Page 15 of Legally Yours

We talk, but my ringing phone interrupts us. I pick it up and see that mom is calling.

“Cassandra, we saw you on the news. You got married, but not to David! Why did you marry someone named Liam? We all want an explanation from you. We also want to meet this Liam, so come home with him.”

“Hi, Mom. Yes, a lot has happened over the past few days. I didn’t marry David because he was cheating on me with Emma, and I never want to see him again. I’m happy now. Hold on while I ask him if he wants to go to Georgia this weekend.”

I turn to him. “Mom wants us both to go to Georgia. My family wants to meet you and find out why we married each other.” As I wait for his answer, my face feels hot and flushed. My heart is pounding, and my hands are shaky.

“Sure, I’d love to meet them. This weekend is fine. But fair is fair. I got the same kind of call from my own mother earlier, right before you woke up. She wants to meet you. So we’ll have to go to her home.”

Nervously, I nod. “Okay.” Now my heart is pounding harder than ever! My mind is coming up with all kinds of scenarios, none of them good.What happened to me? I used to be more positive.

After breakfast, we wash, dry and put the dishes away. I can’t stand seeing a kitchen with dirty dishes. Mom taught me to take care of them as soon as a meal is over. Once we’re done, I can then get to work.

* * *

When I get there,I find that I have been scheduled for a fashion showdown that’s being presented soon. Not only that, but I’ll be going up against Emma.

“What? When was this scheduled?” I ask.

Leslie, who I’ve gotten closer to recently, tells me that Emma requested it. “She also requested that she compete against you.”

As soon as Leslie updates me, Emma walks in, sneering at me. “Oh! The famous model is here!” She stands with her feet spread wide, and her hands on her slender hips. “Even if you sleep your way to the top, Cassandra, I don’t care. As long as I am here, you can’t have the throne.”

I quash my anger down.No way is she going to get a rise out of me!So, I stand confidently, hands open at my sides. I raise one eyebrow. “Hah! Good luck, Emma. That throne was always mine. And you know it,” I snap, turning and walking away.

15

LIAM

Before Cassandra and I leave New York to go to Georgia, she begs me to act loving and sweet around her family. “I don’t want them to know that our marriage isn’t real and that we’ll be divorcing in six months.”

I agree. Of course I do! I want to help her. “Will you do the same for me when we meet my own mother?”

“Definitely! We were both blindsided, and we’re helping each other out. Just let me know what she likes and doesn’t like so I don’t mess up.”

“I will. Thank you.” I give her a tender kiss on the cheek.

Cassandra squirms from the contact

“Also, I think we should start touching and kissing each other. Practice doing so. Then when we’re with our families, it’ll look more natural.”

I look at my wife. She is so beautiful that I might as well take all the chances I can get. Slowly, I reach forward, slip my hand behind her neck and give her a short kiss on her lips. Whoa!

Cassandra giggles and pulls away slightly.

“See, we need to practice.” I just want to kiss her lips again and see if I get the same physical reaction.

* * *

After getting to the airport,we check our luggage and hurry to our gate. 45 minutes later, we board our flight, which only lasts two hours. It’s not long after that we walk out of arrivals to the excited faces of her parents waiting to greet us.

“Cassandra! You look beautiful! And, this must be Liam. . .” says her mother.

I smile at her parents, wrapping my arm around Cassandra’s slender waist.

“Liam, meet my parents. Andres Bolkvadze and Grace Bolkvadze. Mom, you and Dad look wonderful!”

“I am so happy to meet both of you.” I hug Grace when she hugs me. Andres gives me a man hug, so I reciprocate, slapping him gently on his back.

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