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We sneak into the rehearsal hall a few minutes late, and luckily, no one seems to have missed us. Our parents are sat together, chatting and barely give us a wave, though I find that a little unnerving considering we’re the bride and groom. The only person who looks remotely suspicious about our tardy arrival is Cindy, but she lives for this kind of stuff, anyway. We sit down next to her at the head table and she leans over and glares inquisitively at Darcy.
“Where have you two been?” she asks, frowning.
“Sorry, Cindy. I had something urgent to take care of with Darcy,” I whisper across to her.
Cindy grins and gives her friend a healthy nudge.
“I’ll bet you did,” she teases. “Was that thing big, hard and in your pants?” She giggles uncontrollably and slaps Darcy’s arm.
“Cindy!” Darcy hisses. She sounds horrified, but I catch the grins they’re exchanging, and I mentally puff out my chest that she thinks I’m big. Did she come to that assumption just by looking at me, or has Darcy been bragging about me, I wonder?
I smirk. Either way, I’m feeling pretty damn good about myself.
Chapter Four
Darcy
It’s the morning after the rehearsal, and when my alarm goes off at ten minutes to eight, all I want to do is roll over and ignore it, and, I do until my back up alarm sounds a few minutes later. Annoyed, I sit up and fumble with my phone, trying to turn off the series of alarms I’d set for myself, and by the time I’ve cancelled them all, I’m wide awake. Then again, that was the plan all along.
I let out a heavy sigh, toss back the covers and perch myself on the edge of the bed. Just as my feet hit the floor, my phone rings, and I recognize the number. It’s the minister’s office.
“Hello?” I say as breezily as I can. Nothing good ever comes from a phone call before 8 a.m., so I’m already bracing myself for bad news.
“Hi, Darcy, it’s Kai here. Sorry to call you so early, and there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just spit it out. Reverend Kama’s elderly mother died suddenly in her sleep, last night, so I’m afraid he’s not going to be able to perform your ceremony. He’s traveling to her home now.”
“Oh, no! Poor man, that must be devastating,” I practically scream into the phone. This is just way too cruel to be real. “I’m so sad to hear that. Please pass on my condolences when you speak to him.”
“Yes. It’s come as a big shock to us all. They were very close, but at least she went peacefully,” she adds. “I’m so sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I know this has come at the worst time for you, and your wedding.”
That’s got to be the understatement of the friggin’ century.
“Yeah, it has, but can’t be helped under the circumstances. Maybe we can find someone else.” I’m supposed to be getting married in three days. Three short days! “Would you know anyone who can help us?”
“I’m so sorry, I don’t. The other ministers I work with are already booked,” she says. She sounds like she’s on the verge of tears, which makes me feel even worse. “I feel really bad. All I can suggest is you try the Department of Health. They have a list of marriage performers commissioned by the State of Hawaii. I’ll email you the details, and I hope you can find someone in time. Good luck, and I wish you both a happy life together.”
“Thanks, Kai. Goodbye.” I hang up and feel like throwing the phone across the room, I’m so bummed. One problem after another is taking its toll on me. The only thing that stops me from venting my frustration is the fact that I need to tell Lennon that things just got a little more complicated. My hands are shaking with nerves as I dial his number. I don’t know where he is, but I’m relieved when he answers after a couple of rings.
“Morning, beautiful,” he says.
“Where are you?” I ask. I’m on the verge of tears.
“About to knock on your door,” he replies. “What’s the matter?”
I drop the phone on the bed and race over to the door. I fling it open and throw myself into his arms. He tilts my head up and kisses my forehead, then his eyes meet mine, his face full of concern.
