Mom’s mouth drops and she looks at me in horror. “You?” she questions in shock before placing a hand to my forehead. “Are you feeling alright? Because the daughter I know and love would never get up in front of a crowd and sing.”
“I know,” I groan. “It’s going to be horrendous, but I have to admit, it’s actually pretty cool. If I can get up there and get the words out without fainting or throwing up, then you’ll love it.”
“Oh, honey, if you were to get up there and throw up in front of all these people, I can guarantee that I’ll love every moment of it.”
“Mom,” I groan, nudging her with my elbow.
She pulls me in tighter. “You’re going to be fine,” she tells me. “You’ll have your cousin right by your side and the knowledge that you’ll never have to see most of these people again.”
Dad’s head pokes in between mine and mom’s. “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” dad says with a playful grin. “I’ll be videoing it in the hopes you get tongue-tied so I can spend the rest of my days playing it on repeat and laughing.”
“The rest of your days are going to be numbered if you even think about pulling out your phone while I’m up there,” I warn, knowing that no amount of begging is going to stop him from recording our song. As long as there’s a chance that he could secure himself the perfect footage to embarrass me with, then I can guarantee that he’ll capture it, and I don’t doubt, that if I do screw it up, dad will have that footage showing at every birthday, Christmas, and family lunch until the end of time.
The photographer lets the guest go and requests the bridal party to pile into the limousines. We drive for half an hour while sipping champagne until we pull up at the most beautiful rainforest this world has to offer.
I’ve never been here before but I’ve heard some incredible things and after a short fifteen-minute walk through the trees, it becomes startlingly clear how this place got such a stellar reputation.
A waterfall crashes down into a pool of water that glistens with the sun’s rays, despite the heavy clouds from this morning’s thunder storm. The water is crystal clear and instantly has me desperate to jump in, though I wouldn’t dare ruin this dress like that.
We start posing for photos with our incredible backdrop and as the next hour goes by, all I can think about is telling Tyson about this place. There’d be nothing better than swimming through the water and feeling the waterfall coming down around you. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t mind swimming under that waterfall and seeing what’s on the other side.
All too soon the photographer calls a wrap on the photoshoot and while I never want to leave this place, I can’t help the excitement pulsing through my veins at knowing what’s to come.
We pull up at the most luscious manor home in Broken Hill. It’s the one place people go to have their wedding receptions around here because it’s simply stunning. There are beautiful gardens over the whole property, there’s a massive ballroom with floor to ceiling windows, a private bar, indoor and outdoor dance floors. Whatever you want in a reception, this place has got it.
The party gets underway and Kate and Harrison are introduced as husband and wife for the first time, making both me and Arianna giddy with excitement. Our night goes on and it’s absolutely perfect, we even manage to nail our song receiving a standing ovation from the guests. Naturally, dad recorded and for the first time, I’m kind of glad that he did.
Kate and Harrison are called to the dance floor and all the lights are dimmed. A spotlight comes down on them as the sound of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ begins flowing through the speakers. Kate places a hand on Harrison’s chest as his arms curl around her waist. She looks up at him and at this moment, it’s clear that to her, all that exists is him.
They look at each other in adoration and I have to grab Arianna’s hand again to help manage her tears. There’s simply nothing more beautiful than seeing the love between two people.
Their bodies begin swaying to the music and I lean forward onto the table, propping my hand under my chin as I watch them with a strange feeling pulsing through me. What is that? I don’t even think I know. I feel unbelievably happy, but the longer I watch them in their private little love bubble, the more my heart breaks. I don’t understand this. What’s going on? I should be sitting here with tears in my eyes just like everyone else in this grand ballroom.