Chapter 8

Joseph POV

Well shite. I thought.

I looked at Emily and could see the concern in her eyes. I looked back at Da and gave him a look that said I was not happy with him. Then turning back to Emily, I explained, “In Scotland, where Mum and Da are from, it is tradition to be hand fasted. If we had met in the ole country, I would have promised meself to ye in front of our parents because the priest was not always in the area. It was part of the betrothal and after the bans were read and a year had passed, the priest would perform the marriage rites, if we both were still in agreement to be wed.”

“But why is it so important, if we are already married?” she asked quietly, looking around the table.

“It’s a symbol of unity between the pair of ye. And, since we did’na have the chance to be at the wedding, would ye consider allowin’ us to hold a hand fasting? It does’na change the words ye spoke in front of the vicar, we would just like to be part of it,” Mum asked, her facing smiling and plea