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Alice giggles. “That’s okay. I don’t mind being with an old man.” Her eyes sparkle.
She’s referring to earlier this morning, in bed, when she said Charlie had told her about a romance novel she’d been reading that had a Daddy Dom/Little Girl theme. Alice teased me that the book was about me, and I then told her I’d happily take care of my little princess providing she stopped being a brat, which led to a fun half hour’s lovemaking.
I raise an eyebrow at her and she blushes, and the others laugh.
“So, Damon,” Victoria says, probably trying to turn the attention away from Alice’s red face, because she’s nice like that, “who are you seeing at the moment?”
“Yeah, totally not having this conversation,” he says, swigging from his beer bottle.
“I think there’s someone special in Christchurch,” Alice says. “Right?”
He looks at her, startled, then narrows his eyes as everyone goes, “Ohhh…”
“No,” he says.
“I saw your new painting,” she states. I remember then that he’s just hung a new oil painting in his house. I hadn’t thought anything of it, because he’s always painting Greek goddesses. It’s a good one, though, a tad too revealing for his office, with the woman’s slender figure encased in a diaphanous gown that doesn’t hide much. “It’s called Limerence, right?”
“Yeah…” His lips curve up.
“What does Limerence mean?” Hal asks.
“It means obsession, or all-consuming passion,” Alice replies. “I looked it up.”
“Artistic license,” Damon states.
“Yeah, right,” she says.
He just gives her a wry look.
“Come on,” Elizabeth says, “spill the beans.”
He mumbles something and walks off, and we all laugh.
Over by the door, I see Kennedy come out, and she looks me, then gives me a nod. “Okay,” I call out, “guys, we’re ready, if everyone could take their seats.”
Gradually everyone sits down, and Saxon walks through the two groups of chairs to the celebrant, who’s standing by the makeshift altar. I make sure Penny is settled in the special place they made for her chair next to Alice, and then I nod to Charlie, and she disappears.
I walk to the front, next to Saxon. We’re both wearing dark-navy three-piece suits, and I know we look more alike than ever today. Our black eyes have faded, and it’s only my glasses that tell us apart.
He glances at me, and can see then that, oddly, he’s nervous.
“Shall I take my glasses off and switch places with you?” I murmur to him. “See how long it takes her to notice?”
He gives a short laugh. “Shut up.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Yeah, bro, not long and our roles will be reversed, and it’ll be me teasing you. Just remember that.”
Alice and I have set the date for December. She wants to get married in church, and I’m more than happy to do whatever she wants, so we’re going to have the big white wedding, which I think everyone will enjoy.
“Whatever,” I say. “I’m just glad you’ll be there.”
That makes him smile. “I’m glad you’re here today. It was odd doing it without you.” Our friend Hal stepped in as his best man when he married in the Northland. It was my suggestion, but Saxon’s told me more than once that he should have flown me up for the day.
“All that matters is that you got the girl,” I whisper. “And the babies.”
“Yeah,” he says, chuckling. “You’re right.”
