Page 70 of Marry Me Tomorrow
“Oh, but it is, child,” he says between guffaws, wiping his eyes. “Mighty funny indeed.”
“Why?” I demand, crossing my arms.
Henry composes himself, though his grin remains. “Because it’s as clear as day. You’re both madly in love with each other! You’d have thought one of you would’ve spoken up by now. Hell, I saw it on your wedding day, whether you realized it then or not. You two were already head over heels for each other. It’s the sort of thing your grandma Cora would’ve loved to see happen for you. I’d almost think she had a hand in it.”
I sit there staring at him, stunned. This was the last reaction I had expected. Grandpa Henry gives my hand a gentle pat, his tone softening. “And that Trent . . . he’s a sly one, that boy.”
My head snaps up. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well, sweet pea,” he says, his eyes twinkling, “that boy’s been secretly paying off my medical bills and helping with retirement home costs since he met me.”
I blink, dumbfounded. “He what?”
Henry chuckles. “Oh, yes. Even before you two knew each other. I noticed the changes right away—discounts on medical bills, sudden donations covering a month of fees here and there. That boy didn’t think I’d put two and two together after I mentioned my granddaughter struggling to make ends meet?”
“He really did that?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“As sure as I’m here fishing,” Henry replies, casting his line out again with a practiced flick of his wrist. “That boy has a heart of gold for sure.”
The knowledge settles over me like a warm blanket. Trent has been helping Grandpa long before our agreement, his kindness extending far beyond any obligation. My heart swells, the weight of my love for him almost overwhelming. I am the luckiest person in the world to be married to a kind, generous man like him.
I won’t let this chance slip by. Like Trent said before, to hell with the agreement. I agree—wholeheartedly. I love the marina, this family I’ve been given, and, more than anything, Trent. I can’t lose any of them. Now, I just need to find the right moment to tell Trent that I love him, and I won’t be giving him up.
Chapter 33
Trent
After spending the entire day catching up on boat and cabin maintenance and prepping the rentals for the weekend, my body feels like it’s been put through the wringer. My shoulders ache, my hands are covered in a fine layer of grime, and the damp scent of lake water clings to my clothes. I’m halfway up the steps to the lodge, ready to collapse into a chair and watch the last rays of the sun slip beneath the horizon, when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
“Hi, Mom,” I answer, slightly out of breath. “What’s up?”
Her voice is calm but with that unmistakable edge of purpose. “Hi, honey. Your grandfather asked me to relay a message. He’d like to speak with you this evening.”
I pause, wiping the sweat from my forehead. “Is everything okay? Something wrong with the pacemaker?”
“No, nothing like that,” Mom says. “I think it has to do with the marina.”
My stomach tightens at her words. What does this mean? Is there some way he found out about my marriage agreement? I already feel so guilty about not truly fulfilling the clause that’s so important to him. And if he knew, I don’t know what I would do. “Okay,” I say, “I’ll let Jenny know, and we’ll head over after I clean up.”
“No, sweetheart. He wants to talk to just you this time,” she says. “I’ll come by and have dinner with Jenny so she isn’t alone. Besides, I’ve been meaning to catch up with her.”
My stomach twists even more. How am I going to face my grandfather alone? “Alright. I’ll tell Jenny about the change in plans, and I’ll head over in a bit.”
As I hang up, the sky shifts into hues of soft lavender and orange, a stark contrast to the nervousness settling over me. I pull the shop door open, and the tinkling bell announces my arrival. Jenny is behind the counter, her hands gently folding a receipt for a customer. Even in the dim glow of the shop, she’s radiant—her long lashes casting soft shadows against her cheeks. The sight of her causes my heart to beat faster. We haven’t talked since the events of last night, and I was hoping she and I could talk over dinner. Now with Grandfather's summons, that’s not going to happen.
She glances up, and when our eyes meet, a faint blush dusts her cheeks. Her lips curve into a shy smile that makes my heart thud against my ribs. “Hi,” she says, stepping around the counter as the last customer leaves.
“Hi,” I reply, my throat suddenly dry.
She tilts her head, her gaze searching my face. “Everything okay?”
I nod, though my stomach twists. “Yes . . . and no. My grandfather has asked to see me.”
“Oh?” she asks. “What about?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it has to do with the marina.”
“Okay,” Jenny says, “well, we’ve gotten through a similar conversation with him before—”
