Page 16 of Legally Yours

“See, Liam? I told you they’re wonderful people! Mom, where’s Brayton? Liam, he’s my little brother.”

I nod as Grace explains that he didn’t want to stop playing with his friend. “So, his friend’s parents offered to watch him for us while we came to pick you up.”

Cassandra smiles. “Brayton is eight. And he is one stubborn child! When he wants to do something, he won’t be taken away from it.”

“Yeah, that sounds like my cousin’s children to me.” I feel comfortable with her parents. But I am painfully aware of the giant question looming over all of us. We’re going to have to explain how we were both cheated on and how that led to us marrying. But no way am I going to bring up that our marriage is fake and temporary.

Andres opts to go straight home. “We have to get Brayton and bring him home. He knows his big sister is coming. And we want him to meet you, Liam.” What he doesn’t say is that he expects us to explain everything.

* * *

We get hometo the Bolkvadze home. I take our luggage inside and drop it in Cassandra’s bedroom. I look around at the spacious room, getting more of an understanding of my wife. Andres directs me to the dining room, where Grace and Cassandra are pouring sweet tea and slicing pound cake.

Andres clears his throat. “Okay, Cassandra, Liam. Explain to us what happened.”

I clear my throat and recount the story of how I was stood up by another woman, but in the end it worked out as I met the person I really was meant to be with.

“Something similar happened to me. David cheated on me with Emma. I broke up with him and Emma is no longer my friend,” Cassandra explains. “But, now that it’s over and I met Liam, I’m actually glad that it happened.”

Just then, Brayton, Cassandra’s younger brother, comes running in. He stops cold when he sees me, then he walks up. “Hi! Who are you?”

“Brayton, we’ve taught you better!” cries his father.

Brayton isn’t even fazed. “Okay, Dad.” Then, he turns back to me. “I’m Brayton Bolkvadze.” He sticks his hand out for me to shake.

I grab his hand and shake it. “And I’m Liam Anderson. I’m your brother-in-law.”

“Brother – what’s that?”

“I married your sister. That makes us brothers-in-law. We’re like brothers without the blood connection.”

“Oh!” His face crinkles in a really cute way. “So how can we be brothers if there’s no blood connection?”

Hmmm. The kid has me stumped. I sit down next to him and look at his dad, who chuckles. “Well, it means that, because I’m married to your sister, who does have a blood connection to you, we have a legal connection.”

Brayton still looks confused, but decides to accept my answer. “Ok. I think.”

“Liam, can we finish talking, please?” Andres stands in the hallway.

“Sure. Brayton, I’ll be right back.”

“Yeah, ‘cuz we’re gonna play with Legos.”

I laugh. He’s a cute kid.

Andres looks at me seriously now that Brayton is gone. “Now. You’re married to my daughter. I want you to take good care of her. I love my girl, and I only want what’s best for her.”

Solemnly, I nod. “I will take care of her. I promise you that. I’ll always take care of her.” I feel a little guilty for being less than truthful to them. My truth is that I like them tremendously. And I see how Cassandra turned out so well.

For the rest of the evening, before going to bed, we have dinner, then I play with Brayton. As he decreed, we play with Legos, building some pretty fantastic creations.

“Brayton. It’s bedtime.” Grace taps her watch, reminding him.

“Aww, but Mom! We’re playing. And getting to know each other. Liam is pretty nice.”

“Yes, son. I agree, but it’s bedtime. Come on, now.” Eventually, Grace wears him down, and he traipses off reluctantly, complaining the whole time.

By now, Cassandra has joined me in the living room. We both have glasses of iced tea. I look at her as I laugh. “He’s a firecracker!”

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