Page 37 of Intrigued By Love

Over the years, I’d learned how important the traditions of Hawaiian culture were to the Alexander family. Being in Bora Bora wasn’t going to change this fact.

Even Isaiah, who’d grown up on the mainland, had immersed himself in his wife’s traditions and raised his family with them as part of their everyday lives. For them, it wasn’t something for tourists to play with as an added bonus to a destination wedding but about their heritage and family history.

The ceremony lasted for another thirty minutes, with a period of silence to remember those family members who had passed away, and then closing with the laying of the lava rock wrapped in a ti leaf on the ground and the traditional celebratory kiss.

Cheers shouted all around as the newly married couple made their way down the aisle and we followed.

Kai beamed with happiness and then whispered, “Once we make it through the reception, I can breathe. Want to help me celebrate later?”

“Absolutely. Does this mean I won’t get to see you again for hours? You know we still need to have a long talk.”

“Yes, I know. But it’s time for me to finish off my maid-of-honor duties.”

Kai slid her arm free of mine, but I caught her wrist.

“Jax, I have to go.”

“Tell me again, Kai. I need to be sure I heard you correctly the first time.”

Her lips curved at the corners, and she lifted up on tiptoes, brushing a kiss against my lips. “I love you.”

And in the next second, she was gone, grabbing a phone from Raquel and marching down the hallway to the bridal dressing area.

I turned to make my way to where the groomsmen were gathering and came to an abrupt halt as my parents stood in front of me.

“Son, your mother and I would like a word with you.”

I took a deep breath and braced myself for whatever lecture was about to come.

“Let’s go somewhere more private,” I said.

I wouldn’t put it past my mother to cause a scene. She had a habit of living out her reputation as a diva to a tee.

From what my grandparents had told me, my mother hadn’t always been so self-absorbed. There was a time when she’d been known as one of Hollywood’s kindest souls. A person who’d give the shirt off her back to make someone else’s life better.

It saddened me to know the ruthlessness she’d endured as an actress in Hollywood had turned her into the cold, self-centered woman that I’d only ever known.

We moved over to the area where the wedding had taken place.

“Go ahead.” I slid a hand into my pocket and waited.

“You should treat us with more respect,” my mother started.

And with those words, the sentiment for the woman she used to be disappeared.

“I could say the feeling is mutual.”

“I have no idea where we went wrong.” She threw up her hands.

“Maybe it started when you’d have rather pawned me off on a nanny, Pops, or the Olivers. I spent more time with Thad’s parents than you.” I glanced back at Justine and Kristy Oliver. The couple’s attention was on us instead of their family who’d flown in for their son’s wedding.

“How dare you criticize us?” My mother’s outrage was comical. “Say something, Christopher.”

“Jennine, this isn’t helping.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I added.

That resulted in a loud huff.

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