Page 58 of Unwanted Vows

“She doesn’t need to go anywhere with you,” Grandfather says grumpily.

I ignore him. “Come along,” I say to Maddy, my hand still extended to her.

She looks at Grandfather, then at me, before rising to her feet. She puts her shaking hand into mine and I tug her from the room.

“Andrew,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “What do we do?”

“We do whatever you want to do.”

“Are you sure?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say. “I have to take over Aims Corp, but you don’t have to be at my side if you want to stay away from all that it entails.”

“We could run away together,” she says eagerly, grabbing my hands again.

“With a young child? How would we keep him safe from all the grasping people in my family?” I remind her.

She frowns and chews on her bottom lip. “Oh, yeah,” she says worriedly.

“I have to take over the company. It is the only way to keep Aims Corp from spinning out of control. And it’s the only way to keep our child from harm,” I say, leaning in closer to her so my words are just for her. “But I can offer you safety if we go through with this farce he has orchestrated. Maddy, I wanted to woo you with all the gallantry, pomp, and circumstance you absolutely deserve.”

She clapped one hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.”You make me sound like a fairy tale princess.”

I reach my hand to take her’s in mine. She clings to it as if it were a lifeline. “To me, you are,” I say. “I’m just getting to know the real woman, and everything I see makes me love you more. But I want you to marry me because it is what you want; not just what I want, or grandfather wants. Trapping you is the last thing I desire.”

She pulls my hand to her forehead, leaning into it. When she raises her face, it is wet with tears. “Oh, Andrew. You make me remember what I saw in you during that one glorious week we had together.”

“I hope you see something worth keeping,” I whisper. “Maddy, I don’t want to lose you. But I want to give you time – all the time in the world that you need. Because I love you so much that the thought of being without you hurts.”

“Andrew, it is ok. I’m not going anywhere. But you need to stop and think. We’d be lying to the rest of your family as well,” she whispers, clasping her hands around mine and looking up into my face.

I nod. “I know. But keeping you and our son safe is more important than a little white lie. Or a big one, for that matter. I owe you this much at least, after everything that happened in the past.”

She nods and looks at me, fear in her gaze. “Then yes,” she says. “I will go through with the ceremony. But how will we get away with a fake ceremony? Won’t your grandfather know?”

“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “I will take care of it on the backend, and if not we can always annul it, if that’s what you want. Promises under duress aren’t real promises.” I hold her gaze hoping she understands, willing her to let me take care of her and our son. My son.

“One year and a day, remember?” She smiles at me, but I can see the concern in her eyes.

I squeeze her hands gently. “I want it to be our choice to get married when we are ready. We can deal with my grandfather this way, and protect our own independent decision about this as well.”

She finally grins at me. “Okay,” she agrees. “I’ll put my acting skills, weak as they are, to work.”

I lean forward and kiss her softly. “Come on, let’s go tell them the good news.”

As marriage ceremonies went, it was about the worst. The old man Aims swore was a bonafide licensed official, was drunk as a skunk, and stank like a back alley. His hands twitched, and he had to take two tries at every prompt. But I made sure that my voice rang out true and clear as I said my vows. “I, Andrew Lane, take thee, Madeline, to be my wife, to honor, to love, to protect for the rest of my life. All that I am is yours, and so is all that I have.”

Maddy followed my lead. “I, Madeline Northernfield, take thee, Andrew, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to honor, to love, to protect for the rest of my life.”

At no point did either of us say anything about “obey”. I think that would have been the last possible straw for Maddy. She didn’t gift me with herself or her possessions, and that was all right. I hadn’t earned that vow. Not yet. But if it was possible, I would.

In no more than fifteen minutes, we were done with the ceremony. Since we were not prepared for this impromptu marriage, we had no rings to exchange. We then all signed the document intended to make it legal and binding. My intention was to see that it was lost before being recorded, a simple way to end this travesty, and allow me to court my brave Madeline in my own way.

Then Grandfather placed another document in my hands, and had me sign that one as well. I skimmed the contents of it and saw it was all about the business and my takeover. He is gasping and puffing as he comes down the steps to do it.

Grandfather signs after me. He stands up, makes a dismissive motion, and the musicians quietly file out. “All yours, grandson,” he says. “Take care of my people.”

Then, as if a cord had been cut, Grandfather Aims went white and crumpled to the ground. Maddy and I are crouched beside him in an instant. I take his pulse. It is weak and thready, but there.

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