~ Clay

She’s the most beautiful bride in the world, I think as I stand under the tall cedar tree on the ranch, watching Andrea walk towards me under a shower of red and orange leaves being blown by the chilly, autumn breeze.

She’s wearing just a simple gown – we decided we’d make it a simple ceremony. It’s very modest, too, lace covering her collarbones, shoulders and arms while the hem of the gown rustles against the white carpet. Even so, she’s stunning, her hair pulled up elegantly with only a few wisps cascading down her face, reminiscent of the trees in the fall and their leaves, her rosy cheeks, glistening lips and warm eyes apparent even through the thin veil she’s wearing.

Beautiful.

And I know I’m not the only one who thinks so, gasps escaping from the small crowd gathered for the occasion while one particular, small mouth hangs open.

Yes, Rose is in awe. In fact, she seems to have forgotten that there are other people around, just like me.

As Andrea stands in front of me, I offer her my hand, holding my breath and then smiling as she takes it.

I still can’t believe she agreed to this but I’m glad. I know she’s only doing this for Rose but right now, it’s my hand she’s holding, not Rose. And yes, I know it’s not real but right now, it sure feels like it.

Andrea and I are getting married.

As she stands beside me, the judge starts the ceremony and minutes later, it is over. He pronounces us husband and wife. I remove the veil and I kiss her, just a peck, our friends applauding. Then, with Rose between us, we head inside the house to celebrate with our guests.

“Congratulations.” Jo is one of the first to greet Andrea and me. “I know it’s not, well, you know what I’m talking about…”

Of course, Andrea told her.

“But I still think the two of you make a lovely bride and groom. I almost cried watching you walk down that carpet.”

“I think you did,” Andrea said.

“Yeah.” Jo nods, wiping the skin under one of her eyes. “I think I did.”

“I’m glad you could come,” I tell her.

“Of course, I would,” Jo says. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Thanks,” Andrea mumbles.

“Oh, by the way.” Jo touches my arm. “Gavin is still single, isn’t he?”

I follow her gaze. “Well, yes, but…”

“I wouldn’t go for him if I were you,” Andrea says. “He’s cunning, can’t be trusted. I even dare say he’s dangerous.”

“Well, sounds perfect.” Jo grins. “If you’ll excuse me…”

And off she goes, making a beeline for Gavin.

“Honestly, I don’t know who I should feel sorry for,” I tell Andrea. “Jo or Gavin.”

“For both of them,” she answers. “Though neither deserves our pity.”

“By the way…” I look at her. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you how beautiful you are.”

“Oh, stop it,” she reprimands. “Then again, you don’t look so bad yourself.”

“We do look good together, don’t we?”

She falls silent.

Oops. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Didn’t I promise I would be on my best behavior?

“There’s the bride and groom,” Gavin says as he approaches.

“Where’s Jo?” Andrea asks, looking past him.

“I told her I’d say a few things to the two of you first,” Gavin answers. “For one, I’d like to commend you both on being so convincing.”

“We’re glad we pass your standards,” Andrea says sourly.

“Careful what you say,” I warn him. “You got on her bad side, you know.”

“I know.” Gavin frowns.

I look around. “I don’t see Nora.”

“She didn’t come. But trust me, she’ll know of this.”

“Don’t forget,” Andrea tells him. “You promised that if I married Clay, you’d make sure Rose goes to him.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Gavin says. “And yes, all my efforts are to ensure that outcome.”

“Good.”

Gavin pats my arm. “Well, good luck, man.”

I frown. Now, he wishes me luck.

“Who knows?” he whispers in my ear. “Tonight might be your lucky night.”

He smiles at Andrea then leaves.

“What did he say?” Andrea asks curiously as soon as he’s gone.

“Nothing,” I tell her, looking at her as I remember Gavin’s words.

I wonder if he’s right.

---

He’s not.

Andrea might have been a convincing bride and there might have been a moment that I felt everything was real but now that we’re alone in my bedroom and I’m unbuttoning her gown, I can sense her tension, her anxiety. We might be married now but nothing’s changed, at least not in our relationship.

She’s still not ready. And I’m not going to force her.

“Relax, Andrea,” I tell her. “I’m not going to do anything unless you ask me to.”

“No?”

I frown, stepping back. “I know you don’t trust me, Andrea, but I’m not a monster. You have no reason to fear me.”

She turns around, facing me.

“We’re not really married,” I continue. “So like Gavin said, we don’t need to have sex unless we want to, unless we both want to and I mean really want to. You don’t owe me anything. But at the same time, you are my wife and I will take care of you.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. I guess I’m a little tired.” She reaches for my hand. “And thank you, Clay. I appreciate your understanding and your patience.”

I nod. I can only hope I have enough of both.

She turns her back on me again. “Do you think you can still help me get out of this gown?”

I continue popping out the last buttons, ignoring the creamy skin in front of me. “Done.”

“Thanks.” She turns around and takes a deep breath. “Now, I can finally breathe and change into something more comfortable.”

She disappears into the walk-in closet that adjoins the bathroom and I undress in the room, stripping down to my boxers and putting on my robe. Then I stand at the foot of the bed, wondering what our sleeping arrangement will be.

Are we going to sleep with pillows between us? Or will I have to sleep on the floor?

“What’s wrong?” Andrea asks as she comes out of the bathroom.

She’s wearing a pair of pink pajamas with bunnies on them like the kind Rose would wear, nothing at all sexy like a camisole or something from Victoria’s Secret, but maybe that’s for the best. I’ve promised I won’t touch her but I make no promises about not getting hard and this could help.

“Just wondering which side of the bed you want to sleep on,” I tell her.

“Oh.” She suddenly looks concerned.

No, not just concerned. Worried. Scared. Maybe sleeping in the same room is tough for her, let alone sleeping on the same bed.

“You know what? Why don’t I sleep in another room?” I suggest. “The house does have plenty of other rooms.”

“No.” Andrea shakes her head. “That would make people doubt our marriage is real, wouldn’t it? I mean how many newlyweds sleep in separate bedrooms on their wedding night?”

“Andrea, no one is watching us and I doubt Hariett will tell others we spent our wedding night in separate bedrooms.”

“Oh.”

I grab my pillow.

“But Rose will wonder, won’t she?”

Yes, I realize with a frown. Not only are Andrea and I trying to deceive other people but Rose as well, since we don’t want to cause her any unnecessary disappointment or give her reason to lie, and she can be very intuitive. She may be the hardest to deceive, in fact.

“I’ll sleep on the floor then,” I offer, putting my pillow down.

“Sure?” Now, Andrea looks guilty.

“I’m sure. Now, pass me another pillow.”

She does and I try to arrange them as comfortably as I can on the carpet before lying down.

“I’ll get you a spare blanket,” Andrea says.

After a few seconds, she tosses me one.

“Good night, Clay.”

“Good night, Andrea,” I tell her, pulling the blanket up to my chin.

She turns off the lights and in a few minutes, complete silence falls over the room. I guess she wasn’t joking when she said she was tired.

I, on the other hand, find myself staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. In spite of the carpet, the floor’s too hard, after all, and it isn’t the only thing that’s hard. Try as I might to calm myself, I’m well aware of the fact that Andrea is just lying inches away from me and even though she’s in those kiddie pajamas, I can’t stop myself from imagining taking them off, one button after the other, just like I did with her gown.

Oh, what a wedding night this is turning out to be.

I agreed to this fake wedding, not only because Gavin said it was best for Rose – damn him – but because it will help keep Andrea from running away, because I was secretly hoping this would help Andrea make up her mind about me, that she would realize we really belonged together and that we could still have our happily ever after. Yes, I was hoping this wedding could eventually turn real.

Now, I realize I’ve just agreed to more torture and this is only the beginning. This is only our first night in the same room.

I can’t wait until morning.

---

“Good morning, Mr. Maxwell.”

I blink, rubbing what little sleep I got out of my eyes as I look at the guest in the living room. A guest at not even six in the morning? And Nora Gilbert no less?

“I’m sorry, sir,” Hariett tells me as she enters the room with a mug of coffee that she sets in front of Nora. “Mrs. Gilbert insisted on coming in and I didn’t want to wake you.”

“It’s okay, Hariett,” I tell her.

“I didn’t think you’d still be asleep.” Nora picks up her mug and takes a sip. “Parents usually wake up early. Ah, but you and your wife are not really parents, aren’t you?”

I narrow my eyes at her. I’ve just had a rough night. My back hurts. And I haven’t had my coffee. I’m not in the mood for this.

“Mrs. Gilbert…”

“By the way, this is a nice house,” she says as she sets down her mug, not letting me speak. “It was Rose’s father’s, you said?”

“Yes, it was John’s and now, it’s mine.”

“Provided you look after Rose.”

I frown. What is she getting at? Is she saying she wants some of John’s fortune? Is that why she wants Rose badly?

“Mrs. Gilbert, if it’s money you’re after, I’m prepared to give you some,” I tell her. “As long as you decide not to contest Rose’s adoption.”

“What?” She looks at me in surprise.

“John would have wanted to help you anyway. If he had known you’d existed, he would have left you something.”

Why didn’t John know Karen had a sister? Didn’t Karen tell him?

“Nonsense, Mr. Maxwell.” She picks up the mug again. “I’m sure you have lots of money but that is not what I’m after.”

Is she being pious or is she greedy and wants more than what I’m offering?

“What are you after, Mrs. Gilbert? Why are you here?”

“Why, I’m after Rose’s best interests, of course.”

I don’t believe that.

“As to why I’m here, I…”

“What’s going on?” Andrea interrupts us as she enters the room, still in her pajamas. “I got out of the room and I heard voices.”

I place my arm around her waist. “Andrea, you remember Mrs. Gilbert, don’t you? From the hospital? Rose’s aunt?”

“Ah.” Andrea nods.

“Good morning, Mrs. Maxwell.” Nora stands up. “You look well, better than your husband.”

I frown at her observation.

“I must say, though, I’ve never seen a woman wear pajamas on her wedding night.”

Fuck.

“Oh, this?” Andrea looks at her pajamas. “They’re my favorite.”

I pull on the back of her shirt, trying to remind her of the parts we have to play.

“I wasn’t wearing it all night, though,” she adds, grinning at me.

That will work.

I return her grin then plant a kiss on her forehead. “Did you sleep well, Mrs. Maxwell?”

“I did, very much, Mr. Maxwell.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Nora grimacing as she sits down.

Take that.

“We didn’t see you at our wedding, Nora,” Andrea sits beside her. “We were so hoping you’d be there.”

“Nonsense. I only go to weddings of people I know.”

Andrea ignores that. “I’d show you some pictures but they’re not ready yet.”

“I’m not here to see pictures.”

“What can I offer you then?” Andrea stands up. “Breakfast? A tour of the ranch?”

“I’m simply here to look after Rose.”

Andrea tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry?”

I step forward. “Mrs. Gilbert, I don’t believe I remember agreeing to…”

“You two are going on your honeymoon, aren’t you?” Nora asks. “That’s what all newlyweds do. So I’m here to take care of Rose while you’re away.”

I blink. What?

“You are going on your honeymoon, aren’t you?” Nora asks again.

“Yes,” Andrea answers. “But we were planning on bringing Rose with us.”

“Bringing a child to a honeymoon?” Nora laughs. “Nonsense. The honeymoon is the time for couples to spend together, to strengthen their love for the trying times ahead. And trust me, there will be plenty.”

I’m done listening to her.

“Please excuse us.” I pull Andrea into the kitchen.

“She does make sense, you know,” Andrea says as soon as we’re alone.

“Please don’t tell me you’re considering leaving Rose under her care,” I tell her.

“I don’t want to,” she says, rubbing her arms. “I’m her mother now, after all, and I don’t want to be away from her. I’d still rather bring Rose along, of course, like we originally planned. But she is right. Couples don’t usually bring their children to their honeymoon. And she is Rose’s aunt.”

“We don’t know her,” I remind.

“I don’t think she will do anything bad to Rose. Besides, she’ll be watching Rose here, not in her own home. Hariett will make sure Rose is okay. And even if Hariett can’t watch Nora and Rose all the time, we have cameras. We’ll find out what she’s doing. If she lays even one finger on Rose, we’ll find out and she won’t have a chance at custody.”

“So, we’ll leave Rose as a bait?”

“No.” Andrea shakes her head. “If anything, we’re leaving Rose with Nora so that Nora will get to know Rose and either acknowledge she’s not fit to handle Rose or realize that Rose is truly happy here and leave her be.”

I touch my chin. “I see.”

“Of course, we could also decide not to go on our honeymoon,” she adds.

I shake my head. “If we cancel, Nora will think we’re not serious about this marriage or each other.”

Andrea nods. “So, are we decided then?”

Are we? I don’t really like the idea of leaving Rose with Nora, who’s practically a stranger but it seems we have no choice. Hopefully, this gamble will pay off and Nora will understand that Andrea and I don’t see her as an enemy but as family, who will still be a part of Rose’s life even if she stays with us.

“Fine,” I say. “But we’ll turn the cameras on, we’ll leave Hariett with instructions, Gavin will check on them regularly and we’ll call Rose everyday.”

“Of course.”

“Shall we tell Nora?”

I offer Andrea my hand and she holds it, giving me a weak smile. I, on the other hand, let out a deep breath. First, a rough wedding night then this chaotic morning after. I can only hope our honeymoon will be a good one.