Page 2 of Legally Yours

How could I have been so stupid?

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LIAM

Ican’t say that Las Vegas is my favorite part of the country – all that fakery mixed with tacky touches done in bad taste and the gratuitous displays of wealth makes me want to pull at my own teeth. Give me New York any day.

As CEO of a modeling agency, it’s my prerogative to know what constitutes good taste. As someone with more money than I could get through in ten lifetimes, I also know how best to use and show it.

Strange, then, that I should be traveling to such a place to get married, but that’s the position I now find myself in – though certainly not by choice. There aren’t many people I’d make such sacrifices for, but my mother is one of them.

Gravely ill with a heart problem, the last thing she can tolerate is stress of any kind and, as she’s frequently made reference to, I’m one of the potential main causes of such feelings. Being single is not something she thinks is good for me now in my thirties. I have everything else – money, status, a career.

There’s only one thing left.

Convinced I need to settle down, she’s made it her mission to see that I do just that. And, according to her, she knows the right person for the job. I’m not usually given to taking advice or instructions from others but when it comes to my mother, that’s another matter.

“I know you and Eunice will be a good match,” she says to me over the phone as I leave for the airport. “And I know it’s not been easy making decisions like this, but trust me, it will be for the best.”

There’s such hope in her voice that it’s hard not to get carried along with it. “Maybe you’re right,” I say to her. In business, I trust my instincts, and that’s carried over to personal matters, too. But when it comes to marriage, I have neither the knowledge nor experience.

“I just wish I could be there to see you both share your vows. I mean, it’s not exactly what I had in mind when I thought of my son getting married but still, I’d like to be there.”

“Me too, Mom.” In reality, the only people at the wedding I’m about to attend – my own wedding – will be Eunice and I, aside from the officials. It’s not the way I would have imagined it either, but that’s what Eunice chose, much to my mother’s disappointment.

Maybe Eunice has got a side to her that I don’t know about after all. A Las Vegas wedding isn’t my thing – in fact, it couldn’t be further from it! But it does intrigue me about my arranged fiance. And at least we have one thing in common – a large part of her request to get married in this way was because she didn’t want the fuss of a large wedding, opting for a smaller, quieter affair when we return.

“But there’s the church wedding in a month, remember,” I offer her, trying to make her feel better about the situation. “It’s probably best if you get some rest before then, anyway. What are the doctors saying?”

“Everything is fine,” she says. “I’ve got the best people, remember?”

I know this, of course. With access to the leading cardiologists on the east coast, I can at least rest knowing that she has the best care available to her. When it comes to looking after her, I’ll make sure she has everything she needs and more. Including my compliance when it comes to this marriage.

“Sure, well, that’s good. Look, my car’s going to be here any minute, so I’ll speak to you soon, okay?”

“Make sure you do – I want to hear all about it,” she says enthusiastically. “Give my love to Eunice…and make sure you send me some pictures!”

“Will do, speak soon,” I finish before hanging up. It’s a relief to know that she’s doing well, and the coming nuptials seem to have made all the difference to her health. I just hope they make me as happy.

Eunice is a childhood friend, someone from a similar background who knows my family well, but I've never been as sure about this as my mother seems to be. There was never a spark between us, despite spending so much time together when we were younger.

But I don’t want to let my mother down. If this is what it takes to make her happy and keep her well, then it’s the least I can do. As she’s reminded me over and over again, marriage isn’t like the movies – it’s something that you have to work at. Something that grows with time.

There’s no time to dwell on those things now, though. I’m about to fly out to get married. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with it, the same way I do everything else. This time tomorrow, I’ll be a married man with a wife and once I’ve put my mind to something, I’ll do everything I can to make sure that it works.

You don’t get to be in the position I’m in without hard work, determination, and the desire to win. These are the things that make me who I am. The marriage will work out because it has to. Failing or losing just isn’t an option – never has been.

My phone buzzes, alerting me to the fact my car is here. Collecting my things, I make my way down, feeling an unusual sense of apprehension.

Marriage.

It’s not what I expected to feel, though given my thoughts about the match I can hardly be surprised. If anything, it’s the strangeness of being suddenly vulnerable. Not an emotion I’m used to at all.

I’m heading to Las Vegas to meet my soon-to-be wife. Not something I ever thought would run through my mind, yet here I am. I can’t be a hundred percent sure of the match, even though my mother is. But the odds are good, and so that works for me.

Eunice is at least dependable – it could always be worse.

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