The House on Flamingo Cay (21 page)

“Don’t stay away too long, or you may miss our wedding,” Peter said smilingly. “This girl is very impatient to be also a bride. Isn’t that so,
kedvesem
?”

Angela laughed. “I don’t trust him with all those pretty nurses,” she said gaily. But her glance was tender and adoring.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back in time,” Stephen assured him. An hour before, he had been immaculate in a pale grey tropic-weight suit. Now he was back in the sun-bleached blue cotton shirt and worn levis which he had been wearing when Sara first met him.

Their wedding trip was to be a month-long cruise to the south, and Sara, too, was dressed for a sea-going honeymoon. But she did not mind that her trousseau consisted exclusively of shirts and shorts with a couple of bathing-suits, or that her lovely aquamarine engagement ring was now locked in Stephen’s private safe. It was enough to be wearing the faceted platinum wedding ring and to know that, now and for always, her home was on Flamingo Cay.

Besides, she had her moment of bridal splendor. At twelve o’clock, in a dress of frosty white lace, she had walked up the aisle beside Peter’s wheelchair and he had given her in marriage. And then, pale but serene behind her misty tulle veil, she had quietly given her promises.

“It’s time we were off, my love,” Stephen said presently.

“Now you be sure and tak’ good care of yo’ bride, Massa Steve,” Aurora said when everyone had kissed and hugged and shaken hands. “Youse a family man now, an’ dat means youse responsibilities. So don’ you get up to any of yo’ crazy goings-on, min’.” She smiled at Sara. “You make dat boy behave sensible, Missy Sara.”

Sara laughed. “I’ll do my best, Aurora,” she promised.

And then, in a shower of rose-petals and rice, the launch edged out from its berth and the voyage had begun. Sara stayed on deck to wave until they were out of sight of the wharf. Then she joined Stephen at the wheel.

“Happy, pet?” he asked, slipping an arm round her waist and drawing her close to his side.

Sara plucked a rose-petal out of his thick dark hair. “Mm ... terribly,” she murmured.

But, as the launch cleared the harbor and the shimmering mazarine seas stretched out before them, she knew that what she felt now was something far beyond happiness. And today was only a beginning.

THE END