Page 5 of Fearless
A gorgeous woman with red hair weaved into a French braid comes over to introduce herself. “I’m Leanna, Carter’s other half. I’ll be joining you for the excursion down to the Keys.” She rubs her hands together. “I can’t wait to play with all the cool toys.”
I’m not sure what “cool toys” she’s talking about, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough. As an agent for the FBI, we have some pretty nifty tools at our disposal as well. She slings an arm around my shoulders and guides me toward the living area, where the rest of the women have taken up all the available space except for a spot in the middle of the sofa. Apparently, the spot is reserved for me.
Leanna points to a dainty woman with short blonde hair cut into a bob and silver eyes that remind me of Roger. “That’s Claire, Ben’s wife. You already know Amelia, Savannah, and Jessie,” she says, pointing to each of them in turn. “Last but certainly not least is Rosie. She’s Jerry’s fiancée, and they’ll be married in a few short weeks.”
“It’s great to meet you all, but you do realize that this marriage is only real on paper, right?” I ask. “It’s just a farce so that we can stay at the resort to do some investigating and find my parents.” I can’t understand why all these women are going to such lengths for something that amounts to some hasty “I do’s.”
Everyone laughs except for me. Jessie points to Amelia, “She’sa matchmaker extraordinaire. Amelia is like a dog with a bone if there’s even an ounce of romance in the air.”
Amelia smiles and bounces on her toes, proving Jessie’s statement to be true. “I have a plan to keep you and Roger together in the ‘forever’ category. I have a good feeling about the two of you!”
I shake my head adamantly. “Roger doesn’t see me that way, Amelia. I will always be my father’s daughter to him and the little girl he used to tell stories to.”
Savannah pats my knee gently. “But you want him to see you differently. Am I right?”
“By the time we’re done with her, Roger won’t have a choice,” Amelia says with a mischievous glint in her eye. Amelia hands me a gift. “It’s time to open presents. This one is from Jessie and Savannah.”
I secretly love getting gifts, but I hesitate to open the one sitting on my lap. Jessie nudges me playfully and says, “Go ahead and rip that paper to shreds. It’s the best part of opening a present!”
I tear the wrapping off the box, but I lift the lid cautiously. I pull out what looks like a corset, but yet it’s not. “If this is supposed to be lingerie, it’s not very sexy,” I quip.
Savannah giggles. “It’s ultra-thin body armor and feels like a second skin. It’s top-of-the-line and can save your life. Just ask Jessie.”
Jessie rubs her ribcage and nods approvingly. “Yep. I can attest that it works as advertised. If you are going to be one of us, it’s mandatory that you wear one. Trust me, everyone will give you grief if you don’t.”
I almost cry because I have always wanted to be part of their group, but I manage to hold the tears at bay. Instead, I ask Jessie, “I take it that you know from experience?” Her face scrunches up, and she dips her chin once. I gesture toward the gift. “Thank you. It’s very thoughtful.”
Leanna hands me another gift and smiles, showing me all her pearly whites. “This one is from Carter and me. He actually picked it out, but don’t let him know that I told you that.”
Inside the small box is a pair of blue sapphire teardrop earrings. “Thank you, but this is too much,” I say. “The two of you don’t even know me.”
Rosie pipes up. “You mean the world to Roger, and therefore, you mean the world to us. You’re family whether you’re married to Roger or not.” She winks before handing another package to me. “This one is from Jerry and me.”
By the time I open the last gift, I have body armor, earrings, a necklace, a swimsuit, a designer gown, Zanotti heels, and lingerie in my possession. Amelia points to the nightie. “That’s a ‘just in case you decide to stay married’ gift. If my plan works out, Roger will be the one blushing instead of you!” I place the palm of my hand against my cheek and can feel the heat from my embarrassment.
When there is a knock at the door, Savannah jumps up and shouts, “I got it!” When she returns, she’s holding another box. “One more gift, and then it’s time to get ready for the big day!”
“But you guys already gave me presents, which was totally unnecessary, by the way,” I say.
“Pish posh,” Savannah chides. “This last gift isn’t from anyof us.”
I take the large box from her hands and remove the pretty pink ribbon. I read the card,
Harper,
You are beautiful no matter what you wear simply because you have a pure heart and a kind soul. Your smile lights up a room, and your eyes twinkle like the stars. Although this marriage may not be real in your eyes, I thought you might want something special for today.
Love,
Roger
Inside the box is a classic white, strapless gown with a heart-shaped bodice and delicate glass beadwork along the waistline. It’s absolutely exquisite and far more luxurious than anything I had planned to wear. The ladies“ooh”and“ahh”over the dress while I sit there in stunned silence, trying once again to hold back the tears. It’s a thoughtful gesture on Roger’s part, but I can’t help but wish this wedding was real. I mean, technically it’s real, but not in the true sense of what a marriage should be.
Ariella claps her hands together. “Let’s not let this beautiful dress go to waste. We have work to do!”
For the next two hours, my hair is woven into an intricate updo, and my makeup is flawless. The dress fits like a glove and hugs my curves perfectly. I look ready for a wedding that should be held in a church, not in a courthouse.
Instead of standing in front of a Justice of the Peace, I’m whisked away to a small church just north of the city. Upon our arrival, I’m dragged into one of the side rooms that has a small couch and told to wait there. The ladies scurry away, and I use my time alone to admire the dress and talk to God.
