Epilogue
Eight months later
The little room off the church’s altar was stifling. Sweat dampened Lachlan’s back under his suit, and he would’ve paid his whole week’s salary—which was a quarter of what he’d made at the corporate firm—for the church’s broken air con to be fixed.
Ryan tugged at his tie, and Lachlan slapped his hands away. “Stop! Lift your chin.” He gently fixed the knot on Ryan’s tie. They wore matching navy suits with gray ties.
“Thanks, bro.”
“Why couldn’t you get married on the beach? At least we’d have a breeze.”
“’Cause Jodie’s family insisted even though they don’t even go to church at Chrissie and Easter.”
“Suppose the fact that she’s preggers is enough for them to deal with. Makes sense to give them this.” He smoothed down Ryan’s tie. “There. Now stop fiddling with it.”
It was still tough to believe Ryan of all people was going to be a father. It hadn’t been in the plans, but he and Jodie had taken to the idea right away.
Lachlan added, “Oh, and I know Jodie’s parents and siblings know about me and Tim, but there’s extended family here. Should we… Not act together today?”
Ryan’s brow furrowed. “Yeah, nah. Mum’s here with two men.
Jodie’s sister has three people with her, so her parents are used to it.
The cousins and aunties and uncles can deal.
Besides, it’s not like you’re going to be blowing each other at the reception.
” He shuddered. “Why did I put that image in my head?”
Lachlan held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. And we’ll try to refrain.” He pulled Ryan into a hug. “Thanks, mate. Congratulations. You’re going to do great today.”
“Christ, it’s hotter than Satan’s—”
“Mum!” Ryan hissed. “Shhh!”
Maria appeared, cooling herself with a handheld electric fan. “Sorry, love.”
“You look beautiful,” Lachlan told her, and she did, wearing a gauzy pink and coral dress.
“Thank you, darl.” She kissed Lachlan’s cheek, then rubbed at the lipstick, then did the same to Ryan. “All ready?”
Tim filled the doorway, and Lachlan’s stomach somersaulted. God, he looked sexy in a suit. His was gray, and he wore a pink tie that matched Maria’s dress.
Tim said, “Woz is holding our seats. The bride’s ready. Just wanted to say good luck.”
Ryan froze. “Do I need luck?”
“Couldn’t hurt?” Tim said.
“You’re going to do great,” Lachlan assured him again. “Where are the other groomsmen?”
“Here!” Daz and Jacko burst in with Jodie’s brothers in tow. “We just…had to do something.”
“Sit in the car with the air con blasting?” Tim guessed.
“Yup.”
“All right, let’s do this.” Maria grinned. “Knock ’em dead, baby.”
Tim nodded. “You’ve got this.”
“Thanks,” Ryan said tightly, though Lachlan thought it was more from nerves than any irritation with Tim.
Lachlan shot Tim a smile, and then it was on. The minister was at the altar, the organ started, and Lachlan stood up for Ryan as his best man. The vows were heartfelt and mercifully short—the best kind.
The church had brought in huge fans that sat in the aisles and made it difficult for some of the guests to hear. Particularly Jodie’s nan, who repeated, “What did they say?” in a voice that could wake the dead buried outside.
Daz caught Lachlan’s eye, and Lachlan fought not to laugh.
Cam, Brodie, and Sounder sat with their dates behind Tim, Maria, and Warren.
Bel and Mitch were there, and Tim’s cousin Petey and his wife, Nisha, sat with various Bullocks Lachlan had only met a couple of times.
The lifeguard contingent filled out the rest of Ryan’s side of the church.
Maria’s boyfriend, Paul, sat between her and Tim, with Warren on her other side with his girlfriend. Lachlan had to chuckle to himself thinking of what the elderly minister would make of it all. Let alone that the best man and the father of the groom had just moved in together.
Once the bride and groom walked down the aisle, the guests clambered after them, eager to escape the sweltering church. In Lachlan’s SUV, he started the engine and rolled down the windows. As Tim groaned, they both yanked off their ties and shrugged out of their jackets.
“Bloody hell, it’s a scorcher.”
“Hurry, hurry,” Lachlan muttered to the engine as if that would get the air con cooler faster. After an endless minute, he switched it on and put his hand in front of the vent. “Good enough.” He jabbed the button to close the windows and turned the air up full blast.
They sighed in unison as blissfully cool air hit them. In another minute, it was properly cold, and it was glorious.
Tim had his eyes closed and legs spread. He’d unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt, and Lachlan would’ve been tempted to rub his face on the chest hair peeking out if it wasn’t so hot.
Tim muttered, “I could just stay here the rest of the day.”
“Same. Ugh, I’m sweating.” Lachlan wiped his forehead. “I must look like a mess.”
“You look perfect.”
He glanced over to find Tim watching him with a soft smile he returned. “Looking good yourself.”
“It’s a good day. My son’s married to a terrific girl, and I’m here with the man I love. Just need a tinny of Jack and Coke and I’m set.”
Lachlan’s heart swelled at Tim’s words. “We will have to get out of the car eventually.”
Tim grumbled good-naturedly. “Reckon we will. The RSL better have the air con on full blast.”
“If we get married, we’re doing it on the beach.”
“Damn right. But you mean when.”
They shared a grin, and Lachlan leaned over to kiss him. “When,” he murmured against Tim’s lips before sitting back.
“How about the St. Regis?”
Lachlan had to laugh. “Are we winning a lottery or robbing a bank in the meantime?”
“We can save up after the trip to China. Though I’m not sure I should go. You really reckon your relatives in Hong Kong won’t mind when you rock up with a partner who’s a grandfather?”
“Wow, I guess you will be a grandfather by July. It works out, though. Since I don’t want kids, I can get in some practice changing nappies before Bel makes me an uncle. And yes, I’m positive. Auntie Jo says it’s all good with the family.”
“In that case, I look forward to it. And we should think about Bali. Do it in the off-season in the pouring rain for a bargain price.”
“In that salt-water lagoon. We can all wear our bathers.”
“The scene of the crime.” Tim grinned. “And the guests won’t have a clue.”
Leaning close again, Lachlan whispered, “It’ll be our secret.”
And if the father of the groom and the best man spent a few minutes—or more—kissing in the car park after the wedding, where was the harm in that?
The reception was at the Barking RSL, which was in a heritage building on the high street. The air con was blissfully modern, though almost everyone had taken off their jackets and ties.
Ryan and Jodie were at what they called a sweetheart table at the front of the room, so Lachlan sat with Tim along with Petey, Nisha, Bel, Mitch, and Mark, who hadn’t brought a date and had a conspicuously empty chair beside him.
Lachlan was annoyed the caterers hadn’t at least removed the place setting and chair. Not everyone had to be coupled up.
As they tucked into the starter—a prawn cocktail—Petey asked Mark, “You’re the lifeguard getting sued, right? Bloody ridiculous, mate. Any news on the case?”
Mark smiled stiffly. “Not yet. It all goes so slowly, but my lawyer’s on it.” He nodded to Lachlan, his face relaxing. “And his new firm’s been terrific.”
Jarrah Law, a small firm in Fremantle focusing on social work along with commercial cases that paid the bills, had caught Lachlan’s attention with their tagline: Lawyers helping people.
He’d scoffed at first, wary of empty words, but in the three months since he’d joined the firm in October, the partners had impressed him.
“I know Ryan misses you at the beach, but I’m glad it’s going so well,” Nisha said.
Lachlan smiled. “I’m still a casual lifeguard. December was super busy with cases, but I’ll be opening next Sunday.”
“Mark, you didn’t bring a date?” Bel asked, motioning with her wine glass. “I know a dozen women who’d line up for the chance.”
He laughed awkwardly. “Thank you, but no.”
Lachlan cringed. Bel didn’t know that Mark’s girlfriend had died, but he wished she’d bitten her tongue. He tried to laugh if off. “Bel, people can be single.”
She blinked and seemed to realize—belatedly—how inappropriate she’d been. “Of course! I’m sorry. I had too much bubbly when we got here. Don’t listen to me.”
Mark waved off her apology. “It’s all right.”
Everyone at the table shifted uncomfortably and continued eating.
To Mitch, Bel said, “Why’d you let me drink so much?”
Mitch snorted. “As if I let you do anything, babe.”
“The man has a point,” Lachlan said.
“Now that you’re loved up, apparently I need someone to nag the way only a big sister can,” Bel said. “Sorry again, Mark.”
Mark laughed more genuinely. “Trust me, I’ve heard it many times from many people. My parents, for starters. If I had a sister, I’m sure she’d chime in. My brother tends to keep out of it, luckily. My partner died several years ago, and I haven’t been interested in dating since.”
Bel gasped, her hand flying over her mouth. “Oh, my God. I didn’t realize. I’m so sorry.”
“It really is okay.” Mark smiled at her. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad. Suppose it just…feels wrong not to mention her. People tend to avoid bringing her up at all costs, but I like talking about Natalie.”
On cue, awkward silence descended until Tim asked, “What was she like?”
Mark’s smile creased his face. “Funny. A terrible cook, which means I had to learn, so she did me a favor there. She could spend hours doing crosswords. She knew the definitions to every word you could think of. She helped me study when I was becoming an ambo.” His gaze went distant before he refocused on the people around the table.
“She was irreverent. Honestly, if Nat’s watching, she’s having a laugh, Belinda.
So don’t worry. She’s probably shouting at me to get some numbers from you. ”