by Pat Ballard
Will was waiting for her at the door to the auditorium. He would be the one to give her away. How ironic, Hanna thought. He desperately needed her inheritance, and assumed he would be in better financial shape once the estate was Hanna’s. He had found her a willing groom, so the stipulations of the will would be satisfied, and now he would happily lead her down the isle and hand her over to a stranger, just so his life would be better.
As she stopped beside him and placed her hand on his arm, he whispered, “Wow, I guess it’s true that all brides are beautiful. Even you look beautiful today.”
But Hanna didn’t acknowledge him. Her eyes had found the man standing at the end of the isle waiting to become her husband. Her heart leaped into her throat when she found and recognized Matt Corbett. Much to her dismay, from this distance he didn’t look like he had changed a bit. The only difference in the way he looked now was that he had on a black tuxedo instead of a black leather jacket. But everything else about him looked the same as it had all those years ago when she watched him on stage and swooned along with all the other teenage girls in the audience.
She had hoped he’d changed enough that she wouldn’t be constantly reminded of who he was and how she used to feel about him. Even from this distance he seemed to exude a masculine strength that made her knees start to shake.
As the bridal march began and she slowly made her way towards her new life, Hanna was oblivious to the guests watching her make her way down the isle. She watched the face of Matt Corbett. His eyes slowly looked her over, then finally came back to hers and locked.
Hanna felt herself stumble slightly and knew her hands must be shaking, for Will suddenly tightened the muscles in the arm her hand rested on, pressing her hand close to his side, and leaned down to her to whisper, “Matt’s really a nice guy. I’ve talked to him quite a lot in the past few days. I think you’ll like him.”
Hanna mentally thanked Will for his brief concern, but she never took her eyes off Matt’s. She didn’t seem able to. And as she drew closer to him, she imagined she saw golden flecks dancing in his eyes, and she imagined she saw something else. Something that looked almost like admiration.
One thing she knew. She didn’t see the revulsion that she had expected when he realized she wasn’t a size six.
Shyness overtook her when she placed her hand on his arm, and, unable to look into his eyes, she turned to face the minister. Matt turned slightly toward her and placed his hand over hers. Surprised, she looked up into his direct gaze. She hadn’t imagined the golden flecks. They were there like a warm fire, and she felt heat spread through her body.
He wasn’t much taller than Hanna, and she briefly thought how easy it would be to kiss him. Flustered at her own thoughts, she looked quickly back at the minister who had started the ceremony, but she was keenly aware that Matt Corbett never took his eyes from her face.
She felt lightheaded, as if she might faint. What was going on? This wasn’t going at all as she had expected. She hadn’t wanted to see contempt on his face, but she hadn’t expected this heated light in his eyes, either. Almost as if he found her attractive.
“Hanna, do you take Matt to be your lawfully wedded husband?” The minister’s kindly expression made Hanna realize he’d probably asked the question already, and she hadn’t heard him.
“I do,” she whispered, barely loud enough to be heard.
“And, Matt, do you take Hanna to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Matt’s voice was strong and sincere, and again, Hanna found herself captured in his gaze.
“Will you be exchanging rings?” The minister asked.
Hanna, not having thought of such a thing, was surprised when someone handed Matt a ring. She watched in amazement as he took her hand and slipped a wide gold band on her finger. It fit as if it had been made for her.
“It was my mother’s,” Matt said softly. “It’s all I could afford right now,” he added almost apologetically. His voice sounded low and sensual, just like it did when he sang his slow love songs.
Hanna looked at the ring on her hand. His mother’s? He’d given her, a total stranger, his mother’s wedding band?
“Hanna!” She realized Will was pressing something in her palm, and, looking down, found a gold band in her hand. Glancing quickly at Will, she realized the ring was for Matt and she was expected to put it on him. Her hands shook so hard, she barely got the ring on him without dropping it.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The minister concluded the ceremony.
Matt was raising her veil. She hadn’t planned on this! She wanted desperately to grasp the veil and pull it back down. The veil had been her protection, her security, and now it was being slowly lifted.
She stood immobilized and watched Matt Corbett’s face, waiting to see his expression change. Waiting for some clue that he suddenly realized what he had done. Waiting for anything but the easy, sensual smile that spread across his chiseled lips. “You are beautiful,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers.
Hanna was shaken to the depth of her soul when Matt’s lips covered hers. The kiss wasn’t a simple “just for appearances” peck, but a real kiss. She felt his tongue gently trace the outline of her full lips. Her lips parted of their own accord, to allow him to deepen the kiss.
“Okay, children, that’s enough.” Someone brought them back to the present.
Dazed, Hanna allowed Matt to lead her back down the isle. She heard, as if from a great distance, people saying how beautiful she looked, and how handsome the groom was. Once outside the church, people started throwing birdseed at them, and Matt hurriedly escorted Hanna to the waiting limousine.
Once safely inside, Hanna leaned back against the seat and breathed a long sigh.
“Hello, I’m Matthew Corbett.” Matt said, leaning over and offering her his outstretched hand.
Hanna placed her hand in his and was about to introduce herself when the irony of the situation overcame her, and she broke into near hysterical laughter.
Matt joined in with her laughter, and Hanna could feel the tension start to drain from her.
Suddenly, she wanted to ask Matt Corbett a thousand questions. And suddenly, she was sorry she’d made plans to disappear after her wedding. She realized now she might enjoy becoming friends with Matt Corbett, since he hadn’t reacted at all like she’d expected him to. But it was too late for that now. They would soon be home, and she would disappear, and he would be gone from her life when she returned.
Glancing out the window of the limo to see how close they were to being home, Hanna realized they weren’t on the street that led to Rockwell Place. She tapped on the dividing partition to get the driver’s attention. He slid the partition open.
“Henri, where are we headed?” Hanna asked. “You’re supposed to be taking us home.”
“Not according to Mr. Couch,” Henri said, shaking his head. “He told me to bring you straight to the airport.”
“To the airport? For what?” Suddenly angry, Hanna suspected her mother had a hand in what was going on. “Do you know what’s going on?” She asked Matt.
“No, Hanna, I know nothing,” Matt assured her. She loved the way her name sounded on his lips.
“Henri, go home, right this minute,” she demanded of the driver.
“Miss—uh—Mrs. Hanna, I can’t do that. Mr. Couch told me not to let you harass me into doing anything except bring you and Mr. Corbett straight to the airport, and that’s what I’m doing. You can take it up with him once we get there.” And Henri closed the partition so he couldn’t hear Hanna’s protests.
Frustrated, Hanna slammed her body back against the seat.
“Damn them,” she said out loud. “They got what they wanted. I got married for them, now why can’t they just get out of my life for a change and leave me alone.” She had momentarily forgotten she wasn’t alone in the big car.
“Hanna,” Matt said, sliding across the seat, closer to her, “Wi
ll got slightly tipsy the other night and told me your whole situation. In fact, he was a little more than tipsy. He was basically drunk, and as far as I could tell, he pretty much spilled his guts about your family, according to how he sees it, going back as far as he could remember. So if there is anything you need to talk about, I’m a good listener.”
But Hanna didn’t want to talk. She just wanted to get to the airport and find out what her mother and Will had done now.
“Thanks, but I don’t guess there’s anything to talk about.” She couldn’t hide the slight trace of sadness in her voice.
“Hanna, the only thing I couldn’t get Will to tell me was why I couldn’t see you before we got married. I still can’t figure it out. What was that all about?”
Hanna looked deeply into Matt’s eyes. He seemed so sincere! Had he really not realized the obvious reason Will wanted to keep her hidden?
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a size six. Will was afraid you wouldn’t go along with the deal if you saw that you were going to have a fat wife.” Her smile trembled on her full lips, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Hating to appear weak and self-pitying, Hanna reached to wipe the tear away, but Matt stopped her hand. He gently wiped the tear away with his thumb, then trailed his hand down her cheek.
“Your brother’s a fool,” he whispered softly, and covered her lips with his in a gentle, probing kiss.
Not wanting to, but unable to stop herself, Hanna parted her lips to allow the kiss to deepen. This kind of wantonness was totally alien to her, but Matt’s tenderness had overcome her, robbing her of the strength to stop the wonderful sensations he was stirring in her.
Hanna was brought back to reality by the limousine slowing to a stop. Flushed and flustered, she exited the limousine, feeling self-conscious about looking like a fresh-kissed bride. But she soon realized most of the attention was on Matt, as people recognized him as he walked past. Henri led them to an office on the ground floor of the airport, and knocked softly on the door.
Houston Couch opened the door and smiled at Henri. “Thanks, Henri. I wondered if you’d make it or not.” He motioned for Hanna and Matt to come inside.
Hanna wasn’t surprised to find her mother and Will sitting on a couch that lined one side of the room.
Houston motioned for Hanna and Matt to sit down.
“Hanna, I know you’re wondering what’s going on, so I’m going to get right to the reason I had Henri bring you here. This is phase two of your grandfather’s will.”
“Phase two?” Hanna, her mother, and Will chorused at the same time.
“Yes. Mr. Rockwell has left instructions for three phases. It seems he was afraid Hanna would be railroaded into getting married just to save the estate, so he has tried to assure that she not only got married, but that she was in a happy marriage.”
Someone groaned out loud, and Hanna realized it was her. Why had Grandfather complicated her life like this? What could he have possibly been thinking?
“Mr. Rockwell,” Houston was continuing, “wanted to insure that his name and lineage would continue with Hanna. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t railroaded— ” He used the word again, each time looking directly at Mary and Will as he said it— “into hastily marrying someone just to get the money, then divorcing the man as soon as the estate was in place.”
“Okay,” Will said impatiently, “what is phase two?”
“Phase two is a honeymoon that your grandfather,” Houston continued, looking at Hanna, “has planned in detail, with monies set aside for each segment of the honeymoon.”
“And what is phase three?” Hanna asked, afraid of the answer.
“Hanna, don’t you want to wait until the honeymoon is over?” Houston asked.
“What is phase three?” Hanna asked again, through clenched teeth.
“Phase three, and the completion of the will, will happen when you’re expecting a baby.” Houston Couch wouldn’t meet Hanna’s horror-stricken eyes.
“NO!” she shouted. “You take that will right now and shred the damn thing. And if you have any idea how to contact my dead grandfather, tell him I hope he’s burning in hell for this!”
“Hanna, calm down!” Her mother shouted. “You can’t seriously mean what you said.”
“Hanna, you can’t give up now,” Will whined. “We’ve already gotten through the hardest part.”
“We? And what do you mean the hardest part?” Hanna ground out.
“Well, finding someone who would marry you, sight unseen, like you are and everything.” In his excitement, Will forgot to be careful of his words.
Suddenly, Matt stood and grabbed Will’s tie and pulled him to a half standing position. “As long as I’m married to your sister, you will respect her. Do you understand me?” Matt gave Will a slight shake to get his point across. Will’s air was cut off, so all he could do was nod his head in agreement.
Matt shoved Will roughly back into his seat, and sat back down beside Hanna.
“Hanna,” Houston Couch began again, coughing behind his hand to cover a smile, “Your grandfather loved you dearly, but he was afraid you would allow those around you to use you for the money he was leaving you. He stated his concerns to me many times before he died. He wished more than anything that you could find a good strong man to walk through life with you, supporting and caring for you. I believe you may have found him.” He smiled again at the memory of Matt choking Will’s air off.
“Mrs. Rockwell,” Houston continued, “you and Will wait for me outside, please. I need to have a private conversation with Hanna and Matt. I’ll be with you shortly.”
When the door had closed behind the two people who had reluctantly left the room, Houston turned to Hanna.
“What I’m about to show you is for your eyes only. Yours and your husband’s.” He put a tape into a VCR in a corner of the room.
To Hanna’s amazement, Grandfather’s face appeared on the screen, and he started talking directly to her.
“Hanna, if you’re watching this, then I’m no longer with you. I hope you’re having a good life.
“You know I’ve only wanted the best for you. I hope none of the things I’ve done have made you feel angry with me, because I’ve only done them to protect you, and what I’ve left you. You know I’ve never cared for your mother, but I always let her remain at my house for your sake. What I’m about to tell you, is strictly confidential, and for you to use only as you see fit.
“William is only your half brother. I had a suspicion that your mother was cheating on my son, so when William was born, I insisted that blood tests be done, and sure enough, he wasn’t your father’s child. Your father declared his love for your mother anyway, so I didn’t have the heart to throw her out, because I knew my son would follow her, and possibly be lost to me forever.
“When you were born, I had more blood tests run. You were your father’s child. My true grandchild. I tried early on to forget the past and treat William as if he were my grandson, but the older he got and the more your mother spoiled him, I just turned more and more away from him.
“As far as I know, he isn’t aware that he isn’t a blood Rockwell. I promised your father I wouldn’t tell him. I do think William has the right to know who he is, though, for health records and such. If the time ever comes that he needs to know, or you decide he needs to know, and your mother isn’t around to tell him, all the answers you need are in a safety deposit box in the bank.
“Hanna, I’m telling you this so you’ll understand why I’ve had to go to such lengths to protect your rightful heritage. You are the only true Rockwell left in our immediate family, after I’m gone. So honor what I’ve left you. Enjoy it, and pass it on to your children. I always dreamed of seeing my great grandchildren, but you didn’t move as fast in that direction as I moved in the direction where I am now, so my great grandchildren and I have passed along the way without seeing each other.
“If for some reason you can’t have children, leave the mone
y where you think it will do the best work. I worked hard to acquire and keep what I’m leaving you. Take care of it.
“And remember, Hanna, I have loved you more than anyone on this earth except your grandmother. Hopefully, I’m with her now. Have a good life, Hanna.”
By the time the tape was finished, Hanna was weeping quietly into a tissue Matt had handed her from a box on the desk.
Finally, after the tears had subsided, Hanna looked at Houston. “I thought the will wouldn’t be complete until I got pregnant. Grandfather said on the tape to pass the money on if I didn’t have children.”
“I left part of the stipulations out until we were alone. Your grandfather specified in the will that if for some reason you couldn’t have children, to release the estate to you in full. And actually, he specified if you didn’t have children by the time you were thirty-five, to release the estate to you in full.”
“Why did Grandfather specify that I had to be married by the time I was 30, or the estate would go to charity?” Hanna asked.
“Your grandfather was afraid that if you weren’t married by the time you were 30, then you might have met an untimely death like your dad. He was just trying to protect his estate from the people he knew would squander it, if it fell into their hands.”
Hanna’s head felt as if it would explode from all the happenings of the day. She just wanted to go somewhere alone and try to digest it all. The most unsettling news of the day, though, was that Will wasn’t a Rockwell.
“Houston, who is Will’s father?” Hanna asked. “Do you know?”
“Henri,” came Houston’s one-word answer.
“Our chauffeur, Henri?” Hanna asked in disbelief.
“The one and the same. Hanna, Henri and your mother have loved each other for years. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on it.”
Hanna stared at the man who had been the family lawyer for as long as she could remember. He seemed to know much more about her life than she did.
“Your grandfather knew it all along, but couldn’t convince your father. As I’m sure you know, your father left the house one cold winter night, after an argument with your grandfather about the situation. Ice had formed on the bridges and overpasses, and your father hit a slick spot and ran off the road. He was traveling at a high rate of speed. He hit a tree, and was dead when the rescue squad got to him.”