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“She’s a good girl,” she says as Leia’s eyelids flutter shut.
“She wailed the first few nights,” I admit, “but she didn’t take long to get used to being left.”
She smiles and gives me a hug. “Well, good night.”
“’Night.”
“Now, you’re sure you don’t want us to look after her?” Alex asks.
James just gives him a wry look. “Goodnight, Alex.”
Alex chuckles and they shake hands. He kisses my cheek, then he takes Missie’s hand and leads her to the door. “See you tomorrow,” he says.
She waves, and they go out, closing the door behind them.
James goes over and locks it. “I might change into my track pants, if you don’t mind?”
“Of course not.”
He collects them from his bag and disappears into the bathroom. When he comes out a few minutes later, he’s wearing the track pants and a gray tee.
I collect my own yoga pants and tee and walk toward the bathroom.
“You looked lovely today,” he says, putting Leia’s dress in her bag.
I turn. “You too.” I smile, then go into the bathroom and close the door.
I blow out a breath, then slip off the beautiful dress, take off the pearls, and pull on the comfortable pants and tee. When I’m done, I come back out, hang the dress up, then walk over to where he’s sitting in the chair, looking at his phone.
He puts it down as I join him, smiles, and gestures at the chair. “It was quite a nice service actually,” he says as I sit. “Even though it was brief. It shows you don’t have to have a huge, fancy affair to tie the knot.”
“I liked the setting,” I agree. “On the deck, overlooking the mountains. It was very romantic.”
“What kind of wedding would you like to have if and when you do it for real?” he asks. “Would you like a fancy affair?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve always imagined the big white dress and the host of bridesmaids. I guess it’s the thought of seeing all your family, and having the big party, you know.”
He nods. “Would you get married in church?”
“I couldn’t now,” I say softly. “I was raised a Catholic.”
He stares at me. “You’re a Catholic?” His jaw drops. “Shit, Aroha. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I put my finger to my lips and gesture at Leia in her bassinet. “Ssh, you’ll wake her. I’m not a Catholic now. I don’t go to church anymore. I’m just saying that I couldn’t remarry in a church. Catholics don’t believe in divorce—I’d have to get an annulment. And I’ve seen the kind of questions you have to answer on the form for that—details about your sex life, problems in your marriage, that kind of thing. So I’m not going down that road. No, if I got married again, it would be a registry wedding, like we’ve just had.”
“But your parents still go to church.”
“Yes, most of my family does.”
“So they’re going to be upset if you get a divorce. You should have told me.”
“You’d have changed your mind if I did. I wanted to help. They’ll come around. I’ll tell them you had numerous scandalous affairs.”
I’m teasing, but to my surprise he stiffens and looks affronted. “I’d rather not be accused of cheating.”
I meet his eyes, curious. “Why would that bother you?”
“Cassie accused me all the time, and she wasn’t the first girl to do so. I’d never cheat, and I find it insulting to be accused of it.”
