THE outback sun shone white against an expansive blue sky. The sea lapped gently on the shore and across the dirt road the cream weatherboard church with its wooden louvres groaned against its stilts as the capacity crowd filled the pews. This was a wedding everyone had waited months for. Now the dry season and the day for a true celebration had arrived.
The sanctuary walls were decorated with the fine lines of Kirri cross-hatching and dots, their distinctive earthy red yellow and white warming the church. Motifs of pelicans, fish, turtles, crocodiles and crabs linked the Kirri with their land and fused two cultures.
The groom stood at ease at the altar, smiling widely at everyone, with no trace of the usual pre-wedding nerves.
‘Flynn, is my tie done right?’ Walter asked anxiously as he plunged his hand down into his suit pocket for the third time in as many minutes.
Flynn laughed at the role reversal—usually the best man was reassuring the groom. ‘Mate, your tie is fine and that ring is still in your pocket just like it was a moment ago.’ He squeezed Walter’s shoulder. ‘Relax and enjoy. After what Mia and I have been through, today is just one big celebration. If there are a few fluffed lines and dropped rings, it doesn’t matter.’
The chants of Kirri men floated through the windows, their clapping sticks beating rhythmically. Inside the church the organ lay silent. Instead, at the sound of the sticks the glorious strains of trumpet and strings soared to a crescendo. The bride had arrived.
Flynn turned, his eyes glued to the door, not wanting to miss a moment of Mia walking toward him as his bride.
She stepped into the doorway and paused. Susie and Jenny fussed behind her, their hands gentle and caring against the long, white silk jacket, delicately hand-painted with silver Kirri designs.
Holding a fragrant bouquet of frangipani, Mia raised her head, hooked her gaze to Flynn’s and smiled. Her gaze never wavered as she glided down the aisle toward him.
Her full-length straight dress was stunning in its simplicity, accentuating every delightful curve, including the hint of tiny bump that only he and Mia knew about—the ultimate wedding gift for them both. It took every ounce of Flynn’s self-control not to stride up the aisle and meet her. But finally her hand touched his arm.
He covered her hand with his. ‘You look amazing.’
‘Thank you.’ Her eyes sparkled with a teasing look. ‘I’m warning you, though, this jacket makes this the respectable church version of the dress.’
He glanced down, catching a hint of golden thigh as the jacket swung sideways. ‘I can’t wait for the reception, then.’
She laughed, her eyes full of joy and free of shadows.
He brushed the side of her cheek with his forefinger, wondering at the gift that had come his way when Mia had sought refuge on the island. ‘In fact, I can’t wait to start the rest of our lives. We have so many wonderful adventures ahead of us.’
Then he broke protocol and in front of the minister, his best man and a full church he swung Mia into his arms and kissed her, making her his wife.
* * * * *