Page 48 of What Did I Miss?

Makayla waits for Beau at Echo Beach, her feet sinking into wet black sand.

It’s the morning of Rongo and Noa’s wedding and she couldn’t ask for a more perfect start to the day.

A gentle sun spotlights the vast body of water, the swish of waves becoming white noise, and a briny wind delivers a refreshing ocean spray.

It’s like Bali is trying to apologise and make sure they part on good terms. Makayla will remember this trip forever, and it’s got nothing to do with blue skies or a bout of bad luck.

She jumps when Beau appears beside her and holds out his hand. ‘Ready?’

No. ‘Yes.’

They interlace fingers (a promising sign) and trek away from the stretch of villas and restaurants encroaching on this natural beauty. It’s time for their talk. Knots replace the stomach cramps that kept her bedridden for days.

Beau strolls across the sand with a look of contentment across his sun-kissed face.

His sweaty palm tells a different story.

Sunbaking beauties with thick European accents crane their necks for a second glance at his impressive shirtless rig.

A tuft of chest hair continues down the middle of his abs, towards his bellybutton and into his board shorts.

It’ll be a crying shame if Makayla never gets to follow that trail again.

Bravery strikes her like lightning, and she tugs his arm to stop them walking any further. Saliva thickens inside her mouth. It’s now or never.

‘I’ve thought about this a lot and I know what I want.

I’d like to go to the wedding with you …

’ Her heart breaks a little as Beau’s gleeful smile jumps the gun, ‘… but this would be the last time. How do you feel about us enjoying one night together? Like a farewell tour? Come morning, I promise to leave you alone so you can move on. We both can.’

Creases she didn’t know he had appear on his forehead. He has to say yes. She can’t bear this ending without a proper goodbye.

Silence lingers for longer than Makayla can handle, and nerves get the better of her.

‘I don’t want to be the person who stops you from having what you want,’ she adds.

‘I’ve thought long and hard about it, too. About how you said you felt trapped in your marriage. I would hate it if someone felt that way with me. I can see now that two people need to choose to be together. With or without a legal document. I’m willing to let that go.’

‘What about kids?’ Tension hangs in her jaw as she forgets to breathe.

‘I have to be honest, I’ve struggled with that decision the most.’

He cradles her hands like the bachelor does on Happily Ever After when he’s about to let someone down gently. Makayla twitches her fingers to move him along. Say it already .

‘I understand why you’re reluctant. I do.

I can’t even imagine how you felt going through all of that.

’ Beau politely dips his head. ‘I also can’t imagine not having you in my life.

That would be a bigger loss. If I walked away now, I know I’d regret it and always wonder what we could have been.

You make me happy, and during those moments when you’ve let yourself, I know you’re happy too.

I don’t want to be with you for one night only, Makayla. I want you every night.’

Beau’s eyes, which twin with the ocean, don’t show a seed of doubt. His words sweep her away, and her heart swells with emotion.

‘If this goes well, and I decide to not go down the parenting path, it’ll just be the two of us. Are you sure that’s enough?’

‘Sounds pretty good to me. We’ll be one of those jet-setting couples who fly business class.’ He chuckles.

‘Sorry, did I forget to mention I’m never travelling overseas again?’

‘Road trips it is, then. We can buy a caravan.’

We rolls off his tongue effortlessly, as well as the suggestion that they purchase a big-ticket item together. The immensity of that doesn’t scare her. She can picture them ploughing up the east coast by day and cuddling by a fire to stargaze at night. What a life! Her life. Their life.

‘Are you in? I mean, really in?’ he asks, and she can tell he’s not referring to their road trip plans.

‘One hundred per cent.’

In an excited rush, their bodies bump together and entwine like a tangled fishing net.

Beau falls backwards, and Makayla crashes on top.

They remain there, giggling on the soggy shoreline.

Chilled water laps at them, and sand gets into crevices that’ll sting later, but they don’t care.

They make out like drunk teens at a house party.

All tongue. No breaks. Public dry humping they’ll cringe about later.

Who would’ve thought when they met at that swanky bar all those months ago, they’d end up in each other’s arms on a beautiful beach in Bali? A strange sensation takes hold, warming her from the inside. She can’t quite put her finger on it.

Quinn’s face flashes in Makayla’s mind and she opens her eyes mid-kiss. How did she forget it’s her birthday in a week? Delirium must be an after-effect of Bali belly.

Beau stops. ‘Everything okay?’

‘Yeah. Yep. Yes.’

For a split second, she considers telling him, only she can’t. He might see it as her living in the past instead of moving into the future she just promised. Besides, what are the chances he’d ever find out?

When they return to Goldbrooke, she’ll need to keep their relationship under wraps. All those months of pushing Beau away can’t have been for nothing. She burrows in, holding him tighter than ever before. As long as they’re together, everything will work out. It has to.

Makayla and Beau stand under an arch adorned with fresh yellow frangipanis.

A rich creamy fragrance welcomes guests waiting in line to attend the wedding reception of Mr and Mrs Aoki-Patuwai.

Romance is in the air, and so are the deep baritones of Boyz II Men playing from a speaker in the background.

The queue moves an inch, and Beau offers a bicep to help steady Makayla, who’s playing dress-ups in a pair of Imogen’s strappy heels. Still no luggage, but all smiles. They’re thousands of kilometres away from Goldbrooke and she’s going to enjoy tonight. Bali owes her that.

They stop in front of a woman holding a clipboard, who’s forced to wear a long-sleeved polyester uniform. How is there not a bead of sweat across her forehead? The evening gets stickier by the minute. If Makayla doesn’t get some water soon, she’ll faint.

‘I’m Beau Shepherd, and this is my girlfriend, Makayla Anderson,’ he says, flashing a dorky grin. He’s probably been dying to say those words all day. And while Makayla will never admit this out loud, she’s been desperate to hear them.

‘Awww,’ Cece says from behind them. It’s not the first time that sappy sound has come out of her mouth.

She did it when they returned from the beach hand in hand, and again, when they were cuddled on a sun lounger, lazing by the pool.

She also said it when Beau went in for a kiss after the celebrant announced, ‘You may kiss the bride.’

The newlyweds greet the guests before they’re seated.

Rongo’s swapped his tuxedo for linen shorts and a breathable polo top.

Noa has changed out of her silk kimono and slipped into a little red number with an open back.

Her smile hasn’t left her face since she glided down the aisle.

Rongo wraps Beau in a warm hug and gives Makayla a double high-five for finally coming to her senses.

Rongo and Noa are hosting dinner inside a private oasis surrounded by birds of paradise.

Twinkling festoon lights crisscross overhead, and dark ocean waters slap in the distance.

A mouthwatering aroma of spices wafts up from stainless-steel buffet trays.

Makayla’s eager to put an end to this week’s self-inflicted starvation diet.

Five strangers join their table, giving Beau another opportunity to flex his boyfriend status during the introductions. Don’t let me stop you.

Tilly wiggles about in her highchair. The restless toddler has also changed outfits. During the ceremony, she ripped off her foofy princess dress that had more layers than a Viennetta cake. Pink bow headband? Forget it! She’s now living her best island life in a nappy and fake Ray-Bans.

Cece and Jimmy drown in each other’s eyes, resorting to cutesy nicknames and pouty smooches. It’s wonderful that they’re in a state of bliss again, but over Makayla’s dead body will she and Beau ever become that couple.

‘How are you feeling about your speech?’ Beau asks.

‘Like I want to run into the ocean and take my chances with the sharks.’ Makayla unrolls her napkin swan and twists it in her lap.

Her semi-acceptable handwritten speech was in the suitcase that went walkabouts.

‘I was supposed to write another one today, but someone tall, blondish and handsome distracted me. I’ll have to wing it. ’

‘Speak from the heart.’ Beau places a reassuring hand on top of hers.

Sounds good in theory, unless you’re Makayla, who’s only just realised she has one.

‘Picture of the happy couple?’ asks a man with a boyish face. He holds up a bulky camera to prove he’s the official photographer.

‘Absolutely.’ Beau relaxes his arm around Makayla.

As lovely as it would be to have a photo together, Rongo’s the type of person who will upload these to social media. He’s notorious for tagging people and writing silly captions. There can’t be any evidence of Makayla’s relationship status online. Quinn or Warren would inevitably stumble across it.

‘Group shot!’ she calls, dragging Cece into the frame and waving Imogen and Jimmy in too. Makayla leans away from Beau.

Cece insists they take a ‘nice one’, which is code for ‘Can you please smile, Makayla?’ Then someone suggests a ‘funny one’ and she begrudgingly commits to bunny ears. They return to their seats and Beau curls his arm around her to get a photo without the entourage.