Page 24 of A Chance for Us
“Oh! This is just wonderful! I have to tell Marivett, she’ll be just floored. Delia didn’t tell us you were getting married when we were over visiting with her and Josh the other day. Heavens me, I am just beside myself. Who would’ve believed this? Another Parkerson tying the knot so quickly. And you, my sweet, wonderful Oliver, you’re nothing like that wastrel of a father you have. Thank God for that. You’re a fine young man, just like your brothers and Stella of course. Why, if I were younger, I would be chasing you around this town.”
Oliver shakes his head. “You wouldn’t have had to chase me far. I might have even let you catch me. Now, about the license?”
Mrs. Garner ignores him. “And you’re just a vision. What’s your name, sweetheart? And how did you meet our Oliver? He’s so dreamy it’s no wonder you’re in love with him.”
“I’m Maren, and we went to college together.” At least that isn’t a lie.
“Oh, and you realized that you were in love from the start?” She clutches her hand to her chest. “I’m sure you saw him from across the room and just knew. Like magic. I think love is like that. You see someone andboom. . . it happens. That’s how it was for me, you see. I met my husband in first grade. He was a stupid boy because they all are at that age. When we got out of school, he went to work for his daddy and I went away to college. When I came back, we saw each other and were married a week later. Your story must be so romantic. Nothing like those two girls beforehand who broke your heart.”
“Something like that,” Oliver says under his breath. “Would you be able to get us the forms, Mrs. Garner? I have to take Maren to a few other places today.”
“Yes. Of course. I’ll need you both to fill this out and then we’ll issue the certificate today.”
“Thanks,” he says. When she walks away, he turns to me. “This is going to be an issue.”
“What?”
“In about ten minutes, the entire town will know about our upcoming wedding. I’m going to have to explain to everyone what happened when you never return to town.” He runs his hands through his hair. “I didn’t even consider this. Shit.”
It’s a good thing I have already thought of this issue. “You just need to blame me and tell everyone that I’m a horrible girl who broke your heart. They will see how you’re the victim.”
He shakes his head and gets to work with his portion of the form. “It doesn’t work that way for the Parkerson men.”
“Why?”
“My father is a piece of shit. He’s known around here for being a cheater, manipulator, and jackass. People here will assume I’m at fault no matter what I tell them because of him.”
Oliver finishes and hands it to me. I take it, filling out all the appropriate boxes, still a little shellshocked we are doing this.
“She seemed to love you,” I note absently, pondering over his statement about his father.
“Not sure that will stop the gossip. It won’t really matter that I’m nothing like him or that I’m the easygoing Parkerson who laughs at everything.”
“I remember that about you,” I say softly.
I never really thought about why he did that. Why he always seemed to make himself the center of the laugh. Maybe it was because he was trying so hard not to be so serious.
“Yeah, well, nothing about this will be funny when the town sees our marriage fails and I look like the man I loathe.”
“I’m sorry, Ollie.” And I really am. I hate putting him through this. I scrawl my signature at the bottom and turn to him. “I want you to know that no matter what gossip is spread, you are a hero to me. You’re kind and helping a friend when you didn’t have to. I know you have reasons to do this as well and while it’s not completely selfless, you have the best intentions.”
Before Oliver can comment, Mrs. Garner is back. “Are you done with the form, honey?”
Oliver hands the filled out form to her. “Here you go.”
She takes it with a smile, looking at me. “You are so beautiful. It’s no wonder Oliver couldn’t help but fall in love with you.”
I smile. “Thank you. It’s me who is the lucky one though.”
He chuckles. “Clearly, we know that’s not true. Mrs. Garner has known me since I was in diapers and is well aware of my failings.”
She makes a dismissive noise. “You are nothing close to a failure, Oliver Parkerson. You were always my favorite.”
He leans in. “Don’t tell anyone this, but you were mine too.”
She blushes a little. “You and your silver tongue.”
Oliver winks. Literally winks at the woman. “Remember, it’s our secret.”
