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“Oh, Lord, it was a disaster,” she sighs.
I frown. “What do you mean?”
She gives me a look. “You know my mom, right? Daydreamer, a little ditzy, head in the clouds?”
I grin at her sarcasm. “That bad, huh?”
“Oh, she has us married, settled down, kids running around the place, the works. I couldn’t emphasize enough that it wasn’t real, but I don’t know why I bothered. She’s determined that some miracle will happen and that we’re getting back together.”
As I’m listening, my smile wanes. Would that be such a terrible thing?
No! You’re not doing this again!
I would be a fool, wouldn’t I? Besides, I told the guys last night that this marriage was fake. Evidently, they doubted my word. Now, as I think about it, I have to wonder if I believed it myself.
Do what you have to do to get rid of this guy, and then get out.
And a week ago, I would have agreed wholeheartedly. But it’s been nice having Tilly back. All I know is I’ve been waiting for Gerry’s truck to arrive every morning in anticipation of seeing her.
“What’s on the agenda today?” Tilly asks, breaking into my thoughts.
“If I remember correctly, we’re getting married.”
“Oh, yes,” Tilly cries, sounding like she’s forgotten already.
Maybe it’s because we’re not actually leaving the ranch. After today, we’ll be man and wife, kind of.
I dig into my trouser pocket and slide the box across the table. Tilly’s eyes fly wide, and her jaw drops.
“Well, we can’t be married without a ring, right? Open it.”
Timidly, she takes the box and opens it, her eyes remaining wide as she gazes down at it. “Oh, wow. It’s beautiful. But…”
“I went out and bought it last night,” I lie. “Mine’s upstairs.”
Carefully, she lifts it out of the box, then eyes me with the unasked question.
“Sure, put it on.”
“It’s a perfect fit,” she gasps. “That was a pretty good guess.”
I nod and smile. Of course, it fits perfectly. Her fingers haven’t changed in ten years.
“So that’s it?” she asks. “We’re married?”
“That’s it,” I reply.
But even as I smile, I feel a strange wrenching in my gut.
17
Tilly
Yesterday, Jake gave mea wedding ring. Today, I arrive at the ranch with the suitcase I brought from New York. Dad’s a bit concerned that we’re taking this too far. He thinks there are other ways to get rid of Bryan, like the sight of the double-barreled shotgun he keeps in his workshop.
Mom, on the other hand, thinks this is a great idea. Of course she does. In fact, this very morning before I left, she came into the barn to give me a pep talk.
“This might be just what you both need,” she began while I packed the last of my things. “I know it’s not exactly the way you wanted to get married—”
