Frank laughed at his niece’s distress. “I don’t know if gross is the word I’d use. I was going to go with surprising.”

“They’re like a couple of teenagers lately,” Caro said.

“Good for them,” Seamus said. “That’s the way we’re going to be, too, love, so you’d better get ready.”

“Oh Jesus,” Joe muttered. “I so didn’t need to hear that either.”

“I’m sorry, honey.” Caro patted Joe’s arm. “I’ve tried to get him under control, but I’m afraid there’s no controlling him.”

“And she likes me that way, not that she wants you to know it,” Seamus said to Joe’s profound mortification.

“If you don’t stop talking right now, there isn’t going to be a wedding,” Carolina said.

Seamus smiled at her. Nothing could get him down on the day he was set to marry the love of his life.

Twenty minutes later, Mac and Linda McCarthy came rushing into the house, looking red-faced and flustered.

“So sorry to be late,” Linda said. “We had an appointment that ran late and…”

“The jig is up, Mom,” Janey said. “We know what you’ve been doing.”

Big Mac snorted, which earned him an elbow to the midsection from his wife.

“Let’s get this show on the road now that everyone is here,” Frank said.

“What show?” Linda asked.

“Shall I tell them, Mom?” Joe asked.

“Please do.”

“The Carolina and Seamus show,” Joe said. “They’re getting married today.”

Linda let out a piercing shriek. “What?”

“You heard him,” Caro said, clearly amused by her longtime friend’s reaction to their news.

“You sneaky devils!” Linda hugged Carolina and then him. “Congratulations! What a fun idea—a surprise wedding.” Linda’s face turned bright red. “Sorry if we held things up.”

“No problem,” Caro said with a warm smile for the woman who had been family to her since Joe met Linda’s son Mac in kindergarten. “You’re here now, so…” She looked at him. “Shall we do this?”

“Oh yes, please, love.”

“Excellent,” Frank said. “You two get ready, and leave the rest to me. Mac, come help me get everyone where they need to be.”

As he followed his brother to the sliding door that led to the deck and yard, Big Mac stopped to shake hands with Seamus. “You’re marrying one of the finest women I know. Take good care of her.”

“I will. You have my word on it.”

Big Mac nodded in approval and continued to the yard.

Seamus stood with Carolina, Joe, Janey and Linda and listened to the McCarthy brothers corral their friends and family into a group.

“Folks,” Frank said, “we have a bit of a surprise for you today. Where’s Seamus?”

“That’d be my cue.” Seamus kissed and hugged Carolina. Whispering in her ear, he said, “You and me forever, love. We got this.”

She sniffled as she nodded.