Page 10 of The Irish Arrangement

“Sit,” she instructed.

“No.” I crossed my arms again. I was on edge, cautious and assuming this would be a trap. I wouldn’t let them impose an air of power over me, looking down at me.

“That hardly matters,” my father said, sighing.

“You said you would cover my mother’s medical bills and debts. That you would see to covering her continued medical costs.” That alone would be a massive weight off my shoulders. Maybe then, I could focus on making her farm less of a mediocre business and more a thriving one with an actual staff, new equipment, and more freedom to invest in it.

“And we will.” She looked past me, smiling sweetly. “Oh, there you are, honey.” Her voice dripped with sugar as Saoirse entered the room. She passed me, knocking her bony shoulder against me, and I rolled my eyes.

“So, she finally showed up,” Saoirse said, grinning as she dropped into a chair. Looking at me like she knew something I didn’t, she crossed her legs and bounced her heeled foot.

I was getting sick of these jabs about being late. I couldn’t stop and drop what I was doing to come here and play games.

“What’s the catch?” I demanded, losing my patience.

“You get married to the man who wants me,” Saoirse said as she looked up at her mother, beaming.

“What?” I deadpanned, wondering if this was a prank, if they were so bored that they had to call me to drive all the way out here as a joke.

“You marry the man interested in making Saoirse his bride. And in exchange, we will cover all of Nora’s bills and expenses.” Keira locked her malicious gaze on me, putting the ball in my court.

“Marry some guy? And you’ll pay off her bills?” I asked, stunned.

My father nodded. “Tomorrow.”

My jaw dropped. “You want me to marry someone tomorrow?”

“He is eager to find a bride,” he added.

I narrowed my eyes. That was a hell of a big catch. “What’s wrong with him?” Glancing at Saoirse and noticing how happy she was to be off the hook, I worried.

“Who cares?” Keira said. “Don’t you want your mother’s bills covered?”

“We’ve looked into your finances. Her farm and all that she owes.” My father held his head higher. “You’ll never get on top of it all to afford her kidney transplant.”

Dammit. He really knew how to strike me down. Then again, Keira had a point. If all I had to do was marry some guy, so what? If it meant my mother would no longer suffer as much, if she wouldn’t have those depressive spells about being in bed and so weak…

It would be worth it. I would do anything to improve her prognosis. Besides, if the guy was so terrible, I could divorce him later, right? They weren’t saying that I had to stay married to him.

That’s it. I hid the smile wanting to break across my face. A loophole. “You’re saying that you’ll pay for my mom’s expenses if I show up at a wedding tomorrow and marry this guy?”

All three nodded.

I can’t believe I’m going to do this…

But I would. I’d been drowning under the oppression of having no other options with the struggles of my life, but here was one dropped in my lap.

I thrust my hand out and held my breath, nervous but excited. “Fine.”

My father looked at my hand, scrunching his nose in disgust.

“Shake on it,” I demanded.

He did, his fingers weak and light around mine. “Tomorrow,” he said.

I nodded, overwhelmed with all that I’d need to do. I had to call Oscar and tell him to go ahead and sell that tractor to hire help. That I wouldn’t be back on the farm. Then, I bet I could ask old Mrs. Gehring across the road to come by and help my mother to and from her appointments. Oscar could step up and help her. I was glad I’d just picked up all of her prescriptions.

The butler took me to a guestroom in the basement, and I tuned out all the details that Keira told him. To get a dress fitted for me. To find someone to fix my hair and tend to my nails. If she was hoping for a makeover, she’d be disappointed. I refused to let them do anything but fit me for a gown while I tended to everything with Oscar over the phone.

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