Page 38 of Always and Forever
He looks every bit the Don he used to be—in charge, with everybody bowing to his command. I guess it’s engrained in him. Especially in situations where a decision has to be made.
I raise my brows. “It won’t be legal without that piece of paper.”
“Princess, don’t believe for a second that a little piece of paper is going to stop me. There are ways around it.”
My eyebrows raise higher. “What do you mean?”
Uncaring that we have witnesses to our conversation, he replies, “There are people who can adjust a pissy little date to what I want it to be.”
My mouth gapes open. “Tiero, no! This is my one and only wedding. No illegal stuff!”
“Adjusting a date isn’t a grave offence,” Claudette interjects, siding with my fiancé.
Why am I not surprised she has no problem disregarding the law?
I look over at Rhia. She shrugs her shoulders. “It’s only a date on a piece of paper. It hardly matters. But your wedding day does!”
“We could just get married in a day or two,” I argue.
“No!” Tiero thunders once more. “We will begin the new year as husband and wife. End of discussion.”
Lex, who’s standing beside Rhia, grins from ear to ear.
“What’s so funny?” I rile at him. “Do you agree with them too?”
I know the answer before I’ve even finished the question. Lex isn’t one to follow rules either. Am I really such a goody two-shoes?
Tiero kisses my forehead. Addressing Lex, he asks, “Shall we check if we can salvage the spruce tree for tonight’s ceremony?”
“Sure thing,” he replies. “I’ll get changed.” With that, both men leave the living room.
Turning to the girls, I tilt my head to the side, thinking out loud.
“I’ll pick up the license from this George Roberts, the clerk who’s been processing it. We’ve been to his house the other day, but as you know, it wasn’t ready then. With a little satellite navigation, I should be able to find him again.”
Rhia huffs at that, and I send her a withering glare, which, of course, she ignores.
“Will it be ready this time?” Claudette asks.
“He promised it would be. I have to trust that.”
“And how are you going to get there? The roads are all snowed under, and there’ll be plenty of fallen trees obstructing the way,” Rhia interjects. “Why not trust your husband-to-be? He’s got it all under control.”
“It’s not just a ceremony, Rhi. It’s the beginning of my marriage and the rest of my life. I don’t want to start it doing something illegal. I’ll take the dog sled. That will get me around any obstacles.”
Claudette rubs her hands together, smiling. “You know Tiero will have a hissy fit if you put yourself in—”
“Well, I’m not going to tell him,” I interrupt her. “And if he and Lex get back before I do, I’m sure you’ll come up with a creative excuse.”
She fist-bumps me while Rhia looks exasperated. I march out of the room. In my peripheral vision I see her throw up her arms in the air, calling after me, “El, wait!”
I don’t though and hurry down the corridor. Walking into Tiero’s and my bedroom, I rummage through the draws for my thermals.
“Why do you need those?” Tiero asks, stepping out of the walk-in closet, all rugged up and cozy warm.“Umm… I need to take the dogs back to the shed.” There… that’s an excellent reason and not even a lie. I had to promise Tiero that they wouldn’t become house dogs.
“And I want to get the sled decorated for tonight too,” I add. It’s also true.
“Remember, you promised me to sit on it and let Rhia drive.”