Disinterested in any response that might be forthcoming, Addison continued down the hallway, pausing when she reached the door to the drawing room to wait for the others to catch up. Flashing a wink in Fran’s direction, Addison faked a smile and led them into the room.

If Joanna hadn’t seen it for herself, she would never have believed it. Charm didn’t come close to describing what Addison Kane exuded as she strode across the room to the registrar. Enthusiastically shaking his hand, she thanked him profusely for taking time out of his busy day to travel to The Oaks. Explaining that her fiancée was shy and reserved, even though Addison had wanted to celebrate their nuptials in a grand manner, she had bowed to Joanna’s wish to keep them private.

The ruddy-faced man’s eyes immediately darted to the woman whose picture he had seen in the paper. He was impressed. She wasn’t at all the thimble-faced woman he had expected to meet, and by the blush on her cheeks, he assumed Addison Kane’s words were true. He had no idea Joanna was doing her best not to laugh out loud at Addison’s display, and her blush was simply due to her amusement.

Introductions were quickly made, and they gathered near a small table where the registrar had set out the papers, atop which sat two pens at the ready. Addison had come prepared. Pulling a small box from her pocket, she flipped open the lid to reveal their wedding bands wedged into slots of velvet. The moment of truth had arrived, and after only a few short words from the registrar spouting luck, life, and love, Addison reached over and took Joanna’s hand.

No love-filled promises were spoken as bands of platinum were slipped onto fingers, and with the registrar’s polished, black lacquered fountain pen, filled with the most permanent of blue-black inks, they signed their names...and the deed was done.

***

Fran came from the kitchen carrying a bottle of champagne in one hand and three glasses in the other, but she stopped when she saw Joanna sitting on the stairs, Noticing how the woman was aimlessly spinning the wedding band around her finger, Fran went over and sat down next to her.

“Does it fit?” Fran asked.

“Perfectly,” Joanna said without looking up.

“You’re not regretting this already, are you?”

“No, it’s just...it’s just weird,” Joanna said, turning to look at Fran. “This morning I woke up as Joanna Sheppard, and now I’m Joanna Kane.”

“Speaking of that, do you have a passport or driver’s license?”

“Yes, both. I got a passport just before Dad got sick. It’s never been used. Why?”

“We’ll need to get copies of the marriage license to the Passport Office and the DVLA to reflect the name change.”

“Do I have to?”

“What? Change your name?”

“Yeah.”