Page 122 of My Wife
I slide the door open a few inches, looking down at a pair of bare feet. Big ones. Size fifteens. Toothbrush in my mouth, I can only imagine my current look—fit for neither man nor beast.
However, Liam’s expression is the gravest I’ve ever seen it, sending a shockwave of anxiety through me.
“Is KJ okay?”
He nods. “Got a full report this morning. Happy as a clam.” His tone is low, dry.
“Are you all right?” I ask, considering what I learned from Ingrid and how returning to certain places can dredge up emotions.
“We have a problem.”
I knew better than to let myself fall asleep beside Liam. “But you snuck out of the room before anyone woke up.”
He shakes his head. “Not that.”
I wave my free hand, nervous with anticipation. “Please explain.”
“They’re planning the wedding while we’re still here in Canada.”
“Who? What?” I ask, while white foam from the toothpaste drools from the corner of my mouth.
From the foot of the stairs, Mrs. Ellis calls, “Liam, Jess, honey, we’re heading over to Peppertree Lane. You’d better hurry up if you want pancakes.”
“I do. I really do.” Realizing how that sounds in the context of the bomb Liam just dropped I say, “I mean, breakfast.”
Lifting his voice, Liam replies to his mom, “We’ll be right behind you.”
He shuffles me into the bathroom and leans against the counter while I rinse my mouth and face. His gaze never leaves me. In this small space, it’s a small space and hard to ignore him, sending a blaze across my cheeks.
“How do you know this?”
“The grandmothers got it in their heads that we’re going to get married here, now.”
“Even Grandma Dolly?” In the mirror, I pale. She knows it’s all a sham, so why would she encourage it?
“She’s already having the kid practice how to carry the pillow with the rings on it using a pair of chocolate-covered pretzels.”
I cover my laughter with my hand and because I’m in shock. Then my palm slides up to my forehead and I pace the three steps in part of the bathroom not taken up by Liam.
He lassoes me in his arms.
Whoa. Swizzles.
His eyes pin me in place.
I swallow.
He says, “Naturally, my mother was concerned about the short notice. Aunt Goldie was worried your family wouldn’t be able to make it in time.”
“I don’t have any other family.”
“That’s what Grandma Dolly told them. What you said last night about mine ...” He lets out a long breath. “I want them to be yours.”
“Until we tell them we’re splitting up.” Because that has to happen eventually with a fake marriage. My thoughts race with what it will do to KJ. Who will he live with? Liam may be a brute, but his family will see that he married a monster to agree to something so wrong and lie.
Liam says, “Listen, I know that this is a lot. But I’m willing to sign on until KJ is grown.”
“That’s like fifteen years.” And sounds like a business deal. Which this is.
