Ari took a deep breath. “There’s, um, a queen of spades card. In my jacket pocket. I’ve... um... I’ve had her for a long time.”
She felt Corentin shift in his seat, and when she glanced at him, he was gazing at her with warm eyes.
“An exchange of tokens,” he said softly. “Well, well, well.”
“You think it means something?”
“Does it matter what I think? We’re all on our own journeys here, Ari. That’s part of the magic. So, if you want it to mean something, it means something. Let me tell you this though.” Corentin leaned forward, his words abruptly loaded. “It means something to Tom.”
* * *
Icelandair were firm. There was nothing to be done until the morning.
“Our first flight from the UK arrives at 7a.m.,” the representative said. “Most likely the dress got delayed in baggage control at Heathrow and will be on the next flight. There’s still a chance it may turn up in our own baggage hall here or come in on a UK cargo flight, but—”
“What time does the cargo flight land?” Ari asked fretfully.
“We have one from London landing at five past four,” the representative replied.
Ari swore quietly under breath, before turning to Corentin.
“I’ll wait here,” she offered. “You drive my rental car back to Vík and get some sleep before the ceremony tomorrow.”
“Ari—”
“I’ll be fine, honestly. If the dress isn’t here by 10a.m. tomorrow, I’ll get a taxi into Reykjavík and grab whatever I can off the rack.”
“It’s 11p.m.” Corentin frowned.
“I know.” Ari shook her head. “But I need to be here for the cargo flight landing. If I drive back to the hotel now, I won’t make it back in time. So, I’ll stay here.”
Corentin looked unconvinced. “You need to sleep too, though.”
“I’ve slept in airports before,” Ari replied, thinking once again of Tom. “Look, I’ll be fine. I’ve got my brother and your brother on speed dial these days.”
Corentin still looked sceptical, and Ari sighed.
“This is my business, Corentin,” she explained. “This is what I do. We’ve lost dresses before, and it’s awful. I’ve seen brides weep over lost dresses. I’ve seen brides have panic attacks over lost dresses. I don’t want that for Stella.”
Corentin frowned. “Stella’s made of stronger stuff than that.”
Ari shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t intend to find out. I’m her wedding planner. It’s my job to either find that dress or come up with a Plan B. You’re the groom. It’s your job to be there for your bride. Don’t make me call Sebastian to come and collect you. Because he will. And then you’ll have a three-hour drive back to Vík while he talks about the newest season ofBridgertonand the deposition he just gave his neighbour about her untrimmed bush.”
Corentin frowned again, and Ari offered him a confident smile.
“Corentin. Please go.”
* * *
The Icelandair desk closed at midnight, and Ari settled down in a plastic bucket seat by the window. She set her phone to low-power mode, wrapped her shoulders with a blanket — given to her by the sympathetic Icelandair representative — and tried to drowse for a couple of hours. It was hard to sleep when her mind was working overtime, and the hustle and bustle of the airport kept her alert. Outside, she could see the red and green lights of the runway blinking in the distance, as well as the bright lights of airplanes as they pulled up to the terminal. Passengers left the airport, but there were no departures until the earlymorning, and soon the building became quieter, more conducive to resting, if not sleeping.
The plastic bucket seat, however, did not become more comfortable. Wearily, Ari set her blanket on the floor, stretching her legs out and thinking about the last time she’d been in this airport.
Her thoughts always went back to Tom. He was ingrained in her being now, like a fingerprint on her soul. She would always think of Tom, she realised. For the rest of her life, every day, she would think of him, and not just because of Reine. Tom had given her a child, but he’d also given her memories, some tinged with love, others with heartbreak and grief.
The heartbreak and grief were fading now though. It would never completely leave her, but it was fading, and she felt — well, maybehealedwasn’t quite the right word, but renewed. Renewed, and refreshed.
He’d come for her. He’d kept his word and come back for her. Ari hadn’t known how important that promise had been until she’d learned Tom had kept it. He’d come back for her. He’d kept his promise to her. It had been real and wonderful, and he’d loved her as much as she loved him. Instinctively, she knew he hadn’t come for her just to claim her. She knew Tom now — knew how he thought and felt and worked. She knew he’d also come to make things right with her. To admit the truth about Tom Miller and introduce her to the wonderful man she knew Tom Somerset to be. He’d come for her. He’d wanted her.
