Chances Are

by Abramson, Traci Hunter

  Heather batted her eyelashes in what he considered her innocent look. “You can’t possibly mean that. I just flew all the way across the country for you.”

  “No, you came across the country to get what you wanted. I never invited you here, and now you need to go.”

  “You’re kicking me out?” Heather’s voice rose to an uncomfortably high pitch. “I don’t have anywhere else to stay.”

  Her words resonated through him, the fact that she would use them when she had an apartment in California and clearly had the means and resources to buy a plane ticket to DC grating on him. Maya truly hadn’t had anyplace to go when he had kicked her out, and she hadn’t said a word, nor had she accepted his offer of money to help her.

  Ben glanced down at his watch to see that it was already three in the afternoon, probably too late for Heather to catch a flight back to LA tonight. His voice was stern when he spoke. “You knew perfectly well that you wouldn’t be able to stay here when you got on the plane in LA.”

  She looked at him sheepishly. “I just figured you’d get me a hotel room like you did the last time I came to visit.”

  “Last time, I invited you, and we were still dating.” Ben dug through his wallet and pulled out some bills. “This should be enough to pay for a room at one of the hotels by the airport.” He held it up and added, “But understand that this is the last thing you’re ever going to get from me. We are through.”

  “Well, you don’t have to be so cruel,” she said shrilly. Annoyed, she stood and snatched the money from his hand.

  Ben moved to the door and yanked it open. He stood rigid and silent as she blew past him. As soon as she was in the hall, he gave in to the anger bubbling up inside him and slammed the door.

  Chapter 15

  Maya pressed a cold washcloth against her eyes, knowing there wasn’t anything she could do to hide the fact that she’d been crying. She wasn’t sure what hurt worse, understanding this cancer was going to kill her before she had a chance to really experience life or realizing her father considered her life of less importance than his agreement with Rishi.

  At least the nurses had assured her they wouldn’t let Rishi know what room she was in. The last thing she needed was to have to face him right now. She heard someone enter the room, and she looked up quickly to see it was Ben. A flush of embarrassment crept into her cheeks.

  “How are you doing?” he asked and then winced. “I’m sorry. That’s probably a stupid question to ask someone with cancer.”

  Maya pressed her lips together, fighting against her current reality. “I’m so sorry about what happened at your apartment.”

  “I’m sorry I kicked you out when I first got here.” Ben moved closer to the bed. “I had no idea what you were dealing with.”

  “It doesn’t matter now.” Her lower lip quivered, and she blinked quickly to fight back the tears that once again threatened.

  Ben shifted his weight and held up the letter with her name on it. “Here. I thought you might want this.”

  Maya took the envelope from him, concerned when she didn’t feel the telltale spot inside it where the credit card would normally be. She ripped it open and only had to read the first line for the tears to start flowing again.

  “What is it? I thought that was what you were waiting for.”

  Her pride completely shattered, she held out the letter so he could read it himself. Denied.

  Ben read through the letter and then looked at her and asked, “How much money do you need?”

  “A lot.”

  “Maya, I make a lot of money. I might be able to help.”

  She looked up at him, a little spurt of hope surging through her before logic caught up with it. “Ben, that’s generous of you to offer, but I can’t ask you to do that. Even if I could find someplace cheap to live for the next six months, I’d still need at least fifteen or twenty thousand dollars for the surgery.”

  “Surgery costs that much?” Ben asked, realizing he had never thought about the cost of medical care before. Until today, his only thought regarding hospitals was that he wanted to avoid them.

  “Actually, that’s just the part I’d need up front.”

  “How have you been paying for treatments?” Ben asked, realizing immediately that he probably shouldn’t have asked such a personal question.

  “After my grandmother died, I sold her emerald ring just to survive. I had a little money left over and was able to pay for my first treatments with that.” Regret hung in her voice. She drew a breath and spelled out her reality. “It’s not just the money though. Now that my family knows where I live, it’s only a matter of time before my visa is revoked.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Rishi is a very powerful man in India. If he still plans to go through with this marriage after seven years, I have to think he’ll go the extra step to pay off whoever he needs to in order to send me back to India.”

  “Seven years? How old were you when you got engaged?”

  “I was thirteen when I was promised to him. The day after the arrangement was made, my grandmother helped me run away.”

  Ben shook his head in disbelief. “Where is your grandmother now?”

  “She died over two years ago.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ben offered the simple condolences with sincerity. When Maya didn’t speak, he continued. “I still don’t understand why Rishi would go to such lengths to get you back to India.”

  She spoke but barely louder than a whisper. “Once I’m back home, I won’t have a choice but to go through with the wedding.”

  “After all this time, I’m surprised this guy hasn’t given up.”

  “Me too,” Maya agreed. “My grandmother told me once that my father agreed to the marriage contract partially to ally himself with Rishi. My father is in shipping, and Rishi owns several manufacturing companies. A family connection would strengthen both of their businesses.”

  “Surely they could form a business alliance without involving you.”

  “They could. Maybe Rishi needs the dowry my father promised him. I’m sure it was considerable.”

  “I didn’t think people paid dowries anymore.”

  “Actually, they’re illegal in India, but so is marriage before the age of eighteen. Rishi doesn’t follow those laws,” Maya told him. “Whatever his reasons, if he’s here in the United States, it’s obvious he isn’t going to let this go.”

  Ben recognized the truth in her words. And the regret. “What are you going to do?”

  “If Kari will let me, I’ll move back to Nashville with her. I’ll try to get my old job back and start saving money for my . . .” She couldn’t say the last word, funeral, but it vibrated through the room as though it had been said.

  Ben fell silent, obviously at a loss for words.

  A nurse walked in, her attention on Maya. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to take you downstairs to run a few more tests.”

  Maya didn’t respond but looked at Ben once more. “Thanks for stopping by.”

  “You’re welcome.” Ben hesitated. “Would it be okay if I come back to see you again later?”

  He could see the surprise in her face when she said, “I’d like that.”

  Ben moved to the doorway and gave her an awkward wave. Then he disappeared back the way he had come.

  * * *

  Less than three hours after saying good-bye to Maya, Ben once again walked down the hospital hallway toward her room, the smell of disinfectant and hospital food lingering in the air. He stepped around a hospital cart, still trying to figure out why he had told Maya he’d come back to see her. He supposed it was out of loyalty to his sister. After all, Maya had been her best friend for a couple of years. Even though he hadn’t personally met Maya until the previous Christmas, he had heard her name with regularity since Kari’s senior year of high school.

  He entered Maya’s room to find her dozing, her dark eyelashes thick against her dusky skin. She was much paler t
han she had been last winter. Thinner too. When they had first met, he had struggled to reconcile the petite woman with the accomplished athlete his sister had claimed her to be. Though he had never seen Maya play tennis, Kari had described her as tenacious and ruthless. The woman lying before him didn’t appear to be either of those things.

  He wasn’t sure whether to wake her. Luckily, her eyes opened before he had to decide what to do. He took a tentative step forward and greeted her. “Hey there.”

  A combination of surprise and pleasure flitted over her face. “You came back.”

  “I told you I would.”

  “Yes, you did.” Maya motioned to the seat beside her. “Did you want to sit down?”

  “Sure.” He lowered himself onto the chair and watched her adjust her bed so she was sitting up rather than lying down. He sat there for several awkward seconds, wondering what in the world he was supposed to say to her. Finally, he gave in to asking the one question that mattered most. “Are you really going to give up your treatments and go back to Tennessee?”

  A flash of temper flared in her voice. “What choice do I have? I don’t have a place to live; I’m being dropped from the trial; I don’t have a job. I don’t even have any friends here, except the people I know at the hospital.”

  Her temper lit his frustration. Logically, he understood she was out of options, but the idea of her just accepting her fate ate at him. He raked a hand through his hair. “There’s got to be something you can do.”

  “There is. I can marry Rishi.” Maya’s voice was even and filled with contempt. She shook her head as though refusing that possibility. “Even if I could bring myself to agree to that, I don’t think he’d let me stay here and finish my treatments. He just wants to save face with everyone in his village back home and link his companies to my father’s.”

  Though he was disgusted with the idea of Maya marrying Rishi, let alone the idea that her future husband would let her die without remorse, Ben forced himself to ask, “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure I can’t agree to marry him. At least he won’t know where I am if I leave DC. Besides, Kari’s been like a sister.” Emotion clogged her voice when she added, “It might be selfish of me, but I don’t want to die alone.”

  Maya’s words, spoken so softly, crashed over him. Marriage might be able to save Maya’s life, but after meeting Rishi, Ben found himself agreeing with Maya’s assumption that the man didn’t have any interest in helping her, particularly if it included Maya staying in the US.

  Words repeated through his mind, both Maya’s and his own: Marriage could save her life. Kari’s been like a sister.

  Ben swallowed hard as an improbable solution started working its way into his mind.

  He repeated her problems: She didn’t have a place to live. She was being dropped from the trial. A man who didn’t care about her was trying to get her deported.

  He could fix that. He could fix all of that with one simple act.

  His stomach churned fiercely with nerves as he contemplated the gravity of where his thoughts had taken him. Marriage could save her life. The words repeated in his mind again. His hands started to sweat, his emotions tying him in more knots than if he’d stepped into the batter’s box at the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs.

  The flash of clarity shot through him, undeniable and clear. Never before had he felt such a jolt when faced with a problem, nor had he ever found himself the answer to someone else’s unspoken prayers. The solution was so obvious, yet he resisted it despite the absolute certainty that seeped into his very being.

  He couldn’t speak for a moment, so shocked by the images in his mind. Then all he could do was stare at the woman he was going to marry.

  * * *

  Maya wasn’t sure what to think of the odd expression on Ben’s face. She felt bad that she had let her temper flare, but she felt like she was entitled to let some of her emotions spill over. After all, she now knew this battle with cancer was really entering its final chapter. He had to understand that.

  With his steady gaze on her, she found herself feeling suddenly awkward and decided it might be best to nudge him on his way. “I should probably try to get some rest. Thanks again for coming.”

  Ben’s words burst from him as though he couldn’t quite contain them. “I think I know how you can stay in the trial.”

  She looked up, confused. “The panel already made its decision. It’s over.”

  “Let me ask you something.” Ben stood and paced across the room before turning back to face her. “What would have happened if you had already gotten married before Rishi found you?”

  “Actually, that’s what I was hoping would happen,” Maya admitted. “If I had already married, he would have lost his claim over me, especially now that I live in the United States.”

  Ben fell silent and seemed to be deep in thought. Then he seemed to draw up all of his energy. “I think you should marry me.”

  Maya’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”

  “I know it sounds crazy, but just hear me out.” Ben reclaimed his seat, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his thighs. “If you marry me, you wouldn’t have to worry about Rishi anymore, and as my wife, you would have medical insurance so your surgery would be only a fraction of the cost.”

  The details he was laying out made sense, but she still couldn’t wrap her brain around the idea. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am serious. It would be a marriage”—he paused for a moment as though searching for the right word—“a marriage of convenience. It will help you out, and you can move back into my guest room.”

  “I thought you had a girlfriend.”

  “We broke up,” Ben told her with a grimace that made her think the breakup wasn’t an amicable one. “Since the breakup was so recent, I wouldn’t want to go out and broadcast that I’m married, but we should be able to go down to the courthouse and get a civil marriage to help you out.”

  “Ben, people shouldn’t get married on a whim, and I wouldn’t feel right about marrying you just to get health insurance. It wouldn’t be honest.”

  “The insurance is a side benefit,” Ben said. “The real issue is making sure Rishi can’t bother you anymore. I mean, we get along okay, right?”

  “I suppose so . . .” she managed. She stared at him. “I still don’t understand why you would tie yourself to me like this. Marriage is a big deal.”

  “Marriage is a big deal,” Ben repeated in agreement.

  “Then how can you possibly want to marry someone you barely know?”

  He fell silent as though debating whether he could trust her with the truth. Finally, he said, “Because it feels like the right thing to do.”

  The burning sensation that bloomed in her chest was sudden and unexpected. She stared at Ben, wondering if he could feel it too. This didn’t make any sense, but she couldn’t deny the unmistakable feeling of hope that swamped through her. She struggled to grasp at logic. “What happens if someone finds out about the marriage?”

  “If someone finds out we’re married, I’ll let the team’s publicist deal with it,” Ben told her. “The biggest reason I was worried about you living in my apartment was that I didn’t want to take a chance of any negative press. If someone finds out you’re there, at least we’ll have a marriage certificate to protect my reputation and yours.”

  “What happens after my treatments are over?”

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

  Maya fell silent for a moment. “What you’re suggesting all sounds too good to be true. Are you really sure about this?” she asked. “Maybe you should take some time to think about it.”

  “I think we both already know this is the only answer.” Abruptly, Ben changed the subject. “When are you supposed to get released from here?”

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  “Since tomorrow’s Sunday, we won’t be able to do anything about getting married unti
l Monday morning.”

  “Actually, I have my infusions on Monday mornings.”

  “We’ll go Monday afternoon, then,” Ben told her. “I know it’s not the best scenario, but you can still stay at Ian and Jessica’s place tomorrow night. I really don’t feel comfortable having you move back into my apartment until we’re married.”

  “You’re talking like this is already a done deal. It’s a lot to think about.”

  “Take the next day or two to think about it. You have my number. Regardless of what you decide, call me when you’re getting released, and I’ll come pick you up.”

  “What if Rishi is watching for me?” Maya asked timidly. She hated to admit her fears, but she found herself compelled to share them. “Ben, I’m afraid of Rishi. I’m afraid he’ll make me go with him if he gets the chance, and I’m not strong enough anymore to run away.”

  “He doesn’t know you’ve been staying at the Harrises’ apartment. I think if I drive you home, we can get you inside without him seeing you.”

  “Kari has always talked a lot about you. I’m beginning to understand why she is so proud of you.”

  Ben looked a little embarrassed, and he stood up. “Try to get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Maya watched him leave, immediately replaying their conversation. He didn’t really plan to go through with marrying her, right? But if he did . . . The possibilities were almost too good to be true. A place to stay, health insurance, protection from Rishi. She would have a chance to fight again. She would have a chance to live.

  The thought that the Lord had given her a miracle crossed her mind, but then the light of hope waned. Maybe He wasn’t putting Ben in her life to help her live. Maybe it was because He knew this was the end. Maybe this was God’s way of making sure she would be safe until the end.

  She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together, afraid to question the reasons. Quietly, she let herself consider the possibilities and found herself praying that Ben wouldn’t change his mind.