Page 56 of Things Left Unsaid

“Zee,” he interrupts before I can continue. “I know you didn’t.”

“O-Okay.”

I hate that his approval still matters to me.

I can hear him drumming his fingers. Fingers that belong to a man who’ll be my husband soon enough.

Before the year’s out—that’s all the contract stipulated—but neither of us can afford to wait.

“I guess I should go,” I mutter. “We need some rest.”

“Yeah, we do.” Another pause, but from him this time. “Look, I think I’m speaking for both of us when I say we want our relationship to be low-key.”

I huff. “Definitely.”

“How about we get married in Saskatoon?”

Any future wife of his would come under public scrutiny. But I’mme.My baggage is legendary in our corner of the world so it makes sense…

“You’d want that?” I ask warily.

“I don’t care where so long as it isn’t the church in town.”

He knows I’d probably get stoned by the locals when we left said church as man and wife.

I shouldn’t be offended. Not when he’s giving me an option that doesn’t involve pebbles and rocks. But once upon a time, I used to dream about marrying him in that tiny church…

Instead, he’s offering to marry me as if I’m a secret he wants to keep under lock and key.

“Great idea,” I rasp, the words burning my tongue like acid.

“Good. I’ll make the arrangements. When do you think you can get your things squared away?”

“I spoke with my boss earlier. She’s fine with me moving. Says our in-person meetings can be online.”

“That’s awesome news.”

Because he sounds genuine, I cut him some slack as my fingers toy with the weave of the blanket covering my knees, one thatGrand-mèrecrocheted for me. “Yeah, it is. She also gave me some time off. A week. Guess I know what I’ll be doing.”

Seven days to wrap up my life in the city and to return to Pigeon Creek…

It shouldn’t be as daunting as it is, not when this marriage solves a lot of problems, but my mom didn’t raise no fool. Green flags or red flags, this is the opposite of a healthy relationship.

“I’ll be in touch with a moving company about transporting your belongings here,” he murmurs, breaking into the whirlpool of thoughts that’s been threatening to drown me all day.

“I appreciate that.”

I’d been wondering how I was going to pay for the expense.

But then I forgot how much of a gentleman he is.

“Just let me know the number of rooms you need to be packed.”

“I will, for sure.”

“The company will box up?—”

“No, it’s fine. Tee has time on her hands through the day and she promised to help me.”

---