in?”

Luke nodded,and took his husband’s arm;ready and willing to walk beside him wherever life would lead them.