Outback Sisters

by Rachael Johns

  ‘Have you got morning sickness, Faith?’ she accused, her arms perched on her hips like a proper madam.

  ‘Huh?’ Faith looked up from where Camille was brushing her hair.

  ‘The bathroom reeks of vomit.’

  ‘Harriet, don’t be so rude,’ Simone yelled, tired of her daughter’s insolence. She didn’t want Harriet ruining Stella’s day and she really wasn’t in the mood to deal with her teenage dramatics right now.

  ‘Yes, why are you always so horrible?’ Grace asked, glaring at her sister.

  ‘I think I’m finally over morning sickness actually.’ Faith shrugged, offering a conciliatory smile. ‘I’ve been fine the last couple of days.’

  ‘Well, I definitely smelt something.’

  ‘Everyone else feeling okay?’ Stella asked, glancing between them.

  They all nodded; Simone did feel a little queasy—she wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or everything else—but she’d have known if she’d thrown up.

  ‘In that case,’ Ruby said, holding up a bottle of champagne. ‘Who’s for a little pre-wedding bubbly?’

  * * *

  At ten o’clock, after five hours of tossing and turning in bed, Logan gave up the pretence of sleep and ventured out into the living space of their rented villa. Angus’s door was still shut, so he filled the kettle and switched it on, hoping the smell of coffee would rouse him. He needed his brother’s help to transport the cake from the resort manager’s house to the function room where the staff would no doubt already be setting up for the reception. And he needed to do that soon, so they had time to come back and get ready for the one o’clock ceremony on the beach.

  He grabbed a couple of mugs out of the overhead cupboard and then leaned against the counter and groaned. Damn, today was going to be interesting. At some stage he needed to tell Simone that he didn’t think things were working out between them, but he had no idea when the right time would be. Breaking up at a wedding didn’t seem the done thing, but he couldn’t let things continue the way they were. He liked her—just not in the way he liked Frankie—and he didn’t want to ruin her weekend, or lead her on. They’d had a lot of fun together, but he had to concede Simone was more like the big sister he’d never had than the lover he wanted.

  He’d pursued things with her for longer than he should have because they’d clicked so well online and also because he’d wanted to prove something to Angus. He’d wanted to show his brother that he wasn’t flighty and irresponsible and that his ideas should be taken seriously. But in his drive and determination to achieve that, he’d ignored the fact that he and Simone simply didn’t have the spark necessary for a relationship.

  Fuck. What a mess. The kettle started whistling and the noise brought Angus out of his room.

  ‘Morning.’ Logan nodded to his brother, who looked as bad as Logan felt. You’d have thought they’d both been on all-night benders. He didn’t know what was messing with Angus’s mind and he doubted he’d tell him even if he asked. Perhaps Angus was simply regretting agreeing to come to the wedding. Logan himself was having serious second thoughts. ‘Want a coffee?’

  ‘Thanks.’ Angus ran a hand through his eternally scruffy hair and slumped into a seat at the small table. ‘Do we have anything to eat?’

  ‘Nope.’ Logan glanced at his watch. ‘The hotel restaurant stopped serving breakfast half an hour ago, but I think there’s a bakery in town. Why don’t we grab something from there?’

  Angus grunted something that sounded like agreement and then practically snatched the mug when Logan put a coffee down in front of him. The two men drank in silence—Logan thinking he’d need a few more cups to get through the day. It’d be okay if tiredness was his only problem, but dealing with his fatigue and juggling Simone and Frankie was going to be tricky. As much as he wanted to spend more time with Frankie, he was going to have to keep his distance today and probably for a while after too. That thought made him feel antsy; patience was not his strongest virtue.

  ‘Was last night too painful?’ Logan asked, not wanting to think about his dilemma. Sometime in the early hours of the morning, he’d briefly considered asking his big brother’s advice. Knowing Angus, he’d probably think the whole situation was hilarious, but it wasn’t and he didn’t plan on confiding in him anytime soon.

  ‘Huh?’ Angus barely glanced up from his mug.

  ‘Dinner with Simone and everyone else?’ It was kind of weird that Angus had met all the people he’d been hearing about from Simone before he had. ‘What were they all like?’

  ‘Fine,’ Angus said, back to his old one-word answers. He’d been quite talkative the last couple of weeks—chirpier than usual—but all good things must come to an end eventually.

  ‘That’s it? Fine?’ Logan couldn’t keep the annoyance out of his voice. ‘Did you stay late?’

  Angus shuffled in his seat like he had ants in his pants. ‘Not very. Everyone else was eager to get an early night, so Simone and I did the same.’

  ‘Thanks for going with her,’ Logan said, a little surprised that Angus hadn’t just retreated to their villa. ‘I know stuff like that isn’t really your thing, so I appreciate you making the effort.’

  ‘Do you want to go to this bakery then?’ Angus asked, ignoring Logan’s sentiment.

  Logan knew when he was beaten. There was no point pushing Angus for details of the dinner if he didn’t want to talk. He’d probably hated the evening—having to make small talk with strangers. ‘Yep, but can you just help me move the cake first? I promised Frankie—’ His voice hitched a little on her name and he hoped Angus didn’t notice. ‘I promised her I’d make sure the cake got to the reception safely.’

  ‘Like she could complain if you didn’t,’ he grumbled. ‘Her fault you had to make a new one anyway.’

  Logan raised his eyebrows. Angus was acting even more like a grumpy bear than usual, which wasn’t a good omen for the day ahead. The last thing he wanted was for Frankie to have to put up with his brother’s crap when she was already tired and anxious. ‘It was an accident. Now, are you gonna help me or not?’

  In reply, Angus downed the last of his coffee, slammed the mug on the bench and pushed back his chair. ‘I’ll just put my boots on.’

  Chapter Seventeen

  Left together, right together. Left together, right, together. Frankie repeated this over and over in her head as she walked down Kalbarri Beach towards the small crowd. Thankfully Heidi was two steps in front of her, looking absolutely precious and stealing everyone’s attention, which meant nobody noticed the way Frankie looked longingly at Logan or the wink he gave her as she passed him. At least she hoped not. He’d been on her mind all morning. And right now he looked unbelievably hot in a dark suit, light shirt and even a tie. She’d always thought she liked her men looking more country, more rugged, but right now all she could think about was ripping off that tie and undoing all those buttons.

  Her mouth watered at the thought and her hands tightened on the bouquet as she continued to where her cousin and the four groomsmen waited at the makeshift altar. She smiled at Adam, who was even more handsome than usual in his black suit, formal in contrast to the relaxed beach setting. Behind the boys, the ocean looked like a postcard—crisp and inviting, the sky a slightly paler shade of blue right above it and the sun shining. The weather could not have been more perfect for this joyous occasion. As Heidi greeted the groom and his men with her usual flamboyant hugs, Frankie padded across the sand to her place and turned to watch Simone, Faith, Ruby and then finally Stella coming down the beach.

  Although she’d seen the bride in all her glory only moments before, it was the expression on Adam’s face when he first saw Stella in her lovely flowing, white A-line gown that squeezed Frankie’s heart. While the rest of the guests made oohing and ahhing noises as they gazed at Stella, Frankie couldn’t keep her eyes off her cousin. His smile looked as if it could light up whole countries and there were happy tears streaming down his face as he clung to his new
daughter and waited for his bride. Frankie had never seen him looking so happy as he had been in the past few months and her heart felt like it could burst.

  When Stella finally arrived in front of Adam, she kissed Heidi on the forehead before he passed Heidi to Ruby, who held her hand as the ceremony begun.

  Adam and Stella only had eyes for each other. Stella reached up to wipe the tears from Adam’s cheeks and he kissed her fingers in return.

  The celebrant—a tall, wiry woman Frankie guessed to be in her mid-sixties—cleared her throat. ‘I don’t think I’ve given you permission to kiss the bride yet, Mr Burton.’

  The crowd laughed, Adam blushed and even Frankie felt some of the tension that had been inside her since the early hours of the morning waning. Although she was tired, she wanted to enjoy this day—to truly participate in the celebration with her friends and family—so she angled herself more towards the bride and groom and tried not to look back at the guests.

  ‘Friends and family of Adam, Stella and Heidi, thank you for being here on this very important day. We are gathered on this beautiful beach to celebrate the love between Adam and Stella, by joining them in matrimony.

  ‘All of us want to love and to be loved,’ continued the celebrant, ‘and I invite you to leave behind the worries you might be experiencing in everyday life and focus solely on Adam and Stella as they come together today. It is also a time for those of us who are married or in committed, loving relationships to reflect on our blessings and reaffirm our commitment to our partners.’

  At these words, Frankie’s mind went straight to the one thing—or rather person—she was trying not to think about. She wasn’t in a relationship like the celebrant described, but boy oh boy did she want to be. Logan wasn’t just someone she wanted for sex, although she reckoned that would be off the Richter scale as well; she wanted so much more. She wanted a companion, a friend and a partner. She craved his eyes on her as she walked into a room, the way Adam always looked at Stella.

  ‘Although marriage is an ancient tradition, we are not going to focus on the past, but rather what marriage means today to Adam and Stella. They love each other and this day is about that very special love.’ The celebrant looked from the crowd back to the bride and groom, who were now holding hands, still gazing into each other’s eyes, Heidi looking up adoringly at both of them.

  ‘Adam and Stella, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your hearts, souls and bodies. But entering marriage is also an emotional and spiritual decision to commit yourself to each other and each other only. To stand by each other in good times and in hard times, to work together, to play together, to laugh together and to cry together.’

  Frankie found herself tearing up, but wasn’t sure if it was down to the celebrant’s beautiful words and her happiness for Adam and Stella, or for herself and Logan. It was surely too early to be thinking about that sort of commitment, but she couldn’t help it. Her mind had superimposed her and Logan onto Adam and Stella and she couldn’t help imagining the two of them standing together in front of family and friends and declaring their love for each other.

  Was it the forbidden nature of the relationship—the fact that he’d been Simone’s boyfriend first—that was making him so attractive? She didn’t think so, because she’d felt something from that first moment he walked into her café. But maybe it was her nature to want things she couldn’t have. She certainly hadn’t known her ex, Michael, was married, but maybe he’d given off those vibes and she’d picked them up subconsciously. It was something she’d pondered a lot in the years following their split. Yet, Logan did want her; he’d made that more than clear this morning, so being with him should be easy.

  Except it wasn’t. Frankie sighed and realised she’d missed half the wedding ceremony while lost in her own little world.

  ‘I promise to give all of myself and all of my love from now until the end of eternity. I love you, Stella; you are my missing half.’

  A little sigh went up from the guests as Adam finished his vows and the celebrant nodded at Stella, indicating it was her turn.

  ‘I, Stella, take you, Adam, to be my husband and the father of my daughter. Your love has anchored us, your trust has given us strength. I never thought I would find a man I wanted to live with and laugh with and work and dream with. A man who loves my daughter as much as I do.’ Stella paused a moment and glanced over at Heidi, who still held Ruby’s hand, beaming at the proceedings. ‘I promise to fill your heart, to feed your soul, to share with you and grow with you as we live our lives together. I will always love you, all my life.’

  They’d written their own vows and the way both Adam and Stella had involved Heidi in their sacred promises touched Frankie’s heart. Following the vows, the rings were exchanged and Adam even had one for Heidi, which he slipped onto her finger as he kissed her cheek. Onlookers would never have guessed that she wasn’t his real daughter. Somewhere there was a father who hadn’t wanted her because to him she wasn’t quite perfect. But he was wrong and he was the one missing out. He didn’t deserve Heidi like Adam and Stella did.

  Next, Adam’s mum, Esther, read a poem about the meaning of true love. Again, Frankie felt her throat closing up and her eyes burning with tears.

  Finally the celebrant declared what they’d all been wanting to hear since the moment Adam admitted he was more than a little smitten with Stella. ‘Congratulations, Stella and Adam. You came here today to marry and exchange precious vows in front of family and friends and you are now joined as equal partners in love and with all that entails. By the power vested in me and with the blessing of all in attendance today, I pronounce you husband and wife. Adam, you may kiss your bride.’

  And what a kiss it was.

  Adam leaned forward, cupped Stella’s face tenderly in the palms of his hands and then kissed her for almost a minute. Frankie looked away and her gaze caught on Logan. He was standing next to Angus, but she barely registered the other man as Logan’s eyes met hers. He didn’t smile or give any kind of acknowledgement that anyone else might notice, but she could tell he was thinking about their kiss, or rather kisses, as well. All she wanted right now was to feel his lips on hers again, to enjoy the rest of the wedding and the night ahead with him by her side.

  Why did life have to be so complicated?

  ‘Oi, enough is enough,’ called best man Monty, startling Frankie back to the scene in front of her as the newlyweds wrenched apart to the sound of laughter all around them.

  Frankie rubbed her lips one over the other and tried to ignore the low and deep response of her body that happened whenever she thought about Logan Knight. She’d almost been at the point where she could control it, but the last twenty-four hours had gone and ruined any progress she’d made in that department. Now that she knew he also had feelings for her, trying to resist them was going to be like putting the pieces of the broken wedding cake back together—impossible.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The wedding of strangers had not changed Angus’s opinion of such events. He still disliked them and couldn’t wait for this one to be over. This felt like one of the longest days of his life—it was torture being in such close proximity to Simone and not being able to touch her again. He leaned back in his seat, took another slug of his beer and watched as most of the guests boogied it up on the dance floor.

  The bride and groom were dancing as if they were the only people here; Heidi was dancing with one of the groomsmen; Simone’s daughters with their grandparents; Simone and Logan together, and everyone else was in on the act too. He, Frankie and a couple of elderly guests were the only ones sitting down.

  ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to dance?’ Frankie asked from the other side of the table. She’d been sitting there for the last half an hour, fiddling with the little hand-painted tin—a gift with chocolate in for all the guests—while trying to make small talk, but it was clear they had little in common. The only thing he could think to talk about was Simone, but asking any
thing about her might make Frankie suspicious.

  ‘No, thanks.’ He barely looked at her as he spoke for his eyes were trained on her sister and Logan laughing and smiling at each other as they did the Macarena. Watching them together reminded them of the way he and Simone had danced together last night. The sight made him want to punch his hand through the table.

  ‘Suit yourself.’ Frankie dumped her serviette on the table in front of her and then strode to the edge of the dance floor where Frankie’s mum and Grace grabbed her hands and welcomed her into the line. Within seconds she was Macarena-ing with the rest of them.

  Angus immediately regretted being rude to her because she seemed like a nice woman, but this weekend had got way too weird. He glanced at his watch. When would Adam and Stella decide to call it a night? Didn’t they want to get down to wedding night business? They’d had the speeches, they’d cut the cake—well, as much as you could cut a whole bunch of over-decorated cupcakes. He had to admit Frankie and Logan had done a good job with them; even though he considered cupcakes the fare of children’s birthday parties, what they’d created looked and tasted damn good.

  Then again, he wasn’t a chef or a food critic, so what would he know?

  You know you don’t want to be here any longer.

  Deciding that no-one would notice or care if he left, he downed the last of his beer and was about to make a sneaky exit when a shadow arrived beside him. He looked up in time to see Simone pull back a chair and sit down next to him. Her face was pink and shiny from exertion but she still took his breath away. He quickly schooled his expression into one of nonchalance, for although most of the wedding guests were busy dancing, he didn’t want to risk anyone picking up any vibes between them. Not that there were vibes—last night had been a one-off. He’d lost his head for a few moments, okay, a few hours, but that was all.