Semiautomatic Marriage

by Leona Karr

  “Miss Doctor, something is matter?” asked the young man, worried by Carolyn’s sudden stillness.

  “No, nothing,” she quickly assured him. She disposed of the bottles in her hand and handed him three that had come from a different supplier. She spoke slowly and carefully, making sure he understood when to give the medication to the baby.

  “Bless you, bless you,” the mother kept saying as Carolyn walked them out to the waiting room with them.

  Rosie quickly locked the door after them. “Whew, what a day. Dr. McPherson took off early and left me with a mound of paperwork.” She eyed Carolyn’s preoccupied look with suspicion. “You look miles away. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a man on your mind.”

  “How did you know?” Carolyn took a deep breath and gave Rosie a tentative smile. “I’m thinking about getting married.”

  Chapter Three

  Adam stood up as Carolyn and a dark-haired young woman came out of the clinic. He’d been sitting on one of the benches on the small porch outside the front door. According to a posted sign, the clinic closed at six. It was a few minutes past, and he was wondering what to do if she didn’t appear soon.

  When she saw him, a startled expression crossed her face. He gave her a warm smile in the hope of defusing some of her expected indignation.

  “I wanted to make sure you had a way home,” he said quickly. “Your car was gone from the parking lot, and I didn’t know whether it was running or not.”

  He tried to read her reaction as she walked slowly toward him, and steeled himself for a brisk rebuttal or an ice-cold glare. What he never expected in a million years was for her to give him a bright, welcoming smile.

  As she moved to his side, she said, “How sweet of you, darling.”

  When she slipped a possessive arm through his, Adam had trouble masking his astonishment. Was this the same woman he dropped off only a few hours ago?

  “I was just talking about you and our whirlwind courtship,” Carolyn continued, still smiling. “Rosie, meet Adam Lawrence, my fiancé.”

  Rosie gave him a frank, measuring look. “I can’t believe this.”

  Neither can I, Adam admitted silently, thankful for the experience he’d had in shifting his perspective on a second’s notice. Smiling pleasantly, he said, “Nice to meet you, Rosie.”

  “Likewise, but I tell you, this is a doozy of a surprise. Imagine Carolyn keeping something like this a secret! I’ve been telling her she should be looking around for someone to keep her tootsies warm at night, but every time I tried to line up some available guy, she’d give me that ‘Cool it, Rosie,’ look. Now I know why. Are you from around here, Adam?” she asked, and added pointedly, “What do you do?”

  Adam sensed Carolyn stiffen. Her muscles tensed as if she was going to try to answer. Before she could, Adam said smoothly, “Well, it’s kind of hard to explain what I do, Rosie. I guess you could say my title is corporation efficiency expert. What that means is various companies hire me to take a look at their operations and see how I can streamline them. That’s why I’m in Seattle, cleaning up the various corporate businesses in this area.”

  As he talked, he squeezed Carolyn’s arm reassuringly. Undoubtedly, she was as surprised as Rosie to hear the lies rolling off his tongue. Fortunately the agency had set up this cover before he left Washington. The false identity would provide a reasonable excuse for examining the inner workings of Horizon if Carolyn’s cooperation provided him with the entrance he needed.

  “He’s originally from New Mexico,” Carolyn volunteered, beginning to play her part with an ease that totally surprised her.

  “Really? A lot of my family are from that part of the country. There are DiPaloas all over the Southwest. Maybe you’ve run into some of them.”

  “We’ll have to compare notes sometime,” Adam answered smoothly.

  “Carolyn, I thought your life was nothing but study, study, work and more work. You never once hinted there was a handsome Romeo in the picture.”

  “I was waiting until after graduation to tell you. That’s why I’m not wearing a ring. But now, we’re ready to tell everyone, aren’t we, darling?”

  “Yes, it’s time everyone knew,” he concurred readily. The glint in her eye told him she was enjoying challenging him to carry out the deception exactly as he’d proposed. “I’ve got a nice evening planned for us, sweetheart. Kind of a private celebration. Dinner, maybe dancing, and then…” He let his voice trail off suggestively.

  “Sounds lovely,” she murmured, but he could see the color rise in her cheeks, and she squeezed his arm as if she wished it was his neck.

  “Wait’ll I get home and tell the family you’re getting married, Carolyn. You’ll have to bring Adam over for closer inspection. I know there’ll be a lot of questions about the wedding and everything. You’ll make a beautiful bride.” She beamed at Carolyn, her eyes suddenly misty.

  “Yes, she will,” Adam said quickly, afraid that if Rosie started asking about their wedding plans, Carolyn would blurt out the truth. He didn’t know what had happened to make her agree to the pretense, but he suspected from her sudden rigidity that she was having second thoughts. The talk about a wedding had brought up some issues she was not ready to handle.

  “We’re going to be pretty busy, I’m afraid,” Adam said quickly and as smoothly as he could.

  “I don’t suppose you’ll be continuing here at the clinic, Carolyn.” Rosie sighed. “Dr. McPherson isn’t going to be happy.”

  “I’ll try to find someone to take my place,” Carolyn promised. Responding to Adam’s firm hold on her arm, she said something vague about calling later. As they walked away, she felt Rosie’s measuring glance on them and wondered if her friend had bought the preposterous lie.

  The early-evening sky was clearing and the air was brisk and fresh as they climbed into his car. Adam didn’t turn on the ignition immediately. He couldn’t tell from the way Carolyn’s jaw was clenched whether she was angry or just about to cry.

  “I can’t do it,” she said in a strained voice. Her lower lip quivered, and he could see that her hands were clasped tightly together on her lap. “I wanted to, but I can’t.”

  He couldn’t imagine what had happened to cause her to look so tortured, so filled with anguish. He wanted to put his arm around her, draw her close and ease that anguish, but suppressed the impulse. This was no time to offer anything until he found out where she was coming from. The way he handled the next few moments might well determine her decision to play out the deception or stop it before it had gone any further.

  He turned in the seat, gave her all his attention and waited for her to go on. When she remained silent, he asked gently, “What happened, Carolyn?”

  She didn’t look at him, but he could see the struggle going on within her. The rapid rise and fall of her chest was proof that she was fighting some deep emotion. He was relieved when she finally turned to him. She kept her hands tightly clasped in her lap as she told him about the young Mexican couple and their sick baby.

  “I explained that the baby had strep throat that could be healed with antibiotics. When I was about to offer them a bottle of pills with the Horizon label, the horror of black-market drugs suddenly became real. I felt a stab of fear. What if the bottles I held in my hand had come from some illegal source? What if the pills were contaminated?” She raised pain-stricken eyes to his. “What if the parents gave them to their baby in good faith?”

  “The baby might die,” he answered evenly.

  “And it would be my fault.”

  “Not if you didn’t know they were contaminated. A lot of innocent people are buying and dispensing these drugs. It is the suppliers who are guilty. They deliberately put these unapproved drugs on the market. The only place to stop them is at the source, Carolyn.”

  “Like Horizon Pharmaceuticals,” she echoed in a strained voice.

  “Yes, which is what my investigation is all about. And that’s why I’ve come to you for help.�
��

  Her lip trembled “I want to turn my back on all of this, but how can I live with myself if I don’t do what you ask?”

  “That’s a question I can’t answer.”

  She sighed. “When I looked at that baby, saw the trust the young couple had in me, I guess I knew the answer. I didn’t have a choice, not if I wanted to live with my conscience.” Her head came up. “And that’s why I lied to Rosie.”

  He reached over and took her hand. “You made the right decision. I promise you you’ll never regret it.” He silently prayed that he could keep her on the edge of his investigation and out of danger.

  She swallowed hard. “But I don’t know if I can do it. Lies. Lies. Rosie’s my only friend. She’s excited about my having found someone to marry. It’s all such a sham! I hate being deceitful.”

  “I don’t like it, either, and I’ve tried to figure out other ways to conduct the investigation but came up empty. Unless I can get on the inside of Horizon, this horrible traffic will continue.” His eyes hardened. “And God only knows how many more will die.” Like Marietta.

  A weighted silence stretched between them until she mentally shook herself and asked, “All right. What happens next?”

  He searched her face for a long minute, then smiled and said, “Dinner.”

  They drove to a small restaurant that overlooked Lake Washington. Carolyn had never been there before, and she was relieved to see that it was a low-key, family-owned establishment that offered a modest menu.

  “I found it when I was looking for a home-cooked meal,” Adam volunteered when they were seated by a window with brightly colored café curtains.

  Even though Carolyn had missed lunch, she had little appetite. She ordered a seafood salad, while Adam opted for roast beef, mashed potatoes and peas. As she sipped a glass of white wine, she was grateful that his easy conversation didn’t demand any forced participation. He seemed to know that small talk was all she could handle while she collected her thoughts. It wasn’t until she was nearly finished with her salad that she felt like asking some nagging questions.

  “Is it really true that you’re from New Mexico?”

  “Of course it’s true. Would I lie?” he asked in mock indignation.

  “Only with every other breath,” she said, returning his teasing smile. “All that stuff about you being an efficiency expert. You expect people to believe that?”

  “It’s the best cover we could come up with. I needed an identity that would allow me to examine everything inherent in Horizon’s production and sale of pharmaceutical drugs. I think the cover will work. With your cooperation, of course.”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “I’d be lying if I promised you a hundred-percent guarantee of success. There are myriad ways that the whole thing could fall apart. That’s why both of us will have to watch our steps carefully.”

  She tensed. “I’ve never been very good at make-believe. What if I foul up?”

  “We have to make certain that doesn’t happen. You did very well tonight with Rosie.” He smiled reassuringly. “If you can fool your closest friend, you shouldn’t have any trouble with a bunch of strangers.”

  “I’m going to be dumped into the lives of people who have every reason to hate my guts. You can bet that there won’t be any welcome mat put out for me. I have no idea how I should behave in such a high-class environment. I’ve never known any people with money, never even visited anyone who lives in a mansion.”

  “That’s all right,” he replied quickly. “Maybe you’ll do something that doesn’t quite fit, but people will expect you to make mistakes. And that’s good, because it will disarm them.”

  “So the dumber I look and act, the better?” Her tone was slightly caustic.

  “I didn’t mean that at all,” he said with a chuckle. “I just meant that you will be faced with some unexpected challenges, and I want you to be careful, that’s all.”

  “Careful not to make a fool of myself? I can’t promise anything in that regard.” Carolyn had had some unpleasant experiences at the hospital with people who tried to throw their weight and wealth around when the rules and procedures didn’t suit them. “I have no idea how to relate to rich people,” she admitted.

  “You’ll learn. Their focus in life is fashioned by tradition and the affluent world in which they live. They have hidden agendas and structure their behavior according to what’s deemed acceptable in their social stratum.”

  “You know all this because…?” As the lines on his forehead deepened, she had her answer. “You come from money, don’t you.”

  “Not anymore. My father was a New York stockbroker,” Adam told her. “I was an only child and had every advantage when I was growing up—prep school, college, the whole works. My senior year, the market dropped out from under my father’s investments, and he lost almost everything. His heart couldn’t take the strain, and when he died, my mother was left with a small income. She moved to New Mexico to live. When I came back from Brazil, I spent some time with her.” He gave Carolyn a rueful smile. “So you see, I was almost telling the truth when I said I was from there.”

  She should have known. Everything about him suggested a privileged upbringing. His polished manner and easy confidence. His suit had obviously been tailored to fit. His fingernails appeared nicely cared for, and the cut of his dark hair accented his strong, masculine features. He could enter any elite social gathering and blend in without effort. How could she even make a pretense of being his wife?

  She lowered her eyes as she imagined him in a tuxedo, perfectly groomed at a country club party, or lounging beside a fashionable swimming pool, a martini in his hand. The vision of him in only swimming trunks stirred an unbidden warmth—one that caused an instant denial to shoot through her. She couldn’t be attracted to him on that level. There absolutely couldn’t be anything sexual between them. He’d made it clear that he was only interested in her as a means to conduct his investigation. She’d be a fool if she allowed herself to make anything more of it than that.

  “I’m not sure I’m up to playing out this charade,” she said defensively. Not only were her own emotions getting in the way, but the likelihood of her causing him embarrassment seemed too great. She had an unpleasant childhood memory of the time some rich woman had invited a bunch of orphans to her house for a party. Carolyn had been so nervous she’d turned the whole plate of ice cream and cake over in her lap. Even now, she shuddered at the recollection. Just making the lifestyle transition she faced would be difficult enough, but having him privy to every word and mishap made it even worse.

  “I want to make this as easy on you as possible, Carolyn. I’ll do my best to arrange things so you don’t feel threatened in any way. I promise to make no demands that aren’t vital to the success of my investigation.” He paused. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  She knew then that he was aware of the attraction that had flared between them. She nodded. “All of this is just part of a business arrangement. Nothing more.” She realized she was addressing herself as much as him.

  “Right. As for getting married, there’s no need for anything but a civil service, one we’ll have as quickly and quietly as possible. We can dispense with everything else.”

  Everything else? All the dreams? All expectations of someday being a bride in white lace and satin? To love and to cherish? She had always thought that someday she’d hear those poignant words, and she’d never feel lonely again. Getting married would be a beginning of a new life and the ending of an old one.

  “All we need are the official credentials of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Lawrence,” he assured her. “And you’ll need to go by Carolyn Lawrence until this is over. For your protection, Mr. Bancroft will go over any legal matters that might come up while the investigation is going on.”

  Investigation, he had said, not marriage. Just a business arrangement. Of course, that was all it was. No reason for her to get sentimental about taking vows that meant n
othing. In a way that was what her life had been up till now. Pragmatic. Realistic. No reason for her to view a wedding ring on her finger as anything but a cold circle of metal.

  “How soon should we do this?” she asked, putting her hands in her lap and clasping them tightly.

  “Bancroft will make arrangements for you to move into the house and will finalize all the business arrangements. Just a matter of a few days, I think.”

  “So soon?” She forced a light laugh. “You really know how to rush a girl off her feet.”

  “The sooner we get into position, the better.”

  Get into position. That’s the way he was viewing this whole marriage arrangement. Professional. Unemotional. Nonpersonal. The moment had come when she was either going to believe him or walk away.

  “I’ll check my wardrobe and see if I have something decent to wear to a pretend wedding.”

  They went back to making idle conversation, and as soon as they’d finished their coffee and apple cobbler, they left the restaurant.

  The silence between them on the ride back to her apartment was like a thick curtain as Carolyn’s sensible nature began to question everything Adam Lawrence had said. Was this so-called investigation of Horizon just an elaborate scheme to swindle a naive heiress? Bancroft was the only one vouching for Adam Lawrence, and what did she really know about the lawyer? Had she bought into some sophisticated hoax?

  “How would I go about verifying everything you’ve told me?” she asked as Adam walked her up the stairs to her back door. In the dim light of the back-door bulb, she could see his eyes widen in surprise. It was obvious he was taken aback by her question.

  “You could decide to initiate a background check on Adam Lawrence.”

  With sudden insight she said, “That’s not even your real name, is it.”

  “For the moment it’s the only legal name I have.”

  She wanted to laugh, but the mirth caught in her chest. She turned away and went in the house without even responding to his, “Good night. I’ll call you in the morning.”