Emergency Response (28 page)

He squeezed her tight. “And you have to stop saying you’re sorry. How about we just move on?”

She exhaled in a rush. “I’d like that.”

They sat in companionable silence, watching clouds play hide and seek with the moon.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said eventually.

Nathan stroked her arm. “I’m here now and I’m never ever going away again.”

He kissed her on the mouth, softly at first and then with more intensity. She kissed him in return and moaned as he ran kisses up the side of her neck, sending shivers shooting down her spine.

“I could get used to this,” she whispered.

It felt like they’d been apart for months instead of weeks. Mackenzie kissed him before snuggling against his side. His arm came across her shoulder and she breathed in. She loved the feel of him, the smell of him and the love she saw in his eyes. She couldn’t for the life of her imagine why she’d had any doubts at all.

Nathan stood and held out his hand. His eyes sparked as he tugged her slowly toward the bedroom that would soon be theirs.

Four months later Mackenzie sat in the hairdresser’s chair facing the mirror. Her sisters out-voted her five to one when Mackenzie announced she wanted to do her own hair and makeup. In the end, she allowed the hairdresser to fluff and tease, spray and fuss, and now a mass of chocolate brown ringlets cascaded down her back. Even she had to admit, the effect was sensational. It looked like her dream of being a princess bride was going to come true.

Back at the house, Mackenzie pressed tissues against her skin to remove some of the excess bronzer. The makeup artist was a bit heavy-handed and Mackenzie worried she looked like she’d spent a week in the solarium.

Bailey poked her head around the door as Mackenzie was reapplying her lip gloss. “Would you like me to help you get into your dress?”

Mackenzie nodded. For a change it felt nice to have someone fussing over her. She remembered her sisters’ weddings and the jealousy she’d experienced, wondering if it was ever going to be her turn. Bailey unzipped the heavy plastic cover off the gown and eased the cream silk dress off the hanger. Riley entered the room as Mackenzie untied her robe and dropped it to her feet, standing in her brand new Victoria’s Secret lingerie – matching of course – on which Kate had convinced her to spend a fortune.

Riley touched the satiny fabric of the wedding gown, rubbing it gently between thumb and forefinger. “They sure knew how to make dresses in those days,” Riley said.

“I know,” Bailey agreed. “As soon as I saw it I wondered if Mum’s old dress might fit Mackenzie.”

After spending weeks searching unsuccessfully for the perfect dress, Mackenzie had been about to give up when Bailey approached her with a suggestion. Their mum’s wedding dress had been found hanging in the back of their dad’s wardrobe when they’d cleaned out the house – he’d never been able to throw it away – and Bailey was convinced she could make the necessary alterations to make it fit Mackenzie. Bailey had painstakingly pulled apart and remade the dress and it now fit Mackenzie perfectly. Mackenzie had no idea Bailey was such an incredible seamstress and she was absolutely thrilled with the result.

“I wonder if he was keeping it for you?” Riley asked, touching Mackenzie on the arm.

Mackenzie swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I guess we’ll never know. But I like to think Mum is looking down on me today and she’d be thrilled I’m wearing her dress.”

“I reckon Dad is probably looking down on you today too,” Bailey said.

“Yeah, I reckon you’re right.”

“He’d be so proud of you. And so disappointed that he can’t walk you down the aisle,” Riley added.

“It’s okay,” Mackenzie said. Her sister’s thoughtfulness was touching. “I’m all right walking on my own. I’m just going to follow each of you.”

“You could have asked one of Dad’s brothers to accompany you.” Jordan had walked in the room and heard the tail end of their conversation.

Mackenzie laughed. “You think so? They’re old men! I think Robert’s ninety-two and uses a four-wheelie frame to get around. John’s no better. He can’t even leave the nursing home these days.”

“True,” Bailey said with a giggle. “I keep forgetting Dad was so old.”

“You’d better get dressed,” Jordan said. “That’s if you don’t want to be late.”

“I’m not going to be late!”

“Yeah sure,” Bailey laughed.

“I can’t believe how relaxed you are,” Riley said. “This would have to be the least stressful Jones girl wedding, that’s for sure.”

“Remember Taylor’s wedding? The groomsman was so nervous he fainted face-first onto the minister’s feet in the chapel.”

“And at my wedding it rained so much the wedding cars got bogged.”

“At least you didn’t have a burned-out wedding reception like Cameron and Ned.”

Mackenzie joined in the laughter, remembering the other family wedding disasters. Her sister was right. She was very relaxed. But there was nothing to be stressed about.

Mackenzie stepped into the dress and shimmied it up across her hips and breasts. Bailey and Riley worked together, pulling and tightening the new creamy ribbons of the corset at the back of the dress.

“How’s that?” Riley asked when they’d finished. “Not too tight? You still have to be able to breathe.”

Mackenzie sucked in a lungful of air and exhaled, placing her hands on her now flat stomach. Since moving to Iron Ridge and then to Birrangulla she was the slimmest she’d ever been. She would never rival her sisters’ tiny frames, but she was finally happy with her figure.

“It feels perfect,” Mackenzie said. “How does it look?” She turned her head to the left, trying to see over her shoulder. “Do the sleeves cover the tattoo?” She’d run out of time to have it removed.

“You can hardly see it, Kenz.” Bailey adjusted the straps of the gown. “You look amazing.”

Taylor entered the room. “Oh wow, you look incredible! Something old, something new, something borrowed—” Taylor stopped, looking first at Mackenzie and then at the others with a shocked expression. “What’s Mackenzie’s something blue?”

Mackenzie shrugged. “I never even thought about it, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing else about this wedding is traditional, so I don’t mind if I don’t have anything blue.”

“Are you nervous?” Riley asked.

“Not really,” Mackenzie said. “It’s funny. All the years of reading romance novels and dreaming of my perfect happy-ever-after ending, and then watching you girls get married, I thought I’d be all fluttery and jittery, but I actually feel relaxed. And ready. Like I’ve waited all my life for this day.”

Cameron walked in then, carrying a box, which she laid carefully on the bed.

“Your flowers,” she said, indicating the box. “I’d love to hug you, but I don’t want to ruin your dress. It looks amazing by the way.
You
look amazing.”

“You’d
better
hug me,” Mackenzie said. Cam folded her arms gently around Mackenzie and pressed her mouth against Mackenzie’s ear. She spoke quietly, but it was still loud enough for the others to hear. “Nathan is going to have fun tonight trying to undo those ribbons. I think the girls may have put a few knots in there to make it hard for him to get you out of it!”

Mackenzie twisted around, trying to look behind her, and her sisters laughed.

“Relax, Kenz. If he has to, Nathan will just rip that dress off you!” Bailey said.

“Seriously, Mackenzie, you look stunning. Mum and Dad would have been so proud of you,” Cameron said.

Mackenzie nodded and blinked rapidly. She placed her fingers beneath her eyes and caught the tears before they left salty trails down her cheeks. Today was not the day for sad tears.

Cameron clapped her hands. “Right, everyone, the photographer is here.” The girls started moving before Cameron stopped them again. “Oh, hang on, before we all go. Mackenzie needs to check out her flowers.”

Mackenzie lifted the lid from the box and the contents had her reaching for the tissues. Inside, lying on white tissue paper, was her bridal bouquet. She’d always said things never went according to plan when it came to weddings and her one disaster was her flowers. Only two days earlier the florist had come down with gastro. Cameron had come to the rescue saying she’d arrange something in Dubbo and bring them with her to Birrangulla. Mackenzie had given up any hope they’d be as special as the bouquet she’d ogled on Pinterest, but what Cameron had managed to find was sensational. And absolutely perfect. Bright blue hyacinths, with deep green leaves surrounding them formed the bouquet. The effect was so simple, but better than anything she’d imagined. And now she had her “something blue.”

“Thank you, Cam. They’re beautiful.” She kissed Cam on the cheek and gave her a tight squeeze. “Well girls, I’ve got a wedding to go to and I don’t want to be late!”

“As if you won’t be late,” Cameron said as she walked from the room. “Brides are never on time for their own wedding.”

Mackenzie grinned.
This one will be.

*

On the dot of two o’clock Mackenzie stepped from the bridal car and followed her sisters across the thick grass at
Eagle’s Ridge
toward the small area they had chosen for their ceremony. Thick plantings of berries surrounded a grassy area. At one end, Joel and Liam had set up a pair of heavy timber doors in a frame – rigged to look like the doors of a church – and Mackenzie now stood behind them, hidden from view, as the music began.

It was time.

She stood alone to one side and watched, waiting patiently for each of her sisters to walk slowly toward Nathan. Cameron walked first, tall and proud. Riley followed, then Jordan and Taylor. Bailey went last.

The doors closed again and Mackenzie inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with fresh air. All she had to do was put one foot in front of the other. Left then right.

There was movement from beside her and she turned, startled, to see Nathan’s dad Michael standing there.

“Sweetheart, can I walk you down the aisle?” he asked softly. “I’m sure your dad wouldn’t have wanted you to do this on your own.”

Mackenzie hesitated for a split second and then gave a tiny nod. Sure, it wasn’t the normal thing for the about-to-be father-in-law to walk the bride down the aisle, but in the time Mackenzie had known Nathan’s parents, she had fallen in love with them too. They had rapidly filled the gap in her life – being the parents she’d always wanted – and somehow, having Michael Kennedy walk at her side seemed to make sense. She placed her hand on his outstretched arm.

The timber doors opened and Mackenzie caught her first glimpse of Nathan. The nervousness she’d seen briefly on his face was gone the instant he saw her. His eyes lit up and he grinned. Doc stood beside Nathan, his beard neatly trimmed, his smile wide.

She barely even heard the music or saw the guests as she floated on Michael’s arm across the grass toward the man she was about to marry.

“Oh, wow,” Nathan mouthed when she reached his side. He had tears in his eyes. “You look incredible.”

He didn’t look too bad himself. Black suit, white shirt and dark tie, complete with tiepin. A sprig of blue flowers matching her bouquet was pinned to his lapel.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’ve never felt so much like a princess.”

He smiled as he took her hand in his and squeezed gently.

“Good afternoon, everyone. Please take your seats.”

There was a shuffling sound as the guests settled on the bales of straw. Elizabeth had wrapped sheets of white calico around each bale and tied them with thick baling twine. Her attention to detail was amazing and when Mackenzie had seen the setup the night before, she had burst into tears of happiness. This family was such a blessing.

The minister waited until everyone sat and then opened his arms wide. It was a small gathering of friends and family and there was no need for a microphone as his voice carried easily. “Welcome to this wonderful venue on this very special occasion – the wedding of Nathan Alexander Kennedy and Mackenzie Grace Jones. On behalf of the bride and groom and their families, I thank you all for being here to share in this special day.”

Mackenzie glanced at her sisters, all lined up beside her.
Five times a bridesmaid
. She heard the voice of her father, but this time she smiled. It was finally her turn.

The minister spoke again. “In case you haven’t worked it out, the couple standing in front of you today are very much in love.”

The crowd laughed when Nathan leaned over and kissed Mackenzie on the cheek.

“Nathan and Mackenzie, today is the beginning of the next season of your lives together. Are you ready?”

Mackenzie smiled at Nathan and then looked at Steve and mouthed “yes.” Yes, she was ready. Very ready.

“It’s wonderful to see your family and friends gathered together today in this magnificent setting.”

Mackenzie glanced around her and sighed with pleasure. Once again she was glad they’d chosen this place for their wedding and glad their prayers for perfect weather had been answered. Mackenzie looked at the small group of family and friends gathered in front of them and her breath caught in her throat. So much love surrounded her.

In the front row sat her future mother-in-law, Elizabeth, looking as elegant as always. Beside Elizabeth was Kate, bouncing baby Annabel on her lap. The little girl looked adorable in her white tutu. Joel sat on Kate’s other side, his arm draped over his wife’s shoulders. Mackenzie’s brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews filled up the next few rows, smiling broadly at her. Mackenzie couldn’t see her, but Charlotte was there somewhere. Her contract in Iron Ridge had ended months earlier and she’d taken a position in Darwin working in a detention center but she’d flown south for the wedding. Unfortunately, neither Debbie nor Amy had been able to get time off work. Mackenzie spotted Lily sitting beside Liam and she smiled to herself. They made an attractive-looking couple and if Lily could tame wild-boy Liam, maybe she’d get her own happy-ever-after ending too. In front of them was Emma O’Connor with her new boyfriend Angus.

“I promise it won’t be a long service,” the minister said, making everyone laugh again. “Actually, just on that, where is Uncle Pete?”

There was a small sound as people looked around them. A man raised his hand hesitatingly. He coughed and half stood, his face flushed with embarrassment.

“Er, that would be me.”

“Ah yes, good. I understand from Nathan you don’t like long wedding ceremonies and, to that end, you’ve made it publicly known if the service is finished in less than half an hour, you will shout the first round of drinks at the reception. Is that right?”

There were loud guffaws of laughter and Michael Kennedy slapped his brother on the back.

The minister smiled. “Excellent. Well, Pete Kennedy, I suggest you start the clock because we’ve now only got twenty-nine minutes to get these two married!”

There was more laughter and Mackenzie bathed in the warmth and love of her family and friends who surrounded them.

“I’ll now invite Nathan’s sister Kate to come and give a reading for us.”

Kate passed Annabel over to Joel before she stood, straightening her dress as she walked toward Mackenzie and Nathan. She grinned and kissed them both before unfolding her notes. Looking down, she read slowly, her hands shaking.