Page 40 of Between Two Shores

Her thin brows daggered toward her nose. “What’s it to you?” She placed a hand on her hip.

His eyes widened, and the corner of his mouth twitched as he tried to smile. “Just making friendly conversation.”

She pouted her lips to one side. “I’ve met plenty of sailors in my time. They have the right words and all the smooth moves, but it’s all a façade.” She clicked her fingers. “Then they disappear, back to where they came from, breaking hearts at each port.”

Nick straightened his back. “I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience. I agree women shouldn’t hook up with a sailor visiting a port. But I’ve proposed to Beth, willing to marry her. Surely you can see I’m not just any sailor?”

“Hmph.” She wobbled her head. “We’ll see.” She continued to open the drawer and retrieved a cheese grater.

He hopped off the witness stand and waited in the living room for Beth instead. He could only take so much sass from the lady.

Beth’s voice echoed down the hallway. “DeHann and Michaels.” Her cell pushed to her ear as she strode into the room. “Yes. That’s us.” She sat on the sofa opposite him and crossed a leg over her knee.

Her brows furrowed. “Issued three days ago? Do you have a tracking number?” She scanned the receipt in her hand. “I didn’t know it was an option. No, we haven’t paid for registered post.” She warily glanced at Nick.

He scrunched his forehead. Where was the document then? It was supposed to be next day delivery.

“What address did you send it to?” Beth swapped the phone to her other ear, deep in concentration. “Marriage celebrant?” She looked at her papers. “Oh, my dad. Winston Michaels. My dad is a registered celebrant.” She laughed. “That makes sense. You send it to him. Oh, I’m sure he has it then. No problem. Thanks for your time.” She ended the call.

Beth tilted her head and smiled. “My dad has the document.” She let out a small laugh. “I must’ve got confused. Thought it came to us. My mind is a blur. Dad has a minister helping with the first part of the ceremony, so Dad’s free to walk me down the aisle. But he will lead us in the vows and signing the papers.”

“Great.” He gestured to her phone. “Well, let’s call him, just to be sure he has the license.”

“Oh, yeah. Good idea.” She blushed.

Beth speed-dialed her dad and placed the call on loudspeaker. Nick leaned forward in anticipation.

“Hi Dad, I called the marriage office, and they said you should have the license by now. Has it arrived?”

“Ugh, no. Not to the house or the center. Do you have a tracking number?”

Beth rubbed her temple. “No, we didn’t realize it was an option, but I see on the copy of my form we didn’t tick or pay for registered post.”

“When did they send it?”

“Three days ago.”

“Oh.” Winston paused. “Maybe it’s at my local Australia Post. I’ll go down now and see if it’s there.”

“Okay. Let me know as soon as you’ve checked.”

“I’ll call back soon.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Beth focused on Nick with concern in her eyes. “This is not good.”

“Is it normal that documents go to the post office first?”

She frowned. “Not usually, unless it’s registered post.”

He slumped his head and splayed his palms over his jagged haircut.

Beth touched his shoulder, her voice soft. “Worst scenario, we have an engagement party here. Get married in the States, and your mother can be there.”

His jaw clenched. He remained still, waiting for Winston’s phone call. From the kitchen, the microwave tinged.

A mild aroma of melted cheese drifted into the living room, followed by open-mouth chewing. “Is everything okay in here?” Melissa asked.

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