"I now pronounce you man and wife." The minister stepped back from the bed
and closed his book, a genial smile wreathing his face. "You may kiss the
bride."
Elliott and Sam Marston, newly united under the laws of God and Western Australia, obeyed the injunction. Sam Flanagan watched with approval from his bed. Niall and Conn stood on either side of their father, the looks on their faces expressing their view of such public behavior. Liam watched stoically from his position as best man.
"Thank you, Reverend." Marston stepped back from his wife. "A very nice ceremony." He reached up to the mantelpiece for the bottle of specially ordered champagne. With a flourish, he pulled the cork. As if released from a spell, everyone relaxed and began talking.
Sam flushed with happiness and clutched her flowers tighter. The nurse leaned over the bed and checked Flanagan's pulse, ignoring his efforts to shake her off as he spoke to the minister. Melvin Collins, the lawyer, made conversation with an uncomfortable Liam whose collar seemed to be strangling him.
Marston poured for all the adults, gave Liam a small portion in his glass and ignored the angelic curiosity of his youngest brothers-in-law.
The nurse frowned as he handed a glass to her patient. "Very well, sir, as it's a special occasion. But mind! Only one." Marston nodded meekly and Flanagan winked at him.
The buzz of conversation grew louder. The hotel manager and two waiters slipped into the room and began setting the table for luncheon. The boys watched with wide eyes as the food was brought in.
Collins cornered Marston as he sipped his drink beside Sam. "We really have to go now, Elliott. It shouldn't take too long."
Marston nodded and reached for his wife's hand. She looked up at him with a ready smile. "Do you think you can handle your brothers for the space of one lunch? I'll be back as soon as I can."
"You think you're the only one who can keep them in line?" Sam's smile widened. "I'll have you know, sir, that I managed this herd for years before you came along."
Marston pulled her close for a quick hug and whispered into her ear. "I'll be back soon." She kissed him in response.
He pulled away. "All right, Melvin, let's go."
Elliott and Sam Marston, newly united under the laws of God and Western Australia, obeyed the injunction. Sam Flanagan watched with approval from his bed. Niall and Conn stood on either side of their father, the looks on their faces expressing their view of such public behavior. Liam watched stoically from his position as best man.
"Thank you, Reverend." Marston stepped back from his wife. "A very nice ceremony." He reached up to the mantelpiece for the bottle of specially ordered champagne. With a flourish, he pulled the cork. As if released from a spell, everyone relaxed and began talking.
Sam flushed with happiness and clutched her flowers tighter. The nurse leaned over the bed and checked Flanagan's pulse, ignoring his efforts to shake her off as he spoke to the minister. Melvin Collins, the lawyer, made conversation with an uncomfortable Liam whose collar seemed to be strangling him.
Marston poured for all the adults, gave Liam a small portion in his glass and ignored the angelic curiosity of his youngest brothers-in-law.
The nurse frowned as he handed a glass to her patient. "Very well, sir, as it's a special occasion. But mind! Only one." Marston nodded meekly and Flanagan winked at him.
The buzz of conversation grew louder. The hotel manager and two waiters slipped into the room and began setting the table for luncheon. The boys watched with wide eyes as the food was brought in.
Collins cornered Marston as he sipped his drink beside Sam. "We really have to go now, Elliott. It shouldn't take too long."
Marston nodded and reached for his wife's hand. She looked up at him with a ready smile. "Do you think you can handle your brothers for the space of one lunch? I'll be back as soon as I can."
"You think you're the only one who can keep them in line?" Sam's smile widened. "I'll have you know, sir, that I managed this herd for years before you came along."
Marston pulled her close for a quick hug and whispered into her ear. "I'll be back soon." She kissed him in response.
He pulled away. "All right, Melvin, let's go."