Page 18 of The Last to Know

“Thanks. I don’t remember much. It was all just a blur of focusing on not falling over and saying the right lines.” Grace chuckled. “It’s all so serious.”

“Worth it though, right? You two look so happy, it makes me wonder if I should settle down.”

Grace smiled, her line of sight still on Caz. Someone had stopped her and she was laughing at whatever they said. Those candid moments, when Grace saw sides of Caz she’d never really paid much attention to before, always made her feel...home?

“Honestly, it might be the most sensible thing I’ve ever done,” Grace admitted. “Would you excuse me? I just need to powder my nose, as they say in the movies.” Because she needed a moment, away from it all, and not watching her wife.

They’d cut the cake, eaten more buffet food than anyone possibly should, and danced their socks off, all the while sinkingglasses of alcoholic beverages and telling everyone that asked just how happy they were, and not once did they slip up.

But now, at ten to midnight, Caz slurred, “Think we should go up?”

“Yes.” Grace sagged against her. “I am so tired.”

“Come on then.” Caz took her hand and tugged, almost knocking someone over as she staggered. “Oops, sorry,” she laughed, “taking my wife to bed.”

A chorus of rowdy responses followed, and Grace even had the decency to blush, but she didn’t stop to respond, following Caz up the stairs again, just like they’d done a few hours ago.

At the door to their room, Caz fell against it and fumbled in her pockets for the card.

“Can’t find it,” she said.

Grace rolled her eyes. “It was in your pocket.”

“I know but…can’t…find…”

Slapping her hands away, Grace moved in, delving the fingers of her right hand into Caz’s pocket, holding her upright with the other hand.

“Will you stand still?” Grace giggled.

“You’re tickling.” Caz wriggled. Eventually, Grace pulled the card free and shoved it into the lock. The tiny click unlocked the door and she pulled the handle, the door opening and Caz almost toppling into the room.

“Am so drunk.” Caz chuckled. She staggered towards the bed and landed on it, face down. “Sleep here.”

“Oh no you don’t,” Grace said, moving to shut the door and then cross to where Caz lay with her feet hanging off the bed by a foot. “Not quite how I planned my wedding night all those years ago, but…” She sighed and grabbed the first of Caz’s shoes. Yanking it free, she dropped it to the ground and pulled off the other one.

“Come and cuddle,” Caz said, though her face was mushed against the bedding and it sounded a lot more like, “Um and uddle.”

“You need to get undressed and into pyjamas.”

When Caz rolled over, Grace thought she might be getting somewhere, but no, Caz just lay there until the snoring began.

“Caroline Iris Madden, you wake up right now and get undressed,” Grace said sternly, hands on hips.

Caz jumped up. “Huh, what?”

Laughing, Grace repeated what she’d said, minus the full name part, but it did make her giggle again.

“Alright, I’m getting—” Her arms came up and the jacket was shrugged half off. One arm free, she started unbuttoning her shirt haphazardly.

“Dear God, this is tragic,” Grace said, finally swooping in to slap Caz’s hands away again and finish the job.

Caz grinned at her. “You’re my wife.”

“I know and am already reconsidering it.” Grace laughed as the last button came undone and she pushed the jacket and shirt all free.

“If you wanted…to get me naked, you only had…to ask, not…marry me.” Caz laughed. Holding her left hand up to admire the plain gold band, she fell back with the support gone.

Grace shook her head. “You’re going to have a big headache in the morning.” Nimble fingers made light work of Caz’s belt and trouser button, yanking the pants free. When she was in nothing but her underwear and socks, Grace gave up on the idea of getting her into pyjamas. “Okay, into bed.”

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