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“Totally.” I kiss her forehead. “And now I’m going to walk away, or I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”
*
In the end, the wedding goes smoothly. Both bride and groom turn up, and I’m not ashamed to admit that seeing Huxley’s face light up when Elizabeth appears in the doorway brings a lump to my throat.
The ceremony takes place in the conservatory of The Jewel Box, which is a special function room with glass on three sides that overlooks the glimmering waters of the lake. If it was summer, they could have exchanged their vows outside on the grass, but it’s snowing today, so they choose to have it inside.
The service is short and simple, without any frills, carried out by a local celebrant, and yet it’s still beautiful, with the two of them framed against the view of the lake, with eyes only for each other. Heidi’s hand slides into mine as they promise to love each other until death parts them, and I’m not surprised to see her eyes shining.
Afterward, the organizers open the sliding glass doors and the happy couple go outside for photos, with Elizabeth donning a thick white wrap, and the rest of us smiling through our shivers. It’s not long before we’re back inside, though, accepting cups of cocoa and hot toddies, and making our way toward the restaurant, where the tables have been laid for dinner.
Relieved that his bride turned up, ecstatic to be married to the woman he’s been chasing for ten years, Huxley is high as a kite, and he remains so for the rest of the day. Always the perfect host, he’s the life and soul of the party, and he and Mack, his best man, make sure the rest of the day passes without a hitch. Food and drink flow, and after dinner the music starts, and we eat, drink, and dance well into the evening, until the Southern Lights brighten the horizon, their strange, mesmerizing patterns flowing across the sky.
*
The next day
“Are you nervous?” Heidi asks me as our plane lands in Wellington.
“What makes you ask that?”
“You’re almost breaking the bones in my hand.”
I release her fingers where I’ve been squeezing them. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Is it your father you’re worried about meeting?”
“Both my parents stress me out. I’ll be glad when it’s over. But it’s got to be done.”
We don’t say much more as we leave the airport and catch a taxi. I give the driver the address in Oriental Bay, and he heads out into the windy streets. It rarely snows here, but the rain that whips across the windscreen is icy cold.
It’s not long before he draws up outside the house. Worth over four million dollars, it perches high on the hill, with magnificent views over the city to the left and the harbor to the right. They bought it a couple of years ago, so it’s not my childhood home, and I find it a tad sterile and old-fashioned, the deep-red wooden floors and gray tiles in the kitchen making it darker than it should be with all its windows.
“Titus, sweetheart,” Mum says. She kisses me on the cheek, then gives me a big hug. I’ve always thought she could easily have been a Viking shield maiden. She’s still tall, blonde, and striking, but she’s lost weight since the last time I saw her, and she’s even more pale than usual.
As she draws back, I gesture to the woman at my side. “Mum, this is Heidi.”
“Heidi, it’s so lovely to meet you.” Mum’s voice still has a trace of a Norwegian accent, even though she’s been here over thirty years.
Heidi shakes her hand. “It’s great to meet you, too. I’ve heard so much about you.” She speaks easily, reminding me that she’s a schoolteacher, used to dealing with parents older than herself.
“Come in,” Mum says, leading the way through to the living room. Two pristine white sofas overlook the stormy gray harbor. Heidi perches on the edge of one. I’m sure she’s as terrified as I am of marking the cushions. “Can I get you a drink? Tea, coffee, herbal tea?”
“A coffee would be lovely, thank you.”
“Titus?”
“Yeah, coffee thanks.”
“Do you still have thirty cups a day?” she scolds, heading out of the room. “You should really switch to decaf.”
I cross my eyes, and Heidi stifles a giggle. “Stop it,” she mouths. “Don’t make me laugh.”
I go to reply, but at that moment my father appears, and both of us get to our feet again. “Hey, Dad,” I say.
“Titus.” He comes over and shakes my hand. We’ve never hugged, and he’s never been overly affectionate, but to my surprise he rests his other hand on top of mine. “It’s good to see you.”
“Titus?” I ask, amused. “You’ve never called me that before.”
