Dudes Down Under (38 page)

'Unbelievable' was the word on most people’s lips. How the hell Lana had accomplished this, no-one knew.

Peacocks strutted around freely, and a water feature straight from the movie
South Pacific
flowed in one corner. Lana had the pick of the crop of set designers and builders create the vision of paradise.

With the end of the marquee opened out to the lagoon and filled with birds of paradise and ferns with startlingly colored tropical flowers everywhere, it was Lucy’s island in all its beauty, yet compacted and visually much as it had been before the cyclone.

The guests were ushered to their seats. It was time.

The celebrant stood looking lovely in beige. Charlie and Tristan, with Jack as groomsman, all looked unfairly gorgeous in tuxedos. The music was hauntingly lovely. From two sides of the marquee came Cyril and Sadie, proudly bearing the rings in circlets of flowers on Sadie, and vines for Cyril. They waddled proudly to the side of the celebrant and waited patiently.

Lana grinned at Lucy. “This is it, girlfriend. I have a personal surprise for you.”

“
You have already done so much.”

“
I’ve loved every moment of it, believe me. Okay, here we go, people.” Lana walked slowly down the pathway to the beautiful sounds of Eduard Greig’s
Morning Song
from
Peer Gynt
.

Didi and Izzy followed, dressed in a deep peach, simple, full length and elegant.

Lucy put her hand on Skeet’s shoulder and made ready to walk, when the unmistakeable voice of Michael Buble started to sing,
This is the moment I’ve waited for
. He was standing behind the celebrant - Lana’s little surprise.

Lucy looked a dream, in gold from head to foot. A strapless shantung clung to her beautiful curves and flared out as it touched her hips. Her hair was braided long, and interwoven with deep gold flowers.

Lucy turned to Skeet and watched as he stood up and took her arm. “My gift to you, Lucy. Just take it slow, okay.”

It was almost Lucy’s undoing. Many of the waiting audience had tears in their eyes as they watched Skeet walk their much-loved Lucy slowly towards her man.

The vows they exchanged were beautiful and simple. The celebrant announced them to be man and wife. Cyril and Sadie shared crocodile tears and smiles. And the party began.

*  *  *

Vanessa Dayton and Kylie Andrews had firmed up their friendship and, after much discussion, had decided to pool their resources to make a remake of
Who Killed Baby Jane?
They were excited at taking on the roles made famous by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, with an updated screenplay. No time to worry about men, these ladies had hot careers to look out for.

Tony had spoken to Karen several times over the past three days. He was heading home to a woman that was going to take some convincing that the marriage would work but he felt happier. At least Karen had agreed to see him and talk about their problems.

Lana Peters and Jack Starr were committed to each other and their careers. One would take precedent, they both knew it. The jury was still out as to which one would win.

Tristan and Izzy had children and love binding them together. The pressures of the lives they were forced to live could rip them apart. They were aware of it and determined to make it work as a couple. Only time would tell if they could succeed.

Everyone had been touched by their experiences at
Dudes Down Under
.

The staff at
Dudes
had learned fast that names were just names. Underneath all of it, people were just people after all.

*  *  *

The farewells were said and the choppers were ready to leave. An air of sadness surrounded most of the guests.

The staff had all come out to see them off. They had arrived on this island as strangers on holiday; they were leaving as good friends, welcome to stay.

Ginny and Ed had left after their wedding for a world cruise honeymoon on board the new Queen Mary.

Lucy and Charlie hadn’t divulged where they were heading.

The remaining guests had all booked return holidays - with one exception: Sidney Sheridan had decided to stay. Rebecca was going to train her in croc handling. Sidney intended to open a crocodile reserve on another island, not for tourists but for wild life conservation only.

Rebecca and Sadie came out of Doc’s office, and after seeing everyone off, went in search of Skeet.

He was talking to Mr. P. and Danny who were staying a couple more days. Cyril was sound asleep and snoring, draped across his hero’s feet. Every so often, Mr. P. would reach down and pat his head, much like you would a big friendly dog.

“
Hi, guys,” said Rebecca.

“
Well, hi yourself, pretty lady,” said Mr. P.

Rebecca blushed right on cue. Skeet bristled and wondered why.

“
Skeet, it’s so exciting. I have to tell you or I’m going to bust.”

“
Whoa! What? You aren’t leaving to get married, for Christ’s sake, are ya, Bec?”

“
No, silly. Oh wait a second. I think Sadie wants to tell Cyril first.”

“
Tell him what?”

“
Have we got any smelling salts left?”

“
Yes. What is going on?”

“
Watch these two for a minute and I’ll tell ya.”

“
Cyril, oh, Cyril dear, wake up! Cyril, pleeaasse wake up.”

“
What? Who? How? Ummph! This had better be earth-shattering, Sadie.”

“
Well, I think it is.”

“
So tell me already! What?”

“
Say please.”

“
Oh, very well. Please, Sadie dear.”

“
I am with egg!”

“
You are with egg? What the hell do ya mean, you are with egg? You’re not a crocburger. What’s this egg business?”

“
Oh, this is not what I dreamed your reaction would be at all.”

“
My reaction? What am I supposed to say - over-easy, scrambled? What? What?”

“
Cyril, don’t joke!”

“
Who's joking? I have no idea what you are talking about, Sadie, my dear.”

“
Oh, dear. How else do I say this? CYRIL, I AM GOING TO HAVE YOUR BABIES!”

“
Oh, okay, you are going to have … WHAT DID YOU SAY?”

“
You heard me, dearest.”

“
I’m gonna be a daddy? A DADDY?” He flipped over in a dead faint. Rebecca brought him around. He flipped over again when Sadie calmly announced he would be a daddy to approximately 48 hatchlings.

When he had stopped fainting, he began running around the room, grunting loudly. “I am going to be a father, drinks on the house. Not for you, Sadie, and what are you doing on your feet? Lay down, dearest. Rest. Forty-eight children! What colors should we have them in to start? Names, oh my God, names. Forty-eight names! Can we call our first-hatched son Al? No, perhaps the second born, the first born should be Skeet.”

“
Calm down, dearest. You will have a while to prepare.”

“
How long is a while?”

“
About ninety days.”

Cyril fainted again.

THE END

Maybe?