“Oh yes, the morning sounds perfect,” Darcy agreed, nodding profusely. The sweet little lamb was clearly on utter tenterhooks for the celebration and could hardly contain herself.
“Yes,” I agreed frantically. “Let’s save it for the morn when I can fully fall apart without it impacting on this fine day.”
I handed over the gifts I had gotten for my new brothers and they both thanked me with frowns of curiosity and anticipation lining their brows.
I watched with rapt attention as Xavier unwrapped his, revealing the bushel of seven utterly perfect carrots alongside the poem I had written for him, and his smile lit up the darn moon.
“This is…so great,” he said, already salivating over the feast I had prepared for him and by golly I fell apart at the onslaught of emotion I felt pouring from him and flung myself into his arms with a sob, clutching him to my bosom and swearing to love him in all the ways a big sister should. He was so lost for words that he could only pat my back and nod along, but I could feel the connection between us forming into a solid and unbreakable bond which I knew would remain in place until our dying days.
“You got me a gold coin?” Darius asked and I turned my attention to him, nodding through my tears as I pointed to it.
“I had it engraved with this date upon it,” I gushed - the day we became a family.
Darius smirked at me, shaking his head like he was just lost for words.
“Can I see?” Darcy asked, reaching out towards it but he growled, his fist snapping closed over it before he pushed it into his pocket, muttering ‘mine’ like the treasure hoarding Dragoon he was.
I turned and hurried over to Papa as I noticed him shuffling from foot to foot, nervously smoothing down his moustache as he kept glancing over his shoulder down the short and empty aisle. He was wearing a dashing, powder blue suit with ruffles galore and a blush pink kerchief poked out of one pocket to match my dress.
“What do you always tell me when I get myself in a kerfuffle?” I barked at him.
“Chin up, chest out and don’t let them see you blubber,” he replied sternly, trying to take his own advice as he straightened his spine and I nodded firmly, stepping forward to straighten his bowtie as Darius and Xavier strode away from us to collect the bride.
I was all of a film-flam as I stood there like a pelican who’d lost his fish and as a warm hand caught my arm, I allowed Max to draw me away and return me to my seat.
Darcy took my hand as I sat between her and her sister, my heart racing along like a penguin on land, trying to escape a polar bear - awkward and bumbling yet determined all the same.
Music sprung to life as Catalina’s arrival triggered the magical spell I’d set on the place, and I shrieked like a banshee as my excitement got the better of me and I spun to look upon the bride who would soon become my step-mama.
My thoughts turned to my own mama who I’d lost so many moons ago, and my heart let out a tiny sob as I missed her. For a moment, I could have sworn I heard a whisper upon the spring breeze and the caress of my beloved Mama’s hand down my cheek, causing a tear to slide smoothly from my eye and drip from my chin as I was filled with reassurance. I was sure she was here in some form, peering out from beyond the veil to watch my cherished Papa find happiness once more.
Catalina walked between her two sons, her smile as radiant as the first sunbeam of the dawn, her skin as effervescent as the pool of Anu which was rumoured to hold the key to eternal life, her pale pink, hand sewn wedding dress demure and dazzling at once, hugging her figure and yet looking regal and elegant too.
I was so caught up in squealing with excitement and staring on in endless love and adoration for my father as she reached him that I utterly forgot that I was supposed to be silent for the procession.
I clapped my hand over my mouth to stifle my cries of joy and Darcy muttered a curse as she shook out the fingers I’d been crushing in my excitement.
My eyes watered as they spoke their vows to one another, the purity of their smiles and honesty of their love shining so brightly that it was impossible to look away from it as they chose one another and bound themselves into a life of love and commitment for the rest of time.
It was as beautiful as a boomsday bunny in a bonnet on a buttery bagel. And as the stars granted their request and bound them to one another, I leapt up and screamed for all the world to hear, pouncing on the two of them and crushing them against my bosom as I sobbed in purest, sweetest joy.
I ran through the tunnels with my tongue hanging out the side of my mouth and a bottle of bourbon locked in my fist. I was excited as hell as I raced away from the cavern where the wedding had descended into a messy party since Hamish and Catalina had gone to bed.