1
Studying her reflection in the full-length mirror, Zeta scowled at her older sister. “I’m still angry at you there’s no tulle.”
“Tulle was never an option, Z.” Bria crossed the spacious room and stood behind Zeta, meeting her gaze in the mirror as she did up the long zipper of the dress Zeta wore.
Zeta smoothed her palms over the emerald-green satin slip dress now hugging her body. She grinned at Bria. “Boring.”
“My wedding, my choice,” Bria said with her own grin, adjusting how her boobs sat in the exquisitely beaded bodice of the ivory chiffon and satin sleeveless dress she wore. “Whenyouget married, you can have as much tulle as you like, and I will happily wear it.”
“Ha, jokes on you.” Zeta smirked. “I’m never getting married.”
“Sure you’re not.” Bria tapped her on the nose. “I believe you. But when youdo, I’ll wear as much tulle as you want.”
“Hold her to that, Z,” Elisa said, joining them in front of the mirror. She too adjusted her breasts in the dress she wore, the style and color identical to Zeta’s. Almost. “My boobs are getting so big.” She turned, running her hands over the gentle swell of her stomach pushing against the satin. “Twins. I can’t believe I’m having twins.”
“I can’t believe youalsodenied me tulle atyourwedding, Lis.” Zeta bent over, drawing her head close to Elisa’s baby bump. “Your mom is a party pooper, little ones. And so is your Aunty B.”
“Hey, hey, hey.” Elisa covered her belly with her palms, mock indignation in her voice. “Stop telling them I’m no fun.”
Laughing, Zeta straightened and smoothed her bridesmaid dress down again. Despite her jest, it truly was stunning, and she looked stunning in it.
It was a huge difference from her normal attire. The wardrobe of a zookeeper tended to be dominated by khaki chinos, khaki shirts, khaki boots, and jeans. Lots of jeans. Usually faded. And smelling of, in her case, cheetahs. No matter how many times she washed them, the clothes she worked in always smelled like the cheetahs at the San Diego Safari Park. And because she worked almost all the time, almost all her clothes were clothes she worked in.
But not this dress.
This dress…
“This dress trulyisbellissima, Bri,” she said, turning to give Bria’s cheek a soft kiss. “Even without any tulle. I feel amazing in it.”
Bria stopped fiddling with the small white roses pinned in her hair at her right temple and looked at her. “You are amazing, Zeta. And I’ve missed you so much.”
A hot lump filled Zeta’s throat. “No, no. No talking sad stuff. Not on your wedding day.”
Sad stuff. Like the fact both Bria and Elisa now lived in Australia with their respective partners, Owen and Angus, and had done for a few months now. Not sad for her sisters, but sad for Zeta. She missed them.
More than she could comprehend.
They were triplets, after all.
The fact she hadn’t seen either of them until midnight last night made it doubly important not to get sad now. Three months was a long time between hugs.
Thank God, she and Elisa were identical in every physical way. It made sizing and fitting her bridesmaid dress hassle-free despite her not being in Australia. Well, identical in every physical way until Elisa’s pregnancy had started to show, that was.
“You could always get a job at Taronga Zoo,” Elisa said, sliding her arm around Zeta’s waist, her smile warm in the mirror as she looked at Zeta. “The one on Sydney Harbor.”
Zeta rested her cheek on Elisa’s shoulder and smiled back. “I can’t leave my boys. I love them too much.”
Her boys were Kagiso and Mandla, born to the park’s dominant female cheetah, Noxolo, only six weeks ago. With cheetah numbers critical in the wild, the cubs were a precious gift for the parkandthe world, although the world didn’t know it yet. Their birth was still a secret, given they were still in the dangerous period. Their little sister, Thadie, had died at only a week old, breaking the hearts of everyone at the park, especially the close-knit cheetah keepers. Kagiso and Mandla were strong and healthy and entirely full of feisty spirit though. Zeta had a good feeling.
But still, a nervous good feeling. Only Bria’s wedding here in Australia could tear her away from being at work since their birth. As it was, she’d given Dani—the other cheetah keeper—strict instructions to send her regular updates on their progress. Very regular.
Four times a day regular.
Except for today.
Today was a phone-free day.
Besides, everyone she wanted to be with, to talk to, was already here—Bria and Elisa, their mom and dad, Owen and Angus.