So I'm stuck in Melbourne unable to get back to Perth because of a volcanic ash crisis... from a volcano in Chile. Sounds like a really bad lie...
But it's true! Yes, I'm unable to get back to Perth so I'm stuck in Melbourne. Hence why I'm updating. But in good news... I've been told we may be able to get on a flight this afternoon. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, thanks must go to aussiebabe290 for such positive feedback on last chapter.
Enjoy kiddies!
/
"Can you believe it?" Rachel said to Jake as they sat in the back of the stretch hummer, on their way to the reception at the boat club. "We're actually married."
"Who would have thought," Jake laughed. "And you are really okay about the whole reception? You know, the change in venue?" Rachel paused, before nodding.
"Yeah. Because you know what I realised?" she paused again. "I don't care about where the reception is. I don't care what it looks like. You know what, I don't care if there's no food. Because I have you. And the others can just... deal with whatever happens."
"I love you," Jake replied.
"I love you too," Rachel said in response, leaning over and kissing him yet again.
/
The family had gathered at the boat club, and the bridal party were stepping out of their wedding car. The immediate family of the bride and groom were in the car behind them.
"How is it that Rach and Jake left before us but everyone is here before them?" Ben said as he climbed out, holding his little niece Sienna. Nathan had to laugh as he climbed out behind Ben.
"If you think really, really hard your tiny brain might actually be able to answer that one for itself," Nathan responded and Ben pondered.
"Oh, god!" Ben eventually replied.
"They'll be here," Julie said as she joined them.
"Well since they're not here yet anyway, I'm going to go and check they've got it all sorted inside," Ben said, leaning Sienna over towards Nathan. "Grab Sienna, mate." Nathan accepted his only niece into his arms as Ben hurried towards the boat club. Dave and Julie were standing nearby.
"I can't believe Rachel is married," Dave said incredulously to his wife.
"I know, our Rachel," Julie chuckled a little.
"My little Rachel," Dave replied, his tone tinged with sadness.
"Oh," Julie patted his cheek in sympathy.
"Beautiful ceremony," Grace said as she joined Dave and Julie. Dave didn't say anything whilst Julie replied.
"Wasn't it?" Julie looked back at Dave, then back to Grace. "Little bit different..."
"And I think it sums up the both of our children," Grace replied with a laugh.
"They're ready!" Ben declared, causing the guest to turn around and face him.
"Okay, so let's get this party started!" Camel called out. "Woohoo!" Grace rolled her eyes.
"While we wait for the bride and groom to, eventually, make their grand entrance, if you could all make your way inside," Libby instructed, pointing towards the boat club.
"And what are we doing in the meantime," Camel asked Sammy quietly.
"Make sure the guests are in and then we, wait, I guess," Sammy shrugged.
/
The staff at the boat club had done an excellent job at organising the room for the reception and Ben was pretty sure he'd have to give them all raises when he arrived at work the next day. Each table was set and ready, and the sunshine streamed in through the windows as the guests could see a view of the harbour.
The guests had filed in as they awaited the arrival of the happy couple. Inside, the main table was empty and ready for the bridal party to enter, and the table off to the left was where Grace, Dave, Julie, Ted and Chel were seated. Ben was checking at the last minute with the bar staff, and Nathan was standing near the door to alert everyone when the couple arrived. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were standing in the car park.
"Woohoo!" a guy wolf whistled through the passenger side of a car that drove passed the girls in formal gowns and men in suits.
"I'm going to kill Rachel if she doesn't hurry up," Libby groaned.
"And we're going to die in our suits if we have to stand out here in the sun much longer," Camel added, tugging at his tie. "Did they realise they were getting married in a heatwave?"
"You wouldn't be complaining if you lived in London," Sammy scoffed. "Now I really appreciate the Australian summers."
"I'll say," Camel replied. "There they are." He pointed to where the black stretch was coming and waiting to turn.
"They're here Nathan!" Sammy called back, glancing over her shoulder. Alex, who had been standing with Nathan, came back down the steps and Nathan nodded, before heading inside. The Hummer came to a stop and the driver came around to open it. However, Jake had already done so before he could put his hand around the handle.
"You took your time," Camel told his best friend as Jake stepped back. Jake laughed before holding his hand out to Rachel as she stepped out.
"We just went for a drive," Jake replied as Rachel righted herself on the ground. Libby checked Rachel's hair as Sammy re-handed Rachel her bouquet.
"Oh yeah?" Camel looked closer at the groom. "Not sure pink's not your colour mate." Rachel looked up at Jake before laughing.
"Here babe," she said, using her thumb to try and wipe her lip gloss off the edge of his mouth. Jake tried wiping it himself too.
"Ready to get inside?" Sammy asked her friend with a big smile.
"Let's do this," Rachel replied, looking up at Jake. Jake, very charmingly, held his arm out and Rachel in turn linked hers around his. Libby headed inside with Alex and Sammy was walking in with Camel, no doubt hitting on her the whole way in.
The couple stepped inside and the guests began to clap. There would have been no one in the room that could have kept a smile off their faces as Rachel and Jake stepped up to hug their parents. Ted passed little Sienna over to her Mum who gave her daughter kisses on her little head. Jake stepped back next to his partner and daughter, before they looked around the room at their friends and family.
/
Rachel was sitting at the bridal table, taking a sip of orange juice. Jake was sitting down with his Mum and Sienna was being cooed at by Libby and George a few steps over on the table. Ben came and sat down next to his sister.
"So you happy sis?" Rachel turned to glance at Ben.
"Insanely." She had a huge smiled on her face before she spoke again. "You know what I wish?" Ben watched Rachel as she continued speaking. "I wish that Mel had of been here today to see how amazing you were."
"Hardly..."
"No, honestly Ben, I don't know how you pulled this," she waved her hand around. "All this off, but you did. And I know Mel would be really proud of you, because I know I am." She leaned over a pressed a kiss to her brother's cheek.
"I wish she was here too," Ben nodded. "And I'm really happy for you Rachel. You deserved to find happiness." Rachel smiled at Ben. The song that had been playing in the background finished, and Ben stood up. "That's my cue."
Rachel watched Ben leave, watching as he went. Her gaze was briefly torn away as she saw Jake come back up and sit next to her. He reached out and took her hand, both gazing at each other before they both turned to watch as Dave held the microphone in front of the crowd.
"Ah everybody, if I could just have your attention for a moment," Dave said. The crowd shushed and watched the father of the bride.
"Now I know that the bride doesn't like listening to me give speeches because she thinks I might say something embarrassing..." Rachel covered her head with her hands and leaned into Jake's side. Jake, a laughing smile on his face, rubbed her back. "I'm just joking Rachel," Dave teased as Rachel sat back up. "No, I'd just like to say, on behalf of myself and Julie, we're very happy for the ah, happy couple."
"Rachel, you've always been a little girl in my eyes and if I'm honest, you probably always will be. And after watching you grow up and have a little girl of your own, you couldn't have made me more full of pride." Rachel had a teary look in her eyes as she watched her father talk.
"You used to ask me to chase the monsters out of your cupboard. And while I won't always be there to do that for you now, I know that you're in the safest of hands with Jake. And watching you two today, you've made me feel so proud. So if you could all raise your glasses." Dave held up his glass, as did the rest of the room. "To Jake and Rachel!"
"To Jake and Rachel!" their friends and family chorused.
"To us," Rachel said as she clinked glasses with Jake before leaning in for a short yet passionate kiss.
"And if we could, Jake and Rachel, could you please take to the floor for your first dance." Jake stood up, holding his hand out for Rachel. With a smile, she placed her hand in his and stood before he lead them to the centre of the room to take their first dance as husband and wife.
/
So I'm just sitting around, waiting for flight details. We've been told flights to Perth will be resuming, we're just not sure when we'll actually be getting on. If they can't get us on a flight this afternoon, I'm flying directly to Darwin, where I will be for the weekend (V8 Supercars again).
Main reason I could get this chapter done was because our flights were cancelled and we've been waiting around; we're at Melbourne Airport now. Something good had to come out of the volcanic ash thing, hey?
So distract me from falling asleep on my friends arm. Leave me a review and tell me what you think!