Hope

by Tia Wylder

  An hour later, we’re rushing back to the hotel in the golf cart, our hair wet and both of us starving.

  “Breakfast should be getting started now. It will be the perfect place to gauge interest, and hopefully, Bethany slept in so no one will be vying for her attention,” Zachary says as we pull up to the hotel. When we get inside, the back patio that overlooks the ocean has been converted into a dining room, with a huge breakfast buffet set out. Delicious pastries, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, and eggs fill every corner of the buffet, and the record executives are already attacking the buffet like they haven’t eaten in years.

  Zachary gave me a grin and gestured for me to go get food. “Before it disappears. I want to start talking to a few specific people. I’ll grab something at the end.”

  I nod and make my way to the buffet, ending up behind a tiny woman with platinum pixie hair, huge earrings, and wearing a bright pink sun dress. Her sunglasses are almost as big as her whole face, and I instinctively want to be her friend. She turns around and looks me up and down.

  “You look like you had the kind of night I did.”

  I blush and smile. “I mean, I don’t know what kind of night you had, but mine was pretty great. I’m Ava Webber. And you are?”

  “Kate Peters. Executive VP of Development for Shoreline Records. You’re Bethany’s friend, right?”

  I fill my plate with everything I can manage to get on it while nodding at her. “Well, you could say that. I’m… I mean I’m here with… I guess I… Well, I work for Harper, Graham, and Graham. So, what did you think of Bethany?” Smooth. Really smooth, Ava. But Kate just smiles at me.

  “She’s fantastic. Really fantastic. In fact, I’ve spoken with the head of Shoreline, and he’s willing to pay literally whatever you guys want to get her on our label.”

  I almost drop the ladle of eggs I have in my hand. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. We have an entire division focused on developing the careers of up-and-coming female singer/songwriters, and we’ve been on the hunt for really unique new talents. We’d love for Bethany to be the artist that we launch the offshoot with. Just something to consider.”

  I set my plate down and turn to Kate. “Out of curiosity. When you say you’ll pay anything literally? What exactly are you talking about?”

  Kate reaches into her pocket and pulls out a slip of paper, then hands it to me. When I open it and look, I think all of the blood in my body stops flowing. Kate gives me a sly wink.

  “Like I said. Just something to consider.”

  Kate walks off and leaves me, and I stand there staring at the piece of paper with shaking hands. I scan the crowd for Zachary and spot him talking to a group of men on the corner of the patio, laughing and smiling, but looking annoying. I can see in his eyes that he’s not pleased, and he’s just pretending to save face with the executives. I abandon my food on the buffet and, casually, rush over to him, almost tripping over my own feet.

  When I get to his side, the men all turn and look at me like I have three heads, probably annoyed that I interrupted. I don’t care. I take hold of Zachary’s arm, and he turns, startled.

  “Ava! What’s up?”

  I put on a syrupy sweet grin. “I am so sorry for interrupting your conversation, but Zachary. Something has come up that needs your immediate attention. Can I borrow you for a minute?”

  Zachary looks confused, but he nods. “Yes, of course. Gentlemen, pardon me for a moment.”

  Zachary follows me off of the patio and back into a corner of the hotel where no one can hear us. I’m practically jumping up and down once I’m sure we’re alone.

  “Good lord, Ava. What’s going on?”

  “Zach, have you ever heard of Shoreline Records?”

  He laughs. “Yeah, of course. They’re one of the most respected boutique labels in Los Angeles. Why?”

  “Well, Kate Peters just approached me. They said they’d do literally anything to have Bethany front a new female-focused branch of their label. And when I say anything, I mean anything.”

  I had Zachary the piece of paper that Kate gave me, and he looks at it, confused. “What is this? Her phone number?”

  I shake my head until he catches on. Then his eyes go wide. “No shit.”

  “YES, shit.”

  He grabs my hand and drags me out of the hotel lobby, down the path that leads to Bethany’s bungalow. After tripping twice, I have to yell at him to stop so I can take off my heels. When we finally get to Bethany’s door, Zachary slams on it, excited. After a few more knocks, the door finally opens, and Bethany is there, looking disheveled, and still half-asleep, with a sleep mask hanging off of her neck.

  “What the hellllllllll?” she mumbles through a yawn. “You said I could sleep as late as I wanted!”

  “You can sleep later,” Zachary almost shouts excitedly. “Bethany, have you ever heard of Shoreline Records?” he asks, mimicking my question.

  Bethany squints, blocking the sun from her face and stifling another yawn. “Of course, I have. They represent Ruby Davis. She’s my idol. Why?”

  Zachary looks at me, beaming, then back at Bethany. “Do you want to be on their label?”

  “What?” Bethany asks, rubbing her eyes and clearly still not getting it. “Are you messing with me?”

  We both shake our heads at the same time, and she shrieks at the top of her lungs. The executives at the buffet probably can hear her.

  “Yes! Of course, yes! Oh, my god! I’d work for them for free!”

  Zachary grins and hands Bethany the same piece of paper I gave him. Bethany looks at it, not sure what she is seeing.

  “What is this? Someone’s social-security number?”

  We both shake our heads again until she catches on again. The second shriek lets loose?

  It sends the birds scattering from the trees.

  EPILOGUE

  Six Months Later

  It’s a week after Bethany Day’s performance debut at the biggest music awards show of the year, and she was a massive hit. Despite all of the on-stage antics, and the outlandish outfits, and random slap-fight in the audience during a commercial break, all anyone could talk about the next day was the new singer with the gorgeous voice and the bright pink hair. Pre-orders for her album were through the roof in an era where no one bought albums anymore, and listens to her debut single on streaming services had already broken records. Things were going even better for Bethany than Zachary or I could have ever dreamed.

  It’s the perfect precursor to our wedding day.

  Barely a month after we got back from Turks & Caicos, Zachary took me out for dinner, and instead, we ended up in Seattle. I had mentioned a few times how I had never been and had always wanted to go, and suddenly, we were on his private plane headed to the Pacific Northwest for a meal. We walked around Pike Place Market, had coffee and ate pastries on the water front, and then he took me to the top of the Space Needle for dinner. When dessert came, he got down on one knee, and gave me the most perfect teardrop diamond ring. After I basically passed out for a second, I threw my arms around him and said, of course, yes.

  We were going to wait to get married until after I finished law school since I was already in my third year. But the more we talked about it, the more excited we got at just being married. So, we planned our wedding for Christmas Eve and decided to have it in New York City, because we both loved it there it so much.

  The planning hadn’t been terribly complicated, since I didn’t have much family, and neither did Zachary or Donovan. It was easy enough to get everyone together, and Zachary even paid to fly Liza out so she could be my Maid of Honor. The wedding was going to be held outside of Belvedere Castle in Central Park, one of the most gorgeous places in the city. The flowers were delivered, the chairs were set up…

  And then it snowed. Everyone scrambled to figure out what to do, trying to decide if we should just move to another location. But in the end, Zachary convinced them to let us inside the Castle so we could have the
ceremony there, even though we hadn’t booked. Between his charm and his checkbook, he had the wedding moved into the castle before I’d even had a chance to pick up my dress.

  So now I am standing here, in the dressing room of this beautiful castle, and Liza is fitting me into my designer, fairy-like wedding dress. My best friend is adjusting the hem of my skirt and fussing over the belt at my waist.

  “Are you going to tell him?” she asks smiling up at me. I shoo her away.

  “I’ll tell him. Soon.”

  Liza rolls her eyes. “You should tell him.”

  A knock on the door interrupts my withering eye roll. “Go answer that before I pop you upside the head.”

  Liza skips over to see who is knocking, but shouts first, “No future husbands allowed! It’s bad luck!”

  “No future husbands here,” Bethany shouts back through the door, “Just future Hot 100 stars!”

  Liza laughs and opens the door to let Bethany in. “More like Number ONE Hot 100 stars!”

  Bethany and Liza hug, and it makes me delighted that they’ve gotten to be such good friends too. Bethany really needed friends when we got back from Turks & Caicos, as even with the excitement of getting signed, the Professor Sam situation hit her hard. Liza and I had started hanging out with Bethany, keeping her company, and going with her places when she needed moral support. It had really helped, and she’d been doing better every day. I am thrilled to see her so happy today.

  Bethany gives me a curious look, then scans me up and down. She shakes her head thoughtfully, before putting her hand on her chin. I throw my hands in the air.

  “What? What is the problem?”

  “Are you going to tell him?” Bethany asks, her eyebrow raised.

  “What is with you guys? I’ll tell him when I tell him” I say as I sweep my hair back into a loose bun.

  “Whatever you say, princess. So, still planning on taking the bar early?” Bethany asks as she plops down in the chair across the room.

  “Right after graduation! Already signed up. Ladies, looking at the clock, I see it’s about that time. Bethany, shouldn’t you be in position?”

  Bethany jumps back up and sighs. “A performer’s work is never done! I’ll see you out there, sports fans!”

  She disappears in a flash of pink hair and lavender fabric, leaving Liza and me to start for the room where my wedding party is waiting for me. Liza gives me a huge smile.

  “Are you ready, Roy?”

  I laugh as she references one of our favorite films. “I was born ready!” I respond in kind. We make our way down to the hall, and while the doors are closed, I can hear Bethany start singing my favorite jazz standard inside. With no one to walk me down the aisle, Liza has agreed to take my arm and help me get there without tripping over my own feet. Two stewards open the double-doors, revealing the gorgeous candlelit room inside. Old-fashioned torches and bright red roses line the aisle, and at the end, stands Zachary.

  I’ve never seen him look so handsome in all of the time I’ve known him. His thick hair is slicked back, his beard grown out just a little, the way I like it best. He’s wearing a black, three-piece suit, with a bright white shirt and a tie that matches the pale blue of my dress. He also has on his glasses, which only amplifies how wide his eyes go when he catches the side of me. Donovan gives him a gentle chuck on the shoulder and a smile as all of the wedding guests get to their feet.

  Liza and I start walking down the aisle, and I lock eyes with Bethany, who is singing her heart out. I can see she is tearing up a little, and I start to too, but then I remind myself that I have a ton of eye makeup on and need to keep it at least a little bit together. As we inch our way to the front of the room, everyone “oohs” and “aahs” at me, but all I can see is Zachary, bathed in candlelight with the softly-falling snow in the window behind him. I think I can even hear the beating of his heart over the din of the room.

  Or maybe it’s just the sound of my own.

  When we get to where Zachary and Donovan are waiting, Bethany wraps up her song with a flourish, and the minister steps forward. With a respectful nod, he says, “Who gives this woman away?”

  Liza scoffs. “No one! She gives herself away. What is this? The Dark Ages?”

  The room erupts in laughter and the minister bristles. “Of course. Apologies. Will everyone please be seated?”

  Liza reluctantly steps to my side, and Zachary and I stand in front of the minister, impatiently waiting to take our vows. The minister droned on and on, despite the fact we told him to keep the ceremony brief. I think I’m going to erupt into giggles for no reason when Zachary leans over and whispers in my ear, “We still have time to elope to Vegas.”

  I giggle audibly this time, and the minister shoots me a dirty look. I scowl back at him and think, Well, now is as good a time as any.

  I lean over to Zachary and whisper in his ear, “I’m pregnant.”

  Zachary spins all the way around on his heel and shouts, “What?” at the top of his lungs. The minister starts shushing us, visibly annoyed. But Zach clearly doesn’t care. I just nod at him, trying not to make the minister angrier. Instead, Zachary picks me up and spins me in a circle, kissing me over and over again. The minister starts shouting at us.

  “Hey! Hey! Stop that! This isn’t the time for that!”

  Zachary keeps kissing me anyway, then turns to the guests. “It’s exactly the time for it! We’re having a baby!”

  Our friends erupt into applause, and Donovan slaps Zachary on the back. Bethany and Liza just laugh because they both guessed a while ago and had been keeping the secret against their will. Behind us, the minister throws up his arms.

  “Oh, sod it. Do you take Ava Audrey Webber to be your wife?”

  Zachary grins. “You bet I do.”

  “And do you Ava Audrey Webber take Zachary Joel Webber to be your husband?”

  “I sure do,” I say with a wink.

  We don’t hear the minister say anything else before Zachary sweeps me up into his arms and envelops me, as we disappear into our first kiss as husband and wife. With Zachary in my arms and our baby on the way, I know that life is about to be better than I ever imagined when I began this beautiful deception…

  The End

  RIGHT BEFORE EACH BOOK TITLE:

  Dr. Single Dad’s Fake Marriage

  Chapter One

  It was picture perfect if Melody wasn’t in it.

  Daniel Brookes sighed deeply and stopped staring at the family photo that was taken almost three years ago. Though the life of a doctor was far from glamorous in most cases, this rang especially true when it came to pediatrics. He was rather gifted with children, having a daughter of his own who was crazy about him. Just because his previous relationship with her mother hadn’t worked out didn’t mean he couldn’t give his daughter the life she deserved. He had a supportive family, and with his job, his pride, he would never want for anything. At least nothing, maybe, aside from a bit of stability. As much as he struggled to make things work with his ex-wife, the woman was simply being unreasonable. If he could just convince the courts to give him full custody, or at least the majority… he sighed once more, shaking off these thoughts. His next patient would be due at any moment, and he would be lying if he denied being excited to see them. His sister, Danielle, was bringing in her son to get a routine checkup. As was always the case when he thought of his sister, he couldn’t help cursing his parent’s poor sense of humor. Daniel and Danielle always got remarks everywhere they went, regarding how they were nearly identical down to their names even. Danielle’s son and Daniel’s daughter thankfully broke the trend. He refused to name Amanda anything that even started with the letter D, and knew his sister felt much the same about Troy.

  He sorted through some papers, waiting for his nurse to fetch him and announce the arrival of his next patient. He smiled as the portly older woman peeked in his office door, offering the handsome doctor a broad smile.

  “Troy Brookes is here, Dr. Brooke
s,” she blinked her eyes with a faint smile. He returned her grin, rising from his feet and slipping out of the office. He went to the room the nurse had relayed, peeking inside to see his young nephew rummaging through the various drawers full of supplies.

  “Hey, what are you doing!?” He growled in a gruff voice, and Troy jolted upright before turning to face the doctor. The young man’s face was the picture of relief when he realized it was only his uncle who had caught him, and he stepped up to Daniel for a firm hug. Daniel kissed the top of his nephew’s head, jolting when he heard an unfamiliar voice coo about how cute the situation was. He turned, seeing his sister Danielle as expected. However, what he hadn’t expected was the beautiful woman who sat at her side. The woman offered him a bashful grin, and he grinned toothily in turn. “Danielle, you didn’t mention you were bringing a guest,” he teased, and Danielle rolled her eyes.