Chapter 2
The Leopard's Den women were rushing around putting the finishing touches to the place, down by the watering hole, where Danny and Alice had chosen to have their wedding ceremony. There were billowing swathes of white fabric everywhere held in place by metres and metres of mauve ribbon. White roses and purple African daisies covered every available surface. Liv stepped back and smiled contentedly. She'd done a good job, even if she said so herself! This was her wedding gift to her beloved step-dad, Danny and his bride-to-be, Alice. She was much happier being the wedding planner than walking down the aisle as a bridesmaid. It just wasn't cool for a 17 year old!
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Everyone who loved and cared for Alice and Danny were sat waiting in anticipation of the wedding ceremony. Many of them had never thought Danny would ever be happy again, after Sarah's death, two and half years ago. Alice had come to Leopard's Den when he was at his lowest point and although their relationship had been very slow to start, she had gradually healed him.
The couple wanted a small intimate wedding, with just close family and friends: Anders Du Plessis (Danny's best friend) and his wife, Caroline; Georgina (Caroline's sister and one-time matriarch at Leopard's Den); Nomsa (the family's housekeeper and long-time friend); Rosie (Danny's daughter), her husband Max and baby Joe; Evan (Danny's nineteen year old stepson) and girlfriend, Grace (Vanessa's daughter); Liv (Evan's sister) and boyfriend, Thabo and Cedric Fatani (local bar owner and family friend) and his heavily pregnant wife, Buhle.
In spite of the request for a low-key event, many of the locals had turned up, regardless, to celebrate the couple's wedding. Several of them had brought hand-made gifts of beads, rugs, baskets, pottery and carvings. Danny and Alice had both made a huge impact on this community due to their generosity in waving veterinary fees for those who were unable to afford them. As they waited for the bride to arrive, the crowd began to sing a traditional wedding song in their native Zulu language.
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She was five minutes late! Danny stood nervously under the gazebo waiting for his bride-to-be. He was chewing his bottom lip, which was something he always did when he was anxious. His best man tried to pacify him verbally, but to no avail. A tot of McClellan's whisky from his hip flask would calm Danny down, but Dup didn't dare – Caroline would kill him!
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The opening bars of the 'Wedding March' signalled Alice's imminent arrival. It wasn't played by a string quartet, but by the local school band on traditional African instruments and was the perfect accompaniment to the setting.
Charlotte, Alice's eleven year old daughter, led the procession down the make-shift aisle. She was wearing a pretty, white princess dress with a pale purple sash and a silver and crystal tiara. She was the perfect little flower girl, scattering white rose petals from a silk purse as she walked.
Vanessa followed the bride wearing a simple white sheath dress with a lavender corsage. She whispered words of encouragement to calm Alice's nerves as she was paraded in front of the congregation.
Rowan looked striking in his Scottish Heritage kilt (purple, black and green checks) and traditional jacket. He guided his sister masterfully down the aisle, ready to hand her over to her husband-to-be.
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Danny turned slowly to face Alice. His face shone with absolute love and his eyes widened appreciatively as he watched her heading towards him. She looked unbelievably beautiful in her knee-length, lilac Hervé Leger dress and matching Louboutin shoes. It fitted her like a glove, accentuating every curve of her perfect figure. The colour made her stunning eyes seem an even deeper blue than normal. Her thick, dark hair, which had been gently curled, cascaded wildly down her back. She carried a loosely tied bouquet of white roses and lavender African daisies.
Danny couldn't take his eyes off her. The nearer she got to him, the less aware of anything else around him he became. She gave him one of her radiant smiles; the ones that always made his heart skip a beat. In those few short moments, Alice had completely and utterly bewitched him.
Alice watched Danny turn round to greet her. She felt herself go weak at the knees as he looked at her in that familiar, exclusive way, the one that told her, unspoken, how much he loved her. He looked so handsome in his light charcoal pin-stripe suit, baby-blue shirt and French blue tie. The shades of grey somehow made his hair shine like newly-cast silver; the blues accentuated the twinkle in his gorgeous green eyes. At that instant, Alice knew that she'd love him forever.
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"Do you Daniel James Trevanion take Alice Mairi Collins to be your lawful wedded wife?" asked the cleric solemnly.
"I do," replied Danny emphatically, as he looked devotedly into Alice's sapphire eyes.
Cashile, Buhle's seven year old son, shyly held up the purple velvet cushion he was carrying. Danny took the platinum Celtic band from the little page boy and slid it effortlessly onto the third finger of Alice's left hand.
The minister continued, "Do you Alice Mairi Collins take Daniel James Trevanion to be your lawful wedded husband?"
"I do," repeated Alice, not a trace of hesitancy in her voice either.
Alice smiled lovingly at Danny as she picked up the matching ring and placed it on his wedding finger.
"I now pronounce you man and wife………….You may now kiss the bride!"
Everyone cheered loudly as Danny and Alice wrapped their arms around each other and kissed tenderly, happy in their new found status as husband and wife.
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