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“That’s too bad. I’ll ask her about it later, though. She’ll enjoy telling me about it.”
“You’re something, you know that?”
“As are you,” Quint said. “You managed to stay awake the entire time my mother lectured you about what preschools we needed to apply to for Hampton. He won’t even be ready for school for years.”
“But we need to apply immediately, to get a jump on the competition,” Amara said in a fair impression of Quint’s mother’s restrained voice.
Quint laughed as he snagged them a couple of glasses of champagne as a waiter passed by. “For you, my wife.” He handed her one of the crystal flutes. “Shall we take a quick breather?”
She agreed that they should. They made their way to their seats, the process taking a while since the large ballroom was crowded with friends, family, and colleagues, all of whom wanted to congratulate the newlyweds.
They’d just settled down at their table when Jaslene joined them.
Jaslene looked beautiful in her bridesmaid’s dress of emerald green silk with the thinnest of shoulder straps. Her hair was elegance itself in an elaborate chignon.
“Sorry to break in,” she said, “but I’m going to be leaving in a few minutes. I’ve got to be at the airport at the crack of dawn, you know.”
“Send me a text when you get into Detroit, so I know you arrived safely,” Amara said.
“I will. And you text me when you arrive in Tahiti, lucky you.”
Amara said she would. Quint excused himself, saying he needed to talk to one of his groomsmen about something. Amara knew he was being polite so she could have a few moments alone with one of her best friends, one who s
he wasn’t likely to see again for months.
Jaslene told Quint goodbye and asked Amara, “Are you still going to take Hampton with you on your honeymoon?”
“Definitely. Everything’s set.”
“I don’t know. I’ve seen the pictures of where you’ll be staying,” Jaslene said wistfully. “It’s gorgeous, on that slope overlooking that crystal clear inlet, the outdoor tub and shower, the removable, bamboo walls on the structure. And those carved beams. I read that place was transported there piece by piece from Thailand back in the early 1900s, and that it’s actually around three hundred years old.”
“It’s all true,” Amara said. “It’s incredible. I can’t wait to get there.”
“But, uh, it’s not quite as romantic, is it, with a baby crying and poopoo diapers staining the priceless, hand-carved countertops?”
“Poopoo diapers? Haha!”
“I’m just saying —”
“Don’t worry about it, Jaslene,” a familiar voice interrupted. It was Kari. “I’ve convinced them to take a nanny so they can have plenty of time to themselves … if they want.”
“My Kari,” Amara said. “Always looking out for me.”
“That’s right. And I’ll be here to take care of Raneesha while you’re gone. She’s going to miss that little guy,” Kari said, nodding in the direction of the dance floor.
The three women watched Raneesha swaying to the music with a grinning Hampton in her arms. Hampton looked adorable in his teeny tux. Raneesha was beautiful in her loose, matron’s gown of gossamer silk. She had a happy, but wistful expression as she danced.
“Oh man, she already misses him,” Amara said.
“Don’t feel guilty,” Jaslene said. “You can’t take your mother on your honeymoon, too. That would be beyond bizarre.”
Amara shrugged. “I know. But I could have left Hampton with her. I’m afraid that after what happened with Frederik she worries that I don’t trust her with Hampton as much as I once did.”
“Do you trust her?” Kari asked, candid as ever.
“Of course,” Amara said. “And anyway, Frederik’s gone, so that’s that.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jaslene said. “Kari will keep her company while you’re gone, won’t you, Kars?”
