Emergency Response Read Free Page B

church, they didn’t show it. They looked toward the church in anticipation, smiling the way all bridesmaids do as the music floated through the open doors. Behind them, their car inched forward, leaving them standing side by side to wait for Kate.
    A late model Range Rover pulled up beside them seconds later. Across the polished bonnet, white ribbons fluttered in the hot wind. The bright afternoon sun bounced off the windscreen. Inside, behind tinted windows and sitting in air-conditioned comfort was Kate and her father Michael.
    When the car came to a standstill Michael opened the rear passenger door for Kate and Mackenzie gasped. All brides were beautiful, but Kate looked incredible. She’s got a better backside than Pippa Middleton. Mackenzie sighed, half in pleasure and half in envy. She always felt like this at weddings.
    “Hope you’re prepared for the heat,” Mackenzie called out as Kate’s head emerged from the car’s cool interior.
    Mackenzie couldn’t even guess what the temperature had climbed to, but figured it had to be much hotter than the thirty-six degrees predicted. It was two weeks since the seasons had changed and summer was officially over, but someone had forgotten to let God know. Thankfully, Kate and Joel had decided on an indoor wedding. At least it would be cool inside the century-old brick church and the reception venue would be air-conditioned.
    “You did remember to put on sunscreen didn’t you?” Melissa asked, looking at Kate’s bare shoulders.
    There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and Mackenzie’s own skin tingled even though she’d lathered on sunscreen earlier that morning.
    A hot northerly wind whipped across the paddocks and gusted through the pine trees, bringing with it a cloud of dust. Boughs creaked and branches swayed. Mackenzie touched the back of her neck. Wispy pieces of her dark brown hair had already fallen out of the elaborate up-do and clung to her skin, forming little curls where the sweat gathered. Her makeup was probably sliding off her face too.
    The photographer appeared from nowhere. “That’s perfect, Kate!” he said, clicking away from different angles. He took a few more shots before stepping back so Michael could help Kate from the car. “You look amazing,” he said.
    He was right. Mackenzie sucked in her stomach and looked down at her strapless dress, smoothing the material across her waist and hips. Had it been worth spending so much money on “suck it in” underwear? The sales lady in Myer had promised it would reduce her shape by two dress sizes, but she had lied – the dress Mackenzie ended up buying was still a size fourteen. She wasn’t fat, but she still felt frumpy beside her skinny friends.
    Kate’s tinkling laugh floated toward Mackenzie, interrupting her negative thoughts. Stop it , she told herself sternly. This day is all about Kate, not you.
    Michael Kennedy held out his arm for his daughter, his face lit up with a radiant smile. “Well darling, are you ready?”
    “I’ve never been more ready,” Kate said.
    Melissa leaned over and adjusted the train of Kate’s dress, straightening it so it hung perfectly. She squeezed Kate’s arm. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life, Kate. Try to savor and enjoy every moment, because trust me, the hours will fly by and pretty soon all you’ll have are the photos to remind you of how special this day was.”
    Mackenzie had initially been relieved when Kate had overlooked her for bridesmaid duties, but now, watching Melissa and Emma fuss over Kate, she felt on the outer. She brushed the unpleasant thoughts away and gave herself another mental shake. She had to stop the ridiculous jealousy that always sprang up at weddings.
    She was about to step into the church when Kate reached for her hand. “Mackenzie, it means so much to have you share this day with us. I’m so glad you came.”
    Hot tears pricked Mackenzie’s eyes. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Kate. It