Page 32 of Just for Me
“What can I do to help?” Luke asked.
Marko exhaled. “Round up the drink, maybe. My mum will have the food sorted, she says. She’ll borrow chairs from every neighbor around, and my family do music, so we’re good there. I haven’t rung Kane yet, but Nyree’s probably talked to Victoria, as she’s the maid of honor. Not sure, honestly.”
“I’ll ring him,” Luke said. “We’ll bring the drink. Just tell me what time the thing starts, and how many people. Beer, wine, champagne, fizzy stuff, water. About like that?”
“Yeh. Thanks,” Marko said.
“Your grandmother OK?”
Marko exhaled. “Not sure. Pneumonia, and she’s old. I didn’t know what to do, tell you the truth. Nyree said, though …” He stopped, and Luke thought his voice might not be entirely steady when he went on. “That what matters is that we get married with the people we care about around us. That the rest of it was just a party.”
“Nyree’s all right,” Luke said.
“That’s why I’m marrying her,” Marko said, which made sense.
Luke hesitated, then said it. “Only thing—I was thinking I might come with Hayden, as you gave me a plus-one. If you don’t have room, though—”
“Long as you don’t mind sharing that tent,” Marko said. “But I assume that’s OK.” Not sounding fussed about it.
Harden up and say it.“My dad could hear about me, one way or another, and I don’t want to spoil your day. Koti James knows, and he’s your best man, I hear. Kane, too, obviously, though he’s not going to talk. But if it’s small, there’ll be no avoiding Grant, and who knows what Nyree will decide it’s good to say.”
Marko actually laughed. “You’re not wrong. Never mind. He can choose which one of us to hate more, that’s all. Spoilt for choice, eh. Also, Kanewillbe there, and Rhys and Zora are still coming. Zora’s doing the flowers. Again, smaller scale, but Nyree wants flowers.”
“Yeh,” Luke said. “She’s a colorful person.”
“Too right. So that’s reinforcements, possibly, as Rhys Fletcher may be the only man who can shut Grant up. He shut Hayden’s dad down pretty well the other night, and he’s an arrogant bastard.”
“Grant doesn’t much care if there’s an audience,” Luke said. “Or that it’s an occasion.”
“Mate,” Marko said. “I played for him for almost ten years. He can’t be worse than I’ve already seen. Anyway, who bloody cares? It’s my wedding day. Nothing he does is going to spoil that.”
* * *
When Hayden rang off,Luke was still on the phone, his back turned. Hayden couldn’t read that back, and when Luke rang off and walked toward him, he couldn’t read his face, either.
“Interesting news,” Hayden said, as soon as Luke sat down again. “Seems I’m going to be a wedding celebrant. Fortunately, I know how.”
Luke stared at him. “What?”
“Nyree and Marko,” Hayden said. “Oh—wedding’s changed. It’s going to be in Tekapo.”
“I know,” Luke said. “Just got off the phone with Marko. But you’re—”
“Yeh,” Hayden said. “A celebrant. Hopefully I can remember my lines by then. Or even read. Otherwise, you’ll have to hiss my cues at me like a prompter in a bad grammar-school play.” He felt a bit giddy. That could just be concussion, of course.
“Why are you a wedding celebrant?” Luke asked.
“Because when the law changed, not everybody would marry the queer folk. I realize I’m not exactly an advert for wedded bliss, but Iama lawyer, and I do have some friends, so I decided I could marry them. Well, notmarrythem, but officiate. I’m not a polygamist, no worries.”
He was babbling. That was because Luke was looking … some way he couldn’t tell. “And I realize it’s your sister,” Hayden went on, “and that you care that somebody does it right. But I’m pretty good at marrying people. I think I believe in it, though I don’t know why I should. Astonishing, really. Anyway, Nyree told Zora they didn’t have anyone to do it when she rang to ask her about bringing flowers down there, and it’s in two days. And just because I seem frivolous—”
“Hayden.” It was a bit abrupt, and Hayden’s head jerked up, which hurt. He put a hand to it as Luke went on. “No. It’s just … I was hoping you’d come, I guess. I’m surprised, that’s all.”
“Taking a date to a wedding is normally a big step,” Hayden said. “We’ll excuse ourselves from that. No expectations here. I’ve married heaps of people. Hasn’t made me take the plunge yet.”
Luke smiled. “Nah. But you’re going to be sleeping in a tent this time. That may be new.”
* * *
