“This show just gets better and better,” Stella muttered. “See you all at dinner, chaps.”
For a moment Ari, Sebastian and Luis sat in silence.
“Well, she seems brighter than usual, doesn’t she?” Luis finally said.
“Yes, but the wedding’s off,” Ari murmured, “The wedding’s off, and yet the wedding planners, dress designer and the photographer are all still here and about to have dinner. That’s weird, right?”
“Maybe there’s something in the water. Or the food.” Sebastian turned to Ari with wide eyes. “Maybe it’s the salmon.”
Ari took a deep breath. “We should get down for dinner. Wait for Marnie to break the news that there’s no wedding, work out an exit clause and get the hell out of here.”
“Exit clause?” Luis shook his head. “Tom Somerset is the father of your child, Ari. You don’t get an exit clause here. You’re gonna have to be a grown-up and work out a plan.”
“You told me this already,” Ari replied.
“Yeah, and I guess today you made inroads, letting Reine’s...” Luis paused, and Ari once again saw that flicker of sharp pain go through him “...Reine’sfathertake some time with her. But you need a solid plan now, honey. A visitation schedule. Informal at first... but something you can solidify in law later if needed.”
“Solidify?” Ari repeated wryly. “You really are talking fancy today, aren’t you?”
“I told you, it’s the company I’m keeping.”
“It’s the salmon,” Sebastian interjected firmly. “Marnie’s lacing it with something. Though while Sasha was here, it was probably poison.”
“Okay.” Ari nodded, ignoring Sebastian and coming to a stand, rubbing at her aching temple. “I’ll speak to Tom tonight. Work something out with him.”
“Good girl.” Luis stood too. “Come on, let’s go downstairs. Apparently Tom’s brother is joining us for dinner tonight.”
“I hope he likes salmon.” Sebastian laughed, and Ari watched as Luis jokingly ruffled his husband’s blond hair. Sebastian shooed him away, smiling all the while, and something in Ari’s chest began to ache. Abruptly she stopped, wrapping her arms around the two men, hiding her face against Luis’s warm shirt.
“In case I haven’t said it, or forget to say it later,” she said, unexpectedly feeling on the verge of tears, “thank you. Thank you for... well, everything.”
She felt Luis squeeze her back, just as she momentarily felt Sebastian falter against her. When she looked at him, he was taking a deep breath, clearly in the act of getting himself together.
“Bollocks, evenI’mfeeling watery and emotional at the moment,” Sebastian bemoaned. “Maybe there reallyissomething in the food.”
Ari stared at him. “It’s okay. You can say it.”
Sebastian gave a sigh of relief. “That fucking salmon.”
* * *
“So, you really gave up a decorated naval career for the priesthood?” Stella was saying, staring at Corentin with what Tom worryingly considered adoring eyes. His brother was sitting back in his chair, nodding at the elegant dark-haired woman easily.
“I did,” he said. “But I don’t like to think of it as ‘giving up’. I like to think of it more as a natural sidestep. I’m still very proudof my naval career, but my heart was no longer in it. Esoteric Druidry called me, and I answered that call.”
Tom took a sip of wine, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
“I understand entirely,” Stella replied. “I was a Royal Navy girl myself, once upon a time.”
Tom nearly choked on his wine.
“Were you now?” Corentin asked, looking at Stella with new interest. “Where were you based?”
“HMSRaleighoriginally, before I was moved to HMSTyne. I was a natural with the camera though, so they moved me to the photographic unit, and that’s where I really honed my skills and talents.”
“You were in the navy?” Tom spat out, and the adoring eyes Stella had for Corentin turned into small stones when she glanced at him.
“The Royal Navy, I thank you,” Stella replied sharply. “And yes, I was. I like rules and regulations, you see. The Royal Navy suited me.”
