Make-Believe Marriage

by Pamela M. Kelley

  Cameron smiled. “I’d love that.”

  “Great, I’ll be in touch. See you soon.”

  He headed off to the bar and Cameron turned her attention back to the table. Ethan looked miles away while Jaclyn was frowning.

  “I don’t see him staying long in this town, do you?” she asked.

  “I have no idea.” But she couldn’t really picture it either. Blake Connors was larger than life. His arm might not work as well anymore but she could see him maybe doing sports reporting or something along those lines.

  “We won!” Rachel said with excitement as Arthur announced the final answer. He came around a moment later and handed a restaurant gift card to Jaclyn who kept track of them.

  Once they got their bill and paid it, everyone made their way out of the restaurant.

  “I’ll call you on Saturday and we’ll figure out a time to meet up,” Rachel said. Adiel was going to be in Los Angeles for the weekend for work and Rachel and Cameron were going to go to Betty’s birthday party together. It was going to be at River’s End Ranch, in the new barn building they were using for large functions.

  “Bye, Rachel!” Cameron turned to Ethan and smiled. “I hope you had fun tonight?”

  “I did,” he assured her. “Thanks for inviting me.”

  “Good. So, I will see you there!” Cameron was looking forward to the party. Bernie was covering for Lily while she was on maternity leave and had mentioned last week at trivia that the birthday party was more like a wedding reception it was so big. She wondered as she walked to her car if Ethan would join them again at trivia. She hoped so. He was good for one thing, but she’d also enjoyed talking to him. It would be nice to reestablish their friendship.

  Chapter 2

  “This is my new favorite chardonnay. It’s still early. Let’s have a half a glass and relax a bit before we go,” Cameron said. It was early evening on Saturday, the night of Betty’s birthday party, and she and Rachel were in the kitchen of Cameron’s condo that she’d been renting for the past few years.

  “Sure. Bread and Butter. I haven’t tried that one before,” Rachel said as Cameron poured the wine. Rachel took a sip and smiled. “Oh, this is very good.”

  “Bring it upstairs. I need your help to decide which dress I should wear. I tried them both on earlier and am not sure which way to go.”

  They went up to Cameron’s bedroom, and she showed her the two dresses. One was a little black dress, elegant and flattering. The other was a pale blue sleeveless dress with a boat neck and a flouncy ruffle on the bottom. They were two very different looks. Rachel lifted them both up and then looked at Cameron.

  “I’ve seen the black on you before and it’s a great dress. But I really love the blue one. Especially with your blonde hair. I’d go with the blue.”

  “Okay, blue it is. I love your dress too. Is that new?” Rachel was wearing a bright pink dress that had a slim-fitting skirt and with her dark hair, and fair skin—she looked gorgeous.

  “It is. Adiel surprised me with it the last time he went to LA. He felt bad that he got stuck out there longer than expected.”

  “How are things going with the show? Everyone seems to be watching.” Rachel was one of the stars on the new TV show that was filming at the ranch, and her husband Adiel was the show runner.

  “It’s great. I really love the new girl that started a few weeks ago, Olivia. I think you’d like her too. She’s very young and I’ve sort of taken her under my wing a bit as she doesn’t know anyone here.”

  “Oh, you should invite her out with us sometime. Maybe trivia?”

  “That’s a good idea. Speaking of trivia, I noticed you and Ethan were chatting a lot. Any sparks there? He seems really nice.”

  Cameron smiled. “Ethan’s great. I’ve known him forever, though this was the first time I’ve seen him in ages. There're no sparks with him though. Never has been. He’s just a friend.”

  Rachel looked disappointed. “Oh, that’s too bad. I thought you looked cute together. What about Blake? I didn’t think it was possible, but he’s even better looking now. You went out with him in high school right? Maybe you could start things up again if he’s going to be in town for a while.”

  “He did mention that he wants to get together, but I’m not sure he meant an actual date. It would be fun to catch up with him though. I did have such a crush on him when I was younger.”

  “Why did the two of you break up?” Rachel asked.

  “We were never very serious. And Blake was always busy with baseball, traveling to away games and camps. He was gone all summer, and we drifted apart after that.”

  Rachel took the last sip of her wine and set the empty glass on the kitchen counter. “I just want you to be as happy as I am with Adiel. Although I never expected to fall in love with him.”

  Cameron smiled. Rachel’s relationship with Adiel had been a whirlwind that had taken her completely by surprise, especially since Adiel was her boss. But they were perfect together.

  “I want what you have too, which is why I’m not worried about it. It will happen when happens. But in the meantime I’m going to live my life and buy that condo as soon as possible. There’s actually an open house on Sunday if you feel like coming with me. A new development on the lake.”

  “I’d love to!”

  Rachel drove them to River’s End Ranch and even though she knew this was going to be a big party, Cameron was still surprised by the size of the crowd when they walked into the barn. It seemed as though just about everyone they knew in Riston was there.

  Her brother Clark was near the door, talking to Wade Weston, the general manager of the ranch and he waved her over when he saw her.

  “I was just telling Wade that Blake Connors is back in town. I saw you guys talking at trivia. Did he happen to mention how long he might be in town?” Clark asked.

  “No. He just said he’s done with baseball and trying to figure out what he’s going to do next. He said he’ll be visiting with his family for a while, but I have no idea how long. Why?”

  “Wade has a baseball clinic here this summer and wants to see if Blake might be available to spend an afternoon with the boys and give them some pointers.”

  “Oh, they’d love that! You should ask him. I’m sure he’d do it if he’s here.”

  “Thanks. I will,” Wade said.

  “Where’s the guest of honor?” Cameron asked.

  Clark smiled. “Head to the back of the room. She’s holding court at a center table.”

  “All right. We’re off to pay our respects.” Cameron and Rachel made their way toward the back until they reached the table where Betty was sitting, surrounded by well wishers. Cameron was glad to see that she looked well. Her snowy white hair was curled, and she was wearing a very pretty lavender dress with her signature white pearls. She saw Cameron and waved her over.

  “Happy Birthday Betty!” Cameron said when she reached her. “Thanks for having us!” Rachel added.

  Betty held out her hands, and they each took one and held it gently.

  “Thank you for coming and don’t you both look lovely! Why don’t you join me for a moment?”

  The seats next to Betty had opened up as they reached the table and they slid into them.

  “How are you feeling?” Cameron asked her.

  “Never better!” Betty said, but a moment later she coughed slightly. She was in good spirits, but Cameron sensed that she was making a real effort. Most people wouldn’t notice as she sat smiling and greeting everyone who came over, but Cameron could see it in her eyes.

  “So what else are you girls up to this weekend?” Betty asked.

  “We’re going to an open house tomorrow, to look at a new condo. I’m hoping to be able to buy one soon.”

  “A young girl your age buying property, isn’t that marvelous! Paying rent is just tossing money away. I’ve always believed that.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. I should be able to in about six months, or maybe sooner.�
��

  Betty looked far away for a moment and then glanced back at Cameron and smiled. “Six months is so close and yet so far away. You could be engaged by then.”

  Cameron laughed at the thought. “I can tell you with absolute certainty that is not likely.”

  They all laughed and then chatted for a few more minutes until Betty turned to greet an older lady coming their way. “Oh, hello Gloria! I’m so glad you could come.”

  Cameron quickly jumped up and offered her seat. Rachel did the same.

  “We’re going to go mingle a bit,” she said to Betty.

  “Have fun girls. Gloria why don’t you join me?”

  Cameron and Rachel made their way to the bar, passing many people they knew along the way and stopping to say hello. While they were waiting their turn in line, Cameron noticed Ethan chatting with a pretty blond woman about their age. She looked familiar, but Cameron couldn’t place her.

  “Who is that talking to Ethan?” she asked Rachel.

  “That’s Sierra Barker. She’s an actress and we work together now. She was recently cast as a villain, and she’s very good at it.”

  Cameron laughed. “Oh, that explains why she looks familiar. I hate her character, but love the drama too. I wonder how she knows Ethan?”

  Rachel raised her eyebrows. “Ethan is kind of a catch you know.”

  “He is? I mean he’s a nice guy and all, but I’m a little surprised that someone like Sierra would be interested.”

  “His grandmother’s ranch is one of the biggest in the state. Eventually he’ll be taking it over. Some people would find that attractive.”

  “I suppose.” Cameron had never cared much about that kind of thing, but she knew many women did. She liked being independent and making her own money, so she would never have to rely on someone else to support her.

  “Ethan used to come into the cafe often when I worked there and I got to know him. He’s really a great guy. That’s why I thought you two would make a good match.” Rachel sounded wistful.

  “You can’t really choose who you are attracted to. It’s either there or it’s not, and as much as I like Ethan, the attraction just isn’t there for me.”

  “Got it,” Rachel said she reached the bar. “Pinot Grigio for you?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Once they got their wine, they made their way around the room, chatting with people they knew and helping themselves to a buffet of appetizers. Once everyone had eaten and the food was cleared away, the band started to play livelier music and soon a good crowd was on the dance floor. Cameron and Rachel were among them and danced a half dozen songs in a row until they had to sit one out. As they walked off the dance floor, the music changed to a slow song that Cameron absolutely adored and she said to Rachel, “I just love this song.”

  “I like it too. Shall we?” Ethan was standing there as they came off the dance floor and had obviously heard what she’d just said. Cameron knew it would be rude to say no and even though she was exhausted, she really did love the song.

  “Sure, I’d love to.” Ethan took her hand and led her back onto the dance floor and pulled her towards him, resting one hand on her hip and smoothly gliding her along to the music.

  “Are you having fun?” he asked.

  “Yes, it’s a lovely party. We visited with your grandmother when we first arrived. She seems in good spirits though I thought she looked a little tired.”

  “I thought so too, but she insisted that she feels fine. I think she may have pushed herself to be here. She didn’t want to miss her party.”

  “It’s easy to forget how old she is.”

  “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about that lately, trying to prepare myself for the inevitable. I’m going to miss her.” He was quiet for a moment and Cameron decided to change the subject and lighten the mood a bit.

  “Was that Sierra Barker you were talking to earlier? The new actress on Legacy?”

  “Oh, yeah, I guess it was. She seems nice. Says she’s really interested in horses but has never taken riding lessons.”

  Cameron smiled. “You could teach her.”

  Ethan looked a little embarrassed. “She thought so too. She asked if she could come see the ranch tomorrow and maybe try to ride a little.”

  “Oh, that’s great! It could be the start of something,” Cameron said as the song ended. She was happy for him.

  “I suppose. I don’t really know her very well.”

  “Teaching her to ride sounds like a great way to get to know her. Tomorrow is going to be a gorgeous day too. Rachel and I are going to an open house for a new condo development. I know it’s early still, but six months will be here before I know it and it’s fun to look at different options.”

  Ethan smiled. “That does sound like fun.” As the song ended they made their way off the dance floor.

  Suddenly Sierra was by their side, looking beautiful, though the glance she shot Cameron was less than friendly. She put her hand on Ethan’s arm as she smiled sweetly. “I just love this song and I think you promised me a dance?”

  Ethan smiled as he turned back to the dance floor and Cameron watched them go. She was less sure about Sierra now for her friend. Ethan deserved someone nice. She’d assumed that the bitchy character she played was just acting, but maybe there was a reason she was cast in the role.

  Chapter 3

  Two days later, while in the middle of a busy shift at the hospital, Cameron heard from another nurse that Betty had died. When she got home, she looked to see if the obituary was online yet and it was. It said that she’d died peacefully in her sleep, which was good to hear. It was sad, but she’d also lived a long, happy life. Calling hours were going to be that Wednesday and the funeral the following morning.

  They had two shifts for the wake, late afternoon and then early evening. Cameron wasn’t surprised to find a long line of people waiting to pay their respects when she arrived Wednesday evening after work. She’d run home first to change of course and wore a simple black dress with a sweater over it.

  When she finally made it inside, she saw Ethan standing with his parents and other relatives in the receiving line. They all looked tired and sad. But still, when she reached him, he had a smile for her.

  “Thank you so much for coming,” he said.

  “Of course. I loved your grandmother. We bonded recently while she was in the hospital. She was a special lady. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you. I know she was fond of you, too. She said you were her favorite nurse.”

  “Aww. That’s so sweet.” Cameron would have liked to chat longer, but there was a long line of people behind her.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, at the funeral,” she said and continued through the line.

  The funeral was the next morning at eleven with a gathering after at the restaurant at River’s End Ranch. The service was as lovely as a service could be and Ethan’s eulogy for his grandmother brought tears to her eyes. They’d been so close and Ethan’s voice cracked as he spoke. But he brought everyone to laughter too as he told of some of the funnier moments he’d had with his grandmother. She had been quiet a character, and it was clear that he adored her.

  At the gathering after, she went to talk to him.

  “How are you doing? It’s been a long few days.”

  He nodded. “I’m okay. I’ve been preparing myself for this day but it sort of hit me in the church that she’s really gone, you know. I’ll miss our weekly meetings.”

  “I’m so sorry. I know how close you were.”

  He smiled. “We were. I think she really liked you too. I think she may have left you a little something to remember her by. My lawyer asked me to invite you to the reading of the will tomorrow at nine am. Can you make it?”

  “She left me something? How sweet of her. I don’t go in tomorrow until eleven, so I can make it.”

  Ethan gave her the address of the attorney’s office and she added it to her calendar.

  The mood at the
gathering was much livelier than at the funeral. Cameron noticed Ethan adjusting his phone and then sticking it back into a music doc. A moment later, fun music from older Broadway musicals filled the room.

  “One of your grandmother’s favorites?” she asked as he returned to their table.

  He grinned. “Yes, she had several play lists all filled out. All her favorite songs and none of them sad or as she put it, no ‘cry’ music. She didn’t want people to be sad when she went. She wanted them to celebrate her life and be happy.”

  “That sounds like her. It’s hard to do though when you are missing someone.” She lifted her glass of iced tea. “To your grandmother!” Ethan tapped his glass of water against hers and smiled. “She was one of a kind.”

  The next morning, Cameron arrived a few minutes before nine at the attorney’s address. She went inside and Ethan and his parents were already there. Ethan was an only child and looked like both of them. His father had mostly gray hair while his mother had a chin-length bob the exact same shade of brown as Ethan’s though Cameron suspected she had a little help with it. They all smiled when they saw her.

  “The attorney should be right out,” Ethan said as Cameron sat in the empty chair next to him. Sure enough as soon as she was seated the door to the attorney’s office opened and a woman in her thirties with long curly brown hair, glasses and a warm smile came over to greet them.

  “It’s nice to see you all. We can go ahead in and get started.” She turned to Cameron. “You must be Cameron Baker? I’m Judy Heinz.” She held out her hand. Cameron shook it and then followed the others into the room.

  They sat at a round table and Judy began going through the various items of the will. Cameron was curious about what she’d left her. She knew that Betty had a huge crystal collection and added a new piece each year. She’d told Cameron all about it and Cameron had shared that she collected owls. She’d always loved them and had owl figurines, paintings, mugs. Whenever she saw something cute with an owl on it, she added it to her collection.

  Cameron sat up straight when her name was called.