“Thanks to your encouragement.”
“What’s a wife for except to encourage good things in her husband?” She winks. “And bad.”
Fleur appears, tugging her wedding dress back into place. “Ice dinosaur is so cool,” she says, slurring her words. “Thanks, Leo.”
She staggers off, jumping into Monty’s arms at the edge of the dance floor.
“My husband!” she yells, kissing him on the cheek.
“My wife,” he replies. “Let’s dance.”
They spin around, Barb spinning with them, woofing and wagging her tail. Bea waves to me from the far side of the room, mouthing, “Great party,” as she lifts her drink my way.
She comes over, kissing Anna on the cheek before collapsing into a seat next to me. “Windswept is expecting you both for Thanksgiving this year.”
“We’ll be there,” Anna replies. “Won’t we?”
I grunt. “We’ll see.”
Bea groans. “Same old Leo. Some things never change.” She gets back to her feet. “This is my song!” She runs off to the dance floor not looking back.
I dig under the table, bringing out the envelope I hid there earlier. “Got something for you,” I say as I hand it to Anna.
“Read it.”
“Now? Why?”
“You’ll see.”
She opens the envelope and pulls out the form inside. She scans it with her eyes before looking up at me. “You’re divorcing me?”
“I am.”
“But why? Is it because my dad’s getting out of prison soon?”
“Not that.”
“Is it because I wore the plug to the wedding? That’s crazy.”
I hold up my hand, counting off on each finger. “One, you wore a plug without my permission. Two, you came last night before I gave permission. Three, I want to give you a proper wedding.”
Her confused frown turns into a grin. “You almost had me for a moment. This is fake, right?”
I shake my head. “If you sign that, we get divorced.”
“And why would I do that when I’m nine weeks pregnant with your child?”
“Because if we’re divorced I can ask you to marry me properly.”
“Seriously?”
“With a ring and everything.”
“But I don’t need a ring. I’m already happy, Leo.”
“I know you are but I also know it hurts you to see your best friend getting married in a way you were not granted. A proper ceremony this time, with guests present.”
“And cake. Would I get to have cake?”