Page 97 of Night and Day
Three weeks later
Miawatched in wonder as Shasa and Mac stood under a bursting arch of flowers, kissing for the first time as husband and wife. With Lilla flitting around them in her lacy, white dress, they all radiated happiness, captured by the subtly moving photographer. A view of endless rolling hills spread behind them, glowing in late afternoon golden light, framing them like a movie poster.
As their kiss went on, anything but chaste, the small wedding party cheered. Mia had noticed some of the aunties arching their eyebrows as Shasa had walked down the makeshift aisle – the grassy path leading to the flowery arch – barefoot, her mustard yellow wedding dress flapping in the wind. But after hearing their heartfelt vows and seeing the love and adoration on their faces, even the most hardcore traditionalists had jumped onboard, celebrating their commitment.
As Mac and Shasa led the way towards the party tent, dancing wildly to ‘Fly me to the moon’, Izzy squeezed Mia’s hand. She looked up at his smiling face, noticing the rising moon in the sky, right above his shoulder, ready for the magical night.
Izzy’s muscles strained the suit he’d bought for the occasion. He was Mac’s best man, his tie the same mustard yellow as Shasa’s dress. The same golden tones repeated in the flowers and decorations all around them. As promised, it was relaxed, yet gorgeous.
The official part finished, Mac and Shasa announced they would head out to take a few photos, and the guests trailed for the drinks tables. Happy chatter filled the air, rising above the playlist of classic love songs Izzy had compiled, scouring soundtracks of Shasa and Mac’s favourite movies.
Mia was about to join the queue for drinks, but Izzy held her back. “Let’s check on Casanova.”
Deke had borrowed a van to transport Casanova’s cage to the wedding. The parrot had been an instant hit with the children, but they’d had to move him further out for the ceremony as he was getting quite loud, as well as inappropriate.
Mia suspected Izzy hoped to avoid the swarming crowd of aunties and uncles and their questions, particularly the ones about their future plans (why was everyone obsessed with where they would ‘settle down’?) and was more than happy to comply. She followed Izzy around the main tent to where Casanova’s cage had been left on top of a small camping table.
To their surprise, the bird was neither alone, nor in its cage. Deke stood next to a pretty woman in a purple dress, holding Casanova on his shoulder.
Mia grabbed Izzy’s hand. “Wait,” she whispered. “I don’t think he needs help.”
They retreated quietly into the shadow of the tent, observing the scene. The woman held up her arm and Deke helped Casanova climb on her shoulder, croaking “Gorgeous!!”
The woman laughed, staring at Deke starry-eyed.
“Who is she?” Mia hissed.
Izzy shook his head. “No idea. Must be one of Shasa’s friends.”
She had a similar bohemian vibe –no shoes and long, tangled, dark hair with purple highlights framing her face. Almost blue, Mia thought with amusement. So perfect. She glanced at Izzy, who smiled back knowingly. They returned to the wedding party, leaving Deke, the woman and the bird to get acquainted.
The rest of the party went by in a blur of delicious food, wine, dancing – and giving more vague answers about their future plans to Izzy’s nosy relatives. When darkness fell, the fairy lights turned on.
As the first guests started excusing themselves and disappearing into the night, Izzy found Mia outside the main tent, nursing a glass of wine. “Are you ready to go?” He gestured to the carpark.
“Are you sure? The party’s still going. Won’t it be rude?” Mia asked, fighting a yawn. It had been a long day. She’d spent the morning researching visa applications, while Izzy worked on his novel. If she wanted to stay here for longer than three months, she had to get her paperwork sorted.
“No. I talked to Mac. He’s fine.”
Accepting his reply, Mia followed him to the carpark. “Wait! Are you okay to drive?” She definitely couldn’t. The world gently swayed around her. New Zealand wine was far too drinkable.
“I had one beer hours ago.” Izzy opened the car door for her. “I made sure I’m good to drive. I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?”
He flashed her a secretive smile, getting behind the wheel. He drove in silence as Mia sang along to her favourite playlist,Mia 5(Izzy kept discovering more treasures, although certain favourites remained). Coming closer to Hamilton, she noticed he missed the turn to his house, heading instead towards the river. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
Izzy turned to a small, gravel driveway that ended at a closed gate, and parked the car. Confused, but too happy and content to worry, Mia followed him down a slope towards the water’s edge. It was so dark she could barely make out the shapes of the trees and bushes, and another dark shape in the water.
“Wait here.” Izzy ran ahead of her, and in a moment, lights came on. Hundreds of fairy lights twinkled from the trees, revealing a small clearing right by the water. Mia recognised the dark shape in the river as the dock they’d moored at during the boat trip. The fallen tree had been cleared away, but the wooden structure still appeared broken, inaccessible from the shore.
“Oh, my God! Did you do this?” Mia approached the lights, and the man she’d lost her heart to. “How?”
Izzy took her hand, pulling her in the middle of the clearing, under the lights. “I had to find this place again. I drove around and asked the owner if I could use this spot for one night. He agreed.”
“Use it? For what?”
