Bonds of Matrimony

by A C J McKechnie

  “I knew that you could be cruel, Mr McCormack, but I never realized how truly malicious you could be,” she said with narrowed eyes, labored breathing, and absolute fury at being stuck with the man surging through her. “You wanted your revenge? I won’t let you have it. Papa would never have known. He would never have lied to me. And he would never have kept this from me, not after we lost Mama so suddenly. He wouldn’t have let it happen to me again. You know nothing, and it’s tripped you up, shown you for the liar that you are.

  “If you’d have known anything about us you’d have known that my father would never have let history repeat itself again. He wouldn’t let that happen to me. He wouldn’t put me through it all. He wouldn’t!” she affirmed before turning around, throwing open the dining room doors, and storming up to her own bedroom to let her tears fall more freely over it all.

  As soon as her bedroom door slammed shut behind her and she crumpled onto her bed, the only things that Ellie could think about were the look on her husband’s face as she’d explained her reasons for her father never leaving her in the dark, and her insistence that he was wrong. That look had been full of surprise and disapproval, and that look had Ellie thinking one thing: what if she was the one who was wrong?

  Zach stared at the closed door and exhaled heavily as he slumped back down into his chair. Hell, Malcolm Kincaid had a lot to answer for. Contrary to Ellie’s belief, the man had known that he was sick. He’d known that he hadn’t had long left to live. He’d known and he’d kept it from his daughter.

  The missing piece of the puzzle had slotted into place, and Zach had been able to understand the man’s insistence that Ellie be married and taken care of. Malcolm had known that he was dying and had been eager to see his daughter settled before he died. In fact, the challenge of getting her married might have been a factor in prolonging his life.

  According to the man’s doctor, Malcolm had been riddled with cancer. It had been completely hopeless. There was nothing that they could do. All they’d been able to suggest was pills to help the man cope with all the pain. That’s all that they could do for him. He’d taken them up on the offer but had obviously hidden it all from his daughter.

  With all the knowledge that Zach had he could see it all from the other man’s point of view. He knew why Malcolm had done it. He understood it all. But Ellie didn’t. And to get her to understand he’d be forced to destroy her vision of her father even more so, and he couldn’t do that to her.

  He’d debated telling her the truth about their marriage, but had been reluctant to do so. Now he knew that he’d never be able to tell her. The absolute despair on her face when she’d thought for a brief moment that her father had lied to her would be etched in his memory forever. She had looked so distraught, so upset, so utterly destroyed, that Zach knew that he couldn’t do that to her again. Regardless of the fact that it sullied him in her eyes, he couldn’t tear down the vision that she had of her father to make himself look good to her.

  The man was no longer alive, no longer able to explain and defend his actions to his daughter. Zach on the other hand could still change her opinion of him with his actions, he could still prove himself to her. And he was going to have to. And he was going to have to start tonight. She didn’t need to be alone right now. And he didn’t want her to be alone. He wanted to be helping his wife through this.

  With a sigh, Zach thought over everything and found himself getting angry at a deceased man. A highly unproductive thing to be doing, but true nonetheless. He could understand Malcolm Kincaid’s actions to a certain degree, but he still couldn’t believe that the man would hurt his daughter so much with them.

  When Ellie had mentioned her mother passing away suddenly and how that fact would negate her father letting the same thing happen to her again, Zach had been shocked, shocked and disappointed that that was exactly what the man had let happen.

  Zach knew that Malcolm had loved his daughter, Ellie was right with that assertion, and so couldn’t for the life of him understand why he’d allow her to be so hurt with all of his behavior. Behavior that would never be explained to her. Zach sighed once more, he’d just have to leave things alone, let them lie, and hope that Ellie would eventually get over her suspicions of him personally.

  Right now, he had to go and comfort her, help her, and ignore her scathing and vicious comments that she was flinging at him in her anger. Right now he had to go and be a husband to her.

  With another heavy sigh, he stood, made his way to his room to change for the night, and then headed to Ellie’s room. Without even bothering to knock, he just slowly opened the door and headed straight to her crumpled form where she was laying on her bed in a heap.

  Straightening his back, he removed his dressing gown, turned down the covers of her bed, and settled himself in before pulling her resistant body towards him to hold tightly against his side. He could feel the whole of her shaking with the force of her tears, but just ran his hands gently up and down her back in an effort to soothe her.

  As he continued his ministrations he felt her sobs lessen and turn into sniffles. When her tears had dried enough she wordlessly stood up, headed towards her dresser, pulled out one of the many nightgowns that he’d given her, and entered her bathroom. Unsure of what to do now, but reluctant to leave her when she was still upset, Zach continued to lay in her bed, waiting for her return.

  When the sound of a door opening reached his ears he looked over to see her exiting her bathroom with her head down. Instead of saying anything else, instead of ranting and raving at him and telling him to leave, she walked to the bed, turned off the lights, and settled back down against him, holding onto him tightly as she did so.

  As her breathing grew softer and her body finally relaxed, Zach let himself relax as well and drifted off to sleep, cradling his wife in his arms for the first time. His last thought was that he could get very used to this.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Looking over towards the window, Ellie found her gaze locking onto her husband’s and gave him a soft smile of reassurance. Things had changed in the past few days between them, as was evidenced by the soft smile which he returned to her.

  When she’d awoken to find herself still cradled in her husband’s arms the day after their big argument she’d been surprised. She’d thought that he’d have left, or maybe even that she’d somehow imagined it all. Instead it had turned out that her dependence on him, and his comforting of her, had been real.

  As she’d awoken to the feel of his firm body she hadn’t known what to do next. When his hands had gently stroked her back again, like he had as he’d comforted her the night before, she’d known exactly what to do and say.

  Laying completely still, she’d just softly said, “I’m sorry.” She’d thought it all over the previous night after storming off, and knew that he’d been telling her the truth. If it had been a lie he wouldn’t have acted so surprised and disappointed in her father. It was that one look that had confirmed to Ellie that her husband had been being honest with her.

  As much as it had, and still did, hurt that her father had lied to her, she couldn’t take it out on Zachary.

  She’d expected her husband to gloat, to demand more of an apology at her hurtful words, but instead he’d been compassionate. Compassionate and kind.

  “What for?” was what he’d said at the time, and Ellie had wrinkled her brow over the question.

  “For everything that I said to you. For calling you a –,” she’d tried explaining, only to find him cutting her off in the midst of her explanation.

  “It doesn’t matter, honey,” he’d said, and she’d looked up in surprise to analyze his face, hoping to judge his sincerity. “You were hurt and angry. You were grieving. It’s fine,” he’d said, and she had lain there, astounded at his graciousness in the circumstances.

  “It’s not fine, Zachary. I was mean. I was unjustified. I was –”

  “Only saying what you truly believed,” he’d inputted
, and she’d found herself shocked into silence at his analysis of it all. She had been convinced of course, but that seemed even worse to admit, the fact that she’d think so badly of him when all he’d been trying to do was help. “You said last night that I don’t know you or your dad, and you were right,” he’d admitted with a shrug. “I don’t. You also don’t know me either. With the limited knowledge that you do have of me it was perfectly understandable that you’d reach the conclusions that you did. I don’t blame you, honey.”

  “I was wrong,” she’d said softly as she’d stared into his gray eyes and had noted the warmth in them again. An addition that had been there since two nights before when he’d suggested a truce between them.

  “Which is why I suggested that we get to know each other and put the past behind us,” he’d stated calmly and rationally, and Ellie had nodded at him slowly before she’d settled down onto his chest yet again, grateful to have somebody there for her.

  She’d been enjoying just absorbing her husband’s strength when he’d spoken again. “We do need to talk about one aspect of it all though,” he’d ventured, and she’d raised her head to look up at him again in interest. “The funeral arrangements,” he’d added solemnly, and she’d found her breath catching before she’d burrowed down into his embrace again.

  “I can handle it all,” she’d said and had been surprised to feel him tense underneath her at her proclamation.

  “No,” he’d said, and she’d looked up again at him in question. “You’re my wife, Ellie, you’re not doing this on your own,” he’d declared, and she’d been surprised at his comment until she’d thought it through more thoroughly.

  “People will understand, Zachary. You’re a busy man,” she’d said in a hope to alleviate his need to keep up appearances.

  “People can think what they want, honey, but I’m not letting you do this on your own. You’re my wife, I’m going to be there with you through all of it,” he’d declared, and she’d been so overwhelmed by the emotion and determination swimming in his eyes that she’d had to look away.

  Just like she was doing now in the present. Things had certainly changed between her and her husband since that night. He’d been sincere in his declaration as well. He’d been beside her every step of the way.

  When she’d pointed out that he needed to be at work he’d declared that she and the situation were more important than his business and had brooked no argument from her on the matter, stubbornly sticking by her as they’d organized it all.

  He’d held her hand, given her a shoulder to cry on, and held her tightly against him throughout it all. He’d been there when she’d contacted the funeral home. Listened to and advised her when they’d been at the florists. Supported her when she’d spoken to the minister about the service. Aided her in her choice of coffin. Assisted her as she’d contacted everybody about the arrangements.

  He’d helped to arrange the wake and insisted that it occur at their own home. He’d done it all with her, and at the end of each day he’d held and comforted her all night long in her bed with her. She’d been surprised at how natural it had felt, how happy she’d been that it was him there with her. She’d been even more surprised that she’d enjoyed it. She’d enjoyed having him beside her, enjoyed talking to him as he tried to divert her thoughts by talking about her good memories and relating some of his own.

  Ellie had been surprised at the man and this new side of him on display. She hadn’t thought that he had it in him. It had comforted her somewhat to find that he did. She’d been drawn to him from the very start but she’d thought it purely a physical thing, now though she was starting to wonder if a part of her had recognized something within him, something like the man that he was now showing her.

  It made the whole business of their marriage even more confusing. His actions in the past didn’t suit the man that she was starting to know. Yes, Zachary was strong and forceful, a trait which she could admire in a man and a provider for a family. And yes, he was the definitive alpha male, but his threats to her and her dad weren’t in keeping with the man that she suspected he was.

  It made no sense. And it was confusing her. She knew that she’d told Zachary that she’d try to put the past behind them, but it seemed to be such a fundamental part of their life together that she was finding it difficult to do so. She knew that she was going to have to though. She was going to have to get over her suspicions and be more open to what she saw now.

  And what she saw now was a husband who seemed to truly care about her and her emotions. She’d felt it as she’d sat next to him during the service. She’d felt it as he’d stood next to her at the open grave. And she felt it now as she glanced back to find his eyes trained on her in concern, as though searching to make sure that she was alright.

  The thing of it was, she knew, absolutely knew that if she gave any indication that she wasn’t coping that he’d be over immediately to be there for her. And that seemed to be an incongruous action for a man who’d threaten a desperate man with prison unless his daughter married him. Something wasn’t adding up, she just wished that she knew what.

  “How’s she doing?” Josh’s voice said from Zach’s left, and he reluctantly removed his gaze from his wife to focus on his friend.

  “She’s coping,” he said in reply before he zeroed in on Ellie again where she was talking to an older couple, likely former neighbors of hers, who were sitting on his settee in the large reception room of his home.

  The service was over, the burial was done, and now they were hosting the wake for everyone. Zach truly hoped that the day’s events would be the closure that his wife needed, even if he knew that she wasn’t likely to get over the death of her father any time soon.

  The only thing that he found comforting in it all was the fact that she’d recognized that the man had lied to her. She’d accepted it, pushed it aside, and apologized to Zach for her harsh words. That was all that needed to be discussed about the matter. It was over and done with, and now she was just left with dealing with the grief of her loss instead of the betrayal that she’d felt.

  “It’s good to see that she’s not having to do so on her own though,” Josh said, and Zach looked at him quickly in surprise. “Clearly the two of you have worked out some of your differences. I’ve been noticing how much more comfortable you are with each other. She’s relying on you right now, and you’re being there for her. I have to admit, buddy, that I wasn’t sure if you had it in you,” he added tentatively, and Zach just smiled ruefully at his friend.

  “I guess you can either end up emulating your parents or learning from their mistakes,” he explained and saw Josh nod at that.

  “Thank goodness for you, and Ellie, that you’ve decided on the latter course of action.”

  “I never want to be like my father when it comes to my personal life, Josh. I might aspire to be as good as him in business, but his home life was a complete and utter disaster. I’m not going to repeat those mistakes.”

  “Good. I can tell that you’ve been trying. Just don’t mess things up again,” Josh warned, and Zach nodded at that. He was hoping the same thing of course. Especially after the last six days or so that he’d been spending with Ellie.

  This whole incident had thrown them into each other’s company, and Zach had found himself getting to know his wife because of it. He’d seen her courage, fortitude, and determination as she’d dealt with everything surrounding her father’s funeral, and he’d admired her for her resilience and strength.

  Then at night when she’d let her guard down with him he’d admired her femininity and softness. He’d relished in her turning to him for comfort and had been surprised at how such a strong woman could also be so fragile.

  The best part of it all though were those moments that they spent talking to each other, getting to know their respective spouse without the aggression and friction between them anymore. It had been amazing, and he’d been astounded at his luck in who he’d married. As angry as he�
��d been at Malcolm Kincaid for forcing the match, and as much as he still disapproved of the man’s methodology, he could also acknowledge the fact that he was starting to feel grateful to the man for introducing Ellie into his life.

  It was just unfortunate that they’d started out so badly. Especially considering that he knew that his wife still had issues with that fact. She was softening though. She was becoming more open to him. He could see it in her. He could see it when she looked at him and he felt it when she relied on him physically, whether at night as he held her close, or in public when she’d grip his hand firmly for reassurance. It was going to take time, but he’d get her to see the real him.

  “I didn’t know that your sister and mom were coming today,” Josh mused from the side, and Zach looked over at the other man in surprise.

  “Why wouldn’t they?”

  Raising an eyebrow at him, Josh simply replied, “Because you usually keep them as far away from you as possible.”

  “I know,” he said with a sigh. “I’d considered banning them from coming, but they were both so insistent on being here for Ellie. Especially now that she really has no family left, except for those that she inherited upon marrying me. But it’s not like the place is teeming with photographers or reporters, or even people who care about me. Everyone who’s here today is a genuine friend of Ellie’s and would never do anything to hurt her.

  “Ellie knows not to divulge Tessa’s true relationship to me anyway, so it’s not like anybody’s going to find out. Besides which, Tessa and my mom actually fit in with the crowd right now. They live in a similar echelon of society, after all. I know my mom and Tessa have more than Ellie and the rest do, but it’s not that unusual for a nurse and an estate agent’s wife to be friends with the rest of them,” Zach explained and watched as Josh absorbed that.