If Lawrence had found it difficult to tell his father that his girlfriend was having a baby, it was nothing compared to how they both felt, about making such a disclosure to the priest. Since Becky was not a member of his flock however, she need not have worried. It was Lawrence who was to feel the full blunt of the good Father’s wrath. Pacing his study as he talked, the short, balding, priest spent the next ten minutes reminding the young man of his Catholic upbringing, and how the church took a very dim view of pre martial sex. Eventually however, he calmed down and agreed to discuss their marriage plans. Turning to Becky, Father Ryan asked if she was planning to convert to Catholicism. Upon learning that such was her intent, his mood seemed to improve.

A few weeks later, with Becky having been properly instructed in the tenets of Roman Catholicism, baptized into that faith, and now a full communicant in the church, the priest was in good humour and even jocular with the young couple. After hearing their confession the previous Sunday, he had also agreed to celebrate the Mass at their marriage ceremony. There was little wonder though, that Lawrence still appeared nervous as he stood next to the priest awaiting the arrival of his bride.

Adam turned to face the doorway, as did the entire congregation when Becky entered the church. Looking at his sister-in-law to be as she walked up the aisle on the arm of her father, he had to admit that she was beautiful. The priest spoke kindly to the couple as he guided them through the ceremony, finally pronouncing them husband and wife. It was some thirty minutes later that a smiling Mr and Mrs Lawrence Murphy walked hand in hand to the back of the church, where they stopped to receive the congratulations of family and friends. Later there would be a supper for family and close friends at Becky’s parents house and still later a dance in the parish hall to which everyone who cared to attend, were invited.

Stan and Sue Moores, with whom Eli, Mary and Adam were staying had a family of seven girls and two boys. Pius, their first born, was married with a family of three girls and two boys, and another baby on the way. Two of their daughters were married and living Petersview, while the oldest girl had gone to Boston to work as a maid, with a Newfoundland couple who had moved there more than twenty years before, and were now said to be “filthy rich”. The youngest girl was eleven and the others in their mid to late teens. Baxter was Adam’s age and happy to show his new friend around town, promising to have him back in time for the family get-together.