Chapter 20 Wedding Joy
Wedding Joy
One year later
Emma sat beside Nyree in the lunchroom at George Taniwha & Sons.
“When are you and Tāwera getting married?”
Nyree paused, her forkful of salad hovering at mouth level. “He hasn’t asked me.”
“But it’s obvious you adore each other. You’ve been living together for almost a year now.”
Nyree shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me. Marriage, I mean. I have complete faith in Tāwera. He is the most honest and decent man I know apart from your husband and our other male friends, of course.”
“Hmm.” Emma picked up her coffee and took a sip.
“What?” Nyree asked.
“There is no reason you can’t ask Tāwera to marry you. He might not realize you’d like a wedding ring.”
“I never said that,” Nyree protested.
“I saw your face when Hana announced her engagement.”
“You saw nothing,” Nyree contradicted. “Tāwera and I are as good as married. I’m happy for my sister, and I approve of her choice of husband.”
“But what about kids?” Emma persisted.
“Newsflash. Marriage is unnecessary to have children.”
But Emma’s words got her thinking about babies. They’ve never discussed children in detail, just tossed the idea into their future, but Tāwera was great with kids, and they loved him in return.
The phone rang at the reception desk, and Nyree stood to answer the summons. The afternoon was busy with clients popping in to speak to their team of private investigators. Failed marriages, cheating, and divorces were a large part of their business and a handbrake on the idea of happy-ever-after.
Yet, she’d never been more content.
She and Tāwera hadn’t discussed marriage or children recently since they were satisfied with the status quo.
Or were they?
Nyree thought hard during the bus journey home.
Tāwera treated her like a queen while she tried her best to do little things each day to surprise him and give him new experiences he’d never had because of his cursed past. Their relationship had never been a traditional one.
It was more of a shared journey, their intimacy growing with each passing day.
Her mind drifted to marriage and children again, the possibility of a family pet, and suddenly, the answer became obvious.
She practically skipped from the bus stop to their home. Once there, she took steaks from the freezer and prepared vegetables. Next up was a special cake for dessert. Carrot, she decided, since it was Tāwera’s favorite.
Once the meal was under control, she picked a few flowers from the garden and set the table. A bottle of champagne already sat in the fridge along with Tāwera’s favorite cheeses. She chose a wedge of brie and a sharp cheddar and placed them on the counter to bring them to room temperature.
Satisfied she’d done everything to prepare, she focused on herself. After a quick shower, she dressed in her sexiest lingerie and a dress that was one of Tāwera’s favorites. He never failed to compliment her when she wore it on an outing.
Tāwera arrived home while she was putting the last touches to her makeup.
“Honey, I’m home!” he roared from the entranceway.
Nyree grinned. He always did that, and the ritual always amused her. “I’m in the bedroom.”
The front door shut, and firm footsteps heralded him, heading in her direction. He came to an abrupt standstill in the doorway. “Are we going somewhere tonight? Have I forgotten an outing?”
“No, we’re having dinner at home. You take a shower, and I’ll pour you a drink once I hear the water stop running. Go,” she urged, excitement pulsing through her. “I’ll get dinner underway too.”
“Kiss first,” Tāwera said. “I must kiss my beautiful lady.”
Nyree walked into his arms willingly, her heart beating faster as he wrapped her in a firm hug. An instant later, his lips met hers, and he kissed her languidly, the contact gradually deepening to passion. When they parted, Tāwera glanced at the bed.
“Save that thought for later,” she said, keeping her voice firm to remind herself she had a plan. “Shower then a drink and dinner.”
Tāwera winked at her and dragged his T-shirt over his head.
Amusement filled her at the way both of his eyes flickered shut for seconds before her gaze drifted lower.
The sight of his broad chest never failed to thrill her, and she stared until she realized her man was doing his best to entice her into bed.
She raised her hands in surrender and backed up, her giggle broadening Tāwera’s grin. “I’m pouring us a drink. Get that sexy body of yours into the shower.” With a wink of her own aimed over her shoulder, she retreated to the kitchen.
When Tāwera emerged from the bathroom fifteen minutes later, she saw he’d dressed in nice clothes too. Perfect. She approached him with a drink in hand.
His brows rose as he accepted the glass. “Champagne?”
Nyree merely smiled and lifted her flute. “To us. To the future, and to love.”
“A toast to us, the future and deep, sexy love,” he said and took a sip of his drink. “Something smells delicious. I’m starving.”
“I’ve cooked steak, jacket potatoes, green beans in a special tomato sauce. We have carrot cake for dessert.”
Tāwera beamed. “My favorites.”
“What can I say? I enjoy pleasing you.” She lifted her glass and smiled at him over the fluted rim.
During their meal, they discussed their days and their plans for the near future.
“Manu mentioned I have holidays accrued. I want to go on a plane. Where can we go?”
“We can fly to a place in New Zealand or farther afield. Perhaps somewhere in the Pacific. One of the islands or Australia.” No! She had the perfect place in mind and made a plan to arrange holiday time for both of them.
“That was tasty.” Tāwera patted his stomach, his body still robust and in perfect condition because of the training he did with Manu and the others.
“I think we’ll have dessert in the lounge. Why don’t you choose some music while I grab our cake?”
When she arrived with the carrot cake, a slow waltz played.
“Will you dance with me, my sweet Nyree?”
Her heart melting, she set the plates on the coffee table and slipped into his arms. They slow danced to three songs, content in each other’s arms. At the end of the third song, Nyree leaned back.
She studied his familiar face, and her heart clenched with the wealth of love that filled her. This man was her everything.
“Tāwera, I have a question for you.”
“Yes?”
“Will you marry me?” Nyree had wondered if she might stutter her way through the question, but her words were strong and even. She met Tāwera’s golden-brown gaze and waited for his response.
The pause grew longer, and she worried she’d miscalculated or got things wrong.
His somber expression transformed without haste. His eyes picked up a glow to match his excited smile.
“Yes, I would be honored to marry you,” he said in a husky voice. “I thought it was the man’s job to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage?”
“That is the traditional way,” she agreed. “But nothing about our relationship has been normal. Not the way we met, nor the behavior of our taniwha.”
“That’s true,” Tāwera agreed. “My dragon continues to prefer sex rather than flying.”
“You truly want to marry me?”
“I want you as my legal wife. Manu explained it to me. We live and act like a couple, which means you are my wife in the eyes of the law.”
“While that’s true, I yearn for tradition. I’d like to see a ring on your finger and one on mine. I would like to have a child with you. Soon.”
“Yes.” Tāwera held her. They stood close enough for her to feel his racing heart. “Yes,” he repeated, and she saw the emotion in him.
“I have a suggestion of where we should get married.”
“I am all ears,” he said and lifted one hand to tug an earlobe.
Nyree chuckled. Tāwera never failed to amuse her with his adoption of the common sayings. “We’ll fly to Samoa and get married there. We can invite our friends and family to come with us. This way, you’ll get to use your passport and fly in a plane.”
“That is an excellent idea,” Tāwera said. “You are clever. We will have a memorable wedding day.”
“We will,” she agreed. “Who would you like to invite?”
They made a list while they ate their carrot cake.
“Tomorrow, we will start the arrangements,” Nyree said.
“I wish to help every step of the way. Show me how to do everything.”
Six weeks later, they boarded a plane for Samoa.
“I am so excited,” Tāwera said.
“Me too,” Nyree agreed.
Manu and Jessalyn, Emma and Jack, Hone and Cassie, and Nyree’s mother and Hana and her fiancé boarded the flight with them.
The flight was uneventful, and Tāwera appeared to enjoy every moment. Nyree showed him how to collect their bags and to fill out the immigration forms.
“You are very patient,” Tāwera said.
“I enjoy seeing the world from your eyes,” Nyree countered. “You throw yourself into every situation. You’re enthusiastic, and it’s a joy to see your reactions to things I think are normal. Most of us take our modern society for granted. You make us view our lives differently.”
“Everyone is tolerant with me,” Tāwera countered. “But I take pleasure in learning new things.”
They checked into the hotel, and Nyree had fun showing Tāwera around the resort. She revealed where the ceremony would take place and told him what to expect, then they spent the afternoon and evening swimming, eating, and enjoying time with their friends.
The next morning, Nyree woke in Tāwera’s arms. Their lazy kisses turned to passion as they made love.
“I will be happy if I wake this way each day—with you in my arms,” Tāwera said.
“Yes,” Nyree agreed with a lazy stretch. “Tomorrow morning, we will wear each other’s rings.”
“I love the life we have built together. Each day is better, and my lady grows more beautiful.”
“Tāwera,” Nyree whispered. “You make me so happy. You will make a wonderful husband and father.”
“And you will make an excellent mother, and we have plenty of people to look after our children should we decide we wish to have special time alone.”
Nyree smiled against his broad chest and pulled away a fraction to see his face. “About that special time alone,” she said. “That might end sooner than we’d planned.”
“What?” Tāwera sent her a blank look.
“I’m fairly certain I’m pregnant.”
Tāwera’s eyes grew wide and round. “Really? So soon?”
“Yes.”
A beam broke out on his face. “That’s wonderful. I can’t think of a better wedding present.”
Nyree returned his smile, joy in her heart. “Me neither.”
“Let’s celebrate,” he said, and he kissed her gently.
The minutes grew to hours, interrupted only by room service with the breakfast they’d ordered the previous night. They lazed and slept and made love again.
A thump woke them, followed by a feminine holler. Nyree recognized Emma’s shout instantly.
“What time is it?”
“One o’clock,” Tāwera replied after glancing at his watch.
“Our wedding is in an hour.” Nyree leaped off the bed, her gaze going to the locked door on which her friend was banging with enthusiasm.
“We know you’re in there,” Jessalyn shouted. “Tāwera, you need to join the boys in our room and get dressed while we have our turn with the bride.”
“Is this an important tradition?” Tāwera asked.
Nyree smiled. “Yes.”
Tāwera climbed out of bed and pulled on underwear. “I’ll get the door and tell them you’re in the shower. I can shower at Manu’s place.”
“Thank you.” Nyree gave him a quick kiss. “Baby Daddy,” she whispered before fleeing.
Manu grabbed a pair of shorts and donned them, too, before answering the door. “Nyree is in the shower,” he said before any of the three women could say a word. “I’ll grab my wedding clothes and leave you to it.”
“We thought we’d see you at breakfast,” Jessalyn said.
“No, we ordered room service last night. We had things to discuss.”
“Like what?” Emma demanded.
“Can I tell the men about your being pregnant? Are you certain?” he asked Nyree through their mind link.
“I am almost positive. My mother told me you can sense when you’re with child. It’s a quirk of the taniwha genes,” Nyree replied. “I thought I would tell the women. You may tell the men.”
“I’ll see you later, Nyree.”
“You will.” Her tender voice echoed through Tāwera’s mind, bringing warmth to his chest.
Happiness filled his heart to overflowing, and his mouth ached from smiling so wide. Rāwiri might have cursed him, but to Tāwera’s mind, his life had changed in the best way. He’d won, and Rāwiri had lost.
He knocked on Manu’s door, and it flew open to reveal his friends.
“They kicked me out. I’ll have to shower and dress here,” Tāwera explained.
“What have you been doing? We haven’t seen you all morning.” Hone searched Tāwera’s face and held up his hand in a stop motion. “Wait, don’t tell us. I have a fair idea of what you’ve been doing.”
“We’re having a baby,” Tāwera said and grinned widely.
“Congratulations,” Manu said, slapping him over the back.
“I must get ready for the wedding.” The last thing Tāwera wanted was to arrive late.
An hour later, he waited with his friends for the women to appear.
Everyone who mattered to him and Nyree was here for this important day.
“We’re ready,” Nyree’s sweet voice rippled through his mind, and he straightened.
“They’re on their way.” Tāwera turned to watch for Nyree’s arrival.
His first glimpse of her stole his breath.
She wore a long white dress that clung to her supple form.
Her black hair rippled down over her bare shoulders, and her smile was bright and wide and full of the same excitement that filled him.
When she had almost reached him, he crossed the distance between them and held out his hand to her.
She placed her hand in his, he curled their fingers together, and everything in his world was right. Nyree was here. Her mother and sister were here and safe. His friends and workmates.
“I love you, Nyree,” he said in a loud voice that made the women sigh.
“I love you too, Tāwera. Let’s get married.”
So they moved to stand in front of the marriage celebrant and said their vows before their friends.
The women sighed again when the celebrant announced them, man and wife, while the men cheered.
Then they celebrated with food and music, and there was no one happier than Tāwera.
He had a beautiful wife and a child on the way.
He drew his new wife into his arms, and they danced. Nyree smiled up at him, and he pulled her closer.
“I have never been so happy.”
“Me neither,” Nyree said, and they danced under the moonlight and celebrated with their friends, ready to embrace their future.