Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“Thank you,” said Scarlett, glad to hear that was the first thing that came to the officer’s mind rather than her grandmother’s alleged kidnapping of her and Beni.
Brayden was up next. The officer’s eyebrows narrowed at his green Clair de Lune passport, and his lips pressed into a thin line as he examined the marriage certificate Scarlett held out to him. The abrupt change in his demeanor was a shock after he’d been so warm to her.
“You got married yesterday?” asked the officer.
“Yes,” said Brayden and Scarlett together.
The officer cocked his head to the side. “How did you meet?”
“We met when we were children and have been in touch for years,” said Scarlett, speaking too fast. Black and gold smoke appeared above the man’s head. Shit.
“She broke up with her ex a couple of months ago, and I asked her to come visit right away, before she could change her mind and go back to the other guy,” said Brayden in a much calmer voice.
“She’s the love of my life, and when you know, you know.
So we got hitched.” He leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek, causing her face to heat.
Why is he saying all this? Bringing up Alastair was weird, wasn’t it?
Scarlett looked at Brayden, but he just smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
The realization hit her that maybe he was right to reference Alastair.
Their relationship had been common knowledge in Soleil. Her tension eased slightly.
The officer’s eyes slid to her. “Fast work. Smart man, knowing when you’re punching. I was the same way with my wife, actually. Married her before she figured out she could do better.” He winked at Scarlett. “How’d you two meet as kids, though, being from different countries and all?”
Scarlett took a deep breath. “Oh, I’m a dual citizen. Our families are friends, and I have a Clair de Lune passport as well.” Scarlett handed him her second passport, which was Clair de Lune green like Brayden’s. “Also, I’ve got a picture of us at the wedding, if you’d like to see?”
Gold smoke. He believed them, thank the Goddess.
“That’s right. I forgot your mother was a foreigner,” said the officer, flicking through her passport.
He waved Scarlett’s phone away. “No need for photos. Head through that door. They’ll issue a spouse visa in that office.
Congratulations on your nuptials.” He waved the next passenger forward for visa inspection as Beni, Scarlett, and Brayden moved on.
Scarlett let out a huge breath and took Brayden’s hand.
“I knew you were well-known, but getting recognized by border control—that’s the first time I’ve seen how famous you are for myself,” he said. “That officer liked you.”
“Yes. Fame is a double-edged sword.”
After half an hour’s wait, Brayden’s spouse visa was in hand, and the three of them went to look for Charlie.
“There he is!” Beni hurried over to the bench where Charlie was waiting. Scarlett halted for a split second as she took in the cast and sling on his left arm. As she and Brayden approached, their aging boat driver wrapped Beni in a one-armed hug.
“You’re all a sight for sore eyes.”
“Charlie, it’s good to see you!” said Scarlett. “What happened to your arm?”
Charlie hugged Scarlett and looked her up and down. “Arm’s fine. Just a clumsy accident.” He glanced away and then back at her, his eyes gleaming. “I’m more concerned with you. Glad to see you’re getting around fine. Are you all right?”
She frowned at the brush-off, sensing there was more to his story. “I’m much better, thank you. They have excellent doctors in Clair de Lune.” She wished Dr. Bowen could help with Charlie’s arm. Maybe someday that would be possible in Soleil.
Charlie turned to Brayden, a welcoming smile spreading across his face. “Who’s this?”
Scarlett waved Brayden forward. “This is Brayden Maddox. Brayden, this is Charlie. He’s known me since I was born and is like family.” She beamed at Charlie, letting her love for Brayden show. “Brayden and I got married yesterday.”
Brayden extended his hand. “Good to meet you.” His smile was bright and warm, the carefree smile she’d missed seeing through the past couple of days. She wanted to make him smile like that again.
Charlie’s eyes were wide as he whistled and clasped Brayden’s hand. “Married? Wow, congratulations. I look forward to getting to know you, Brayden. I’m sure you know you’ve got a good one in Scarlett.”
“I certainly do,” agreed Brayden, pulling her tight against his side. Between this and that interaction with the customs officer, Brayden was doing a good job of looking like a guy who was happy to be married. He was obviously going to have no problem presenting a united front.
“Now, can you please tell me what really happened to your arm? And how have things been since we left?” asked Scarlett.
Charlie glanced uncertainly at Brayden.
“You can say anything in front of him,” said Scarlett, understanding his concerns. “He knows everything.”
Charlie nodded quickly. “Understood. Laylani was livid when she figured out you’d gone, but when she asked me about it, I said I wasn’t in the business of keeping people in the house who didn’t want to be there.
That shut her up, but then, the next day, I was on my way to the store for Martin when some thugs jumped me.
This was the result.” He gestured to his arm.
“And I’m sure that had nothing to do with Laylani,” said Scarlett.
Charlie lifted the shoulder that wasn’t in the sling in a one-armed shrug. “The cast will be off in a few weeks. Thankfully, it was a clean break. It’s all good, Scarlett.”
Scarlett disagreed, but it was clear he didn’t want to pursue it, so she let the matter drop for the time being.
Charlie gestured to the exit. “Anyway, ready to get out of here?”
“Yes,” said Scarlett. “But first, let’s stop by the newsagents and get Brayden some sunglasses. He’s basically never seen sunlight.” She gave him an affectionate smile as she wondered if he could tan or if he’d just burn. Her pale sweetheart.
Inside the small shop, they found a pair of suitable sunglasses.
Scarlett was scanning the newspapers when a glossy magazine caught her eye.
An old picture of her and Alastair at the diplomat’s soirée was on the cover.
She pursed her lips as she picked it up and flipped to the article.
It was an entire spread of pictures taken earlier that year by paparazzi.
She scanned the first couple of sentences: “When can we expect to see Lady Heroux and the handsome Alastair Spencer out in Soleil? Here’s an overview of the season’s high-society events! ”
Brayden peered at the page and snorted.
She turned to him. “It’s weird they don’t know Alastair and I broke up.” She’d lived multiple lives since that day at the boxing match.
His lips were pursed, and he was frowning slightly. “Not if he hasn’t mentioned it to anyone.”
“Maybe we should send our wedding pictures to the newspapers.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “More than fine by me.”
She glanced at him sideways. “Nice work with the border-control officer, by the way. You’re doing a great job of acting like a doting husband.”
His grin faded. “You know better than to think that was an act.”
“I just meant—”
But he walked away before she could point out that he’d embellished the story somewhat. And maybe he was right. Maybe she needed to take things at face value. Because he was here. For her. She kicked herself mentally for not being more sensitive.
“You’ll make it up to him,” said Nori, comforting her. “I’d wager he’s extra touchy because of that magazine article, but the truth will out.”
Thanks, Nori. It was amazing how much hope Scarlett took from her light’s uplifting comments.
She imagined the situation in reverse. If she’d seen a magazine spread featuring Brayden and an ex-girlfriend, she’d probably have had a complete meltdown, especially if he’d gone on to congratulate her on being a great fake wife.
She sighed, willing herself to do better.
They made their way out of the shop to the brightness of the Prince’s Street Dock and stood on the boat’s deck while Charlie pulled the lines in, preparing to cast off.
The day was oppressively hot. Already pink-cheeked from the heat, Brayden peeled off his dark green sweater, revealing the black T-shirt underneath.
Scarlett, who’d taken her cardigan off back in the station, fished her oversized white-framed sunglasses out of her bag and put them on.
She watched as Brayden took in all the grand buildings surrounding the canal.
He wore his new aviator sunglasses as he looked at the statue of Hadrian in the middle of the aquatic roundabout.
Today the water smelled fresh, without the taint of sewage that occasionally plagued the city, and as usual, the Soleil sun was making the water sparkle.
The familiar sights, the warmth—Scarlett was glad to be home.
She hoped Brayden was at least somewhat impressed by what he saw.
He noticed her watching him. “It’s so bright here. It’s sunnier than the absolute sunniest day in Clair de Lune. Even Evory… It gets sunnier there, but nothing like this.”
“We do have a winter, but it’s mild, and it’s still sunny most of the time. This place is basically endless summer.” She put her hand into his back pocket and stared up at him, marveling that he was here, in her world, and wanting to make him love it enough to come back again and again.