The Resilient Bride

by Lucy McConnell

  Startled, Kiera looked up from the letter. “Why not?”

  Amelia dropped her head into her hands. “It’s not a scam.”

  “It has to be. They’re threatening to sue me.”

  “I’m so sorry, baby girl. I thought I could, you know, that I could pay at least one of the medical bills with my business. I picked a small one, hoping you wouldn’t notice. But I missed a few months when I was sick last winter, and then the interest piled on and they wanted late fees and I can’t keep up.”

  Kiera’s stomach dropped. “This is legit?”

  Amelia nodded.

  “Mom!” As if the debt and impending lawsuit wasn’t bad enough, the possibility existed that their landlord would find out and evict them. The guy was a stickler for on-time payments because he advertised a “no-credit check” move-in policy: no check to move in, but credit checks followed if you were an hour late on the rent. This was bad. “Were you going to tell me before some guy showed up at the door demanding payment?”

  “You’ve already done so much and used all your bride money to pay for treatments. I just kept putting it off. You have a difficult job, and I didn’t want to stress you out.”

  That backfired. Even if by some miracle she got a raise, she wouldn’t be able to pay this debt. Collections companies don’t mess around. They’d garnish her paycheck and leave her with nothing to live off of.

  Amelia put her arm around Kiera. “What can I do?”

  Nothing. But Kiera couldn’t say that out loud. “I guess you’d better get started on that nightstand.”

  Amelia bit her lip.

  Not one to throw in the towel, Kiera knew what she had to do. Becoming a BMB bride had been a huge mistake the first time, but it paid enough to cover her mom’s diagnosis and the first round of chemo—with cash. Saying I do would give her the chance to say paid in full on almost all their debt. The weight of debt had pulled her down and worn her out. She was so tired of all this, and her plan to payoff everything was a fifteen-year commitment. BMB marriages were for twelve months—maybe eighteen. She could live through anything or live with anyone for that long if it would pull her and her mom out of this financial hole. Kiera wouldn’t put up with another Jack the Jerk. At the first sign of verbal abuse, she would bail. Just like last time, she’d get a large settlement, and they’d be fine. She’d be fine. Everything would be fine if she could stop the icy fear creeping just under her skin.

  “Don’t worry. I got a job offer today that will take care of this.” She waved the letter. “And it comes with a nice advance, so we’ll be fine.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Amelia threw her arms around Kiera and hugged her close.

  “I meant to.” Kiera grinned. “But you had that nightstand, and I just kept putting it off …”

  “Oh you!” Amelia swatted Kiera’s arm.

  “I’ve got to make a call.” Kiera fished her cell phone out of her pocket and headed to the front door to get some privacy.

  “I’ll have the orange juice ready for you.”

  “Thanks.” Once outside, Kiera took a deep breath and scrolled through her contacts. She hadn’t called BMB in years. Thankfully, she’d held on to the company-provided phone from her first marriage. It wasn’t the latest model, but it did all the important things, like retain BMB’s number, complete with California area code.

  “BMB, this is Tina. How may I help you?”

  “Tina?” Kiera gripped the phone, her hand slippery. “This is Kiera Martin. How are you doing?”

  “Kiera?! I’m great. How are you?”

  “Fine. Um …” Words became sticky. “I think Pamela—I mean, I saw Pamela today.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I—can, can I leave her a message?”

  “Sure.”

  “Okay. Um. Will you tell her I changed my mind?”

  Tina’s pause indicated that she didn’t know if Kiera’s cryptic statement indicated good or bad things on the horizon.

  “And if it all works out, I’ll be seeing you real soon.”

  “Wonderful.” Tina was the type of person who smiled at birds and chipmunks and kittens and pit bulls, and they smiled back. Memories of Tina’s warm welcomes, Harrison’s big-brother teasing, and Trish’s shopping sprees danced inside Kiera’s mind. BMB wasn’t bad. Jack was bad—Jack was horrendous. But pre-wedding preparation had been an exciting time. Which would explain why Kiera was optimistic about setting foot in the BMB offices once again.

  3

  “This is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.”

  Liam leaned back in his seat in the BMB waiting room and gave David a disbelieving grin. “Really? The stupidest thing. I can name at least five things off the top of my head that are dumber than getting married.”

  David put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. “I’m calling your bluff.”

  Liam checked them off on his fingers. “Eating a whole bag of Takis in twenty minutes. Adopting a snake.” Liam shuddered. He hated snakes. “Dressing up as a Dallas Cowboy’s cheerleader for Halloween.” That one got a smile out of David. “Punching Michael Robertson in ninth grade for kissing Jasmine. And dying.”

  Though he’d meant the last one as a joke, David’s half smile turned into a negative-three smile, which wasn’t a smile at all. Which made Liam ache for his brother. It was bad enough to have an expiration date, but to have to watch the guy who had been there for him his whole life suffer because of it … sucked. “I win on a technicality. You haven’t done number five.”

  “I guess you’re right. Getting married is in the top five dumbest things I’ve done.” Liam lifted his shoulder. “But I’m doing it anyway.”

  Tina, the receptionist, delivered the sodas she’d promised. “Kiera should be done with the prenup any minute now, and then I’ll show you back to Pamela’s office for the ceremony. Is that all right?”

  “Thanks, that will be great,” Liam answered. “Do I look groomy?” He straightened his bowtie and tugged on the lapels of his brand-new, custom-made tuxedo.

  “I’m still not sure why you bought that thing.” David pulled at his shirt collar. “Or made me wear this one.”

  Liam laughed. “If I’m going to wear something for eternity, I want it to look good.”

  “That’s your burial suit?” David’s mouth hung open. “You are twisted.”

  “Perhaps.”

  Trish smiled. “Dashing, I’d say.” She settled behind her desk.

  “Someone appreciates my sense of style.” Liam jerked his chin towards the cute redhead. Speaking softer, he egged David on: “Dare you to ask her out.”

  David rolled his eyes and popped the top to his drink. “Not my type.”

  “Thanks, Harrison.”

  Liam’s attention was drawn to the silky voice. A raven-haired beauty in a bright orangey-pink form-fitting dress smiled hesitantly as her eyes danced across him and landed on David—who dropped his soda.

  “Dude!” Liam scrambled away from the fizzy fountain.

  “Sorry!” David rushed to pick up his drink. “It slipped.”

  “No harm,” assured Trish. She picked up the phone. “Hi. Can we get a mop? Thank you.” She set the phone down. “Should be cleaned up in no time.”

  David shook his sopping fingers. “I’ll just go wash up.” He ducked into the hallway and disappeared. The woman stepped aside as he passed, her cheeks flushed.

  Harrison stepped forward. He was a decent guy, the type you called for a game of pick-up ball. With salt in his peppered sideburns and smile lines framing his mouth, Liam guessed the BMB lawyer had already outlived him. “Kiera Martin, I’d like to introduce you to Liam Bernhard.”

  “You’re Liam?” She looked over her shoulder in the direction David had gone, recovered quickly, and offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I hear we’re getting married.” Her smile was hesitant and her cheeks were smooth, like silk that was meant to be handled with care.

  Shaking off his intimate thoughts,
Liam replied, “That’s the rumor.” He took her slender hand, and something shifted inside of him. Like his soul was a Chinese puzzle box and Kiera configured the sections in perfect alignment.

  “Have we met before?” He searched her electric-blue eyes, seeing interest, understanding, and a reflection of his best self. This woman was his match, his mate, his everything. The knowledge burned in his chest like a forge stoked by Hephaestus. The understanding should have frightened him—it wasn’t every day that a man has a revelation. Instead of causing internal chaos, the knowledge spread peace from the tips of his gelled blond hair to the laces on his Magnanni shoes. Like warm butter over a sweet germknödel, Kiera would make his life delectable, and he was more than ready to start sampling married life.

  Kiera didn’t back down under his scrutiny. She’d leaned closer, taking him in. Her brow furrowed. “I don’t think so, but you seem familiar and safe …” She drew her hand back, ducking her head. “Sorry, that wasn’t supposed to come out.”

  Liam placed his hand on her elbow, wanting to wrap her up in his arms but worried that she might not have an understanding of his situation, that she’d not seen the possibilities between them. His diagnosis had forced him to take a different approach to life, to look beyond this earth, which had opened his mind to a sense of the spiritual that he’d never achieved sitting in Sunday school. Not that he had anything against Sunday school—he enjoyed Pastor Thompson’s continued tutelage. His heart hadn’t been open to the Spirit until he’d turned down the everyday stress and struggles and began living as if he were dying. At first, he wanted to share these new discoveries with everyone he met—until they looked at him as if he were a bald cat with a skin condition. Since then, he’d kept those feelings closer to his heart, sacred even.

  Not knowing if Kiera was receptive, he replied, “No worries. I say all sorts of things that shouldn’t come out. Life’s too short to filter.”

  Kiera smiled shyly. “You might be sorry you said that.”

  The desk phone beeped, and Tina stood. “If you’re ready, we can move into Pamela’s office.”

  Liam gestured towards the hallway. “I’m ready if you are.”

  Kiera’s hands went to her stomach. She stared at the wall, a shadow of fear pricking at her pretty brow. “I guess I am.” Her eyes met his, and Liam poured all of his desires to protect her and care for her into his gaze. She soaked him in, drawing on his well of stability and confidence before nodding. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  Tina went first to show the way, taking Kiera along with her. They chatted about Tina’s hours and her new hair color. Harrison and Liam brought up the rear.

  “If you ask me if I get highlights, I’m gonna deck you,” Liam joked.

  Harrison chuckled. “Don’t let Trish hear you say that.” He pointed to the open office door as they passed. “You’ll hurt her feelings.”

  “Trish?”

  “The resident makeover artist.”

  “Style consultant!” Trish called from her zebra-striped sofa.

  Harrison stopped in the doorway, a cocky grin on his face. “Looks like you missed out on this one.” He jerked his head toward Liam, enjoying this opportunity to tease his co-worker. Liam caught the interest in the tilt of Harrison’s head. Co-worker and girlfriend?

  Trish eyed Liam up and down—twice. Her assessing gaze reminded him of defending his dissertation. “He doesn’t need my help. The jacket is perfectly tailored, the pants are cut just right, and his tie … impeccable. I couldn’t have picked a better shoe.” She put her hand over her heart and melted into her seat. “He’s flawless.”

  Harrison’s face darkened. “You don’t have to rub it in.” He pushed away from the door.

  Not girlfriend—yet.

  Liam shot a wink at Trish. “Thanks.”

  She winked back. “I spent yesterday with Kiera and a credit card. Thank you.”

  Liam shook his head. Harrison had his hands full with that one.

  David popped out of the men’s room. He gripped Liam’s shoulder and spoke low. “I take everything back. She’s the best decision you ever made.” His appreciative gaze locked on Kiera’s back as she disappeared into Pamela’s office.

  “You always were a sucker for long hair.” Liam clapped him on the back. “Come on. I’m getting married.”

  4

  Kiera had been nervous at her first wedding. Her blood pumped like carbonated water through her system. She’d fretted over her dress, her wardrobe, and her hair like a prom queen, believing that it had all been worth it when Jack slipped that ring on her finger.

  Jack was a plastic surgeon—he said he made his living pointing out women’s flaws. That should have been a red flag. Instead, in naivety she’d giggled at his wit. Several months later, after Jack had picked apart everything from the shape of her feet to the slight upturn of her nose in such detail that she couldn’t look in a mirror without seeing what he saw, she’d confided her situation to Trish. Amidst the tears and tissues, Kiera admitted defeat and ended the marriage with the full force of BMB backing her. Pamela’s support, Harrison’s legal knowledge, and Trish’s daily phone calls shielded her from Jack and his scalpel tongue as she patched herself up as best she could.

  During yesterday’s shopping spree with Trish, Kiera had picked out the most beautiful salmon dress that hugged her hips and flared at the knees. The color was a pleasant contrast to her dark hair and made her blue eyes pop. Her eyes weren’t the only thing popping. Kiera found herself once again bubbling and fizzing as she signed the prenup. This time around, she wasn’t dazzled by the money; she zeroed in on the groom, peppering Harrison with questions about Liam’s past, his work, and his family.

  Harrison didn’t reveal much, except that he liked Liam. The endorsement did little to ease her apprehension. She’d marched forward, knowing that this marriage was the means to an end—the end of her life of servitude to medical bills.

  The marriage train was gaining speed, and any moment now Kiera was going to throw herself on the tracks. To break things up, she pulled Liam off to the side while the others made small talk. He should know what he was getting into. “In the interest of full disclosure, I think you should know that I was married once before.”

  “Oh?”

  He didn’t look like he wanted to bail, so she pressed on. “Here. It, well, it didn’t go well.” She sucked air in through her teeth. “Um. I’m not sure … I mean, this might not … Oh!” She shook out her hands; the fizziness inside made them tingle.

  Liam took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. That calmness she’d seen in the lobby, the one that ran deeper than the ocean, flooded her once again. She soaked him in, and he gave and gave and gave. “Kiera, are you … are you afraid of me?”

  “Not you personally.” Kiera stared at his bowtie, unwilling to drain him further. “Marriage to any man, in general, terrifies me.”

  His hands went up and down her arms bringing warmth back to her extremities. “Then why are you doing this?”

  “It’s a long story.” She bit her lip, refusing to say more. She had a lot of baggage, financial and otherwise, that she preferred to keep zipped away and stashed in the attic of her subconscious. The debt could have been disclosed, but the prenuptial agreement specified that neither of them would assume the other’s wealth or financial obligations. She preferred to keep that to herself, for now. Maybe one day …

  Strange, Liam instilled a sense of trust that hadn’t been earned. Scratch that; he’d been through things in his life—she could see them etched into the lines around his mouth—that had earned her respect. Perhaps one day he would share those with her. Giving herself a mental shake, she recounted the boundaries instilled in a professional marriage.

  “I’m not sure what you need right now.” Liam’s hands stilled. “I won’t force you into this.” The determination portrayed in the gentle but firm way he held her spoke directly to her anxiety, calming it like a lion tamer and sending it back to its cage.
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br />   Grasping his forearms, she whispered, “You don’t have to force me. I just needed to be reminded that I have a choice.” She’d been so wrapped up in her fears that she hadn’t thought much about why Liam was doing this. What did he need at the moment? “Why are you here?”

  Using one hand, he moved her hair over her shoulder and smiled. “Life’s too short to spend it alone.” Pausing, he brushed his fingers across her cheek in a way that was familiar, as if he’d done it a thousand times before. “I need a companion, a friend. Can you do that? Can you stand by me even if it’s hard?”

  “You’re not going to jail, are you?” Kiera blurted.

  Liam tipped his head back and laughed, causing everyone in the room to turn their direction. He lifted his right arm in a scout salute. “I promise I am not going to jail.”

  Kiera returned his smile. “Okay, then.”

  “Okay? You’ll marry me?”

  “Okay, I’ll marry you.”

  “Okay.” He hooked his arm around her shoulder and guided her to stand before the justice of the peace. His best man and one of their witnesses stood at his other side.

  Kiera couldn’t help but compare the two brothers. David was taller than Liam, and Liam was about four inches taller than her. They had the same Roman nose and nice, full lips. But where Liam was quick to smile and easy to be near, David was reserved and brooding.

  Liam had blond hair with white ends that hinted at time spent in the sun—or a great salon. But no, Liam was much too guy-ish to hang out in a salon. He seemed like the type to get annoyed by pesky things such as haircuts.

  David wore his hair longer and had full sideburns. Liam had prominent bone structure, while David’s face was healthy and strong with a firm, sharp jaw and alluring eyes the color of a storm cloud.

  Kiera believed her experience with Jack had scared her smart. Where she had gone into that marriage charmed by his good looks and seduced by his money, this time, she’d garnered a promise for friendship. Which was the prudent thing to do … or so she thought, right up until Liam slipped a huge diamond on her finger. A princess cut with sapphire teardrops on each side set in platinum nearly set her into a panic attack. Liam grasped her fingers, flooding her with peace. She met his aquamarine eyes, and just like when they’d first met, she felt safe, like he’d wrapped her in a warm blanket fresh from the dryer. He even smelled like laundry soap and something else, almost familiar with a husky quality.