Epilogue

Spring 1985

It was a picturesque day, the first day of spring; the evidence of new life was all around. It was the day Sharon came out of the cocoon she’d been in, and into a new dress as a butterfly. It was her wedding day!

With joy and anticipation she stepped out of the white limousine assisted by an elderly gentleman in a navy suit. Almost immediately the second car pulled up and the driver hurried around to help Loran alight.

A barrage of amateur photographers gathered around anxious to capture this happy occasion. The small party posed briefly before moving up the steps of the little country church were the guests inside were eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Every eye turned towards the vestibule where the Matron-of Honour had just made her appearance. Loran, in a dress of deep lilac taffeta with her beautiful blond hair flowing over her exposed shoulders, was assisting the bride to adjust her train.

Sharon’s face shone with radiance never before witnessed by her friends in the congregation. Jonathon had specially designed her elegant cream faille dress. A diamond necklace, set in gold, which Joanne had willed to her, adorned her tanned slender neck and in her hands she nervously clasped a single cream rose.

A live youth orchestra commenced a song with enthusiasm. Sharon had carefully selected the music with David, especially for this moment in time. Loran hesitantly stepped forward and as the song progressed, tears of gratitude built in Sharon’s eyes for it was Tony who stood at a microphone on the raised podium in the front of the church and confidently sang the opening stanza of Amazing Grace.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.

That saves a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found.

Was blind but now I see."

Just as Sharon took her first step down the aisle, she saw her friend Joey wink at her, giving her the courage to proceed. It was an amazing story Sharon had to tell the world. A story of hope and fulfilment that she wished to share one day in a book. Today would be the beginning of a new chapter - a new life - only dreamed about during those nine months of recovery.

Sharon moved slowly forward with her father at her side. Her father faltered with his steps, used to a walking cane, and today it was his lovely daughter who held him up. As they made their way up the aisle, the tears streaming down her father’s face were touching. The songs words on this special day were as much for him as they were for her.

Among the invited guests stood Christine and Nathaniel. As she passed them, tears were evident in their eyes. They were so happy to be witnessing this unique joining of lives. Christine held a special place in her heart for both Sharon and David. It was she who had brought them together. Sharon mouthed a "Thank you" to them both before her eyes met someone else whom she’d grown to love and respect, David’s older brother. He stood proudly erect and smiling, and yes, there was a tear in his eye also as he looked upon his brother’s wife to be.

‘She looks so beautiful’ thought Jonathon. No one would ever imagine that she had such a past. Since Joanne’s death, he’d grown to love Sharon. It was through her and her love for her friend that he had come to know Joanne as she really was. Laughter, tears and reminiscences have a healing power of their own. Jonathon was glad that he had moved permanently to Sydney and relocated there a part of his designing business. It gave him the time and the opportunity to work with Christine on their project. The kids of the Cross had much to thank him for. The two youth hostels were instrumental in giving them acceptance and hope for a new direction.

Sharon’s eyes recognised many people today. Just as she reached the front where Mike and her husband- to- be were waiting, Tony finished the song. With loving anticipation she turned to David. He reached out and clasped her hand in his. He smiled and its warmth melted her heart.

Tony returned to his seat. He still remembered Tracy. In fact he’d spent a lot of time thinking in the past nine months and a lot of questions still hung in the air. His heart was slowly healing from the trauma of those first couple of weeks, when he hit the streets of the Cross. Today, after the wedding, David and Sharon were adopting him. And when they returned from their honeymoon he would have a new family.

Cliff sat with his wife Maryanne and watched Sharon and David, sure of each other’s love preparing to publicly commit their future to God and to each other. He remembered his own wedding day. It warmed his heart to see others make such a promise on entering a new life. It reminded him of a similar pledge he’d made to the public of Australia, when he’d first become a policeman. He’d been the focus of a lot of attention in the last few months, as those who had betrayed their promise were under conviction by the law.

He’d received death threats, and both he and his wife had found themselves wondering if they’d ever see justice served. But as they sat in church today, no less then eighty men and women were sitting in prisons. Some were already convicted, some had appeals pending. And the investigation had re-written the history books.

There was stillness in the church, and a light breeze blew up the aisle. The congregation hushed as the minister began the vows.

"Sharon, do you take David to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forth. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both may live?"

Sharon replied "I do"