Lucy in the Sky

she seemed friendly. Her long greying hair is tied up in a loose bun on top of her head. She works in an art gallery in the city and her partner, Simon, looks about fifteen years her junior. At least she approves of toyboys.
    At that moment I feel lonely. Again I wonder what it would be like if James was here. How different would this holiday have been? Would I have responded to Nathan in the same way if James had been here? I miss my boyfriend suddenly, fleetingly.
    It’s time for the speeches. First Bruce stands up and has everyone laughing with his tales of Molly growing up and how he, as a father, much preferred me as Molly’s friend rather than Sam, a red-blooded teenage boy. But now he couldn’t be happier withher choice. Sam continues in the same vein, keeping it light and fun. Finally it’s Nathan’s turn. He looks nervous.
    ‘I’m not really one for speeches so you’re just going to have to bear with me, I’m afraid. First of all I’d like to thank the bridesmaids, Lucy and Andie. Lucy came all the way from England for this and she’s been a great support to Molly for the last two weeks, and–how long have you guys known each other?’ He pauses, looking down at Sam and Molly.
    ‘Twenty bloody long years!’ shouts Sam and everyone laughs.
    ‘When Sam first asked me to be his best man and I realised I’d have to stand up and give a speech, I felt like throwing myself over that wall out there into the harbour. To be honest with you, I still do. But he promised me I could keep this brief so I’m going to take him up on that.’ I notice he’s not reading from any notes.
    ‘I want to tell you something about Sam. When we were kids he always looked out for me. And when Mum and Dad died, he almost gave up his scholarship so we could both stay in Sydney and get a place together. I had to nick off travelling in order to persuade him to go to uni. But that’s just Sam.
    ‘He’s the best brother I could ever have. He’s the closest family I have. And I know Mum and Dad would have been very proud of him. I’m just sorry they can’t be here to see him tie the knot with Molly. They always loved her like she was part of the family and now she really is.’
    By the time he’s finished there’s not a dry eye in the place, Sam, Molly and myself included. I glance across at Nathan after he’s sat back down. He seems a little embarrassed with all the attention and my heart goes out to him. He looks over at me and we smile at each other for a moment, before I turn back to my dessert.
    Twenty minutes later our plates have all been cleared and thestaff are starting to move tables away for the DJ. I look around but I can’t see Nathan, then I spot him over by Amy’s table; he is crouching down behind her chair and she has swivelled round to talk to him. I feel a white pang of jealousy shoot through me. ‘Get away from her!’ I want to shout, but I know how ludicrous that is. I have no hold over this man. In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be flying home. To my boyfriend , for Christ’s sake.
    I peek back over at Amy and she turns around and looks right at me. I quickly avert my gaze.
    I need to get away. I have to clear my head. I check with Molly that she doesn’t want anything and then get up and go through the open marquee door, back through the gate into the gardens. It’s late afternoon and the wind is just starting to pick up. I have to lift my long silver skirt up slightly as I wind my way back past the old gum tree, past the sculptures, to find myself standing in front of a cluster of bamboo, towering high above me, forty or fifty feet into the air. I look up for a minute and listen to it clacking together and creaking and groaning in the breeze. People have carved their names into the bright yellow and green stalks:
     
    Robin x Helen
Sal hearts Dean
     
    Even some Japanese and Chinese, which I can’t decipher. I look at the information plaque:
     
    Bambusa Vulgaris–Common Bamboo
     
    ‘What do you call a sheep with no legs?’
    I spin around and he’s there, behind me, unlit cigarette in hishand. He’s taken off his suit jacket and loosened his shirt collar and tie.
    ‘Go on.’ I smile.
    ‘A cloud.’
    ‘That’s funny!’
    ‘Yeah, I’d forgotten that one,’ he says, lighting his cigarette. He uses matches, not a lighter, and he has to cup his hands together to stop the breeze from blowing the flame out.
    ‘How’s Amy?’
    ‘Not the best.’ He scuffs the gravel on