Page 149 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye
Leia sipped her apple soft drink and looked up from her gratitude journal, the bistro in Brooklyn’s IKEA bustling with happy shoppers tucking into meatballs and pink cream cakes. In the mix of dark winter coats and wooly hats, she spotted Tarquin, parka unzipped and his arms weighed down by two large blue and yellow shopping bags. What didn’t he buy? She giggled.
“Sorry, that took longer than I thought.” Tarquin delicately rested his haul on the floor then scratched a hand through his hair. “I forgot the play tunnel for Mrs. Chuzzlewit, and then had to double back and pick up that cute circus tent for Ava and Poppy.”
Leia flipped her journal closed and nudged it aside, watching Tarquin strip free of his coat. “You do realize Fiona is gonna kill you, right?”
Smiling mischievously, he neatly folded his parka over the back of his chair. “Where else will they stash all the stuffies and dolls you gave them this summer?”
Leia shrugged as Tarquin sat down. “So I spoiled our flower girls…” She reached across the square table and grasped his hand, her thumb flirting with the platinum band on his ring finger. “It was a beautiful day, wasn’t it?”
“The best. One of the longest days of the year, too, which was fitting. I never wanted it to end.” His dimples deepened as he angled closer. “I love you, Mrs. Balfour.”
“I love you, too, Mr. Scott.” Leia leaned over her apple drink and Tarquin’s milky coffee and greeted his lips with a quick kiss. “I know it’s only been six months, but do I get to call myself an honorary Orcadian now?”
“If a Balfour family wedding in the Italian Chapel doesn’t seal it, I’m not sure what does.” He squeezed her hand before he let go.
Leia matched his grin. “I’m glad we could get married there. Sarah and Dad are still talking about its beautiful paintings. I know Mom would’ve been smitten, too.” Her expression muted. “Tarquin, I’m sorry your mom wasn’t there.”
He shook his head and picked up his cup. “Don’t be—I’m not. I was relieved when you agreed not to invite her. She would’ve shown up in some sequin-encrusted monstrosity, moaning about the wind or Dad’s relatives, and made our day all about her. And frankly, that sweet little Italian Chapel is too wee to accommodate Kiki’s inflated ego or her over-the-top dramatics.” Raising his brows, he glanced out the window and sipped his lukewarm coffee.
“Saz thought she’d crash the ceremony and make a scene.”
“Nah, I knew she wouldn’t.” He licked his lips and leaned back in his chair. “Over the years, she’s missed important footy games, both my Eton and uni graduations. I’m not entirely convinced she was there at my birth.” His chuckle slipped into a decisive nod as he swirled the coffee in his cup. “I’m not saying I’ll never speak to her again, but she needs to apologize first. A simple ‘I’m sorry’ would go a long way toward restoring family harmony, but I’m not holding my breath. Nico, Rupert, Fiona, my cousins…they’re all still pissed about how she behaved at Poppy’s baptism.”
Leia gave her husband an empathetic smile and glanced down at her simple platinum wedding band and diamond engagement ring, the round one-carat gem hugged on each side by a tapered baguette stone. Tarquin had promised her the biggest rock on the market, but she preferred the simplicity of something smaller, more elegant. Kiki was so wrong about me. I’m about as far from a ‘money-hungry trollop’ as they come.
She winced and ran a finger along the edge of her journal. “Have you spoken to Harry about tonight?”
“Yeah!” Tarquin shifted forward, placing his coffee on the table. “He called while I was in the queue. Simon and Freddie just checked into their hotel, and Mark and Ben are out running some last-minute errands for Alex. Oh, and she’ll bring Lucy and Riley over to ours around three to pick up their dresses. They promise they won’t dillydally—they know you and I have special dinner plans before meeting them all at Bespoke.”
Leia beamed. “Two years, Tarquin! Where did the time go? The blackout feels like yesterday.”
“Happiest day of my life, meeting you.” He smiled fondly. “I’m glad we came here today.”
“Well, it’s tradition, right? A lunchtime drink in IKEA on New Year’s Eve. I know London was out of the question because of your Tribeca development and my holiday pop-up shop, but maybe next year? Return to the real scene of the crime?”
“What Leia wants, Leia gets.” He cracked a smile and lifted his coffee, raising it in a toast.
“How many is that, then?”
“Coffees? My first. It’s always a one-coffee day when I’m with you, Ginger.”
“I thought you had some this morning. You were up so early.” She downed the last of her apple drink.
“No. I had to go for a run, didn’t I? Can’t let those grape-riddled pizza slices give me a dad bod.”
He picks off the grapes—the only healthy bit! Leia giggled and parked her empty bottle on the table. “To me, you’re sexy no matter what. It’s your heart I fell in love with.”
“No—really?” Pouting playfully, he sat up and smoothed his hands slowly down his chest. “Not my pecs? Or my abs?” He hiked up the left sleeve of his sweater. “My forearms? You do love a bit of forearm!” He bounced his eyebrows.
He has me there. “Yes, Tarquin, I think they’re hot, but honestly, it was y—”
“Got it!” He twisted in his chair, pointing behind him. “My arse!”
Leia laughed. “Now you’re being one!”
He chuckled and tossed back the dregs of his coffee, the corners of his mouth still curled upward.
She glanced at him lovingly and dipped inside her purse, pulling out her London phone box keychain. “So, Han Solo with the amazing ass and forearms, you ready to head home?”
