Wishing and Hoping

by Susan Meier

  The pianist played a soft rendition of “Here Comes the Bride” and Tia’s simple white gown rustled as she and her father walked up the aisle. The closer she got to the altar, the warmer Drew’s smile became, and an odd feeling started to flutter in Tia’s stomach. Drew’s motives were nothing but good. And she did trust him. In some ways, the blind faith she’d put in Drew by agreeing to marry him was stronger than the faith of a typical bride.

  Though she had to admit, she felt like a typical bride. Wearing her stunning dress and veil, with her mother’s pearls, she felt beautiful. To the left, her teary-eyed mother gazed on, as if she couldn’t believe her baby girl was all grown up.

  To the right, Drew’s groomsmen smiled their approval. In the center of the gazebo, the minister beamed. The scene was set for a real wedding, and if Tia’s dad had been happier she’d probably have fallen victim to the whole darned fairy tale.

  Her dad lifted her veil. “You look beautiful, princess,” he said, then kissed her cheek.

  His voice was so soft and so sincere that Tia’s gaze flew to his. He smiled.

  She whispered, “You’re okay, now?”

  “Yes,” he whispered back. “Walking down the aisle, I realized that all this might be a big surprise to me, but you’re an adult and you’re obviously happy. So, I’m sorry I took my time about coming around.” Before she could reply, he turned to give her to Drew.

  Stunned, Tia took the hand Drew extended and absorbed the fact that her dad had just given her his blessing, capping the “real” feeling of her wedding. As if in the whole crazy world in which she now lived this was the one thing she was doing right.

  Letting Drew grasp her hand, Tia took a breath and reminded herself that this wedding only felt “right” because some parts of this marriage really were right. Drew wanted to give their baby his name. He wanted to be officially involved in their baby’s life. He didn’t want her dad affected by their mistake. So, for all those reasons, her wedding was right.

  On the other hand, the rest of her life was absolutely wrong. The first account idea she’d proposed to her team had fizzled. She’d lost the respect of her teammates. If she didn’t prove soon to her boss that she wasn’t a flake, she would be fired. So, of course, this wedding that her mother had planned, her father now sanctioned and her groom wanted seemed to be right.

  She had to get her head out of the clouds or she would end up getting hurt.

  But even after her perfect rationale, when the minister’s opening remarks sounded like real instruction from her spiritual leader on how to be a good wife, Tia’s feeling of rightness intensified. When she repeated her vows they weren’t mere words. They sounded like promises. And she felt committed.

  When Drew said his vows, she heard a vibration of sincerity in his deep, masculine voice and her breath shivered in her chest. She had to stop thinking of this wedding as real. It wasn’t. Drew did not love her. If they were making a commitment, it was to their baby. Not to each other.

  “You may kiss the bride.”

  Drew turned to Tia and their eyes met. His were dark and serious, clouded with something Tia now understood very well. Confusion. They had taken the biggest step a man and woman could take together. They had done it for some very good reasons. They’d even been smart enough to protect their finances with a prenup. But after her odd feelings during the ceremony, Tia realized there was so much more to this marriage than money. If their fifteen-minute service had almost sucked her into believing this was real, how would she possibly survive eight months?

  I won’t hurt you. I won’t cheat you. You can trust me. She tried to say it with her eyes and a soft smile.

  A few beats ticked off the clock before Drew seemed to understand what she was communicating to him. His own lips tilted upward slightly, as if he appreciated her reassurance, though he still believed it was hogwash.

  Then he bent his head and touched his lips to hers, but before he could pull away, Tia slid her right arm around his neck and nudged him to stay where he was. They wouldn’t give the impression of two people so enamoured they’d had to get married within two weeks with a peck on the lips. They had to genuinely kiss.

  She felt the hesitation of his response, but he deepened the kiss. The press of his mouth was so warm and delicious that Tia relaxed her lips enough that they parted. Smooth and delicious, his tongue slid over hers, raising goose bumps on her flesh, sending invitation coursing through her veins. She moved closer. His hands went to her waist and pulled her closer still.

  This was what she remembered of their night together. The passion. The pleasure. Except, this time there was an added element. Emotion. It might not be love. It might not even really be friendship. But they were a team. If nothing else, they were partners.

  Tia felt herself slipping, remembering their night together, wondering if this really was a mistake—or if it was fate. Drew had been everything she’d wanted for so many years, it seemed impossible to believe this wasn’t exactly what was supposed to be happening.

  A low chuckle erupted from the crowd and Tia very distinctly heard her dad clear his throat. Beside them the minister shifted uncomfortably.

  Drew pulled away, but kept his eyes locked on hers. Tia swallowed hard. The sexual chemistry between them was powerful. He had more good traits than bad. They had conceived a child. The thought that fate or destiny had brought them here poured through her again, almost making her dizzy with wanting.

  But, as always, Drew made a joke. “Sorry about that,” he said to the crowd in general. “But you know how newlyweds are. Next time somebody just toss a bucket of water on us.”

  Tia felt her face redden as the crowd roared with laughter. She was about to forget every good thought she’d had about him and dub him completely hopeless, but behind the flare of the tulle skirt of her gown, he caught her hand and squeezed gently.

  Confusion nearly overwhelmed her. Even as he made light of their relationship, he seemed to find a way to back-handedly tell her everything was okay between them.

  They walked down the aisle, followed by bridesmaids and groomsmen who formed a line to greet guests. Mostly they were neighbors, and Tia happily accepted their congratulations, cautioning herself not to get pulled in. It would be so easy to get caught up in the fairy tale. Particularly if Drew kept showing her his good side. She had to remember that this marriage was temporary. Even their prenup spelled out the terms of their divorce.

  Tia said a final goodbye to the minister and turned to the next guest in the receiving line, but before she knew what was happening she was enveloped in a huge bear hug by a man she didn’t know and a smacking kiss landed on her cheek. Then she was pushed back so the man could inspect her as if she were a thoroughbred about to go on the block for sale.

  “Damned if you aren’t right again, Drew. She is about the prettiest thing this side of New York City.”

  “Friend of the groom?” Tia guessed with a laugh, hoping her lungs would reinflate sometime soon after the strength of that hug.

  “Friend of the groom?” the petite woman at the bearman’s side mumbled unhappily. “Drew! Haven’t you told her about us?”

  Her curiosity piqued, because Drew had invited out-of-town friends, Tia extended her hand to the woman. “I’m Tia.”

  “I’m Drew’s mother,” the pretty little redhead said, and Tia knew her mouth fell open in surprise.

  “Drew’s mother!”

  “Before Drew’s ex-wife got ahold of him,” Drew’s mother said, “he actually had manners and he probably would have introduced us himself. Since his former wife turned him into Attila the Hun, he doesn’t have the manners of a polar bear. So I’ll introduce myself. I’m Vivian.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Vivian,” Tia managed, reeling with confusion. She knew Drew would have told his parents he was about to be a dad. She knew he might even have explained the marriage of convenience, but because they were from Oklahoma, she never in a million years had thought he would invite them to a fak
e wedding.

  “This is my husband, Tom.”

  “Big Tom!” Drew’s dad corrected before he drew Tia into another bone-crushing hug.

  “Big Tom,” she agreed, her voice small and breathless because he was cutting off her air.

  “Let’s not forget she’s pregnant, Dad,” Drew whispered, low enough for his dad to hear but not so loud as to be overheard by anyone near them. “You don’t want to be manhandling her until after the baby’s born.”

  Big Tom let her go. “Right. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay,” Tia choked out, subtly trying to gasp for breath as she realized Drew might have told his parents about the baby, but she didn’t think he’d explained this was a fake marriage. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I wish Drew had told you we were coming.”

  “Mom, there’s a shrimp cocktail over there with your name on it.”

  Vivian Wallace laughed gaily. “You want a few minutes to get yourself out of this.”

  “I need a few minutes to get myself out of this.”

  Big Tom seemed to understand completely. “Let’s go get some of that shrimp, Vivvi.”

  The second they were out of earshot, another couple stepped forward in the receiving line. Drew and Tia accepted their congratulations and the congratulations of about twenty more friends and neighbors before the line dwindled and Drew’s best man, Matt Melbourne, the local vet, handed them both a cool glass of water.

  “Drink this before we head over to the main table for dinner and a toast. It will replenish your fluids.”

  “It is hot.”

  “But beautiful,” Tia said, glancing around. Above the green hills of Virginia, the sky was solid blue, perfect. With the wedding handled and her father happy again, Tia could almost believe this part of her life was going to be okay—due in no small part to Drew, who took his commitment so seriously he hadn’t even confided the truth about the wedding to his parents.

  “Matt, could you give Tia and me a minute alone?”

  “You’re probably going to have to go into the house to get a minute alone.”

  “Right,” Drew said and took her hand. He easily guided her through the crowd, accepting more congratulations and answering comments, but not stopping until they were behind the closed door of her dad’s den.

  “I should have introduced you to my parents.”

  “Yes, that would have been nice,” she agreed, but ever since their time at the altar everything had changed between them. They really were partners, and partners didn’t argue or undermine. They worked together. “But we’re in a very unusual situation. And I haven’t been home for two weeks. I can see how it fell through the cracks.” Then, before he could reply, she added, “I like them.”

  “They’re as weird as I am.”

  “No,” she disagreed, shaking her head slightly and smiling at him. “They seem like very comfortable people. I think they’re going to make really great grandparents.”

  “Good. Because something else I forgot to tell you is that I’m an only child. This baby will be their only grandchild. They’re gonna spoil it silly.”

  “Okay. That’s all good to know.”

  He waited a few heartbeats as if expecting something else, then he said, “You’re sure you’re not mad?”

  She smiled. “Positive.”

  “You don’t want to give me some kind of sermon about keeping secrets?”

  She shook her head. “No. As I said, the situation is odd, Drew. We both have to roll with some punches.”

  “Okay,” he agreed cautiously, then walked to the door and held it open for her. “Let’s go get some supper.”

  “Sounds great. I’m starving.” She paused at the doorway and peeked over her shoulder at him. “You have no idea of the appetite of a pregnant woman. Hang on to your chicken, Drew, because once I start eating I can’t be held responsible.”

  He laughed and caught Tia’s hand and Tia felt an odd kind of power surge through her. She’d done it. By accepting the situation and not stressing out over things that couldn’t be changed, she’d avoided an argument. And he was happy with her. And things were going to run smoothly.

  She would need to remember this on Monday morning when she returned to work and was confronted by six people who absolutely hated her because her lousy idea had created double work for them.

  “When Drew told me he was getting married again,” Matt said, his champagne glass raised in a toast, “I nearly had a heart attack. I said, ‘Buddy, didn’t you learn anything from the first woman who ripped your heart out, stomped it to smithereens and then took all your money?’”

  The crowd broke into uproarious laughter and Matt grinned happily, but Tia’s head tilted. That was the second mention she’d heard of Drew’s other relationship, and though an hour ago she might not have cared, with her desire to keep at least one area of her life working, she knew this was significant.

  “But when he told me he was marrying Tia, I stopped dead in my tracks. First, considering Drew’s reputation, I couldn’t believe Ben let him get within fifty yards of his daughter.”

  Again the crowd laughed.

  “Second, I couldn’t believe Tia would have anything to do with him.”

  The crowd laughed again, but Tia only smiled. Though it was true this was a marriage of convenience, and also true that Drew was a little rough around the edges, she knew damned well any unmarried woman in the room over the age of sixteen would get involved with him in a heartbeat.

  “But I’m glad she did,” Matt continued, raising his glass in a toast. “Here’s to the happy couple.”

  Not quite sure what to expect, Tia peered cautiously at her new husband. To her great relief, he was genuinely smiling. He tipped his glass to her, urging her to entwine her arms with his so the photographer could get a nice picture of their official wedding toast. Tia smiled and did as he asked. They really seemed to be getting the hang of being partners.

  When dinner was over, Tia and Drew walked hand-in-hand, mingling with their guests. Drew got involved in a particularly intense conversation and before Tia knew what had happened, they were separated. Just as quickly, his mother was at her side.

  “Hello.”

  She took a quick breath and smiled warmly. “Hello, Vivian.”

  “You’re not at all what I expected Drew’s next wife would be like.”

  Tia laughed. “Maybe that’s a good thing?”

  Vivian linked her arm through Tia’s and began walking toward a shady tree, away from the crowd. “Maybe it is.”

  “You’re about to have some kind of mother-of-the-groom talk with me, aren’t you?” Tia teased, since Vivian and Tom seemed to have the same off-beat personalities as their son.

  “Yes, but maybe not the kind you expect,” Vivian admitted with a wince. “I know my son,” she said when they were out of hearing distance of most of the crowd. “He’s angry, and he’s bitter.”

  “He’s also very fair, honorable and kind,” Tia said, listing the positive traits she’d discovered about Drew.

  Vivian laughed. “So you see the good?”

  “It’s hard to miss,” Tia said, smiling at Drew’s mom. She seemed to be a kindhearted woman who only wanted what was best for her child. About to be a mother herself, Tia understood that perfectly.

  “I still think I need to tell you a few things.”

  “No. Really, everything’s fine,” Tia insisted, not wanting to get drawn into a conversation that could come back to haunt them—or, more accurately, hurt Vivian. Tia didn’t want to give Vivian a wrong impression that would leave her disappointed when Tia and Drew divorced.

  “Everything might look fine,” Vivian said, patting Tia’s arm, which she still held. “But I’ll feel better if you understand a few things. Drew’s first wife was awful.” Vivian grimaced. “But Drew never saw it. She didn’t even have to take him to court to get a fair settlement. Without argument or prodding, he’d given her half of everything they owned. Even the firm
he’d helped start before they were married. Then Drew discovered she was having an affair with his business partner. That was the hard part. He’d been fair and kind to a woman who had betrayed him and he really felt she’d taken him for a ride.” Vivian sighed and shrugged. “I think you get the picture.”

  “Yes.” Tia nodded. “He had a really bad first marriage.”

  “And he’s bitter and he’s angry and I don’t think you’ve known each other long enough for you to have helped him through that.”

  Deciding not to lie, particularly since this was a perfect avenue to pave the way for their upcoming divorce, Tia said, “You might be right.”

  “So I want you to promise to be patient.”

  Tia swallowed. How could she promise to be patient when she and Drew already knew they’d divorce? Grasping for something to say, all Tia could think of was, “I’m really going to try.”

  “Because the thing nobody knows about Drew is that he took the loss of that marriage really, really hard. He pretends he was angry about the money and the affair. But the truth is, losing the woman he genuinely loved hurt him. So that’s why he is the way he is, but I think that if you’ll just give him time, you’ll bring him around.”

  Tia smiled slowly, her heart breaking, not for her or even for Drew, but for his mother. But, at least they were giving Vivian a grandchild. And at least Tia now understood why Drew was so suspicious. “I understand.”

  “Good,” Vivian said, then walked Tia back to the party.

  Drew was about to go looking for Tia when her father approached him.

  “Drew, if you don’t mind,” Ben began, but he shook his head and then chuckled. “Actually, even if you do mind, you and I need to have a word in the den.”

  Drew inclined his head. He’d known this was coming. The only thing that surprised him was that Ben had waited so long. He’d expected Ben to come to his house a week ago and rake him over hot coals, at the very least for not mentioning his relationship with Ben’s daughter, so the discussion was long overdue. He was about to get the sermon of his life and he intended simply to take it like a man.