The beautiful autumn day feels more like late summer, and the breeze that blows across us is warm and pleasant. Sidnie looks absolutely stunning today, full of joy and excitement at her upcoming wedding. Her blonde hair hangs around her head in crazy curls that bob in the breeze, and her eyes are bright and sparkling. She throws her arms around Mack, and they exchange a long kiss before breaking apart so he can greet her family.“Welcome,” I say when they’re all done. “Come with me and I’ll show you to your cabins, and then you can explore.”Mack’s put me in charge of cabin allocation. It took a surprising amount of time to organize. Couples are easy, but there are a lot of single people coming, and not everyone’s keen on sharing a cabin. I’m sharing with Titus, and Victoria’s sharing with my sister, Evie, as they’re good friends, but I’ve given Elizabeth her own cabin. I figured it’s the least I can do.The next hour is busy as everyone arrives. Even if Mack hadn’t asked me to be his
ElizabethThe first day on board the yacht passes smoothly. Around six, we gravitate indoors to the saloon for dinner, and I’m awed by the amazing buffet the crew have put on—platters filled with freshly caught fish and seafood, cured meats, and a variety of gorgeous salads, as both Mack and Sidnie are vegetarians.Afterward, we move back out onto the deck for more swimming, conversation, champagne drinking, and dancing, as the music is turned up, and the sun begins to sink behind the land to the west.Huxley’s avoiding me. It’s quite obvious to me, although I don’t know if anyone else has picked up on it. He’s not cold, exactly, and he includes me in the conversation, and is quick to get me another drink or anything else I might need. But our usual teasing camaraderie is gone, and he spends most of the time on the other side of the pool, or off mingling with the guests.I should have expected it, but it makes me sad. I can’t rant and rail at him though, because it’s all my fault. I s
I sleep well in the end, and wake up naturally just after six. I have a quick shower and dress, then head up to the saloon for breakfast around seven.We moored overnight at Urupukapuka, the largest island in the Bay of Islands, and we’ve not yet set sail for Paihia, where we’re picking up Mack’s family. Outside, the rich green bush that covers most of the island contrasts with the deep blue of the ocean and the cornflower-blue sky. It’s a beautiful morning, already hot and sunny, and the forecast is the same all day.I’m guessing a few people are nursing hangovers as most of the tables are empty. Mack and Sidnie are there. They aren’t bothering with the tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding and are happily tucking into a cooked breakfast at a table with Huxley and Victoria.I ask the chef for scrambled eggs to go with my bacon and toast, and take the plate over to join them, as it seems rude to sit at another table on my own.“Morning,” they all say as I take the rema
The yacht sets sail from Paihia, and begins its tour of the Bay of Islands, following which it will pass the Cavalli Islands and sail up to Doubtless Bay before looping back once again.The yacht is a lot busier now everyone’s on board. Sidnie is already locked away with her mother, sister, and best friends getting ready for her big moment. Huxley and Mack spend a couple of hours introducing people and playing hosts while stewards go around with drinks and canapés, and then around midday everyone starts disappearing for a short rest before they get ready for the wedding.As Sidnie’s getting ready in their cabin, Mack joins Huxley in his old cabin to change, leaving me alone in mine, at least for now. They wanted a relaxed wedding, and I thought I’d go for trousers as I didn’t want to spend the whole day trying to stop the sea breeze blowing up my skirt. I was going to pick something cream or maybe light blue to go with the ocean theme, but then my gaze fell on the outfit I ended up wit
HuxleyIt’s the first time I’ve been a best man. I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours making sure people are comfortable and happy, and it’s just felt like an extension of my day job, which comes so easily to me I’m convinced anyone could do it.But as I stand with Mack, and I watch him tremble as his bride-to-be approaches down the aisle, I suddenly feel the real reason I’m here. I’m the equivalent to Sidnie’s father for the groom. I’m a symbol of Mack’s past, and I’m giving him away to her, helping him pass from bachelorhood to the respectable role of husband and, God willing, father, in time.For so long we’ve all—me, Mack, Victoria, Titus, Elizabeth—lived without a thought for the future. Selfishly devoting our lives to work and fun, convinced we’d be young forever, and certain that we didn’t want the tie of a relationship, not wanting the complication, as Titus said. I wonder if he’s feeling what I am right now—that sudden shock like a bee sting inside me, as I watch Mack waiting
I can see Mack getting emotional as he watches us all perform, and feel a touch of pity for him as he doesn’t know what’s coming. Sure enough, as Koro calls to repeat the haka, “Tika tonu! Tika tonu!” and Sidnie adopts the wide eyes and trembling hand gestures of the women and calls back, “U-e!” Indeed! and begins performing the dance, Mack’s emotion spills over, and he has to stare hard at the ground, fighting for control. Emotional herself, Sidnie doesn’t stop but touches his arm, encouraging him, and after a few seconds he finally joins in too, copying our movements as he says the words. He locks eyes with me—he knows I set this up—and for a moment time slips away, and we could be any two guys in Maori history, doing their war dance. It’s a powerful performance, especially with everyone in their wedding finery, a celebration of their new life together, and I don’t think there’s a dry eye on the yacht by the time we’re done.The other guests cheer and give a huge round of applause,
ElizabethI can’t believe Mack put me next to Huxley for dinner. I’ll have words with him about that later. I’m annoyed that he’s trying to force the issue. What good will pushing us together do now? It’s only going to make us more miserable.Huxley is his usual polite, charming self, but things aren’t going to go back to the way they were. We’ve slept together. He’s been inside me, for fuck’s sake. Without a condom. You can’t forget something like that. I can’t, anyway, and judging by the way he’s quieter than usual, neither can he.Eventually, I feel I have to say something, so I murmur, “You’re quiet today.”“I’m thinking about my speech,” he says.“Oh, I’d forgotten about that. Have you written it down?”“Nah. I’ll make it up as I go.” He smiles. His light-gray eyes rest on me, and it feels as if they’re curtains hiding all the things he wants to say. I so want things to go back to normal. I open my mouth to ask him if he’s forgiven me, but at that moment Cameron calls for quiet a
ElizabethWhen the meal is finally over, the music starts, and the guests filter out of the saloon. It’s dark now, but the deck is lit with fairy lights, and it’s just the start of the party.True to his word, Huxley changes into his swim shorts and lets the kids dunk him in the pool. I sit with Victoria and the others on the poolside, sipping champagne and laughing as they pile on top of him and try to drown him.“I think I drank half the pool,” he says when he’s finally able to extricate himself and climb out.The others laugh, but I can only stare at him, as he dries his back with a towel, his chest shining with water droplets. He walks off to get changed, and I give a private sigh before looking around and realizing Mack is watching me.“I’ll be able to tell,” he mouths.I give him the finger, and he chuckles and returns to his conversation.Huxley returns five minutes later in his blue shirt and linen suit, and he then spends a while circulating amongst the guests, checking that ev