Page 25 of A Chance for Us
“Sign this before I fill in that I’m the bride,” she jokes.
Oliver moves his hand up my back. “If I wasn’t in love with Maren, I might just take you up on that.”
The blush that paints her face is adorable. “You watch this one, sweetheart. He’s one of a kind and you’re a lucky woman to have a chance with him.”
I grin. “I’m a lucky girl.”
“Yes, you sure are. Now, you’ll have to come by the house tomorrow and pick up something for you both.”
Oliver tilts his head. “For us? How could you have something for us?”
She pats his hand. “You don’t worry about that. I already have Marivett working her busy little hands.”
He groans. “Already?”
“Already what?” Mrs. Garner asks.
“You told her?”
She shakes her head. “Well, I had to get to work on a wedding present.” She gasps. “Oh! When is the wedding? I do hope it’s a big one.”
I step in quickly. “No, it’s just immediate family. We want it really small. My father is in cancer treatments, so we can’t expose him to too many people.”
Her eyes go soft as she takes my hand in hers. “You poor thing. The Lord took my Vincent just ten years ago. It was so hard to watch him go. Is he responding to the treatments?”
I shake my head. “No, the doctors say it won’t be long now.”
Moisture builds in my eyes, and I look away. Oliver wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me to him as emotions start to become too much. I sink into his embrace, letting his strength keep me up.
You’d think I would have come to terms with this. He’s been sick for so long, suffering and trying to live for whatever reason. Years ago, I thought I had accepted that my father wouldn’t live to see me married or meet my children. Now, I’m faced with the reality of it, and it’s so much harder than I thought.
Oliver clears his throat and rubs my back. “Thank you for everything, Mrs. Garner.”
“Of course. I’m sorry to make you cry, sweet girl. Come by tomorrow, don’t forget.”
I wipe at my tears and push a smile onto my lips. “We’ll be there.”
As we exit the courthouse, Oliver chuckles. “You have no idea what you just agreed to.”
Maybe not. “How about we go grab lunch and you can tell me what I’m in for.”
“Food is always a yes.”
I grin. Such a guy.
Eight
OLIVER
We got the license taken care of and picked out wedding rings that will be ready in a few days.
Of course, I looked like a total asshole because I never bought her an engagement ring since we aren’t really engaged, but try explaining that to Mrs. Villafane’s son. I really hoped to have lunch out of town, since we’d seen enough people for the day, but my sister demanded to meet with Maren, so we’re here at Jennie’s.
“Thank you for today,” Maren says as we sit.
“It’s not a problem.”
She tucks her hair behind her ears. “I wouldn’t say that. You did get a lecture on women and diamonds.”
