Page 13 of A Chance for Us
“No. If I do, they won’t come and then I may not get to see him before he . . .”
“Right, because Linda doesn’t let anyone at the house. What about the rest of your family?”
“I don’t know. If I tell them, they won’t come either. What if this is their only chance to see him where Linda had no damn excuse.”
Devney sighs. “Okay, so . . . we don’t tell them anything yet. We’ll let them show up and then . . . surprise. No groom. You don’t think they’ll be upset if they find out he dumped you before the wedding?”
I focus on the road, taking the turns and letting my mind roam a bit for options. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Okay. Well, I’m here. I’ve got your back, and we’ll get through this. We can keep this all on the downlow, and when they get here, I’ll help you explain it. It’s better to have the weekend with your dad than to cancel.”
“Yeah,” I say with defeat. “All he wants is to walk me down the aisle. I know it sounds crazy, but he says it’s the only reason he’s fighting to hold on. It’s probably best that Oliver did it before we were all together, otherwise my father may have tried to kill him.”
She laughs. “Well, too bad we can’t just conjure up another Oliver for you to marry. Your dad never met him, so it wouldn’t be like he would know the difference.”
As I take the next turn, the craziest idea hits me.
What if I did have an Oliver I could conjure up?
“What’s the face for?” Devney asks.
“What face?”
“The one that says you’re about to do something stupid.”
Not stupid. Completely and utterly insane.
“I have an idea.”
Devney shifts in her seat. “I was worried you did. What is it?”
“Well, there’s an Oliver right here, and . . . he’s a friend who would help if I asked.”
Her mouth drops. “Oh no. No way. You can’t ask Oliver Parkerson to marry you. That’s...that’s crazy!”
“Is it, though? You just said we need an Oliver.”
“Maren! That is not what I meant, and you know it!”
“Well, I can’t tell my dying father that I don’t have a groom and the one thing he wants is gone now too. I can’t do it, Dev. I have to try something . . . anything . . . to give him this. He’s going to die, and—”
I can’t. That’s all I keep thinking. I literally can’t say it. I can’t tell him that he can’t walk me down the aisle or give me away. There’s not a chance I can get the words past my lips.
I would rather lie to him and give him what he’s always wanted than let him down. I have to at least try. If Oliver won’t do it, then I’ll have to break my father’s heart and pray it doesn’t kill him.
Dramatic? Maybe. Out of options? Yes.
“This is crazy,” Devney says as we approach the resort where we are set to meet Oliver Parkerson and his family.
“It’s desperation.”
“You know this is insane, right?”
I sigh, pulling my blonde hair to the side. “I know.”
“You’re my ride or die bestie so I’ll be right here and I’ll do what I can.”
I nod. “That’s all I ask.”
