by Holly Rayner
The intro music played, and as the movie began, so did the stream of questions.
“Why do squirrels live in trees? Why is that horse making that face? Why doesn’t that king like her? She’s so nice!”
“I don’t know, honey,” Marianne said, taking a bite of popcorn. “Why don’t we watch and find out?”
Zoe continued to ask questions in spite of Marianne’s gentle hint. The girl was curious, which was a wonderful quality, but watching movies with her took some level of patience.
Marianne’s phone rang on the coffee table. She glanced at it and pulled her blanket off.
“It’s Grandma,” she said, standing as she moved to exit the living room.
“But Mom! We’re having movie night!” Zoe said.
“I won’t be long. Besides, I know what happens next,” Marianne said.
She answered the call and held the phone to her ear as she walked into her bedroom.
“Hi, Mama.”
“Hi, Marianne. How was your day?”
“It was a Friday. Can’t go wrong with those, right?” she said.
“Yes, well. You’ve been a little jittery this week for some reason. Did whatever you’re dealing with at work resolve itself?”
Marianne pressed her lips together as she considered what to say.
“It will, eventually.”
“Marianne, you’re being unusually closed mouthed. Usually, we have such great conversations about what’s going on with you. It feels like you’re hiding something from me.”
The hurt in her voice twisted Marianne’s heart. She sat on the bed and rested her head against her hand.
“The truth is, I’m kind of seeing someone,” she said.
“Yes, I know. Ah, that’s what this is about. The guy from work. Are things not going well?”
Marianne nearly laughed. Were things going well? She could hardly say. Jay would be picking her up the following day for their next date, and she wasn’t sure if she was more excited or nervous for what he had in store.
“They’re going okay. It’s just a little…confusing.”
A little? Try monumentally. All Marianne could think about when she turned out the light was the strength of Jay’s arms, how good it felt to have them around her. She had done everything she could to put some distance between them earlier in the week, and it had seemed to work.
Jay hadn’t made another trip to the fourth floor.
The fact that it disappointed her so deeply was not a good sign.
“Tell me, my love. I’m here for you.”
Marianne thought back to her conversation with Jay, where she had straight-up lied about how happy she was to be on her own. Of course, she was lonely! She had to take care of her mom and her daughter and had almost no time to herself, not to mention someone to confide in, truly.
She couldn’t admit that to him. She wanted him to believe that she was strong enough, capable enough to go through with this farce marriage without being some kind of emotional liability.
Of course, there were times when they were so close, she thought…
But, of course, she was a fool for thinking about anything romantic. Jay was a business partner. Sure, it was an unusual circumstance, but at the day, business was business, and Marianne had to remind herself of that regularly.
“I’m just not sure if I’m making the right decision by being with him, that’s all.”
“Well, I’ve always been told that when it comes to love, you just know,” Elaine said.
Marianne scoffed.
“Come, now. You and I both know that’s a bald-faced lie,” she said.
Elaine sighed.
“You have such a bleak view of romantic relationships, Marianne. I wish that you wouldn’t. I think we both got dealt a rough hand in love, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t such a thing as a second chance, or even a third. Isn’t it worth trying?”
It almost sounded as though Elaine were talking to herself just as much as she spoke the words to her daughter. Marianne gazed up at the ceiling, more confused than ever.
“Maybe, but what about Zoe? I don’t want her getting hurt. Losing people in her life she could grow to care about.”
That worry was absolutely true. At some point, Zoe would have to be introduced to Jay. There was no way around it. If immigration began to interview them, it would be incredibly suspicious if her daughter had no idea who Jay even was.
Could she risk her daughter’s happiness, when the price was lifelong security?
“Yes, but you don’t let anyone in to begin with. She doesn’t even get the chance to make that choice on her own.”
“She’s six. She doesn’t get to make those kind of choices. It’s my job to protect her,” Marianne said.
“It’s also your job to protect your heart. That means opening the windows in that shut-up chamber every once in a while, letting in some fresh air. You let your heart go stagnant for too long, and you’ll just end up bitter and lonely.”
Marianne could hear the words she didn’t say.
Like me.
“Mama, we have a good life. We don’t need a man to mess with what we’ve got going on.”
“The more the merrier,” Elaine countered.
“Then why don’t you start dating, too? Then, we can both move forward,” Marianne said with a small grin.
Her mother stammered as she replied.
“W…w…well, isn’t that the silliest thing you’ve said today…” Elaine said.
“Is it? You say that love deserves a second chance…doesn’t that apply to you, too?” Marianne asked.
This time, it was Elaine’s turn to scoff.
“That ship has sailed, honey. I’m more interested in your life, now.”
“Well, I’m an adult that can make my own decisions about love. I think you should focus on yourself and see who walks in the door. Maybe we could both stand to be a little more open,” she said.
Her mother sighed into the phone.
“Maybe. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to be a little more open-minded, but no promises from here.”
“Here, either,” Marianne said.
“You are impossible,” her mother said with a laugh.
“Look who raised me,” Marianne replied.
“I won’t keep you—it’s movie night, right?”
“Yep,” Marianne said.
They spoke for a few more minutes before Marianne ended the call and padded back to the living room, where Zoe watched as the future princess put the prince in his place with her fantastic physical prowess.
“Mom, why isn’t he as good with a sword? He had more training than her because he’s a prince,” Zoe said.
Marianne settled back on the couch and pinched a few kernels of popcorn before tossing them into her mouth. The salt, butter, and cheese combo melted delectably in her mouth, and she fully chewed and swallowed before answering.
“Because women can do anything, my love,” she said.
Zoe accepted that answer and then, blissfully, withheld her questions for quite some time after. Marianne stared at the screen without seeing any of it.
All she could think about was Jay.
She had relived the night they’d had so many times in her head over the past week. The taste of that steak, the heady sensation of the wine paired with Jay’s smiles.
He was so much more than she’d thought he would be. She wondered if by some miracle she’d be able to get her mother to see that, as well. She glanced to the side and watched Zoe from the corner of her eye.
Her precious little girl. She talked such a tough game, just like her mother did. She told all the kids at school that she didn’t need a father, because she had two strong women raising her.
How much of that was really true?
It was a question Marianne never wanted to ask, but one that danced along the edge of her mind, taunting her. If Marianne really were to meet a nice man, would he be someone Zoe could come to rely on?
Marianne di
dn’t want her daughter to mistrust men to the level she did. She wanted Zoe to grow up and experience love with someone who deserved her, who was her equal in every way. How could she do that when her only example of a man was her father, who had hightailed it the first chance he got and never looked back?
“Mama, they’re getting married. Why do you look so grumpy about it?”
Marianne gave her head a little shake and blinked as she zoned back in on the present. Somehow, she’d managed to get lost in thought for the majority of the film, and was now scowling at the happiest part.
“Sorry, I was just thinking,” she said.
“About what?” Zoe asked.
Marianne stared down at her daughter and ran a hand through her hair.
“About you. Me. Us. Our life together.”
“Why did it make you frown so hard?” Zoe asked.
“Do you wish you had a father around, Zoe?” Marianne asked.
Zoe, being six, didn’t miss a beat.
“Sometimes,” she said. “But I like things the way they are.”
“You don’t mind that mommy’s been going on dates?” Marianne asked.
Zoe considered that for a moment.
“I miss you when you go, but I think it’s nice that you get to be pretty and go do fun things. Grandma says every mom needs to do that once in a while.”
Marianne pulled her little girl close, holding her tight.
“You’re a real gem, you know that?”
Zoe gazed up at her mother with wide, green eyes.
“A sapphire?” she asked.
“Sure,” Marianne said, chuckling.
“Mama, am I going to meet the man you go on dates with?” Zoe asked.
“At some point, maybe. It depends on if we keep going on dates.”
“What happens when you stop? Is it because you get married, like in the movie?” Zoe asked.
Marianne repressed a sigh. If only life could be like in her daughter’s favorite movie, where a small obstacle was all that stood between the princess and her perfect life.
Happily Ever After was a myth, and no one knew that better than Marianne.
“Imagine that you’re at the shoe store, trying on different shoes,” Marianne said. “You try on one pair, and they look good, but they just don’t fit right, so you try on another. And another. And another. You do that until you find the perfect pair of shoes. That’s what going on dates is like.”
“So, people are shoes?” Zoe asked.
Marianne laughed.
“In this example, kind of. You try people on to see how they fit into your life, and if you find they fit comfortably, you keep them.”
“And if they give you a blister, you throw them in the trash!” Zoe said.
“Uh, well, not that graphic, but you’ve got the right idea,” Marianne said, gently stroking her daughter’s hair.
“What kind of shoe is the guy you’re seeing tomorrow?” Zoe asked.
A high-class one…
“I’m not sure, yet,” Marianne said, “But when the time comes, I will let you know. Now, come on. Time for bed.”
Marianne helped Zoe off the couch. They brushed their teeth together and Zoe bolted down the hall and jumped into her bed, tossing the covers over her.
“You’re a pro at bedtime now,” Marianne said.
“I want to go to sleep so that when I wake up, I get to see Grandma again!” Zoe said.
Marianne smiled as she tucked the blankets around Zoe.
“Yes, I’m excited for that, too,” she said. “I hope you get some good sleep.”
She leaned over and kissed Zoe’s forehead, then stood and headed for the door.
“Mama?” Zoe said.
Marianne’s hand was on the light switch as she turned.
“Yes?” she asked.
“I’d be okay having a new dad, so long as he was nice to you and made you happy.”
Tears sprang to Marianne’s eyes, surprising her. She cleared her throat.
“That’s good to know, sweet pea. Thank you. I will let you know if that day comes.”
Zoe stared up at the ceiling, a dreamy look on her face.
“Having a real dad. A good one. I think that could be really nice,” she said on a little sigh.
“Me, too. Good night, love,” Marianne said.
She turned out the light and closed the door behind her, pressing her back against it as she composed herself.
Jay was far from a real dad. In fact, Marianne had no idea if he was good with children in the first place. Regardless, their relationship was purely platonic. How would Marianne show Zoe the value of a truly affectionate marriage, one where true love was really possible?
Marianne wiped her eyes and walked across the hall to her own room. She slid beneath her cool sheets and stared up at her ceiling, wondering how she had managed to get herself into such a messy situation.
When she closed her eyes and rolled onto her side, she almost could feel Jay behind her, cradling her body with his. It was warm and safe, and she felt comfortable and loved. She imagined him pressing his cheek against hers, just as he had done when they’d danced, and whispering into her ear, “I love you, Marianne.”
She knew she should stop. She needed to clear her mind and remember herself and her place in that whole situation. Instead, she basked in the feeling of be protected, cherished, and adored.
Perhaps it would never happen with Jay Parish, but in that moment, she wondered if his concerns had some validity. Would she be giving up her chance at a happy life just to make a business deal with him?
And why was he the only one that came to mind, when she fell into her dreams?
Chapter 13
Marianne
Marianne slid into a comfortable pair of blue flats. Her jeans flaunted her curves without being over the top, and her red blouse was a perfect contrast to the green of her eyes.
She felt good, if a little nervous.
She was always nervous around Jay. He was almost like a celebrity to her…a man that was so often spoken of but rarely seen. He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and to top it all off, he was the most attractive man she had ever known.
And he would be her husband.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that they had no path forward. She squared her shoulders as she pressed her lips together, dabbing the red lipstick into place. Tonight, she would get more answers, to that end.
Tonight, they would plan their future together.
She turned off the bathroom light and walked down the hall to see Zoe and her mother doing a puzzle together at the table. They both glanced up, and Elaine whistled.
“Well, well, well,” she said. “It looks like someone has gotten over her romance jitters.”
Marianne blushed, waving off the comment.
“Yeah, yeah. Are you two all set for the night?” she asked.
Zoe was focused on the hundred-piece puzzle, picking at the tiny cutouts and placing them in various spots within their border.
“Mhmm,” she said, absently.
Marianne walked over and planted a kiss on her daughter’s head, wrapping her in a hug as she bent over her chair.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too, Mama,” Zoe replied, still focused on her puzzle.
“We should be good for the next several days, at least,” Elaine joked, glancing at Zoe as she secured a puzzle piece and cheered.
“It looks like it. If you need anything, you know what to do,” Marianne said.
Elaine waved her off.
“Go. Have fun. I’m glad to see you getting out of this apartment for once.”
“I used to get out,” Marianne said, though the protest sounded weak even to her.
Her phone dinged, signaling a text. She glanced down to see that her car had arrived.
“Is he here?” Elaine asked. She dashed to the window and craned her neck to see if she could get a look.
Nerves shot up Maria
nne’s spine. She still hadn’t found a way to tell her mother who she was really “dating.” Not only that, but when the time came, she would have to let the poor woman know that a man she considered her mortal enemy would be her son-in-law.
Marianne simply couldn’t work up the courage to say the words out loud.
“I don’t see anyone in the car,” Elaine said.
Marianne walked to the window next to her mother and glanced out. It was difficult to see inside the vehicle. Either Jay was great at hiding—and she doubted that, given his tall, muscular frame—or he wasn’t there.
Her curiosity was piqued.
“Well, I don’t want to keep the driver waiting, anyway,” Marianne said.
Elaine glanced at her with a critical brow.
“You’re dating someone who can afford to send fancy cars to pick you up. Who is this guy, Marianne? The head of accounting?”
“Something like that,” Marianne said in a rush. She leaned over and kissed her mother’s cheek before she dashed to the door.
“See you later!” she said.
“Yes, you will,” her mother replied.
Her tone was loaded. It was clear that Marianne wouldn’t be able to keep Jay’s identity a secret for much longer, but she wanted at least one more night of fun without having to worry about her mother’s wrath.
She hoped that, in the end, her mom would understand that she did what she had to do for her family. Were she given the same opportunity, perhaps Elaine would have done the same thing.
Perhaps.
Marianne exited the building, and the driver stepped out to open her door. As she peeked inside the car, she noticed that Jay really wasn’t there. When she cast a curious glance at the driver, he nodded.
“Mr. Parish asked me to tell you that he took a very important phone call that couldn’t wait. He will be meeting you at the restaurant.”
“Okay,” Marianne said. “Thanks.”
She slid into the back seat, which felt terribly empty without his presence. Of course, the man was running a massive organization. There would be some calls he couldn’t pass up.
Maybe he’d gotten word about the retirement funds.
A rush of excitement ran through her at the thought. If he was found to be innocent and they could get that money back, her mother would be saved.
