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I stop there, still carrying Leia, holding the door handle, and turn to Aroha.
“You look amazing,” I say softly.
“Thank you.”
My stomach flutters, and I say, “Are you nervous?”
Her eyebrows lift. Then she says, “Actually, no. I was. For days I’ve been wondering if I’m doing the right thing. But while I was having a bath, I was thinking about Leia, and it just came to me—nothing else matters. Not me or you or my parents or friends or anyone else. We’re adults, and we can deal with anything that comes out of it. But Leia’s a baby. She needs the absolute best start we can give her. And if this helps, then of course we have to do it.”
Her hazel eyes are large and clear—she means every word. I lift a hand, cup her cheek, and stroke her soft skin with my thumb. Then I bend and kiss her forehead.
“Thank you,” I say, thinking about Maddie and how much she would have liked Aroha.
Her cheeks flush, and she presses her lips together. Did she think I was going to kiss them? “Come on, or we’ll be late.”
I release her and open the door, and she closes it behind us.
As we pass Alex and Missie’s lodge, they come out and smile as they see us. Alex is wearing a dark-gray suit, and Missie is wearing a pretty floral dress with large hoops in her ears.
“Oh, you look gorgeous,” she says.
“Thank you,” I reply as we start walking to the main building.
“I was talking to Aroha,” she says wryly.
Aroha giggles. “Sorry,” she says, “I should have had a glass of wine. I feel a bit wobbly.”
“You said you weren’t nervous,” I tease.
“I should have said I don’t have any doubts. I am a bit nervous.”
“Would you like a drink?” I ask as we go through the main doors.
“Goodness, no. I haven’t eaten, and I might fall off my high heels.”
“Oh I’m sorry, we skipped lunch, didn’t we?”
“I had a muesli bar, but I don’t think it was enough to soak up any alcohol.”
Alex grins. “I booked dinner early, for five p.m. because of Leia, so you don’t have long to wait. Now stay here. I’ll make sure everything’s sorted.” He heads off to reception.
Missie smiles at me. “You want me to take Leia?”
“Okay.” I hand her over, and Missie holds her up, admiring her dress.
“What a little princess,” she says, kissing the baby’s fingers as she reaches out to touch her mouth. “Give the carry seat to Alex, Aroha.”
He rejoins us and takes the seat from her. “Come on. This way.”
We follow him through the lodge, past the restaurant and bar, to a smaller room obviously reserved for private events. Two large sliding doors open up onto a wooden deck that looks out at the mountains. Despite it being summer, the weather can be inclement here, but today it’s sunny and there’s only a little breeze, and the doors are open.
We stop as we walk into the room, taken aback by the decor. White ribbons and silver balloons are pinned around the wooden posts that support the roof over the deck, and ribbons wind through the posts of the balustrade. A white table bearing a bowl of fresh red roses serves as the altar. A woman stands behind it, dressed in a light-gray suit, and she smiles as she sees us.
I hold my hand out to Aroha. Shyly, she slides hers into mine, and I lead her forward.
“Good afternoon,” the woman says. “I’m Sharon Hart, the celebrant, and I’ll be performing the wedding today.”
“I’m Alex Winters,” Alex says, “I’m the one who spoke to you on the phone. This is my partner, Missie Macbeth, and we’re the witnesses. This is James Rutherford, and this is Aroha Wihongi.”
