Chapter 40
People had begun to arrive for the memorial service as David watched the procession from the privacy of the guest house. There were so many people and the sound of a helicopter flying over head, not the first one to arrive for the day. David recognised some faces from his dealings with Coleman Enterprises, some faces from the music industry, even Jarrod West had made the trip but there were so many that he did not know. All in all there would be 300 people at the service. And as many again had sent condolences as they were unable to attend. David did not have it in him to mingle and make small talk before the service started so he had decided to wait until everyone else had made it to the site. Urs, Sebastien and Carlos waited with him. They would do this together as they had done so many other things together. As they waited together, if it had been any other time they could have been waiting to go on stage, but their faces told a different story. Urs had been watching the parade of people and noticed that many of the faces also belonged to people in the pictures hung through the guest house. Tracey had indeed touched many people in her too short a life.
He looked skyward as he heard the sound of another helicopter but this one was different, had a different sound to it. It was military; he knew it would be carrying Jimmy and a few of his golfing buddies. Soon it would be time for them to make their way to the service. Urs patted David on the shoulder. “Ok David lets do this for Tracey. Show the world how much we love her.”
The four men walked down the path, past the cottage, around the dam and onto the great open space that Sue called the west paddock. Large marques had been set up to shelter people from the sun and the chairs arranged in such a way that they could enter from the back and not be seen. Normally family would sit to the front but they did not feel like they wanted or needed too. So the four men took up their seats in the back row. Reba, Nat and Gillian had played host along with Sue and Hayden and deflected many of the questions about David and Tracey and indeed why he was not present. Why none of them were present. David looked around and his eyes fell on the section of the marque that seemed to be full of people dressed in uniform. So many uniforms. Just as he was thinking this he was tapped lightly on the shoulder. David turned to see who it was. Standing behind him was Jimmy. He stood to shake his hand and Jimmy smiled wearily. “The fellas just wanted me to say how sorry they are. She was a good sort was Trace. All I can say is you are the best thing that ever happened to her.”
David just nodded and Jimmy shook his hand again and left.
The service started and again David was lost in his own thoughts and never really heard very much of what was said. In later years as his friends recalled the day from time to time he would be able to put all the pieces together and know that so many people had been touched by his one true love.
But for now, David drifted in and out of his thoughts coming to the surface to hear one of the songs that Tracey had requested be played and be played for the five special men in her life. The preacher spoke a few words that Tracey had asked. “This is for Hayden, Carlos, Sebastien, Urs and my ever beloved David. I want you to be taller, stronger and better. I want you to go on living and do amazing things.” The preacher nodded to his assistant and the song began to play. It was Taller, Stronger, Better by Guy Sebastien.
The words hit them hard and it was all that these men could do to keep themselves composed. Sue warped her arms around Hayden, Reba, Nat and Gillian left their seats at the front and joined their men at the back of the marque. Reba but herself between Sebastien and David and held both of them and Nat put herself between Urs and David and held both of them. As the song ended everyone seemed to relax just a little but then Jimmy got up to speak.
“Ladies and Gentleman. I worked with Tracey for many years, so did most of the officer you see here today and we would like to give her a small tribute. It was because of her strength and courage that many of these men are alive today. She was an inspiration, she was tough, did not like injustice and to her credit dedicated her life to helping people” Jimmy finished and a lone officer in full dress uniform stood in front of the crowd. All the other officers stood in their seats and saluted. The lone Officer played the Last Post and there was not another sound made for the duration of the song. , No birds sang, no one coughed, no one moved, it was stunning and it broke David’s heart.
Once the song had finished every single officer turned to the back of the marque and saluted to the four members of Il Divo.
None of them could really remember the rest of the service it was like walking in a fog. Every now and then you could see something but it would disappear again. David remembered shaking so many hands and pretending that he cared how these people felt. He smiled politely and wished he was somewhere else. Looking around he could see his friends doing the same thing. Nat tucked herself under David’s arm as he was talking to yet another person. She smiled her sweetest smile and interrupted. “Do you mind if I steal David away for a minute?” She did not wait for an answer just pulled him behind her. “Come on, we are getting out of here.”
David complied and followed in silence, seeing this, the others broke away from their own little groups and they all walked back to the guest house together.
Once inside they stood just looking at the large table they had gathered around so many times before. It was covered in food and Darrel was standing over near the fire place with a glass in his hand.
“About time you lot showed up. I don’t expect you to understand but this is my way of letting Tracey know I will never forget her. I’d like you to join me.”
David was the first to walk over to the table. He smiled as he saw the daffodils neatly lying in a long line down the middle surround by all of Tracey’s favourite food. Tim Tams and columbines, macadamia nuts, pecan pie, spicy chicken wings, Darrel had even made some of her favourite sandwiches. Peanut butter and banana as well as curried egg, no doubt with the dash of Tabasco sauce she liked so much. There were also blueberry muffins, bonoufie pie, caramel mud cake, hot chocolate, earl grey tea, fresh strawberries, and cherries. Many of the foods on the table Tracey had long given up eating only indulging on the rare occasion. David was happy that Darrel had found a way to say his good bye and even happier that he had known just what would have brought a smile to Tracey’s face.
“Thank you for inviting us Darrel, this means so much. Tracey would have loved this.” David shook Darrel’s hand.
“Oh she would have given me a right serve and a lecture about all the unhealthy food I put together.”
“But then she would have smiled and I know she would have eaten a Tim Tam at the very least.”
Darrel smiled and held up his glass. “I know Tracey did not like champagne very much but I would like you all to take a glass and toast her with me.”
The others walked over to the table and took up the glasses Darrel had already filled. “To the most amazing woman I have ever known. Cyclone Tracey.”
They all echoed his words and drank.
“I put a bottle of Tracey’s favourite drink in the fridge nice and cold just how she liked it if anyone is interested.”
Carlos raised his eyebrows as only he could. “Bit strong don’t you think?”
David was already heading for the kitchen. “I think we should toast her with her favourite don’t you.”
He was back in a moment with a bottle of very cold tequila and shot glasses in his hands.
“Down the hatch everyone. For Tracey.”
It seemed that David was the only one not coughing or trying to catch his breath. Urs stamped his foot on the floor and shook his head. “What happened to the salt and lemon?”
David smiled remembering what Tracey had told him the first time she had given him a shot. “She said it was a waist of resources. Spoilt the taste of a good tequila. More anyone?”
Most of them shook their heads and declined but Seabstein raised his glass. “Oh Hell why not.”
Reba gave him as stunned look. “Sebastien!!!”
He just shrugged his shoulders as David filled his glass. Just as he topped it up Carlos held his own glass out. “Well if you are up for it so am I amigo.”
Without a word Urs held out his glass. The girls just looked at each other and smiled. Nat spoke for them all. “Nothing doing fellas, you’re not leaving us behind.”
So all except Darrel had their second shot of tequila. David counted to three and they all drank. There was much coughing and spluttering and then a moment of silence, then they all laughed.
Without even knowing it Darrel had given this little group the tool they needed to take the next step. They spent the afternoon around the table eating Tracey’s favourite food, consuming Tequila, beer and red wine. However after her second shot of Tequila, Sebastien made Reba stick to the soft drinks.
They talked and amazingly laughed at stories of their times together since meeting Tracey. Darrel had a few they had not heard and it felt good to be able to talk about her without crying.

As the shadows of evening began to cover the house Sue and Simon joined them. They had spent the day hosting the wake but thankfully all the guests had now left. Not too long before Sue and Simon had joined the others they had heard the helicopters flying over. They had all looked up as they heard Jimmy’s helicopter pass over the house. David raised his glass. “Thanks Mate.”

Sue smiled as she saw her family, as she liked to think of them, sitting around the table. It could have been any normal day. “I think you will be needing some strong coffee very soon by the looks of things.”
Sebastien was rather drunk by this time. “Cherie. I think that coffee it is too late for me. I am drunk.”
David smirked. “I think we all are Jack.” He looked at Sue. “Coffee would be good.”
Sue headed for the kitchen and Simon sat at the table, picking up a few of the empty bottles. “You lot really did a number on these didn’t you.”
Urs went to stand and say something but then fell over his chair and landed on the floor. “I forgot what I was going to say.”
The others all laughed.
The only one missing was Hayden. David asked Simon.
“He’s gone for a ride David. I think he needed time to himself. He’ll be back.”