Page 15 of Marry Me Tomorrow
“Talking to me first? You mean telling me”—Trent gestures between us—“that we’re engaged? Do you know how this is sounding?”
“Not good,” I admit. “But just listen. After we talked the other day, I was thinking about what you said. And I think we could help each other out.”
“By being engaged?” Trent says, his face full of confusion.
“Yes.”
Trent’s eyes widen slightly. “You can’t be serious, Jenny.”
“I am serious. As serious as a fisherman is about his gear.”
“Well, what you are offering is definitely a solution to my problem,” Trent says, his tone cautious. “It’s one that you know has been weighing on me. But why are you doing this? There’s nothing in it for you.”
His blue eyes meet mine, steady and searching. I shift under his gaze, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Rising slowly, I walk over to the window and place my hand on the clear pane. The glass is cool under my fingertips as I look out at the marina.
“Trent,” I say softly, still looking out at the boats gently swaying on the water. “There is a lot in it for me.” I turn back to face him and lean against the windowsill, the edge pressing into my spine. A lump forms in my throat as I think about everything that brought me here. “This isn’t just about you, okay? It’s about what this place means to me.”
His brow furrows in confusion. “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “When I was a kid, my parents moved around constantly. I never stayed in one place long enough to make friends or feel like I belonged anywhere. They made it pretty clear I wasn’t part of their plans, you know? I was an ‘unexpected burden’ to them, something they had to deal with, someone who just got in the way.”
Trent’s face tightens. “They actually said that?”
“Not in so many words,” I admit, forcing a small smile. “But I could tell. Then, as you know, one summer, when I was in middle school, we went to visit my grandparents. And my parents left me there. They left without even saying goodbye.”
His eyes widen. “Jenny, that’s awful.”
“It was. At first, anyway. I didn’t understand why they didn’t want me, why they’d just leave me like that. But what they didn’t realize was that leaving me with my grandparents was the best thing they ever did for me. Henry and Cora welcomed me with open arms, made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere. Their house became my home. For the first time in my life, I felt safe, loved . . . stable.”
Trent leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Your grandparents sound like they were amazing people, even back then.”
“They were. And Grandpa Henry still is. He’s the reason I came back here, Trent. Leaving for college and venturing out on my own in the world has been wonderful, but leaving my grandparents is also the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’d always longed to return to Chessie Valley. I wanted to be close to them, but I wasn’t sure how to make it work with my job. Then Grandma passed, and fate forced my hand. And I’m here now. I’m making it work. That little cabin by the marina? It’s not just a place to live—it’s my sanctuary. It’s where I have the freedom to paint, where I feel like I can breathe. This job? It’s given me not only that cabin, but more importantly, it’s given me a way to stay close to Grandpa and this community. It’s given me stability. A home.”
Trent nods slowly, his expression softening. “I guess I didn’t realize how much this place means to you.”
“It means everything,” I say, my voice steady and sure. “The marina, the regulars like Mr. Newman, my cabin, it’s all part of the life I’ve started to build here. And I don’t want to lose it. I want to be near my grandpa as long as he’s alive, and I want to stay in Chessie Valley, the only place I’ve really felt at home.”
Trent looks at me, his gaze searching.
“So,” I continue, “if we do get married, I’m guaranteed this job and this home.”
“True,” Trent says. “The rumor mill would be unhinged if I fired not only my best employee but also my wife.”
“And if we do go through with a wedding, you’d be guaranteed ownership of the marina.”
Trent nods, then looks into my eyes. “But marrying me . . . that’s a huge step, Jenny. You’re talking about tying yourself to someone you barely know. It’s crazy.”
I laugh softly. “Oh, it’s definitely crazy. But I don’t think it’s as crazy as letting this place slip away from us. And Grandpa Henry likes you, Trent. He’s got a knack for knowing when someone’s a good person, so I trust his judgment.”
“Yeah,” Trent says, a small smile tugging at his lips. “He’s called me a good egg once or twice.”
“Exactly.” I take one last look at the lake, the setting sun casting it in molten gold, and inhale deeply before I push off the windowsill and take a step closer to Trent. “Look, I know this isn’t how either of us pictured our lives going. But I also know you’ve worked too hard to let this marina slip through your fingers. And I’ve worked too hard to leave my grandpa and Chessie Valley again. So, yeah, I want to get married. Not only because I want to help you but because I understand what it feels like to lose everything.”
Trent’s shoulders relax, and he runs a hand through his hair. “You’re . . . something else, Jenny. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll stop second-guessing my seriousness about this arrangement,” I reply, a teasing edge to my voice. “If you need a wife to meet the requirements your grandpa set in place, then I’m your lady.”
“Are you sure? You barely know me or my family,” he asks, though his tone lacks the weight of genuine doubt it had previously.
