‘To the happy couple,’ Tom smiled, raising his glass.
‘Jack and Jo,’ the cop shop smiled.
‘It does sound like something from McDonald’s doesn’t it?’ Jo asked Jack, who was
sitting next to her.
‘I don’t need to tell you how confusing it’s going to be with two Constable Lawson’s,’
Tom sighed.
‘You’ll learn to love it,’ Ben smiled.
‘Admit it. You really love it when your officers pair off,’ PJ replied.
Tom hmphed and took another sip of his beer.
‘Oh Tom. You can’t pretend your not happy. I am delirious,’ Chris smiled.
‘That’s only because we’re having the reception here,’ Jack replied.
‘Now that’s not true!’ Chris swatted at him.
‘We’re on morning shift tomorrow,’ Jo said, kissing Jack.
‘Well then, we better get a move on,’ he smiled, taking her hand. ‘See you tomorrow
guys.’
‘Yeah, we all know why you’re really leaving!’ Ben smiled.
Jo stuck her tongue out at him as they left.

‘Can I please speak to Constable Lawson please?’ a small brunette woman asked.
‘Sure,’ Ben replied. ‘Jack! Someone here to see you.’
Jack came out and stopped. ‘Lyn!’
‘Hi Jack.’ She smiled and grabbing him, kissed him soundly as Jo walked in.
‘I don’t believe you!’ Jo cried, running out.
‘Jo!’ Jack replied, about to follow her.
‘Jack!? What’s going on?’ Ben asked, entering the room.
‘Lyn. Old girlfriend. She kissed me. Jo saw. Cover me,’ Jack said stiltedly, and ran
out of the room.
Ben sighed.

Jack returned to the pub late that night. He sat down with the rest of the coppers at
their table.
‘Find her?’ PJ asked.
‘Nope,’ Jack replied mournfully. ‘I looked everywhere. At home, at the Leap,at the
park. Everywhere!’
‘What’s up?’ Chris asked, handing him a beer.
Jack explained the story.
‘You should have asked me,’ Chris smiled. ‘She rented a room upstairs.’
Jack looked at her, took the key she offered him and bolted upstairs.
‘Now we wait to see if they kill each other or make up,’ Ben smiled.

‘Jo?’ Jack asked tentatively as he looked in the room. He saw her in the bed and she
turned her face away from him.
‘I have nothing to say to you,’ Jo replied coldly.
‘Jo, you don’t understand.’
‘Really?’
‘Lyn is an old girlfriend. But she kissed me. I haven’t seen her in over five years! I
love you! Not her.’
Jo rolled over and Jack saw her tearstained face. He went and sat on the bed. ‘I’m
sorry I hurt you. But I honestly do love you. Do you really think I would kiss her when
I’m engaged to you? Isn’t that what being engaged is about? Marriage is about?
Trust?’
Jo nodded.
Jack smiled at her. ‘What do you say? You’ve been awful quiet for someone with a
usually big mouth.’
Jo swatted him with a pillow.
‘Now that’s more like my Jo. Come here,’ he smiled and hugged her.
‘I love you,’ she told him.
‘I love you too,’ he replied, kissing her.

‘Fifteen minutes. Either they’ve killed each other or they made up,’ Ben said,
checking his watch.
‘I bet they’ve made up,’ Chris smiled.
‘Why do you say that?’ PJ asked.
‘We haven’t heard a thump yet,’ Chris replied.
‘Thanks for that positive outlook Chris,’ Tom groaned.
Chris shrugged.
‘I say, we leave them be,’ Ben said.
‘Absolutely,’ PJ answered.
‘Excuse me?’ Jack’s great grandad smiled. ‘Is Jacko here?’
‘Hello Mr Lawson ,’ Tom smiled. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Well, as per request of the kids, I’m up here. The rest of the family is coming too.
For the wedding and all.’
‘Mt Thomas being invaded by Parrishes and Lawsons. God help us,’ PJ laughed.
Ben and Tom laughed as well.
‘Should I get them?’ Chris asked.
‘So they’re here are they? I went to the house but since I got nowhere, I figured the
pub would be a safe bet. Where are they?’
Ben pointed upwards.
‘What’s the matter with the house? Is there a leak or something.’
‘Not exactly,’ PJ replied, making the table burst out laughing again.
‘Before this lot embarrass them, I’ll go get them,’ Chris replied, shaking her head.
Ten minutes later, the duo came downstairs.
‘Grandpa,’ Jack smiled, hugging the man.
‘So this is the girly you picked,’ Mr Lawson snr smiled at Jo.
Jack nodded. ‘Jo, you remember Grandpa. This is Jo Parrish.’
‘Hi Mr Lawson,’ Jo smiled.
‘Don’t be silly. Call me Grandpa.’
‘Where’s the rest of the family?’ Jack asked.
Grandpa Lawson rolled his eyes. ‘I was the only one ready. Your dad had to check
everything one last time and your mother and those dogs...’
‘Dogs?’ Jo enquired, raising her eyebrow at Jack.
‘Don’t ask,’ he replied.
Jo rolled her eyes and sat down.
‘So, can a fellow get a beer around here?’ Grandpa Lawson asked Chris.
‘Most certainly,’ Chris smiled. ‘Especially if he’s paying.’

The next day, Jo and Jack were sent out to a burglary and Ben, PJ and Tom were left
in the station.
‘Peace and quiet,’ PJ smiled, sitting down.
‘Be nice PJ. A wedding is difficult to plan without all the family showing up to help,’
Ben replied. ‘Believe me, I know.’
‘Excuse me?’ a man called, his wife standing next to him.
‘How can I help?’ Tom asked.
‘Senior Sergeant Tom Croyden?’ the man asked.
Tom nodded.
‘Pleased to meet you. I’m Michael Parrish and this is my wife Mary. We’re Joanna’s
parents.’
PJ coughed, trying to disguise some laughter. Ben smiled.
‘Well,’ Tom said, glaring at the Ben and PJ, ‘please come in. Jo and Jack have gone
out to a burglary but they shouldn’t be too long. I’m sure Senior Constable Stewart
and Senior Detective Hasham can assist you with anything you need. Isn’t that right?’
‘Absolutely,’ Ben said. ‘Have you got somewhere to stay?’
‘Yes,’ Michael smiled. ‘We’re staying at the Imperial. We just thought we’d come
and say hello to our girl but if she’s busy, we can go and look around town.’
‘You’re quite welcome to stay if you’d like,’ Tom offered.
‘No thanks. We’ll see her and her fiance tonight I’m sure.’
The two left.
‘Haven’t either parents met either future in law?’ Ben asked.
‘Apparantly not,’ Tom replied.
‘Can’t wait till they do,’ PJ smirked.

‘Mum! Dad!’ Jo smiled hugging her parents.
‘Hello darling. How are you?’ Mary smiled.
‘Great. The boss told me that you were here earlier today.’
‘Boss?’
‘Yeah, Sergeant Croyden,’ Jo replied.
‘Well, I’m anxious to meet your fiancee. Where is he?’ Michael asked.
‘I’ll just get him. Stretch?’
Michael gave his wife a look.
Jo walked over to the dining room, where Jack was fussing with his shirt. ‘What are
you doing over here? Come meet mum and dad.’
‘That’s exactly why I’m over here,’ Jack replied. ‘What if they don’t like me?’
Jo smiled and kissed him. ‘They’re going to love you as much as I do,’ she replied.
‘Come on!’
Jo dragged him over to her parents. Tom, Ben, PJ and Chris were all at the bar,
watching with amusement.
‘Mum, Dad, this is Jack Lawson, my fiancee.’
‘Pleased to meet you Mr and Mrs Parrish,’ Jack smiled, offering his hand.
Mary took it and shook it. ‘We’ve heard so much about you Jack. It’s wonderful to
finally meet you.’
Michael was still looking him over as his wife nudged him. ‘Yes, good to meet you,’
he said, shaking his hand.
Jo started to feel uncomfortable. ‘Where’s Matt?’
‘Your brother wanted to check up on a few things. Then he had to go get Melissa and
Sarah.’
‘Look, I don’t mind Sarah coming, she’s his daughter and I like her. But Melissa?’ Jo
groaned.
‘Joanna. She is your sister in law,’ Mary told her.
‘I still don’t like her,’ Jo replied, folding her arms.
‘Uh, why don’t I get everyone a drink?’ Jack asked.
‘That’s a great idea,’ Michael said hurriedly.

‘Don’t you and your dad get on well?’ Jack asked, as the couple lay in bed.
Jo snuggled up to him. ‘It’s not that. We just have really different ideas about things.’
‘Such as?’
Jo craned her neck to look up at him. ‘Why do you want to know?’
Jack held her tight. ‘No reason. Just that you seemed to be a bit testy with each other.
And besides, he called you Joanna.’
‘That is my name Stretch,’ Jo smiled.
‘I do know that,’ Jack replied.
‘Okay. Dad and I have always butted heads over things. For example, he thinks that
because we live together and sleep together, I can’t wear white. I disagree so I’m
wearing white.’
Jack chuckled. ‘Stubborn as hell.’
Jo whacked him. ‘Don’t be horrible.’
Jack smiled. ‘Sorry..Joanna.’
Jo whacked him with a pillow.
‘Hey!’
A pillow fight ensued, but slowed to kisses.

‘Morning boss,’ Jo said, coming in.
‘You’re late Parrish,’ Tom told her.
PJ and Ben pricked their ears up.
‘Yes boss I know. Home stuff.’
‘I’ll bet,’ Ben said to PJ.
Jo whipped her head around.
‘Oh? Did you hear that?’ Ben asked, innocently.
Jo frowned at him as Jack rushed in.
‘I know I’m late,’ he told Tom. He rushed past, into the locker room.
Jo started to follow him.
‘I’ll come in if you’re not out in five minutes,’ Tom groaned.

‘You’re parents are coming tonight aren’t they?’ Jo asked, fidgeting with her uniform.
Jack nodded. ‘Yep. And they’re bringing my little sister with them.’
‘I can’t wait to meet her...your parents on the other hand...’
‘Why not?’
‘Well, Stretch, I’m not exactly a model daughter in law,’ Jo told him.
‘I’m not exactly a model son in law either,’ Jack replied.
‘Lawson! Burg!’ Tom bellowed.
‘Here we go,’ Jack said, rolling his eyes.

‘So where’s your girlfriend?’ 16 year old Gemma asked her older brother.
Jack rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t know why they brought you.’
Gemma stuck her tongue out at him.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ Jo smiled, coming up. ‘Couldn’t find some stuff.’
Jack kissed her. ‘No problem. Jo, this is my little sister Gemma. Gemma this is Jo
Parrish.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Gemma smiled, shaking hands. ‘It’s so great to finally meet
you. Jack talks non stop about you.’
‘Okay, thanks Gemma,’ Jack said, flushing slightly. ‘Where’s mum and dad?’
‘Dad is just helping mum unload a couple of bags.’
‘I’ll go give them a hand,’ Jack smiled. ‘Uh, Jo, why don’t you and Gemma get
aquainted?’
Jo nodded. ‘Sounds great.’

‘Mum, Dad,’ Jack smiled, as he went to help with the bags.
‘Jack,’ his mother smiled. ‘How are you?’
‘Wonderful,’ Jack replied. ‘How are you guys?’
‘We’re going well. Looking forward to meeting the girl that has captured your heart,’
his father smiled.
Jack sighed.

‘Well, Parrish, introduce us to your friend,’ PJ smiled, as Jo and Gemma approached
the table.
Jo rolled her eyes. ‘Boss, PJ, and Ben this is Gemma Lawson, Jack’s little sister.’
‘Ah, the future sister in law,’ Ben smiled. ‘Be wary of this one Gemma.’
‘Thanks a lot Ben,’ Jo replied.
‘Here they are,’ Jack said, bringing his parents up. ‘Mum, Dad, this is Jo.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Jo smiled.
‘Likewise dear. Jack has told us a lot about you,’ Mrs Lawson said. ‘I’m Jenny and
this is Frank.’
Jo nodded.
‘So, dear, where are you parents?’ Frank asked.
‘Uh, they went for a drive.’
‘Really. Not much of a place to drive around in,’ Frank answered.
‘Shall we get dinner?’ Jack asked.

‘Your father hates me,’ Jo said, as they got ready for bed that night.
‘So. Your father hates me too.’
‘My father’s just overprotective. If you think he’s bad, wait till you meet my brother.’
‘Great,’ Jack muttered, getting into bed.
‘Never mind Stretch,’ Jo said, slipping in beside him. ‘At least you know that I like
you.’
‘Like?’ Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. ‘Is that all? I thought I might at least rate
love.’
‘Well, I suppose you might,’ Jo replied, playfully.

‘Matthew Parrish. This is my wife Melissa and our daughter Sarah,’ Matt said,
introducing himself to Chris.
‘Oh right. You must be Jo’s brother.’
Matt nodded. ‘Yep. Is she around?’
‘She’ll be down at the police station. Do you want directions?’
Matt shook his head. ‘Nope. We saw it on our way in. Thanks for the help Ms Riley.’
‘Chris, please.’
‘Ok then. See you later,’ Matt smiled.

‘Heads or tails?’ Jack asked.
‘Heads,’ Jo replied.
‘Here we go, here we go,’ smiled Ben.
‘Come on Jack, just flip it,’ PJ told him.
‘Heads!’ Jo grinned triumphantly.
‘The Imperial it is for you then,’ PJ said.
‘Us,’ Jack replied.
‘And I get the house,’ Jo smiled.
‘Auntie Jo!’ a little voice piped up.
‘Sarah!’ Jo answered, hugging her. ‘Hi Matt! Melissa.’
‘Jo,’ Melissa replied coldly.
‘Hey Spud,’ Matt grinned.
Jo frowned and hugged him. ‘Come in,’ she said, opening the little gate.
‘So, want to introduce me?’ Matt asked.
Jo shifted Sarah to her other hip. ‘Matt, this is PJ, Ben, and this is Jack. This is Sarah,
my brother Matt and Melissa.’
"So this is the famous Jack,’ Matt said, shaking Jack’s hand.
‘Famous?’ Jack asked, raising an eyebrow at Jo, who blushed slightly.

‘Listen, I hate to break this little drinking party up,’ Matt smiled, ‘but I’d like to talk
to my new brother in law to be.’
Jo frowned. ‘You better be nice,’ she hissed.
Matt smiled and he and Jack went into the dining room.
Jo put her head in her hands and Tom sat down next to her.
‘Can I help?’
‘Jo looked up and smiled. ‘Hi Boss. I doubt it.
‘Try me,’ Tom smiled.
‘All Jack and I wanted to do was get married. Now our families are here, they want to
make it a big affair. My brother is giving Jack "the talk" and everything is NOT going
how it was supposed to be.’
Tom nodded. ‘Weddings rarely do Parrish.’
‘Is that supposed to make me feel better?’ Jo asked.
Tom chuckled. ‘Would you like me to have a talk with the family members?’
‘Would you?’
‘I just offered.’
‘Thanks Boss,’ Jo replied.

‘Look, Jack, no hard feelings okay? But you better look after my sister,’ Matt
explained.
‘I totally understand how you feel Matt. I have a younger sister too.’
Matt nodded. ‘Okay. But if you hurt her, I kill you. Understood?’
Jack nodded. ‘Sure.’
Matt smiled and shook his hand. ‘Welcome to the family Jack.’
Jack sighed.
Jo pulled the Berocca out of her desk and poured it into a glass. She sat down at her
desk and drank it, grimacing at the taste.
‘Rough night last night?’ PJ asked as Ben smirked.
Jo glared at them. ‘Don’t start.’
‘I wouldn’t get her cross guys,’ Jack said. ‘Unless you want to die.’
‘That bad huh?’ Ben asked.
‘Alright people,’ Tom said. ‘I’m sure we’ve got work to do without interrogating
Parrish and Lawson.’
Jo smiled to herself.

‘Please mum. I can do without it. I really don’t want one,’ Jo pleaded with her
mother.
‘Joanna Parrish. Your father insisted that you have one, otherwise you’ll miss out.’
‘Yeah mum. My idea of a hen’s party is having a few friends around to the house.
Dad’s idea is going all out, with all the trimmings. I don’t want that!’
‘Jo, come on, it’ll be fun,’ her mother said, trying a different tactic.
‘The same amount of fun as me getting my tonsils out was?’
Mary sighed. ‘I always said that I had had two boys.’
Jo groaned. ‘Mother!’
Mary smiled. ‘Never mind darling. You tell your father and then you can do what you
like.’
Jo’s eyes widened. ‘I..thought you were going to tell him?’
‘Well, I thought since you’re getting married..’
‘Mum..please.’
Mary hugged her daughter. ‘I love you Jo.’

‘So Jack,’ Ben said, as he and PJ sat down next to him. ‘Less than a week till the big
day huh?’
Jack nodded. ‘Yep.’
‘Are you nervous?’ PJ asked.
‘Nope. I know that Jo is the one I want to marry.’
PJ and Ben exchanged looks.
‘Have you got a bachelor’s party planned?’ PJ asked.
‘No..why?’ Jack asked.
Ben smiled. ‘Consider it planned.’

PJ smiled as he flipped through his telephone book, trying to find the right page. He
frowned as he heard a key turn in the lock. He grabbed his gun and moved to the front
door. When he saw who was in the door, he smiled and put his gun down. ‘Took you
damn long enough.’

‘Why are we spring cleaning less than a week before we’re married? Are you trying to
tell me something?’ Jack grinned, as he picked his way into the bedroom.
‘I’m looking for something,’ she answered and grimaced. ‘I can’t find it!’
Jack sat down next to her on the floor. ‘What’s up? Are you okay?’
‘No! I’m nervous, I’m getting married in four days, my family is insane, your father
hates me AND I have PMS! I am NOT okay.’
Jack knew that when Jo was peeved it was best to just nod and hug her.
Jo lay in his arms for a moment, then espied what she was looking for. ‘Found it,’ she
smiled in triumph.
‘What?’ Jack asked, letting her up.
Jo pulled it out from underneath the mess. ‘This,’ she smiled, holding up a shirt.
‘Daddy’s Little Girl,’ Jack grinned.
‘Mum reminded me of it today,’ Jo replied. ‘I wanted to make sure I still had it.’
‘I suppose we better clear up this mess,’ Jack sighed, looking at the mess around
them.
‘Maybe later,’ Jo replied, kissing him.

PJ grinned happily as he walked in the station. ‘Good morning everyone.’
‘What are you so pleased about?’ Ben asked.
‘Jack, Jo, may I bring a date to the wedding?’
Jo nearly fell off her chair.
‘Yeah, mate. Sure,’ Jack replied. ‘Uh, do we know her?’
‘You better. May I present, Maggie Doyle.’
Maggie walked in and smiled.
For the second time, Jo nearly fell off her chair.
‘Maggie?’ Ben asked.
She nodded.
‘Maggie’s been in Witness Protection.’
‘The whole death was staged?’ Jack asked.
‘It had to be. Everyone had their suspicions about Mick. I did get shot, but he missed.’
‘Don’t get me wrong,’ Ben said, ‘I’m really glad you’re back...but that was a pretty
lousy thing to put us all through.’
Maggie’s face fell. ‘I know. And I didn’t want to. But none of you could know.’
Jo smiled. ‘It’s great to have you back. And yes, you may come to the wedding.’
‘Glad to see you two finally got your act together,’ Maggie smiled at the pair.
Jo blushed slightly. ‘Uh, you probably better go and see the Boss.’
Maggie frowned. ‘Yeah. Where is he?’
Ben pointed to the office. ‘I’m surprised he hasn’t heard anything.’

TWO DAYS LATER

Maggie had settled back into Mt Thomas quite quickly and with ease. Of course, it
had been difficult to explain to the community how she had been dead and was now,
suddenly, not dead.
On the wedding front, Jo had, as a dear daughter close to her father’s heart would,
charmed her way out of the bachelorette party and Jack was beginning to worry about
what Ben and PJ had planned.
‘Are you okay?’ Maggie asked Jo, who seemed lost in thought.
Jo looked up. ‘Oh, sorry about that. I’m just stressed and worrying.’
‘I thought weddings were supposed to be times of happiness and contentment?’ Ben
asked, walking in.
‘If you believe that, you’ll believe anything,’ Jo sighed.
‘Hey,’ Jack said, coming back in. ‘Suits are ready and available so I picked them up.’
He turned to PJ and Ben. ‘They’re in your lockers.’
‘Excuse me?’ a woman said, rapping on the desk. ‘Do you actually work or just
discuss weddings?’
‘Miss Batemen,’ Tom smiled. ‘How can I help?’
‘You can’t actually,’ she replied. ‘I heard about this impending wedding of your two
youngest officers and I just want to say how wrong I think it is. They are two young
and the marriage will end very soon! And fraterinising between officers...’
‘Thankyou Miss Batemen. I’m sure that Constable Lawson and Constable Parrish will
take that in mind.’ Tom rolled his eyes at the woman’s retreating back.
‘Don’t take it in mind,’ Maggie told them.
Jo watched Jack leave with Ben to attend a burglary. ‘I won’t.’

‘So, Jack, ready for tonight?’ Ben asked, as they entered the station the next day.
‘What exactly are we doing tonight?’ Jack asked suspiciously.
‘A bit of this, a bit of that,’ PJ answered.
‘I want him in one piece tomorrow,’ Jo told them.
PJ looked at her in mock horror. ‘Now would we do anything terrible to our mate
Jacko here?’
Maggie smirked.
‘Oh, funny,’ Ben answered. ‘See you tonight Jack.’
Ben and PJ left.
‘I guess I’ll go too,’ Maggie said. ‘You two be okay here?’
Jo nodded. ‘Sure. There’s just a little paperwork.’
After Maggie left, Jo turned to Jack. ‘You won’t do anything stupid tonight will you?’
‘I won’t be able to. Your brother and father are coming.’
‘My father?’ Jo asked.
‘Yeah. He said he wanted to talk to me.’
All of a sudden, Jo felt slightly ill.

‘I’m really glad you’re marrying my brother,’ Gemma smiled, as they sat down at Jo
and Jack’s home.
‘I’m glad you approve of his choice then,’ Jo smiled in amusement.
‘Jack really likes you a lot. He told me. I like you better than Molly.’
‘We can’t really compare us. We’re very different.’
‘Did Jack tell you where the boys were taking him tonight?’ Jo’s mum asked, as she
and Jack’s mum entered.
‘No,’ Jo replied. ‘He also said that dad wanted to talk to him. Do you know anything
about that?’
Her mother feigned innocence. ‘Absolutely nothing.’

Ben, PJ and Jack’s dad sat in the dining room of the Imperial whilst Jack and Jo’s dad
sat in the bar area.
‘Mr Parrish, I think I know what this is about,’ Jack began.
Michael held his hand up. ‘I’m not going to give you that talk where the father of the
bride tells the son in law to look after his daughter or else. You’re a decent lad, and I
hope..no I know, that you will look after Jo. I just wanted to talk to you about some
things.’
Jack looked relieved. ‘Sure.’
‘Jo’s very important to me, as she’s sure to have told you. And I missed her a lot
when she moved here. Jo may not seem it at first, but she’s a very sensitive person.
She had a lot of trouble fitting in down home in Melbourne. Although she seems to be
a city girl, the country seems to have caught her heart. And I’m glad she found a nice
country lad to spend her life with. Now, I want you to take good care of my little girl,
and any others than come along the way. I may seem like an overprotective father, but
she’s very important to me and I don’t know what I’d do without her. But, I’m glad
she chose you.’
Jack was genuinely touched. ‘Thanks Mr Parrish. That means a lot to me.’
‘Good lad. Let’s go and have your party then.’

‘I can’t believe you had two beers! And that was it!’ Ben smiled, as they entered the
pub.
‘I promised Jo,’ Jack replied.
‘Well, at least you fared better than PJ. I don’t think Maggie will be very happy with
us.’
‘You mate. I had nothing to do with this party.’
‘Well, I’m off home. Early day tomorrow.’
‘See ya,’ Jack replied and sat down on a chair. He glanced at his watch. Thank God,
they finished that early. Michael Parrish had insisted it finish before twelve or he’d
charge them all with his rifle. He smiled.

Jo sighed as she pulled the covers around her. She hoped that the fellows hadn’t
gotten Jack drunk. She had got everyone out by ten and she was now ready to go
sleep. She frowned as she heard a key turn in the lock. She got up and walked out into
the loungeroom and started as a pair of lips met hers. She smiled slightly as she
discovered it was Jack. (AN: I just realised how many times I used "she!")
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘Came to see you,’ he replied, kissing her again.
‘Haven’t you heard about not seeing the bride on her wedding day?’ Jo asked.
‘It’s eleven thirty. And I came to show you that I’m not drunk. And to tell you that I
love you.’
Jo smiled. ‘Okay. Well now you’ve told me and shown me, you better go.’
Jack grinned and left. Jo sighed.

‘Morning PJ,’ Maggie smiled, as she shook him awake. ‘Rise and shine.’
‘Go away,’ PJ groaned.
‘You’ve been alone way too long,’ Maggie replied and kissed him. ‘Come on. You’ve
got to be a best man today.
PJ groaned.
‘Come on PJ. You may need these,’ she said, handing him a couple of asprin.
‘I think God hates me,’ PJ said as he downed the asprin.
Maggie smiled.

Jack nervously handled his tie. PJ and Ben noticed this, and smiled with amusement.
‘You okay Jack?’ PJ asked.
‘I’m fine,’ Jack replied, his voice wavering slightly.
‘You’re nervous,’ PJ told him.
‘What if it doesn’t work out!? I mean, I am younger than her and I do want to be with
her but what if she grows out of me?’
PJ smiled slightly. ‘Follow me.’
Jack raised an eyebrow and followed him out to the middle of the church. People
were starting to arrive. He saw his and Jo’s family in the room, mingling with other
friends. His Great Grandfather was enjoying himself. He smiled. Soon, he and Jo
would be married. However that thought didn’t make him any happier. In fact, it just
made him more nervous.
‘Come on,’ PJ said, showing him a door.
‘Mate, this is the women’s section. Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride
before the wedding?’
‘Jacko, the way you’re acting, you need this.’
PJ showed him a place to peek so he could see what was going on. Jo was smiling and
laughing with Maggie, her mum and his sister, as her mum put a necklace on her.
Jack smiled at the sight and turned back to PJ.
‘If you aren’t standing at the end of that aisle, you’ll break her heart,’ PJ explained to
her.
Jack nodded.
‘She loves you Jack. Don’t let her down.’ PJ patted his shoulder and went back to the
other room.
Jack looked at the room holding his future wife, smiled and followed PJ back
through.

‘So Jo,’ Ben asked at the reception, ‘how do you think you’ll stand living with this
man?’
‘I think I’ll cope,’ Jo smiled as Jack hugged her closer.
‘I wonder if those high school girls know that you two got married?’ Ben asked.
There was no answer.
Tom glanced over at the couple who were engaged in a rather lip-locked state.
‘Ahem,’ he coughed.
Jack and Jo broke the kiss and blushed slightly.
Tom rolled his eyes. ‘Heaven knows how we’re going to cope when you two come
back to work.’
‘Talking about work,’ PJ smiled, hugging Maggie close. ‘When you guys come back
from your honeymoon, a couple of weeks later, you’ll all be losing me and Mags.’
‘Where are you going?’ Ben asked.
‘On our honeymoon,’ Maggie smiled.
Congratulations came all around and Chris raced up.
‘What did I miss?’
‘Maggie and PJ are getting married,’ Ben informed her.
‘That’s old news,’ Chris said, smiling.
‘Typical,’ PJ told her.
Chris turned around and smiled at Jack and Jo who were kissing and talking softly to
each other. ‘We should probably get rid of them. There are kids in the room.’
‘They are worrying aren’t they?’ PJ smiled.
‘Hye you two,’ Chris said, swatting the bar towel at the couple. ‘I think you better go
before your colleagues have to arrest you.’
Jack blushed slightly and Jo smiled, embarrassed.
‘Get out of here already,’ Jack’s great grandfather came over. ‘You two should be
having your nice romantic, lonely honeymoon.’
‘Thanks a lot Grampa,’ Jack said.
‘For once, he’s right,’ Jack’s dad smiled. ‘Get out of here already.’
‘You’d think we weren’t wanted,’ Jo smiled at Jack.
‘Not at 1am on your wedding night you’re not,’ Maggie smiled.
‘Throw the bouquet!’ Gemma cried.
Jo rolled her eyes as the single women gathered in a group and she threw the bouquet,
which was predictably, caught by Maggie.
‘Right then,’ Jack said hugging her. ‘Let’s get out of here!’
‘Are you ordering me around?’ Jo asked, raising an eyebrow.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it Jo,’ Jack smiled, taking her hand.