A Marriage Takes Two

by Janet Lane-Walters

  “Is your son all right?”

  “For the moment. I’m sure in time he’ll adjust.”

  “Won’t he go back to his mother?”

  “She relinquished custody. Her new husband has a problem with raising another man’s son.”

  “How unfeeling. Does Chad know?”

  “Marilyn said she told him he would be staying here, but I don’t think he believed her. He doesn’t even accept her marriage.”

  His gaze captured hers and she saw pain that raised in her a wish to soothe. That wasn’t why she’d come, but if he agreed to her proposition, she would find a way to help him and his son.

  “I’m glad you came,” he said. “It’s been too long since we’ve talked.”

  “Six years.”

  “I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you until I opened the door and saw you. Remember those nights when we hashed cases and treatments?”

  How could she forget? “Sure do.” Did he still have the same enthusiasm for solving medical problems? Hers had vanished. Work had become duty and routine. “Why did you leave the city?”

  “I thought...It doesn’t matter.”

  Why not, she wondered. Had he closed down after the divorce the way he had the night Marilyn accused them of things that never happened. She remembered what he’d said after Marilyn stormed away.

  “I’m married,” he had said. “Sure we’ve been friends for years, but Marilyn and the baby come first.”

  “I understand.” She had smiled and with her head held high, had walked away. At least she’d never told him she loved him.

  Tears blurred her vision. She forced the harsh memories away. “Did you come here to hide?”

  “Hardly. I left a lucrative and hectic practice to hold my marriage together. I thought Marilyn would appreciate the sacrifice of money for more time with each other.”

  “And you’re angry that she didn’t?”

  “Not particularly.” He looked away.

  “So why did you stay?”

  “For the challenge. People here need me.” He cleared his throat. “Ready to tell me why you came?”

  She took a deep breath. Her throat felt tight. “I need a husband. Will you marry me?”

  “What?” His eyes focused on her abdomen. He would kill the jerk. What lowlife would leave the woman who carried his child to bear the burden alone? “Who is he? And don’t make excuses for his behavior.”

  Her cheeks flamed. “That’s not why I need a husband.”

  The surge of adrenaline ebbed. Tony felt as though he’d run ten miles. “If you’re not pregnant, why do you need a husband?”

  “I…” She started to rise.

  He pulled her back. “You’re not laying this on me and bolting. Give.”

  “So I can provide Mom with the things she needs and only work one job.”

  “You’re not making sense. Does it look like I’ll be much help financially?” He waited for an answer and prayed he could endure one of her convoluted explanations.

  “I don’t need your money. Just your name. You see, my grandfather died and left me a lot of money.”

  “Didn’t he die before you were born?”

  “Mom’s dad did. This was my father’s dad. Just because he didn’t acknowledge me doesn’t mean he didn’t exist.”

  “Am I missing something here? Why do you need to be married?”

  “The money can’t be used without the approval of the husband I don’t have. Archaic, right?” What she failed to mention were the nights when her grandfather had been her patient and the conversations they’d had about her life, and her love for Tony Flynn.

  He paused. He wanted to help her, but marriage? Especially one with a built-in failure factor? Could he risk ruining the tenuous bond he had with his son for the woman who’d been his best friend? “Carrie...I...”

  “Just until the money’s released and I have a trust set up for Mom. Then I’ll split. Please. You’ll hardly see me.”

  “As in you’ll be working two jobs?”

  She nodded. “I don’t even have to live here. I have an apartment in the city.”

  “How would we see if the marriage will work?” He groaned. Why had he said that? Had he gone crazy? The last thing he needed was another marriage and another woman to disappoint.

  “Why would you want to stay married?” she asked.

  “I don’t believe in divorce.”

  “But you are.”

  She had him there. Not only was he divorced, but Marilyn had had the marriage annulled. “When do you need to know? I can’t make this kind of decision on the spot.”

  “Tomorrow so we can get the license and have the wedding on Sunday.”

  “Why the rush?”

  “Because I’ve run out of time.” She stared at her hands.

  “And you waited until today?”

  “This hasn’t been the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

  The answer to her question wasn’t any easier for him. How would Chad react? “I’ll let you know.”

  She rose. “I’ll leave my number. Call me early, and please say yes.”

  “Do you work tonight?”

  “I’m off. Why?”

  “Stay here. You’re beat and it’s a hell of a drive back. I’d worry about you having an accident.”

  “Thanks.”

  “One thing this house has is plenty of bedrooms. I’ll lend you a tee shirt. Oh, if I get called out, would you mind if I wake you?”

  “No problem.”

  “Good. I’ll send Hazel home. She worries about leaving her husband alone at night. He has emphysema.”

  Carrie brushed his cheek with a feathery kiss. He clenched his hands to keep from grabbing her. She’d offered him what he’d wanted years ago and what he’d carelessly messed up.

  Marriage…Carrie…Chad!

  Oh Lord, what would he say to his son?

  Chapter 2

  Carrie slid beneath the covers in the guest room. Her thoughts bounced from hope to despair. She had asked him. He hadn’t said no, but he hadn’t agreed to be her husband either.

  She closed her eyes and visualized a scene that had been a feature of her dreams for years. A cathedral with sunlight streaming through a multitude of stained glass windows; a carpet of white rose petals covering the gray stone floor; Tony in a black tuxedo standing before the altar. He held out his hand and she floated toward him.

  With a moan, she cut off the fantasy. She couldn’t let him discover how much she wanted this marriage to last longer than the short time she’d requested. Not when he didn’t love her.

  She ran her hands over the white tee shirt — soft, comfortable, his. She wished the spicy scent of him still clung to the fabric, but the only aroma belonged to the fabric softener.

  Sleep seemed out of reach. Her thoughts raced. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow. She’d ask for his answer now. She slid to the edge of the bed. Maybe he had decided. She could slip down the hall to his room and demand to know his decision. Waiting was a drag.

  With a sigh, she slumped against the pillows. She had to stay in this room and practice patience. If she appeared at his bedside, he would laugh the way he had years ago when she’d teased him to know what was in every Christmas or birthday present before they were opened.

  What if he refused? Impossible! In all the years she’d known him, he’d never refused a reasonable request. Was a marriage proposal reasonable? Did she really know Tony today?

  She curled her arms around her knees. He’d changed. His eyes held shadows and his face bore lines. Had the divorce completed what his father’s desertion had begun? Had Tony forgotten how to trust?

  “Don’t go that way,” she whispered. Her future depended on his caring for her, and his trusting she wouldn’t hurt him.

  The reality of what her life would be if he didn’t marry her was drab. Her days would be bound by her mother’s needs and that was only right. Until she’d finished college, her mother worked as a secretary durin
g the day and as a waitress on weekends.

  She would do the same, but the inheritance held a promise she wanted. Until sleep chased them, her thoughts circled the possible scenarios that might take place in the morning.

  * * *

  The sound of Tony’s deep voice woke her. “Chad, time to be up and at ‘em.”

  The order made her smile and raised an eagerness to see him, an eagerness she had to hide. She sat on the edge of the bed and listened to a sleepy child beg for a few more minutes.

  “Come on, buddy.”

  “Five minutes, please.”

  “On your feet.”

  She scurried to the bathroom that adjoined the guest room. The green silk underwear she’d washed the night before hung on the shower curtain rod. After putting on the wisps of silk, she slid into her jeans and pulled a sweater several shades darker than her bra over her head. Then she finger-combed her hair.

  When she opened the door into the hall, she stifled a sigh. Tony looked better than he had in her dreams. What if he said no?

  “Don’t borrow trouble,” she whispered. She stepped into the hall and caught her first glimpse of Tony’s son. He was his father’s image in miniature. Her thoughts rocketed to her first encounter with Tony — the day he’d become her hero and her best friend.

  The boy stamped his foot. “It’s not fair.”

  “Life often isn’t.”

  Carrie’s breath caught. Tony leaned against the wall. Faded jeans covered his long legs. He wore no shirt. Her gaze focused on the mat of dark hair on his muscular chest. The man was a walking anatomy lesson for the muscular-skeletal system. She itched to explore the lines of his pectorals, intercostals and muscles she’d forgotten how to name.

  “Not fair. It’s not fair.”

  “And who promised it would be?” Tony asked.

  Carrie held in a chuckle. How many times had he said those words to her?

  “Son, just get on with what you have to do.”

  This time, she laughed. Tony and Chad stared at her. The boy’s blue eyes turned hostile, but in Tony’s eyes, she saw memories and promises.

  “Can we do something special tonight?” Chad asked.

  “Count on it.” Tony grinned. “Carrie, come and meet my son.”

  She clutched the promise she’d seen and strode toward them. “You certainly can’t deny he’s yours. He has the Flynn look.”

  Tony winked. “There are times…” He ruffled his son’s dark curls. “Carrie, this is Chad. She’s an old friend.”

  The boy’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t look that old.”

  Carrie smiled. “You’ve got that straight. I’ve known your dad since I was your age.”

  Chad grinned. “That’s forever. Guess you are old.”

  “Hey,” Tony said. “She’s four years younger and was like my little sister.”

  “Okay.” Chad headed down the hall. “Hazel’s here. I smell the coffee. Bet she makes pancakes ‘cause we have company.”

  Once he started downstairs, Carrie forced her gaze away from Tony’s chest and met his eyes. “What did you decide?”

  “Patience. Tell you later.”

  Their gazes meshed. Warmth that had nothing to do with comfort, and everything to do with desire flooded her system. She swallowed. Feeling this way was a sure recipe for disaster.

  He thought of her as a little sister, and from what she’d heard in his voice last night, he still loved his ex-wife. Still, he might agree to a marriage of convenience.

  That’s what she wanted. If she repeated those words for the next ten years, she might believe them.

  “See you downstairs. Follow the coffee trail, but don’t drink it unless you like rocket fuel. Usually smells better than it tastes.”

  “I already made the mistake of having a cup. Strong is a joke.”

  Until he vanished into his room, she lingered in the hall and considered the situation. If he agreed to marry her, she was in trouble. With her feelings for him, the marriage would rapidly become very inconvenient.

  * * *

  Tony slumped against the bedroom door. Carrie looked delicious at night and in the morning. How could he marry her and keep his thoughts, his hands, and his mouth, off her? How could he keep from being hurt when she walked away?

  Before pulling on a shirt, he shaved the dark stubble from his face. He was going to marry her and he’d honor the bargain they made. He had to do that for her, and himself. He sucked in a breath and fought to tame his body’s reaction to the idea of marriage and Carrie. Now wasn’t the time for desire, but his thoughts refused to waver.

  How could he expect Carrie to fall in love with him? He’d turned his back on their friendship to appease a woman who hadn’t wanted him, just his potential earning power, and his status as a doctor. He tugged a blue sweater over his head and left the bedroom. Downstairs, he paused in the kitchen doorway and listened to Carrie and his son.

  Chad giggled. “Did he get mad at you?” He drizzled syrup on his pancakes.

  She shook her head. “He grabbed me with one hand and your uncle with the other. Made us tell him why we were fighting and said if we didn’t behave, he’d crack our heads together.”

  Tony chuckled. “Thought you didn’t want to be reminded of that fateful meeting.”

  “Hearing and telling are different.”

  He crossed to the counter and poured a mug of coffee. “I see you took my advice.”

  Hazel flipped a pancake. “Don’t be bad-mouthing my coffee. Ben says it does him more good that all your medicines.” She waved the spatula toward Carrie. “Says all she wants is juice.”

  “I’m not much of a morning eater.”

  Hazel humphed. “A healthy start is good for you.”

  “I agree,” Carrie said. “Except I work nights and my breakfast is your dinner. In the morning when I come home, I’m too tired to eat.”

  “Suppose that makes sense, but it’s morning and you’re awake and you’ll eat.” Hazel slid a plate of pancakes in front of Carrie and handed one to Tony. “Chad, eat up before you miss the bus. All them tales about your daddy have been interesting, but they won’t get you out the door and on the bus.”

  Chad carried his plate to the sink and took the lunch pail from the counter. “You gonna be here when I come home?” he asked Carrie.

  “I can’t stay. I have to work tonight.”

  “Do you really get to stay up all night? Cool.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Tony said.

  “It’s not easy, and it’s not fun any more.” When she was Chad’s age, she would have thought staying up all night was an adventure. Now, she depended on caffeine and ice cubes to stay awake.

  She watched Tony and his son leave the room. Though she would like to tell Chad she would see him soon, that might not be possible. If Tony turned her down, she couldn’t come here again.

  Hazel moved from the stove. “He’s a fine man.”

  “I know. For years, he was my best friend. You wouldn’t believe the number of times he pulled me out of a scrape.”

  “He has a habit of helping people and forgetting his own needs.” Hazel poured a mug of coffee and sat across from Carrie. “About time something good happened to him. That woman laid him low. Still not over her. You know, she had the nerve to invite him to her wedding. Probably thought he would send a gift.” She tsked. “Had hers and the doctor’s marriage annulled. Didn’t know a body could do that when there’s a child.”

  Carrie stared at the table. No wonder he was bitter. Maybe she’d come on a fool’s errand, especially if he still loved his ex.

  “Carrie,” Tony called. “Thought we would take a drive so I can show you around.”

  “Sure.” She waved to Hazel. “Nice meeting you.” In the hall, she took her jacket from Tony. What she wanted was an answer, not a scenic tour.

  Tony drove the sport utility vehicle out of town and took a road that twisted and turned around the mountain. Rather that stare at the plunging h
illside, Carrie focused on the dashboard clock. Five minutes passed, then ten. How long would she have to wait for his rejection?

  When they reached an area marked for scenic viewing, Tony pulled off the road. A single glance at the ribbon river far below made her stomach lurch. She pressed her back against the door. Should she propose again? She studied his somber expression.

  He’s going to refuse.

  Do something.

  She gulped a breath. “Tony?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve changed my mind. It was a dumb idea. You don’t have to marry me.” A leaden ball landed in her gut.

  “Have I turned into a monster over night?”

  She shook her head. What he’d become was the center of her fantasies again. That was a sure road to heartbreak.

  “I have a couple of questions,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  “Can you make a decent cup of coffee?”

  The question took her by surprise and she laughed. “Is that a requirement?”

  “Considering Hazel’s offerings, it’s a necessity.” He brushed a finger over her knuckles. “What are your thoughts on dealing with an angry child?”

  The light touch thrilled her and set her on edge. “I’ve been one. Maybe I can help him understand why he acts out.”

  “I thought I could, but it hasn’t happened.”

  “But you were older when your dad left and you hid your anger beneath a smile.”

  “You’re right...One thing more. How important is it for you to keep both jobs?”

  Her abdominal muscles relaxed. Tension melted away. “If I don’t have to pay rent for an apartment and I can set up a trust to take care of Mom, I can manage with one. Why?”

  He focused on the horizon. “I’m on call every third night. I seldom get called out, but when I happens I can’t leave Chad alone. And you’ve heard about our record with sitters.”

  An idea formed, one she preferred to keep inside. “Starting Saturday, I have a month’s vacation from both jobs. I’ll resign from Children’s tomorrow and fit my WPH schedule around yours.”

  “Sounds great.”

  She hugged herself. He was going to accept. “It’ll work.”

  He backed into the road. “Let’s get the license. Wedding Sunday. Where?”