Page 137 of Perfect Three

Chapter Fifty-Six

At four o’clock, Geoffrey, Lucy, and Lizzie were driven to the lookout.Colin and Davie had gone ahead earlier with Allison.Lizzie had wanted to be a flower girl and was dressed in a lovely long, pastel rainbow dress.

When they arrived, Lizzie was more than a little excited as she led the way, throwing petals at everyone she passed rather than sprinkling them on the ground.When she reached the men standing under a canopy of organza, she said sotto voce, “Look at me, Uncle Jack.I’m beautiful!”

“You most certainly are, Lizzie, as beautiful as your grandmother,” he whispered back.

She beamed at him in pleasure then threw her remaining flowers and petals over the railing and down into the valley.He pulled her back to the group, telling her to stand and watch her father and grandmother.

Colin hadn’t wanted to be in the wedding party but changed his mind at the last minute and decided he wanted to stand with the two men.

When Sebastian suggested he carry the three wedding rings, he seemed especially pleased to be given such huge responsibility.He stood seriously alongside them, frowning at his sister’s antics.

Lucy walked toward Jack, with Sebastian standing alongside him, on the arm of Geoffrey.She wore a strapless dress with a Chantilly lace bodice and an asymmetrical skirt filled with multi-layers of gathered tulle.Each top layer of tulle was white, but underneath was pastel rainbow tulle.She carried a bouquet of cream, pink, and lemon roses, with blue and lilac hydrangeas as well as tuberoses, white freesias, and hints of green foliage.

Lucy was certain her heart would burst from happiness and couldn’t wipe the grin off her face.

Last month, she’d thought her life was over, yet now it was just beginning.She wasn’t sure which man had the biggest smile, maybe Jack who seemed almost laughing in delight.She thought she could see a glint of tears in Sebastian’s eyes as she reached the two of them.

Geoffrey formally gave one of her hands to each man.

Jack squeezed hers and winked.He whispered so softly only she could hear him.“You look so beautiful.”

Grandfather Jimmy stepped forward.He wore a suit but had painted his face with his totemic symbols and his position as an elder.He then surprised her by performing a smoking ceremonyas a way of spiritually binding the three of them together for life.

He turned to the listeners.“Wedding rings are lovely, but they can easily be lost.The smoke from these eucalyptus leaves will create a bond which disappears from view, but it will last forever.”

Tears poured down Lucy’s cheeks as he placed his hand over hers with Jack and Sebastian’s underneath.

Sebastian leaned down and kissed her shoulder.

Grandfather spoke inWarlpiriand all Lucy could understand was ‘JackJakamarraRawling’ and ‘SebastianJungarrayiDaley’ with the occasional ‘Lucy Willis’ thrown in.Once she heard him say ‘LucyNangalaWillis’ and wondered if he had given her a skin name.

He then nodded to Jack, who surprisingly replied in the same language.

When she looked at him, he gave her an exaggerated wink.

Sebastian, who was still holding Lucy’s hand after Grandfather had spoken, then placed her hand in Jack’s and spoke inWarlpiri.

---