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“How are you doing?” I ask Missie.
She’s been looking at the view of the coastline and the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, but now she looks across at me. She’s wearing sunglasses so I can’t see her eyes.
“I’m good,” she says. “Thank you for whatever you said to Pippa.”
“What do you mean?”
“She thinks the sun shines out of your backside.”
“There’s a joke there about Uranus…”
“I mean it,” she protests. “You’ve completely won her over. Of course. You’re so charming.”
I wonder briefly whether she’s comparing me to her late husband. She told me that Lee charmed her and talked her into bed. “I hope you don’t think I was being insincere.”
“Aw, Alex. Of course not. There’s just something about you that makes women go gooey.”
“Are you including yourself?”
“Definitely. I turn to melted caramel whenever you’re around.”
“That’s a nice thing to say.”
“I used to think you were so serious and stern, but you’re not. You have an exoskeleton yourself, don’t you? A protective shell. But inside you’re a real softie.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” She surveys me for a moment, while I check the instruments and start the descent into Wellington. “You told me that you’ve got more cynical as life has thrown things at you. Are you ready to tell me what yet?”
I head the helicopter across the hills of Wellington toward the suburb of Brooklyn. “Maybe later. When we’re on our own.”
“Okay.” She looks down. “Where are we going?”
“To Damon’s parents’ place. I have to warn you—it’s palatial. He and Belle are getting married in church, but everything else is being held at Brooklyn Heights.”
“We’re staying there?”
“Yeah. He, Saxon, and Kip all had separate apartments while they were in their late teens. We’re staying in Kip’s.”
“Where’s he staying?”
“Oh, he and Saxon don’t live far away so they’ll just Uber home at the end of the day. They’re good guys, you’ll like them. You’ll get to meet everyone over the next few days—practically everyone I know. Lots of people flying in from all over the country. Damon’s cousin, Titus, works in Auckland with a group of guys we both know well, and they’re coming down too.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
“Missie, something I should have warned you about is that I want Damon and Belle’s big day to go as smoothly as possible, so all joking aside, my organizational skills have gone into overdrive.”
She smiles. “That’s okay, I guessed you’d be pretty busy. I’m happy to stay in the apartment, or I can help you if you like.”
“Oh.” I didn’t expect that. “Yeah, that would be cool. I do have one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Fire away.”
“I know you haven’t met her yet, and she has her bridesmaids and friends looking after her. But keep an eye on Belle for me, would you? And let me know if you think there’s anything I should know or that I can do for her.”
“Of course.” She waits as I clear my descent with Wellington Tower and head the helicopter to the landing spot at the top of the steep hill on which Brooklyn Heights is built. Then she says, “Did it bother you when you found out that your best mate was seeing your sister?”
“When she was younger, I always told my mates—including Damon—that she was off limits. But actually I was relieved when I found out they were dating. I didn’t like her ex, and she needs someone… understanding. I knew Damon would always treat her right.”
