Practically Married

by Karin Beery

  Great. Russ pressed a finger to his throbbing temple. Between his ex and sisters, maybe he’d make it to his wedding in two or three hours. Why were there so many women?

  “I think I’ll give you some space.” Ashley walked through the room and toward the front door.

  Russ’ sisters stepped out of the kitchen as she strode away. He could let her leave—he’d already let one woman walk away, but letting Jess go had been freeing. As Ashley put her coat on, something inside him broke. When she stepped outside, he lurched.

  “Ashley!” He took four steps to get outside. Another three to catch up to her beside her car. “Please don’t leave.”

  She stopped at the driver’s door, hands in her pockets, her back to him. Russ braced himself for an argument. Tears. A slap. He could take it. He probably deserved it. But when she turned around, bright eyes shone up at him. “I’m not leaving you. I’m leaving the house,” she said.

  Hope threatened. “How is that not leaving?”

  “Listen, I understand that you have a past. I have a past. This isn’t a conventional arrangement, so I have no expectations of normalcy, but things have gotten a little crazy in there.” She crossed her arms, rubbing her hands over her sleeves as she looked up at the house. “I’ve been dreaming about being part of a family for years, but the reality is more than I expected.”

  Russ couldn’t stop his smile. “They can be a little overwhelming.”

  “They can, but it’s not enough to scare me away.”

  If it wasn’t his sisters, then … “Is it Jess?”

  Ashley shivered. “Sort of.” Her hazel eyes turned back to him. “It’s kind of surprising. A little disturbing, maybe.” Her cold white hand landed on his arm, and Russ wrapped it in his hands. “You don’t need to tell me everything that happened between you, but I need time to think without an audience.”

  Russ rubbed his palms over her warming skin. “Then you’re not mad at me?”

  “I’m a little frustrated. Maybe disappointed.” She looked at his hands. “Confused.”

  “I’m sorry about all of this. With the exception of Jess, the rest of them come with me. Can you handle that?”

  She puckered her lips then wiggled them back and forth, the same way she had yesterday. Without looking at him, she nodded. He wanted to see those eyes again, see if he could figure out what she was thinking. Russ tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his.

  Ashley sucked in a sharp breath. “I can’t think when I’m this close to you.”

  He released her hand and stepped back. “Better?”

  “Not really, but it’ll have to do.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I need to know … do you want to get married? Not just to me, but in general. Do you even want a wife?”

  His heart boomed. “Yes.”

  “Then why me? Why not Jess?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Give me the short version.”

  He sighed. “We met at an agriculture expo three years ago. Two years ago we started dating. She brought up marriage, and I couldn’t see it. I tried to break up with her for weeks, but she kept calling and showing up. Twelve months ago she moved.”

  “And she’s here because she thinks you two have a chance?”

  “No, she misunderstood why we had problems, and she thought I might change my mind. You know, she stormed out of my house a dozen times when we were together, and I never wanted to follow her.” He inched closer to Ashley.

  She shifted her balance. “You wanted to follow me?”

  “Looks like it.”

  Her gaze flickered down to his lips. “But this is still about—”

  “Practicality and commitment. I remember.”

  She inhaled, her breath shaky. “You and me. I won’t be alone anymore.”

  He chuckled. “Even if I’m gone, there’s a house full of people behind us who will make sure you’re never alone, whether you want to be or not.”

  “Like when we’re trying to plan a secret wedding?”

  “Exactly.”

  The edge of her mouth twitched. Finally, a smile.

  “We’re still on for this afternoon?” he asked.

  “Yes. I gave you my word, and I won’t take that back.”

  “I expected as much. We did kiss on it.” And that kiss haunted him more than he cared to admit.

  “I remember,” she whispered. “I’ll meet you in town, I promise, but I’d like to drive around to clear my head.”

  Russ checked his watch. “We need to be there in sixty-five minutes. Do you remember how to get to the inn?”

  “Take Copper Trail into town, then follow the signs?”

  “Good. I’ll stop at the courthouse to get the license.”

  Her posture relaxed. “I’d like that.”

  “Do you have a dress you want to wear?”

  “No, I’m fine. I can wear it Saturday. I’d like to get going.”

  Sensible. Confident. Russ liked her more every day. “Drive safe.”

  She flashed him a full, breathtaking smile. “I promise.”

  His sisters and Jess were undoubtedly watching through the front window, but Russ couldn’t resist Ashley’s magnetism. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “I’ll see you at the inn.”

  CHAPTER 21

  As soon as Russ stepped onto the porch, Liz opened the door. Everyone gathered around her in the foyer, their gazes pressing on him like a lead dental apron. “I don’t have time for this,” he said. “You’re going to have to wait until this weekend. I need a shower.”

  Jess pushed her way to the front, zipping her coat. “I didn’t believe Emily when she called me, but I had to see it for myself.” His ex managed a tight smile. “I really do wish you the best, and I’ll be here for you if anything goes wrong.”

  He grabbed her arm as she walked past. “Did you get whatever you came here looking for?”

  “I wasn’t looking for anything, but that”—she pointed down the driveway—“does not make sense.”

  Neither did the fact that he was still having this conversation. Russ released her arm and stepped inside. “I’m okay with that. Like I said, I need a shower.”

  She shook her head as she hurried away. One down, three to go. Russ closed the door and headed straight for the steps.

  “No you don’t!” Liz ran in front of him, her skinny arms stretched out as if she could hold him back. “You weren’t going to tell me?” Kristy whined in the other room.

  “Don’t you need to answer that?”

  “The boys can handle it.”

  Russ sighed. “Don’t take it personally. I wasn’t going to tell any of you.”

  Liz scrunched up her lips.

  “Don’t manipulate me with that pouty face. I hate it.”

  “Do it, Lizzie.” Rachel stepped up beside her. “He hasn’t answered any of our questions yet. What are we supposed to think about any of this? Do we get to come to the wedding? How are we supposed to handle this?”

  “Ewww! Mommy!” Phin ran into Rachel and latched onto her leg. Laughter erupted from the other room. “Kisty ’ploded!”

  Liz raced into the living room. Before Russ could take another step, Carrie wrapped her arm around his. “Come on, Russ. We want to support you, but we don’t understand. The least you could do is give us a bit of comfort in knowing you haven’t lost your mind.”

  Russ sat on the stairs, kicked his feet out, and leaned back on his elbows. Why had God given him sisters? Carrie sat on his left, Rachel on his right. The same way they’d sat after Dad’s funeral. He patted their knees. “This isn’t a sad day, you know. It’s my wedding day.”

  Rachel leaned against the arm rail. “How long before you need to leave?”

  “About forty minutes.”

  “Then start talking.”

  *******

  Ashley threw the map on the passenger seat. She remembered exactly how to find the inn once she was in town—turn right at the light, follow Main
Street around the big curve, left at the bowling alley, and up the hill. First building on the right. Russ had shown her pictures and made her commit the map to memory. Why hadn’t he been as insistent with the directions to get into town?

  There weren’t that many roads in the area. Why did they all have the same name? How was she supposed to know Copper Trail South and Copper Trail North weren’t two sides of the same road? Looked like it was time for another U-turn, then she’d like to have a talk with the road commissioner.

  Shifting the car into reverse again, Ashley started her multi-point turn on the narrow dirt road. Her tires spun in the mud until finally grabbing hold and throwing the car backward. Mud spewed everywhere, even splattering the windshield. So much for time alone to relax. What a nightmare.

  She checked the clock again. 3:50. Ashley’s chest tightened. Russ would be picking up the license now. She had ten minutes to get to the inn, and she had no idea how long it would take to get there.

  She needed to call Russ. By the time she dug her phone out of her purse, she had the car heading the right direction. Raindrops plopped on the windshield. Maybe the rain would wash off the mud. She flipped on the wipers as she dialed information.

  Silence, except for the tinkling raindrops and screeching wiper blades. Ashley held the phone up in front of her. No signal.

  The car fishtailed. Ashley dropped the phone, white-knuckling the wheel. She swerved to the right. Rain and mud covered the windshield. She tapped the breaks. Steered left. Held on. The car kept moving, moving, moving. The front end dropped.

  Ashley gasped.

  WHUMP!

  The seatbelt cut into her shoulder, pinching her skin but holding her tight against the seat. Her pulse pounded in her ears as her lungs inhaled and exhaled with gale-force breaths. At least the car had stopped moving.

  She sucked in a slow, deep breath, her chest expanding against the tight seatbelt as her heart calmed down. Then reality set in. A car accident, but she’d survived. Relief and terror ripped through her. Rain continued to pelt the windshield, sliding left across the glass. That couldn’t be good. Ashley sped up the wipers. After a few swipes, she identified grass and dirt in front of her. Definitely not good. She stuffed the map and phone into her purse. With a shaky breath, Ashley opened her door.

  Ice-cold raindrops assaulted her as the wind howled through the trees. She slammed the door. Only an idiot would go out in that weather. An idiot or a desperate woman. She could wait for the rain to pass, but without reception she couldn’t check the weather to see how long that would take. She wasn’t going to get reception sitting in her car. Hoping for anything she could wrap around herself, she searched the backseat. Nothing. Maybe the trunk.

  Sliding between the front seats, she pushed herself over the center console, then dropped onto the back seat. She pulled down the passenger-side backrest and reached into the dark trunk. Carpet. Carpet. Towel. Ashley yanked on the fabric. About the size of a newspaper and covered with the rental company’s logo, it wouldn’t offer much protection, but she wrapped it around her shoulders anyway. She only needed to walk until she had cell-phone coverage, however long that would take.

  *******

  The door at the inn remained closed. Russ checked his watch. 4:30.

  Mom touched his arm. “Maybe you should call her.”

  “No, she’ll be here.”

  “I know what she said, but—”

  “She’ll be here.”

  “Honey, at least call to see if she’s okay.”

  Rain blurred the inn’s view. Most cars could handle the freezing rain on the main roads, but he didn’t live on the main roads, and Ashley could have taken any number of routes to town. And she was driving that ridiculous car. He wanted to make sure she was safe, but … he sighed. “I don’t have her number.”

  Pastor Stanford slapped him on the back. “Son, how long do you want to wait?”

  The front door opened—finally! One second of relief died a quick death when a group of strangers walked in.

  Annoyed, Russ faced the pastor. “I don’t know how long to wait. I just got used to the idea of being married. I hadn’t considered it not happening.”

  “I can give you ten more minutes, but then I need to head home. The grandkids are coming over for dinner, and Mary would be disappointed if I showed up late.”

  Russ understood the disappointment of being stood up, and he wouldn’t burden Mary with it. “Why don’t you head home now?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. Regardless of what happened, we won’t be able to do this today. I’ll call you to reschedule after I touch base with Ashley.”

  The pastor offered his hand. “Call me if you need to talk. Anytime.”

  Russ shook his hand. “Thank you.” As the pastor walked away, Russ pulled out a chair for his mom and took the seat next to her. Now what? She produced a phone and started dialing.

  His throat tightened. “I told you, I don’t have Ashley’s number.”

  “I’m calling your sisters. They’ll want to know what happened.”

  “No.” He stole the phone. “They’ve harassed us enough today. Now Ashley’s AWOL. I doubt it’s a coincidence.”

  Mom’s jaw tightened. “You don’t really think they scared her off, do you?”

  How should he know? She said it didn’t bother her, but she also said she'd be there. Russ tossed the phone on the table, but abusing technology didn’t make him feel any better. “Maybe I should go look for her.”

  “Where would you go?” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, her hand trembling.

  “Don’t get yourself worked up. I don’t actually think this has anything to do with the girls.”

  “I’m not worried about that. Ashley doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who scares easily.” Mom gave a tight smile. “My mother’s instincts are kicking in. I’ve already imagined a dozen reasons why she’s not here, and none of them are pleasant.”

  Neither were the ideas fighting in Russ’ imagination. He wouldn’t give in to fear, though. Not now. “Did you see her tiny car? It’s not even hers. It’s a rental. Who knows how well that thing handles?”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Russell?” A young woman wearing black pants and a long white apron stepped toward them. “You have a phone call.”

  His stomach flipped. “Should I follow—”

  The girl handed him a wireless phone.

  Anxiety coursed through him, shaking him to the core, but he stilled his hand enough to take the phone. “Hello?”

  “Russ?”

  Ashley! He jumped to his feet. “Thank God. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I’m so sorry. I—”

  “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

  “I’m in a tow truck on my way back to your house.”

  “A tow truck? What happened?”

  “I forgot how to get to town, then I got stuck in the mud, and there was no cell service, so I had to walk about a mile, but then I didn’t have your phone number, so I called information and—”

  “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” Mom stood in front of Russ, her eyes wide. “It’s Ashley, she’s fine. She got lost, then stuck in the mud. She’s on the way home right now.”

  The creases of Mom’s face relaxed, and she gave him a genuine smile. “Now I’m going to call the girls.”

  “Thanks.” Russ let his mom hug him, absorbing some of her relief. Ashley’s voice wasn’t enough to push the weight off his back, though. He needed to see her. Touch her. Know she was safe. “Do you remember how to get to my house?”

  “Yeah. The driver’s name is Pete. He said he knows you.”

  Pete Hanson, Russ’ high-school classmate. “He’s a good guy. Ask him to wait with you until I get there.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’m wet but fine.”

  “You might be, but I’m not. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “Drive slow. It�
��s slick out.”

  Outside, the gray sky hid the sun, muting nature’s glory as a herd of emotions trampled through Russ. Relief. Frustration. Terror. He wasn’t sure which feeling to wrangle first.

  Mom stepped beside him and leaned her head against his arm. “I knew it would be okay.”

  “You did?”

  She shrugged. “I hoped. Why don’t you head home? I’ll talk to the manager for you. Give Ashley a hug for me.”

  “Sure.” A hug, or something else.

  CHAPTER 22

  Russ twisted his fists around the steering wheel, his eyes on the wrecker. Frustration rose again, but he wrestled it down. In the past few days, he’d let down his guard, and no matter how many times he reminded himself it was a marriage of convenience, his emotions fought to confuse and control him. As he approached Pete’s wrecker, common sense told him to say thank you and pay the man, but his tumultuous emotions told him to grab Ashley and hold on.

  Russ pulled alongside the house where Ashley’s mud-streaked car sat. Relief chased common sense down the driveway. He jumped from the truck and jogged inside to see for himself that she was okay. Shoving the front door open, his heart calmed as laughter greeted him. A fire crackled.

  “Ashley?” He stepped into the living room. She sat on one end of the couch, smiling.

  She pointed at the fireplace. “Pete made a fire to help me warm up.”

  Pete raised a hand. “It’s looking a little sad, but it’ll catch. Good to see you.”

  “Thanks for taking care of Ashley.” Russ tossed his coat on the rack, then kicked his wet shoes in the corner.

  “There wasn’t much taking care of. She made the coffee and brought me the kindling, but I’m happy to help however I can.”

  “Still, it’s appreciated.”

  Pete met Russ halfway between the couch and the door. “I’d love to wait for the coffee, but I need to get going. I was on my way to another stop when Ashley called. As soon as she said your name, I figured I should get to her first. I couldn’t justify letting your girl stand in the rain while I hauled a dead truck to the scrapyard.”

  “You’re a good man, Hanson.” Russ shook Pete’s hand.