Marry Me, Right Now : (Marriage of Convenience Romance, Toronto)

by Haley Travis

  Zachary’s perfect eyebrow raised in a refined arch. “Darling, that’s a question that I can’t answer for you, unfortunately.”

  I grabbed my phone, calling Rayanne.

  “What… the… time?” she asked groggily.

  “Rayanne, it’s Mia. I’m really sorry to bother you, but I need a quick answer. Can you be my bridesmaid on Sunday, and can you meet me at a bridal store in a couple of hours so we can get dresses for you and Lauren? I promise they’ll be tasteful, nothing weird. And I’m paying for everything, of course.”

  I could hear her sitting up in bed. “Oh, damn. Mia, I’d love to be your bridesmaid. But I have an afternoon shift today. I’m going to be short if I miss it. And I know that Lauren is in the same boat.”

  “I understand.” My brain was already churning in problem-solving mode, and as I shifted in my chair, I was reminded of the huge pile of paper in my pocket.

  Would it be terrible to use the wedding planning money for this little emergency? Jacob did say that I was to use the cash to make everything go more smoothly.

  “Hold on,” I said, still processing. “I know that having you call in sick is a huge imposition, and this is so last minute that it’s ridiculous. But I have a pile of cash that is specifically earmarked to make problems go away. What if I gave you and Lauren each three hundred dollars for the trouble I’m causing? This would cover your missed shift, and any random little expenses like hair clips or taxis or whatever you need around the wedding?”

  “Wow. Yeah. That seems a little much, though.”

  “You can pay me back by playing bartender or DJ at one of our cocktail parties someday.”

  “Done. Where am I going and when?”

  I held the phone out to Zachary to recite the address where we were meeting at one pm.

  “Thanks so much, Rayanne. I’ll see you soon!”

  I immediately called Lauren, basically repeating the same conversation.

  “Mia, I’m so excited for you! You won’t put us in shiny hot pink or something, right?”

  “Quiet and tasteful, I promise.”

  “Great – see you soon!”

  As soon as I hung up, Zachary gave me a wink. “It’s not my place to say, darling, but this suddenly being rich is extra weird for you, isn’t it?”

  I laughed a little too loudly. “It’s that obvious?”

  “Don’t worry. Total confidentiality. And for the record, not a peep shall be reported to the mother in law beyond what a dream you are to work with.”

  “Thanks. I think it’s really important that she likes me.”

  “Well, good luck with that. Rosalind’s a piece of work, that one. But she’ll be civil to you, and that’s good enough.”

  Over the next hour, we whipped through his master list of decisions. In nearly all cases, we agreed to let the vendors tell us what was best, and they were all responding positively already. He agreed that the color palette of ivory and mixed greens with a few pops of deep muted blue was a good, easy choice, and even took a few photos of the sofa pillow for reference.

  Just before noon, I got a text from Jacob. “Hey – sorry I forgot to tell you earlier. There are snacks in the fridge for your meeting.”

  “Thanks,” I replied, then went to check, taking out a bowl of fresh hummus and plate of vegetable spears.

  “Brain fuel,” I said, as Zachary cleared a spot among the papers.

  “Brilliant,” he said, reaching for a slice of yellow pepper.

  “Well, we’ve covered food, decor, music, the guest list. The invitations will be couriered out today to those who need them, emails and phone calls to those whose addresses we don’t know.” Zachary gave me an exasperated glance. “Darling, you really will need a proper address book,” he admonished me.

  “My friends are email-based people, and some of them move around a lot.”

  “When you follow up, do try to get addresses so that you can send thank you notes.”

  “Okay.” I didn’t bother mentioning that I’d be adding, ‘Please, no gift’ to invitations to my friends. Suddenly something popped into my head.

  “Hey – Jacob uses a car service. Could we set everyone up with rides home? The subways stop at one-thirty, and transit is pretty sketchy for some past midnight.”

  “Especially for women traveling alone,” Zachary said, grabbing his notebook and scribbling a few things down. “Wonderful idea. I’ll set up the service to send a string of cars so that there are always three waiting.”

  “I’m sure some people will double up if they’re in the same neighborhood.”

  “Of course. Mia, that’s a lovely idea. Very classy.”

  “Well, between you and I, a lot of my friends are broke artists. I couldn’t bear to think of them suddenly having to drop thirty bucks just to get home.”

  He patted my hand. “You’re in a new world now, darling. It will take a little time to get used to everything. I’ve seen it before. Trust me, it will be second nature in a few months.”

  I couldn’t express how much that weirded me out, so I just smiled and nodded.

  “Eat,” he insisted. “A car is coming in half an hour to take us to the magical land of…” he lowered his voice to a dramatic whisper, “Bridal gowns’.”

  I tried not to laugh while stuffing hummus soaked broccoli into my face. “Am I going to have to be serious there?”

  “Yes. There will be absolutely no merriment in front of the dresses. This is serious business.”

  An hour and a half later, Lauren, Rayanne, Zachary and I were giggling merrily, already a little tipsy on the endless champagne while a bevy of nearly identical polished brunettes brought us an endless array of bridesmaid dresses. They held them up in front of them to mimic what they’d look like on.

  “Ooh,” Lauren gasped. “That one on the left would be great for a funeral. Very dour.”

  “Come on,” I nearly hiccuped. “Let’s be serious. The decision must be made, ladies.”

  “As an honorary lady today,” Zachary chimed in, “I’m thinking that one in the middle. It doesn’t look right in this ivory, but when it’s in the dusty blue, trust me, you’ll both look very pretty.”

  “Blue? We’re wearing blue, not blushing rose or peach parfait?” Rayanne laughed.

  Zachary shot me a look. “I just assumed that since that was the accent color, that you’d want it for the bridesmaids?” He held out his phone to the girls with the photo.

  “That’s a great color,” Lauren said. “I’d wear that.”

  Rayanne nodded. “Could I wear black shoes?”

  “Don’t worry, darlings, you’ll be fitted for shoes that will be dyed to match. Every detail will be taken care of, and they are on standby to make it happen in time. Now, do you both like that style of dress? Could you actually try them on for us?”

  They emptied their glasses and followed the sales girls to try on samples.

  “Everything good so far?” I asked Zachary.

  “Mia, I so rarely enjoy dress shopping days, but you’re so calm, and your friends are lovely. I know that it’s all about the bride, but I happen to be having a blast over here.”

  “Good,” I said. “I guess that the big white dress is next on the list?”

  “Ivory, darling. And yes. They're pulling together a rack now.”

  Rayanne and Lauren came out together, looking elegant and strange in ivory. Zachary clapped wildly. “Perfect. When those are in blue, you’re going to look like princesses. The real modern European ones on their yachts, not the fluffy cartoons.”

  Everything was going so well that my paranoia was beginning to kick in, like the prickle of an air pressure headache starting. Things couldn’t possibly be going this smoothly. Everyone said that being rich was an easier life, but could all of this even be real? It was all so dreamlike.

  I felt hollow as dresses were held up for me to sort quickly into yes and no racks. It wasn’t the second glass of champagne making me dizzy, it was having a salesgirl acco
mpany me into a change room as large as my spacious new bedroom to strip to my undies and carefully climb into a sheath of the finest silk, with pearl beads along the neckline, and a slightly asymmetrical hemline that was long, but several inches above my ankles so that I wouldn’t trip.

  It was odd to have a total stranger adjust my straps, then beam at me as if she were about to cry. She led me slowly out to the main room, where Zachary shrieked and applauded. Rayanne gasped. Lauren’s eyes filled with tears, which I normally would have thought was a sign that the four horsemen were coming. But today was a weird murky place where we were somehow all the girliest we’d ever been.

  “How do you feel in this?” Zachary asked, carefully coming toward me as if he realized I was on the verge of either crying or passing out and he wanted to be near enough to catch me.

  I took a couple of slow, deep breaths, examining myself in the mirror. “It’s the right color, trip resistant, simple, and I could wear this to a movie premiere. I don’t look like a cupcake.”

  “Yes, darling, but how do you feel?”

  There was no way that I could have told any of them that everything had been sort of abstract until I saw my reflection. Sure, I was marrying Jacob for his amazing home, to avoid rat-infested basements, to help him with his inheritance issues, save an old house, and earn a million dollars. But I was also getting married. For real. I was going to have to walk down an aisle in front of a crowd and declare my love for him.

  I really liked Jacob a lot. He was sweet and gorgeous, and treated me better than anyone ever had in my life. But our relationship wasn’t real. I think we were becoming good friends with slight cuddle benefits, but it wouldn’t be right to cross any lines or make assumptions.

  But I was marrying him.

  Zachary’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, holding me steady while he poked around the straps and the bodice. “Thank goodness. Girl, we don’t even have to have this fitted. Is this the one? Do you feel amazing? Do you want a lifetime of photos taken in this?”

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  Rayanne slid a chair under me. “Sit. You look a little too pale.” Lauren handed me a glass of water, and I sipped carefully, terrified to spill a drop.

  Zachary laughed. “Thanks for not fainting. I’ve seen all sorts of dramatic reactions, but let’s not bruise the bride or wreck the dress, shall we?”

  “How much is it?” I asked.

  He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes as he glared. “Oh, hell no. I’m under orders to keep all discussions of money away from you.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear, “But this one is about a third of what most of the others cost, and the bridesmaid dresses were quite reasonable as well.”

  I shot him a wink. “Thanks.” I took a deep breath, standing up slowly while handing the glass back to Lauren. “Okay. Let me get this off before I get it dirty.”

  “Just one thing,” Zachary insisted. “As the bridesmaids and planner, we demand entertainment.”

  “Yeah,” Rayanne said, almost giddy. “You have to twirl for us at least once.”

  Laughing like a certified crazy person, I carefully walked to the open center of the room, strutting as much as possible. I’ve never been a dancer, but I channeled every ballroom number I’d ever seen as I twirled one way, then the other, then a full spin with a flourish as my arms raised over my head as the skirt flared out.

  Even the salesgirls were squealing and applauding, as Zachary shrieked with glee and Lauren took a few photos. “I promise not to post these until well after the wedding,” she said, “But you look sexy as hell.”

  I hurried to get the dress off, and we sat down for one more drink while Zachary dealt with the paperwork and ordering the blue dresses and matching shoes.

  “Thanks for doing this, guys,” I said. “It really means a lot to me.”

  “I’m sorry that we’re broke jerks who are a pain in the ass when you’re dealing with this,” Rayanne said.

  “Not at all. I’m suddenly in a different world, and we’re all along for the ride.” I grinned. “I need to take care of my girls, right?”

  We fell into a group hug, and a flash of light startled me. Zachary took one more photo. “Darlings, you’re going to want this one for your albums, trust me.”

  JACOB

  <<< 20 >>>

  LAST DETAILS

  Mia was cool as a frozen cucumber, dealing with Zachary’s endless notes. She had impressed me from the moment I met her, but watching her delegate, decide, change direction and get everything done with such quiet authority was amazing to watch.

  Many of her smaller vendors were intent on triple-checking details, even though she continually assured them that if they thought it was lovely, so did she.

  I still had very mixed feelings about stealing a woman’s real wedding from her, but she seemed to be enjoying the process.

  She had asked me the other day if I wanted to approve her choice of a wedding dress, but I insisted that we should keep a few traditions alive just for fun. She grinned, her eyes absolutely sparkling, and I could tell that she wanted to surprise me. I also know that she had excellent taste and would pick something traditional enough, but elegant.

  It was fascinating how much I had learned about who she was as a person, but not much about her past, and her dreams for the future. We were living in a strange bubble of right now, with no time or energy to see beyond September ninth.

  That day was going to be extremely intense on many levels. Not just from the logistics of such a large event, but we would need to act the part of the loving couple all day and all night.

  It was completely easy and natural to do this with her, but I was concerned about controlling my real feelings. I didn’t want to freak her out, and I certainly couldn’t have a conversation with her about it right now, but these feelings could not be silenced for much longer.

  She was everything that I wanted in a woman and didn’t even know that I needed. She obviously didn’t want me for my money. Although she was obviously relieved to have a safe, clean home, she didn’t trust it, and thought all of the extras were excessive.

  Mia was concerned about my well being. I’d never really felt that from a woman before. I was expected to pamper them without any attention returned. I certainly was what I considered to be a low maintenance guy, but the way Mia really wanted to hear about my day, and what I thought about things was refreshing.

  She was naturally a hard worker, which was unheard of in the circle of society ladies. If they left their houses for a one-hour charity meeting, it was an ordeal from which they needed to recover with wine and a catered dinner.

  There was no memory of my mother having washed a dish in her life. I couldn’t stop Mia from cleaning up after us. She would make do with anything, and expected nothing. My urge to lavish gifts upon her was only tempered by the fact that she would be completely distressed about it.

  Watching her make notes frantically while smiling to whoever she was speaking on the phone with made me sink into a level of comfort that I’ve never had before. Having her here for a full year was going to make me incredibly happy.

  When she hung up, I asked, “Mia, is there anything at all I could help with?”

  She shook her head, her hair wobbling in the messy bun on top. “Nope. I’ve got it.”

  “But I have two hands, and I’m just sitting here.”

  Mia laughed. “You worked all week. This is my job now. On this project, you do the money part, I do the work part. We each contribute in our own way.”

  “Please, there must be something. I don’t like to see you wearing yourself out.”

  Her eyebrow raised. “You must come from a world of delicate women, Jacob. I can run around for a ten-hour shift, then come home to help a friend proof a book for another seven hours, then get up early to paint a theatre set in the morning. Work first. Always.”

  It sounded like she could run circles around me. I was often exhausted after an eight hour day sitting around my office with
just a few meetings.

  “Hungry?”

  She nodded. “Yes. That’s certainly something you could do.”

  I hurried to the kitchen and put together a platter of cheese, fruit, bread, and Italian sausage slices. Setting it in front of her on the dining room table which was covered in notes, I returned with napkins and two glasses of pinot noir.

  Looking up from her notes, she laughed. “Thanks. This looks lovely.”

  Sitting beside her, I waited until she’d had a few bites before asking, “Are you having any second thoughts?”

  Mia shook her head. “No. Once I commit to a decision, that’s that. And so far everything is going fine. A little overwhelming, but this is a crazy week, obviously.” She flashed me a dazzling smile. “You don’t throw parties like this often, right?”