Chapter 69 Derrick
DERRICK
“The party has arrived,” I yell excitedly, coming through the screen door. “My little possum, you’re getting married today.” I give her a big hug.
“Congratulations,” the girls sing-song after me, each of them taking their turn to greet Stacey and give her their best wishes.
“Guys, if you want, grab some food and then take a seat, so we can get you ready,” Camryn tells us.
I am starving. It was hard leaving a naked Charlie this morning, but duty calls before dick.
We all eat some breakfast and drink one too many mimosas before the girls get into hair and makeup.
“Do you think Oscar is freaking out over there?” Stacey asks as she sits in the chair.
“On the outside, I think he’s going to look cool, but on the inside, he is stressing out.” Isla laughs.
“I’ll text Chris and find out,” Ness volunteers, typing away on her phone, and she gets an instant reply. “He’s freaking out.” This makes everyone laugh.
“Stacey, it’s time for your makeup,” Camryn says. “Are you feeling okay? You look flushed.”
“Just nerves,” Stacey tells her.
“Let me grab you some water.” Camryn rushes to the kitchen, bringing back a glass.
I wonder if I’m going to be nervous on my wedding day. Surprisingly, I’ve never thought about my wedding, because honestly, I never thought it could be a possibility. But being with Charlie and now here, where my good friend is getting married, the thoughts seem to be swirling around in my head.
“You seem lost in your thoughts?” Sienna asks.
“I was. First time I truly started to think about what I want as a wedding, not a fantasy like what would you do if you won the lotto,” I confess to my bestie.
“Really? Like what?” She gasps.
I shrug. “I’m torn between something small and intimate or something crazy and extravagant. You know me, there’s no middle ground.”
“What do you think Charlie would like?” Sienna asks.
“Probably to get married at the ranch.” My eyes widen. “That would look so gorgeous, but his parents are literal billionaires, so I don’t know if they would want some fancy black-tie gala to invite their friends to. Isn’t that what happens at rich people’s weddings?”
“It would be your wedding, D, you do whatever the hell you want,” Sienna tells me.
“Look, it’s probably a long way away from happening. Let me live in the same city as my man before I start even thinking about weddings.” I smile. “Now that people know you’re having baby number three, are you still thinking about moving to Byron Bay?”
“Evan is keen, but I don’t want to be away from you and the girls.
I would have to start all over again, meeting people, and I suck at that.
Making friends as an adult is hard, and mum friends too, they are the hardest. Ryder will be getting ready for kindy soon, and once school starts.
I have no idea. Evan’s still super keen on setting up an office for Dirty Texas Records in Australia, so who knows. ”
“Evan seems more Aussie than you,” I tease.
“I know, right? He loves it, but it seems like Oscar does too. I love our life in LA, which I know is a bubble, but I also love coming back home. Do you miss Australia?” she asks.
“Being back, yeah, I do. But my heart is in America.”
“Same,” Sienna agrees.
“We can worry about all that another day. Stacey is getting married.”
Yvette, our friend and wedding dress designer, is helping Stacey get dressed, and we are all waiting patiently for the grand reveal.
She’s dressed in this gorgeous, deep emerald velvet dress, with a deep V-neckline and mermaid tail.
When I heard she was going for a green wedding dress, I thought she had lost her mind, but it truly is so Stacey.
She’s always out of the box and going against the grain.
Everyone in the wedding party is in various shades of jewel tones, and seeing the vision all together now it’s stunning.
“You look like a princess.” Becca sighs.
“So do you.” Stacey smiles at her nieces wearing gorgeous navy dresses with gold stars falling from top to bottom.
“You look beautiful.” Amelia smiles, looking older than her fifteen years in a stunning deep berry evening dress, her light brown hair in a messy braid with a berry-colored native floral crown. The boys are going to go crazy for her when she gets to LA.
“Amelia, you look so grown up.” Stacey gasps, staring at her, tears marring the edges of her eyes. She gives herself a shake and looks over to the girls, Sienna, Vanessa, Isla, and Olivia—all dressed like Amelia. I don’t look too shabby in the suit version of the girls’ dresses.
“Oh, my goodness, look at them,” Stacey shrieks, noticing the little flower girls for the first time. Sadie and Ruby are dressed in their navy ballerina-style dresses. The small amount of hair that they have is pulled up into a tiny, little pigtail.
“I think this calls for champagne,” I say, feeling the nerves in the room as I disappear out of it. “A bottle of champagne, please,” I ask Camryn, who is in the kitchen.
“Coming right up,” she says.
“Cam, you did such an amazing job at such short notice,” I tell her.
“It’s my job. It’s why I’m the best.” She smiles, popping the bottle. That’s what I love about Camryn, her confidence.
“I’m hiring you when the time comes for my wedding.”
“Done. Please tell me you’re going to marry that tall drink of water that’s your date,” she asks.
“Here’s hoping.” I smile at her.
“He is such a gorgeous human inside and out. He’s marrying you, I can see it in his eyes. I’ve met many partners in my world, and that man is locked in.”
“I’ve never felt this way before,” I confess to her.
“I get it. Never thought I’d be married to an owner of a sex club, but here I am.” She smirks.
“You’re a lucky woman waking up to that man every day.”
“I know.” She smirks.
“Bitch.”
“Here, drink up, ease that bride’s nerves,” she says, shoving the bottle of champagne in my hands. “I’ll bring the glasses.”
I walk back out with Camryn behind me as she hands out the glasses, and I pour us each a glass.
“Just wanted to say a quick toast. Today’s your wedding day, Stacey, and we are so excited that you have found your person. Your family is smiling down on you today, at peace, knowing Oscar’s got you.”
“Bloody hell, D.” Sienna sniffles as she dabs at her eyes.
“Sorry. Anyway, congratulations,” I say, raising my glass.
“Makeup,” Camryn calls out, and the makeup girl runs in and touches up Sienna’s eyes.
We all take a sip and let the bubbles ease our nerves.
“Are you ready?” Camryn asks Stacey.
“I didn’t think I’d be this nervous,” she confesses.
“Totally natural. The boys are already down there, so they won’t see you. Charlotte wants to take some last-minute photos of you before you get into the carriage.”
I’ll leave the girls to it as I’m the celebrant and I’m going to be marrying Stacey to her Viking love, so I need to head on over to the ceremony, which is happening at dusk. We must keep to a strict timeline, otherwise, the sun will set at the wrong time.
Stacey and the girls arrive on time in the carriage pulled by a gorgeous Clydesdale horse.
The wedding is set underneath the weeping willow tree where we scattered her family’s ashes, she felt like they would be there.
I help Stacey out of the carriage, and the hairdresser fixes everyone up before they head down the aisle.
“Look.” Jennifer points out the four kangaroos on the horizon. “It’s Mum and Dad.” She squeals with delight. My heart aches for these kids.
“And Gran and Pop,” Becca adds excitedly, and she gives them a wave.
“They’re here.” Amelia gives Stacey a sad smile. That is a gut punch as I try to hold my emotions in check.
Then Hunter walks over in his navy suit, he is walking Stacey down the aisle.
“You look beautiful, Stacey,” he says, giving her a kiss.
“You’re so handsome, Hunter.” She gasps, seeing him for the first time, which makes him blush. Kimberly, Camryn’s business partner, brings the pageboys over.
“Shacey.” Lockie runs toward her, burying his little face into her dress.
He looks so cute in his dress clothes as does Ryder, who tootles over to Sienna, and she gives him the once-over.
They put Ryder on his little ride-on-tractor with Ruby, Sadie, Levi, and Easton in the back of the cart, and there’s a Here Comes the Bride sign on the back.
They have been practicing it all week, and fingers crossed, Ryder makes it to the end without losing one of the babies out the back.
As I am on double duty as bridesmaid and celebrant, I will be going last and slotting myself into position at the end.
It’s what Stacey wanted, and I’m not about to argue with the bride.
“Ready to send the little ones down?” Kimberly asks.
“The Gypsy Sisters in place?” Camryn questions her, and Kimberly nods.
Oscar had asked the girls to sing the song he wrote for Stacey, called ‘Forever’.
Is that not the most romantic thing? Kimberly gives the band the thumbs-up, and they start playing.
Ryder eagerly starts his ride-on-tractor as the first strings begin, and slowly pedals the little ones down the aisle made of Persian rugs.
You can hear the crowd cooing at the sight before them.
Then it’s Lockie’s turn, holding the wedding rings in a little glass treasure box.
We watch as he slowly and carefully walks down the aisle, followed by Becca with Jennifer close behind.
Next, it’s Amelia’s turn, then the bridesmaids, and last but not least, me.
I walk along the aisle and look out into the crowd of our friends and family, and see Charlie in the audience.
His eyes are very much on me, and he looks so handsome in his suit.
I can’t wait to get him out of it, and as if he understood exactly what my mind was thinking he sends me a flirty wink.
Once I’ve passed Charlie, my eyes land on a nervous-looking Oscar and the rest of the boys, dressed in their navy suits and Oscar in his green suit, matching Stacey. I make it to the end of the aisle and give Oscar a big hug.
“She looks beautiful. Breathe. It’s going to be okay,” I tell him.
He nods and sucks in a deep breath to calm himself.
I take a step up onto the platform and stand in my position, and that’s when Stacey and Hunter take their first steps down the aisle, and instantly, I see a tear slip down Oscar’s cheek.