When they arrived at the station, they walked into a door only to be faced with plexiglass between the woman behind a desk and the waiting room. Zack deposited the box on an end table and moved over to the partition. “I need to report a threat.”
The woman looked up and said, “You’ll need to call dispatch to report it. A police officer will have to handle it.”
“Can’t you make the call?”
She shook her head. “It has to come from you. You can either use the phone on the wall or call from a cell phone.”
Disgruntled by the process, Zack pulled out his phone and dialed 911. While he was reporting the event, Sondra stood up and walked nervously around the small room. The past couple of days, she’d found herself dead on her feet by the end of the day. This unknown threat had her adrenaline flowing.
A familiar tone rang through the room. Nikki. What a time to call. Sondra picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hi, Sondra. Are the rumors true?”
“What rumors?” Sondra tried to pretend she didn’t know what Nikki was referring to.
“That you’re married.”
“Who told you that?” Stalling. They both knew it.
“Cari. She didn’t seem to think it was a secret. Is there something you’re hiding from me?”
Sondra glanced at the ceiling, begging for some help. It was useless. Divine intervention was out. There were too many lies. She blew out a breath, stared at Zack who was occupied by his own conversation, and stepped outside. “I didn’t want to get you involved. It seemed like the easiest way to explain a pregnancy.”
“What. Did. You. Do?” Nikki asked.
“I got married.”
“You WHAT?”
“Nikki. Calm down. It’s only until the babies are born. It was to keep my clients from bailing.”
“Does your husband know this?”
“Since it was a mutually-advantageous arrangement, I would say so.”
“What’s in it for him?” Nikki sounded doubtful.
“Keeping his grandmother from being thrown out of her house.”
“How does marriage prevent that?” Nikki asked.
“If he didn’t get married, he was going to be thrown out of the will. Because he did marry, he is the executor of the estate and can make the final decision on financial affairs—including whether or not his grandmother stays in her own home.”
“I don’t like this. Not one bit. I didn’t mean for you to throw your whole life away for me.” Nikki’s sobs were audible. “I’ve ruined your life.”
Stunned into silence, Sondra stood and listened to her sister’s meltdown. Finally, she said, “I’m old enough to figure out how to run my life, and you haven’t ruined it. I’ve just put a few things on hold.”
“But now you’re married.” Nikki wailed.
“As you know, I’m an attorney. I handle divorces all the time. This should be a piece of cake.”
“Are you sure?” Nikki’s tears seemed to be drying.
Sondra nodded and then, remembering she was talking on the phone, said, “Yes. I am.”
Nikki sniffed and then asked, “Who is the lucky guy? Is it anyone I know?”
“Zack Carlson.”
“Zack Carlson? Like the Zack Carlson?” Nikki sounded incredulous.
“Yes. The one and only.” Sondra couldn’t help the smile that warmed her face. She was sure Nikki could hear it.
“How did that happen?”
“We took the same flight to Washington, DC.”
Silence. It was as pregnant as Sondra was. “Okay. Back up. When did you go to DC?”
“The day you came in to make your request. Thursday.”
“And when did you marry Zack?”
“Friday.”
Sondra could almost hear the wheels spinning in Nikki’s head. “That was fast.”
Sondra laughed. “I took the opportunity and ran with it.”
“Does Zack know how you feel about him?” Nikki asked.
“Felt. That was a long time ago. Felt.”
“So you don’t have any feelings for him now?” Nikki pressed.
Sondra pursed her lips and tried to think of what to say. Her sister knew her too well. She knew the nuances of her voice. Slowly, she said, “Zack is, well, ummm, Zack. I would be a total robot if I didn’t have any feelings, but he has no idea how I feel.”
“Why not? You’re married, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but it’s complicated. I don’t want him feeling obligated to keep this permanent. It wouldn’t be fair to build a relationship on my own youthful infatuation. He’s got such an over-developed big brother thing going that I don’t want him tied to me if he doesn’t have any feelings for me that way.”
“Have you looked at yourself lately?” Nikki asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“It wouldn’t be hard to hook him.” Nikki sounded very sure of that fact.
Sondra sighed. “I just don’t want it to be because he feels obligated. I want him to really love me for who I am, not because he feels like I’m some sort of responsibility in his life.”
“So when exactly are you going to work on that?” Nikki asked.
“There isn’t much I can do until the twins are born.”
“I’ve been dying to know but haven’t dared call. I know I’m already asking so much of you, and I know how busy you are.” Nikki took a quivering breath. “Is everything alright?”
“So far, everything is fine. Although I’m awfully tired.”
“I don’t remember feeling that way.” Nikki said.
“Everyone is different, although Zack recognized the signs right away. Jade and I are sharing similar side effects.”
“Who is Jade?”
“His sister.”
“That’s odd.”
“I know, right?”
“So how is Zack so aware of your physical needs? Does he live close?” Nikki pressed.
“He’s living with me right now.”
“WHAT?”
Sondra pulled the phone from her ear, then put it back to reply, “Yeah. The guest room.”
“For living a temporary arrangement, you are pushing limits.”
“It’s not how it seems.” Sondra confessed. “I fell asleep during the Christmas party and Zack decided I couldn’t drive myself to work.”
“How thoughtful.” Nikki’s voice dripped sarcasm.
Defensively, Sondra said, “He really has been taking good care of me. His main goal right now is to help me get the twins here safely.” Sondra paused a moment. “How is Brad?”
“The new therapy seems to be helping. He’s put on a couple of pounds this week.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yes, we’re both happy.”
A police cruiser pulled into the parking lot.
“I need to go.” Sondra’s voice was rushed. With all the other stressors in Nikki’s life, she didn’t need to be burdened with this. “I’ll let you know if anything happens with the twins. In the meantime, you work on getting Brad healthy.”
“I will. I love you. Thanks for your willingness to do this for us.”
“No problem. And please, keep the state of my marriage under your hat. I don’t want it getting to the wrong ears.”
“Do Mom and Dad know?” Nikki asked.
“Not yet, and their ears are the wrong ones.”
“Gotcha. Keep in touch.”
“I will.” Sondra shut the phone as the officer walked through the door. She followed behind and listened as Zack explained the package to the officer. She answered a few questions, then the officer scribbled on his pad, picked up the box, and disappeared behind a metal door.
“And that’s that. What a gift.” Zack said.
They stared at each other, and Sondra’s eyes grew big. “You don’t think we’ll get more, do you?”
“More what?”
“Wedding gifts?”
“I wouldn’t call that a wedding gift, but…” he paus
ed to push a stray hair behind her ear, “wedding gifts might come as the news spreads.”
Sondra looked stricken. “What are we supposed to do with gifts?”
“Well,” Zack drawled, “we could enjoy the bounty and send back thank you notes.”
“I think I’d rather stick them in a closet and send them back after we get divorced.”
“Or you could return them to the various stores and get cash back. Checks are easier to return than gifts. Or you could put the money in a bank account for the twins.”
Sondra shuddered. “I just hope no one thinks we need wedding gifts.” Zack opened the door for Sondra and then got behind the wheel.
“Nikki finally heard the news.” Sondra said.
“What do you mean ‘heard the news?’”
“Apparently, she called Cari to talk to me and Cari spilled the beans. She didn’t know it was a secret.”
“What are you talking about?” Zack’s brows drew together in a puzzled frown.
“Our marriage.”
“Is it a secret?” His eyebrows rose in a question as their eyes met. He turned his attention back to the road as she answered.
“Well, I haven’t told my parents yet.” She admitted.
“Why not?”
“I didn’t want them upset over missing my wedding. If we’re divorced before they return next December, they’ll have missed the entire stressful event.”
“Only to be greeted by grandbabies.” He nodded as if he agreed with her plan.
“Exactly.” Sondra took a breath and then continued, “I wasn’t sure how Mom and Dad would feel about the whole surrogacy thing.”
Zack caught her eyes again and then directed his attention to the snowy road. “How are you feeling about the whole surrogacy thing?”
Sondra bit her lip and stared out the window. She didn’t even want to admit her mixed feelings to herself. Even though the twins were so young, so new, just knowing they were growing inside her, gaining sustenance from her own body, made them feel more hers than Nikki’s.
She wanted desperately to help Nikki, but this sacrifice was bigger than she thought it would be. When the babies were born, would she really be able to hand them over with no regrets? They might have been created by Nikki and Brad, but they were being sustained by her. That sustenance had meaning, and it was something she hadn’t even considered. She caught a tear before it ran down her cheek.
Chapter Eleven, Christmas
As she stilled herself, Zack’s phone rang. He stared at the phone a moment and then glanced at Sondra. “That’s Jade. I think it’s Dad.”
He pressed the speaker. “Hi. What’s up?”
“Dad died. What are we going to do about Granny?”
Zack narrowed his eyes in anger. “We aren’t doing anything about Granny. I’m leaving her right where she’s at. If she needs help, we’ll hire a live-in nurse to go in and help.”
“You can’t do that. Dad put everything in my name.” Jade’s voice took on a strident tone.
“That’s only if I didn’t marry.” Zack’s calm voice was a contrast.
“As far as I know, that hasn’t changed.” Jade sounded triumphant.
“You haven’t met Sondra yet.”
Jade paused and then asked, “Who is that?”
“My wife.”
Jade gasped. “When did the happy event take place?”
“A couple of weeks ago.”
“How come you didn’t send out announcements?”
“I didn’t have time. Sondra and I decided to marry before I heard about the change in the will. We moved the date up a bit, that’s all.”
“Where did you get married?” Jade asked.
“A courthouse in Virginia.”
“Who married you?”
“Not that’s it’s any of your business, but his name is Justice Turly and he did a fine job.” Zack’s white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel belied his calm tone.
“I thought you always wanted a temple wedding.”
At that accusation, Zack turned white under his caramel color. His voice throbbed with anger. “Why should you care? It’s not like you married there.”
Silence again filled the car, and then Jade responded, her own anger clear. “I never lived the faith like you did. When you went on your mission, you swore you’d never risk your marriage like our parents did. Dad never joined the church. I suppose you’ll make sure their temple work is done, but you said you wouldn’t risk that for your own family. Sondra must be really something if you’re willing to throw your temple wedding away.”
Sondra averted her gaze, staring out the window and hoping Zack wouldn’t see the naked pain she was sure was visible on her face. She had always felt the same. Here she was, throwing her temple marriage away. And for what?
Then she thought of her sister. Because she wasn’t sealed to anyone, the babies she bore for Nikki could be sealed to her and Brad. This was the whole purpose for the event. Provide a safe place for her sister’s babies to grow. She would think about her own happiness after she took care of Nikki.
Zack’s conversation with Jade broke into her thoughts.
“Sondra is everything I ever wanted in a wife. It’s none of your business how, when, and where I married her.” He raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “You worry about Stan and your children. I might not be around to do your work for you. In the meantime, don’t worry about Granny. I’ll take care of her.” He took a calming breath and switched topics. “What are the plans for Dad’s funeral?”
As the discussion turned to the funeral, Sondra tuned it out while she thought about Nikki, Brad, and the twins. She hadn’t ever worried about what it was like to carry a baby. It would have been useless to think about something that wasn’t a physical possibility.
The last time she’d thought about it was in a college biology class, and she couldn’t remember the course covering anything about pregnancy. They’d played a video of a live birth and explained the creation process, but it hadn’t covered any information on the months between.
She was pulled back into the conversation when she heard Zack say, “I don’t think Sondra can offer the benediction. She has a court case she has to attend in Salt Lake.” He caught Sondra’s gaze and raised his brows in a silent query as he made the announcement.
Sondra nodded her head in agreement. She felt like enough of a fraud. She didn’t want to participate in the funeral. No one in the family even knew her.
Jade’s voice rang out. “Court case? What, is she some kind of criminal?”
Zack’s frustration could be heard in his voice. Jade had hit a nerve. “Sondra is an attorney. She has lots clients, and she’s very busy.”
“Oh.” After a brief pause, Jade continued, “The funeral will be next Saturday. Are you telling me she has a case on a weekend? It’s not like you can’t afford the plane fare. She only has to fly out in the morning and she can be back the next day. The funeral will be at 1:00 to give time for family to arrive.”
Uncertain of Zack’s answer, Sondra chose to answer herself. “I can attend the funeral, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable offering the benediction. I think that should be reserved for someone who’s known him longer than I have.”
Jade gasped. “We’re on speaker?” She was silent a moment and then asked, “Did you even meet him?”
“Yes, I did. We met him after the wedding. He seemed like a wonderful person.” Sondra’s soft comment seemed to calm Jade.
Jade sounded close to tears. “He was a wonderful father. I will miss him.” She was quiet another moment. “Would you like to join me and my girls in singing ‘How Great Thou Art?’” Before Sondra could protest, she continued, “We can practice before the services.”
“I’m not really a singer, but I’d be happy to join you.”
Jade’s voice was brisk again. “Good. That’s settled then. Zack, I’ll call you later after the plans have been firmed up. We’ve already talked to the Bishop in the area. We
’re planning on having the funeral at the local building. He’ll be laid to rest next to Mom.”
“Why are you waiting until Saturday?” Zack asked.
“With family spread out all over the country, it’s going to take a few days to arrange flights. A week and a half isn’t that long these days. Plus it gives everyone Christmas before they have to travel.” Jade replied.
“Are you still planning on coming out for Christmas?” Zack asked.
“With the funeral so close, I don’t want to travel twice. We’ll stay here in Tucson. We’ll see you in Maryland.” Jade responded.
“Will the body keep that long?” Sondra blurted out. Images of a body melting away in the next few days were flashing in her mind. All the zombie movies she’d watched in her past were making a quick comeback.
Zack’s lips twitched at her question. Sondra glared at him. She had no idea how long bodies could be kept. Didn’t they have an expiration date? Every funeral she’d attended had been within three days of the death.
“The funeral home assured me he would be fine, and we won’t be having an open casket funeral, anyway.” Jade answered.
“Why not?” Zack asked.
“I can’t stand looking at dead people.” With that cryptic comment, Jade hung up the phone.
Zack and Sondra stared at each other a moment and then laughed. Zack shook his head. “Welcome to my family.” He paused and then asked, “Did you want to go say good-bye to Dad?”
Sondra hesitated. “I don’t think that’s my call. What do you want to do?”
“I said good-bye when I introduced you to him. I guess I’m with my sister. I don’t like looking at dead people, either. I like to think of him as being alive—and happy to be with Mom again. They really love each other, you know. And Jade was right. I’ll get their work done next year.”
“This….marriage….was a real sacrifice for you, wasn’t it?”
“Judging from my sister’s call, I’d say it was one I needed to make. Granny will be fine now. My sister can’t do anything about it.”
Sondra stared at him. “Maybe you better look at the will and fix it so that’s true.”
“What do you mean?”
“You might not outlive your sister or your grandma. I know the person who can make sure your grandma is taken care of.”
Lined With Silver Page 11