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 mini
ster 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.
“This reading is taken from the book of Corinthians, chapter thirteen.” Her voice quavered. “It’s called the love chapter.” She glanced back up at everyone and then back down at the piece of paper. “Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others; isn’t always ‘me first.’ Love doesn’t fly off the handle, it doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel.”
She paused and took a deep breath. “Instead, love takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always; looks for the best in all things, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies.” Kate smiled and returned to her seat.
The minister spoke again. “Nathan and Mackenzie have written their own vows which they will now share with one another.”
Nathan released her hands and pulled a sheet of paper from his inside suit pocket. Mackenzie held her breath.
“Kenz, it took me a long time to find the perfect girl, but in you I have finally found The One.”
He smiled then and her heart almost exploded with love for him.
“I promise to always be there for you, whether you need a shoulder to cry on or whether you want to tell me about your day. I promise to give you my full attention, to give you my all. I promise to continue to make you laugh as often as I can. I promise to support you in all your pursuits and dreams and challenge you and push you to new levels. I promise to tell you how beautiful you look and that I love you every day. I promise to be the man you need me to be, the man I have been called to be. I also promise to give you lots of children.”
There was loud laughter from someone.
“You are everything to me, and I will love you unconditionally now and forever.”
His voice broke on the final words. She saw his eyes bright with fresh tears. Mackenzie swallowed the lump in her throat before speaking the words she’d spent hours memorizing every day for the past six weeks. She hoped she could speak without crying too.
“Nathan,” the word came out as a whispered sigh. She stopped and coughed, clearing her throat. “I too have found The One. You are even more than my best friend. With you I feel like we are unstoppable, like there is no dream we have which can’t be achieved. Like there’s no challenge too hard. And no love as strong as ours. I promise to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. I promise to continue to share with you the dreams and desires of my heart. You met me halfway where soul mates meet. I promise to hold your heart until the end of time. I love you.”
Elizabeth dabbed at her eyes with a tissue and someone blew their nose. The ceremony continued. They exchanged rings and the formal part of the vows were completed. Finally they came to the part Mackenzie was waiting for. The pronouncement.
“Mackenzie and Nathan, today you have declared your love and commitment for one another. May your lives be filled with love, wisdom, health, happiness, prosperity and miracles. May you always cherish and protect the love you have found in each other, holding it safe in your hearts.” The minister paused and took a deep breath. “I now pronounce you husband and wife!”
To Mackenzie’s right there was a loud cheer from her sisters.
Nathan turned to the minister and grinned. “Am I allowed to kiss her now?”
“Yes! You may now kiss your bride!”
Acknowledgments
Firstly, I want to thank my children Jeremy, Chloe, Zachary and Toby – not really children, but young adults. My greatest achievement was bringing each of you into the world. My greatest joy is watching you mature. Thanks Chloe and Zach for reading some of Intensive Care. Jeremy and Toby, I hope you’ll at least read these acknowledgements. I love you all dearly, and sorry for being so scatterbrained and forgetful some of the time when I’m writing. Okay, all the time.
Secondly, I would like to thank Haylee Nash for saying “yes” once more. Also, thanks to the awesome team at Momentum (Haylee, Joel, Patrick and Ashley) who have once again made this process so easy. Huge special thanks and hugs to Julia Knapman for her editing expertise a second time around. Working with you is a dream, Julia, and I hope we get to do it again very soon for books three and four!
Special thanks to the many romance-writing friends I have made so far, especially to a wonderful group of AWSOM women I meet with regularly for lunch and laughs. Your advice, support, encouragement and expertise is never taken for granted. Thank you for answering my questions and being such a supportive group of women. Special mention to Lisa Ireland, Delwyn Jenkins, Fiona Lowe and Alli Sinclair.
To my beta readers, thank you for picking up on my passive voice, incorrect grammar and cutting out all those extra words. Andrea Grigg, you challenge me constantly to make every word count. Thank you. Margaret Wigg, you’ve had some health issues this past year, but just think of it as fodder for my next book!
Finally, thank you to the most important man in my life, Tim. My husband, lover, best friend. You supported me when I started writing last year and never doubted I’d be able to do it all again after the success of Intensive Care. When you wiped away your tears after reading the final draft of this book, I knew I’d done okay. I love living this crazy busy life with you and can’t wait to see where the journey continues to lead us.
About Nicki Edwards
Nicki Edwards is a city girl with a country heart. Growing up on a small family acreage, she spent her formative years riding horses and pretending the neighbour’s farm was her own. After spending three years in a regional city in New South Wales, her love of small country towns was further developed. One day she plans to escape to the country with her husband Tim and live on land surrounded by horses, dogs, cows and sheep. Until then she lives vicariously through the lives of the characters in the rural romance novels she loves to read.
In 2006, when Nicki’s youngest child started school, she returned to university, juggling full time study, part time work and raising four small children, to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. Always a voracious reader, Nicki’s other dream was to be an author.
Nicki writes medical rural romance for Momentum and when she isn’t reading, writing or dreaming about rural life and medical emergencies, she can be found working as a Critical Care Nurse in a busy Intensive Care Unit, where many of her stories and characters are imagined.
Nicki and Tim reside in Geelong, Victoria with their four teenage/young adult children. Life is busy, fun and at times exhausting, but Nicki wouldn’t change it for anything. Visit her at www.nickiedwards.net.
Also by Nicki Edwards
Intensive Care
First published by Momentum in 2015
This edition published in 2015 by Momentum<
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Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
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Copyright © Nicki Edwards 2015
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A CIP record for this book is available at the National Library of Australia
Emergency Response
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