Chapter One Hundred and Eleven

Favour clapped her hands. 'Oh, this is marvellous! How far along?'

'Almost four months.'

Sheer astonishment. 'You can't be! You're not even showing.' Her gaze dropped critically to Jasmine's stomach.

'Luckily the long cowl on this dress hides a very definite mound.' She lifted it. 'See?'

Favour pointedly examined the vital area. 'That's a very small four months. Trust you to keep nice and slim. I had a positive pot belly by then.' She frowned. 'How come you haven't told any of us before this?'

'I am older than you, as you've frequently mentioned,' Jasmine answered carefully. 'I wanted to make it through the danger period first before letting anyone know there's a baby on the way.'

Favour shook her head chidingly. 'You've got a very secretive nature. No doubt about it. Honestly. Jasmine, you could be a bit more forthcoming.'

'Oh, I don't know.' Her eyes were deliberately leasing. 'You do have a habit of telling me how to live my life, little sister.'

Favour humphed and planted her hands challengingly on her hips. 'Well, Leonard and I got it right putting you and Collins together, didn't we?'

Jasmine laughed and hugged her. 'Yes, you did. Beautifully, wonderfully right.'

' The cars are here!' Their father yelled up the stairs. 'Are you girls ready?'

'Yes, Dad,' they chorused.

Favour quickly pounced on the flowers she'd put on the bed. 'I'm glad I've got a bouquet to hold over my mountainous mound,' she declared.

'Why did you choose to carry just a single red rose, Jasmine?' She smiled, picking it out of the florist's box.

'It has its meaning.' Jasmine replied.

Favour arched her eyebrows. 'I suppose that means you're not going to tell me.'

'Remember the red rose I wore in my hair as your bridesmaid?'

'Ah! You and Collins got together at my wedding!' Favour cried triumphantly. 'Oh, I can't wait to tell Leonard that!' She sailed off, smugly proud of having fixed her older sister's life for her.

Jasmine lifted the perfect velvety bloom to smell its glorious scent.

Not an artificial rose...a real one...as real as the love she and Collins had for each other.

The wedding guests were milling around the garden at Jonah's, the highly fashionable restaurant/reception centre Jasmine and Collins had chosen, mostly because of its site on top of Sydney's northern peninsula, overlooking the ocean.

Everyone was clearly in a festive mood, enjoying the spectacular views as they waited for the bridal party to arrive. Collins and Leonard stood closer to the clifftop above Whale Beach, watching the height of the waves rolling in as they'd done together hundreds of times throughout their long friendship.

'Not as good a surf as at Forresters,' Leonard commented.

Collins smiled, remembering the night he and Jasmine had shared at Spoon Bay. 'If a house comes up for sale close to yours, Leonard, let me know.'

'Great idea!' 'Our kids could play together during vacations.'

'Yeah...' A cocked eyebrow. 'You and Jasmine thinking of starting a family soon?'

Collins grinned. 'One already on the way.' he said.

Leonard punched his arm. 'You sly dog, you. Does your mother know?'

'Only just now. I whispered in her ear and her face lit up like a Christmas tree.'

'I can imagine. She's over the moon about your marrying Jasmine.' Leonard raised a scoring finger. 'And just you remember, I did tell you right from the start she was a knockout.'

'You did,' Collins happily conceded. 'And punctual.' He checked his watch. 'Five minutes to go. We'd better line up with the celebrant' He watched her come to him down the makeshift aisle, sunshine gleaming on her glorious hair, a light sea breeze rippling the long wavy tresses. Far below them the beat of the ocean on the sand echoed the beat of his heart, a rhythm that pounded to the name that swam in his mind .... Jasmine... Jasmine...

Her dress glittered like brilliant light on water. She seemed to flow towards him like some ethereal primeval goddess who would bestowupon him all the blessings of life. This was his wife to be, the woman who carried his child...the scan had revealed a boy...their son.

She smiled at him, her beautiful eyes glowing golden with love. He smiled back, knowing beyond any shadow of doubt this woman was utterly unique and irreplaceable, the one and only woman he would ever love. He saw she carried a single red rose and knew it represented her love for him—the giving and taking that was not a game, but an essential part of the marriage they both wanted.

He held out his hand to her. She slid hers over his palm and he closed his fingers around it.

Together, he thought.

It had felt right at the very beginning.

He knew it was right now, and would be so for the rest of their lives.