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Officially.
Today, as a matter of fact.
Three months isn't long to plan a wedding, but when I say everyone in Scuttlebutt helped, I meaneveryonein Scuttlebutt helped.
Col and I just wanted something intimate. Something special. Somethingsimple.
The venue was the first and easiest item to tick off the to-do list. We knew exactly where we wanted to exchange vows—by the river on our property.
Mrs. Mangle handled catering. Plenty of meat pies for everyone! Is there a vegan option? As far as she knows, there isn't. But Gran whipped up a bunch of vego mini quiches. We're hoping Mrs. Mangle won't notice.
Muir and Fitz put together a super low-key bucks' party, held last night. It was a joint one for both of us, no strippers, just plenty of talking and laughing around a campfire.
Linus organised transport and the logistics of getting a few hundred people out here. People are free to head back to town after the reception or camp and stay overnight if they want to have a pissup.
Ryde took care of entertainment, hiring a jazz band…and securing a karaoke machine because it's not a party unless I get up and sing for the good people.
And Hig and Brant chipped in, ordering a massive gazebo and these industrial-sized canopies for guests to stand under to get a reprieve from the nasty late summer sun. It's the hottest month of the year out this way, so the shade will be very welcome by all.
Okay, so maybe it won't be a simple wedding after all. If it were up to me and Col, it'd just be family and a few of our closest mates attending. But once word got out in town, that option was no longer feasible.
But life is good, so you won't hear me complaining.
Emma's happy being in town and working on her mechanic business, the kids are doing great, and so is Katrina.
We've had plenty of heart-to-hearts, me and Kat. Turns out, she isn't entirely responsible for the mess we found ourselves in. The farm's been bleeding money for years, hence all the loans and changes in structure and deed Mum was forced to implement. When I asked Kat why she didn't tell us that instead of letting us think it was her fault, she said, "Because it's easier to blame someone who's still here."
She knew how much Em and I idolised Mum, and she didn't want to ruin our memory of her. She also wanted to protect Gran from thinking badly of her daughter. But the pressure got to Kat, and that's why she ended up skidding off the rails this time. But she's back. She's good. And from now on, our number one family rule is—talk about shit. Even if it's bad.
"Knock knock," Fitz says as he barges into my tent, Muir hot on his heels.
I'm dressed and ready, and so are they. I have to say, they both scrub up okay. Fitz has been growing his beard these past few months, and he's bedazzled it with all sorts of glittery pinkand purple ornaments, which go well with his pink and purple suit.
"Can I help you two, bozos?"
"We're here to round you up. The old chook's raring to go."
I smile. "I bet she is."
I check my reflection one last time. I look pretty spectacular in a navy-blue suit, pink tie, and polished tab shoes, even if I do say so myself. I push back a loose strand. I've slicked my hair with a fuckton of gel to make myself look presentable, but this one bloody curl keeps popping out.
"Mate, you've already got Col. You can stop fussin'," Muir tells me.
"Technically, he doesn't have him until after the wedding. As we've discovered," Fitz corrects him.
They share a heated look that I honestly can't be arsed getting into right now. I haven't caught up with them since they got back from the Gold Coast last week. There'll be plenty of time for them to fill me in on whatever shenanigans went down after the ceremony, when Colisofficially mine.
"All right." I tug on my collar and square my shoulders. "Let's get me married before Col comes to his senses and changes his mind."
Gran is waiting for me outside the tent. "My, don't you look handsome," she says, smoothing down the front of my jacket.
"You're slightly biased, but I'm not one to ever knock back a compliment."
She reaches up, cupping my face. "Your mother would be so proud of you."
I sigh. "I wish she was here."
Gran nods. "She is, Wilby." She places a hand over my heart. "She's always with you. Never forget that."
