"Let's get our dance on!" Aadi called enthusiastically.
For Mariah, the day had become a blur. The ceremony on the beach had been followed by an almost anticlimactic visit to Tartosa's Government House where the legal paperwork of marriage had been signed, witnessed and filed by a courteously smiling clerk.
After that, the wedding party had gathered for dinner. Mariah had no doubt that the meal, catered by family friend and restaurateur Matteo Rossi, was excellent. Still, she'd barely touched a bite of Matteo's famous risotto. She'd sat, smiling and laughing, as her friends gave speeches and made jokes she didn't really hear through the fog of her own happiness.
Now, the party had moved to Celebrazioni, Tartosa's top club and lounge, where the combined star power of Cassie Goth and Londyn Huntley had secured the entire place for the reception.
It was, as Aadi rightly said, time to get their dance on.
Much later, she and Miranda moved off the dance floor.
"I need to catch my breath," Miranda said.
"Uh oh, don't look now but it looks like Ms. Salty Suds is taking a turn hitting on Lucius," Mariah said, the nickname recalling the series of commercials that had kicked off Jenny Poole's career and another night at Celebrazioni, years ago, when Mariah's insecurities had overcome her better sense.
"Oh, I told her not to do that," Miranda groaned, but smiled as she said it.
"Well, maybe he likes women with big... bubbles," Mariah said.
"You are completely obsessed with Jenny's boobs, aren't you?" Miranda teased. "Maybe I should be jealous."
"I am not obsessed," Mariah said, deliberately pulling her eyes away from the buxom actress's bountiful cleavage. "They're just very..."
"Oh, I know," Miranda smiled. "She's got really beautiful breasts."
"Oh yeah? Have you seen them?" Mariah said, trying to keep her voice light against the bitter rush of old insecurities.
"She sunbathes in the nude," Miranda said with a sly grin. Then she laughed, "Mariah, anyone with an internet connection can see Jenny Poole's boobs if they want to. She's not exactly shy. She'd probably recommend a good website or two, if you asked her."
"I'm not..." Mariah stammered.
"I'm going to go get something to drink," Miranda smiled. "I'll be right back."
"Sunbathes in the nude," Mariah muttered. "Anyone with an internet connection... well, I have an internet connection," she added to herself, pulling out her phone. "So, if I wanted to I could just... oh... oh my... Umm... wow. "
"What'ch'ya doing?" a bright voice cut through the music. "Looking up something good... or maybe something naughty?"
"Nothing! I wasn't looking at anything," Mariah lied, hastily stashing her phone.
"Ooo, something naughty then," Jenny smiled. "Special wedding night inspirations maybe."
"Absolutely not," Mariah said. I will not even think about what I was just looking at and wedding night stuff with Miranda, she thought. No, I said don't think about that.
"So, what's the deal with Lucius and Gwen?" Jenny was asking.
"What?" Mariah said, struggling to put her thoughts back into some sort of order. "What do you mean?"
"Well, they've barely spoken to each other all weekend," Jenny said. "Miranda says he's her father... which is nuts. I mean, he can't be old enough... unless..."
"Yeah, he is... her father, I mean," Mariah said. "They... I guess they haven't really spoken since Gwen's mom was killed. He sent her away... to keep her safe, or something, but..."
"Wow," Jenny sighed. "OK, a) that sucks but b) why does Miranda's life always sound like a movie plot? And is there a part in it for me?"
"Be careful what you wish for," Mariah laughed.
"Look, look, look," Jenny said excitedly. "He's going over to her."
Turning, she saw that Jenny was right. Lucius had made his quiet way across the dance floor and was now approaching the slender, golden-haired woman who was Miranda's other mother.
Watching, Mariah felt an odd sense of wonder. Gwen had always struck her as mysterious, a little strange and maybe kind of flakey. She was, to those who knew about such things, the White Witch of Glimmerbrook, a name always spoken with a hint of awe. Lucius, who she'd known only briefly, she had found to be wise and ancient, gentle but a little bit frightening.
It was strange, to see these two larger-than-life figures standing together, hesitant, uncertain and so very human in their feelings.
Mariah knew that Miranda had brought them together, here at her wedding, in the hopes that they might finally reconnect. She couldn't hear what they said together, across the dance floor, but she could see that Miranda had succeeded, perhaps beyond her wildest expectations.
"Did you see?" Miranda asked later, as they danced slowly in each other's arms.
"Si, I did," Mariah smiled. "You have any other wonders planned for tonight mia amata?"
"Well, I have a few ideas," Miranda teased, a sly gleam in her eye. "But right now, I just want to dance with my wife."
"I can do that," Mariah said happily.
-------------------
Later, after much more dancing and laughter and increasingly silly toasts, the newlyweds finally slipped away, returning to the rented villa on the bluffs above the bay. The rest of the wedding party having made arrangements for other accommodations, the villa was theirs alone tonight.
"You know, it's been a pretty good day," Miranda mused. "Gwen and Lucius are talking again. I had a wonderful meal and a night of dancing under the stars... and, oh yeah, I married the woman of my dreams on the beautiful golden beach where we fell in love."
"I guess it was a pretty good day," Mariah smiled back at her.
"So, what shall we do now?" Miranda said with a teasing smile.
"Whatever you want, mia amata," Mariah said. "Whatever you want."
"Well, I do have one idea," Miranda purred as she turned and walked across the room, "I would like to take advantage of the hot tub."
"Oh," Mariah blinked. "Well, I guess we could go upstairs and get our bathing suits."
"No," Miranda replied, reaching back to undo her dress. "I don't think I'll need a suit," she added as the blue silk slithered to the floor around her feet.
"Oh," Mariah breathed, drinking in the vision before her.
No matter how many times she looked at Miranda's lean, strong form, the sight always took her breath away. Tonight, Mariah realized, she was seeing her for the first time as her wife.
"Care to join me?" Miranda said with a sultry glance over her shoulder.
"Si mia amata," Mariah smiled.
