Nina nodded. 'Me, too.’
‘And it all started with paprika.’
Nina giggled. ‘What?’
‘When you had paprika all over your face. Remember that day?’
‘Surprised I didn’t frighten you away.’
‘Then, when you told me to shove off.’
‘You were being rude.’
‘You told me to jog right on. Too funny.’
‘Too right, more like.’
‘Now we’re getting married and it’s not paprika on your face but a gash on your chin. You sure keep me guessing, Neens.’
Nina laughed and subconsciously touched the strip on her chin. 'I don’t really care. I just want to get married and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and have the party. I think there might be a few cocktails going down later.’
Robby nodded. 'Half measures or full?'
Nina smiled. 'Full measures for sure.'
49
The ceremony was over in a flash, and as Nina stood on the steps of the registry office laughing as Robby kissed her, she felt herself slipping into a dream and taking a little trip to the moon. It was nice on the moon – warm, safe, happy, no grief there. She’d found the place where her heart was full and her mind was happy. She never wanted to leave.
Before she knew it, she was back in Colin's car, this time with a small posy of flowers in her right hand, a gold band on her left, and Robby’s hand on her leg.
'Happy?' Robby asked.
'More than,' Nina replied. She’d never really be able to compute how much.
‘Same. Now we get to party.’ He looked out of the window. ‘What a beautiful day for it. Luck is with us from day one if the weather is anything to go by.’
Nina agreed. 'We don’t need luck.’
‘I hope not.’
‘That was really nice, wasn't it? I’m so pleased we kept it small and short and sweet like that.'
'Yeah, worked for me,' Robby said, his voice catching slightly.
Nina squeezed his hand. ‘The best.’
About twenty or so minutes later, they arrived at the River Lovely. Nina squinted towards the water and jetty to see if she could spot the boat but couldn’t see it in its usual spot. After Colin opened the door, she stepped out of the car, gathered up her dress to walk, and began to walk towards the small jetty. She gasped and her right hand flew to her mouth.
'Oh my God! I didn't know you were going to do that!' she exclaimed as she spied the old vintage boat on the other side of the jetty adjacent to where the main riverboats were usually moored. The beautiful timber boat was festooned with white tulle, gigantic bunches of wildflowers were attached to the front, and garlands of wildflowers were tied in swathes to the cabin and down the sides. Nina couldn't believe it. She hadn't even thought about decorating the boat and had assumed it would just be a short little trip along the river and a nice way to arrive at the party. Not at any point had she thought that the boat would be decorated. It was so pretty it would have been good enough to get married in, let alone arrive at a party in.
She clasped her hands together and let her dress fall to the ground. 'Thank you so much, Colin. I can't believe it! It looks amazing! I really wasn’t expecting that in the slightest.'
Colin shook his head. ‘Ahh, I just did what I was told. Birdie and Nancy were in charge and woe betide me if I didn’t follow orders. It scrubbed up well, though. Not a bad job, even if I say so myself.’
A few seconds later, Clive peered out from the cabin. 'Bonjour! Congratulations!’
‘Thank you,’ Nina said, hardly able to believe how lovely the boat looked or that it would be taking her to her wedding party.
