Nerves hit me a little. “I can’t either.”
“I’m going to rest. Have fun with Devney.”
“I will. I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you, Princess.”
We hang up, and my phone rings almost immediately afterward. I answer it, thinking he forgot to say something.
“You okay, Daddy?”
“Maren, hey. It’s me.”
I blink a few times and smile. It’s not my dad, it’s my fiancé. “Oliver, hey! You’re back in range.”
“Yeah, I got back yesterday.”
“Oh. I didn’t hear from you or know you were back.”
Devney peeks at me. I hit the mute button and tell her, “He got back yesterday and didn’t call.”
Even though I left him two voice messages. But . . . whatever.
I unmute the phone.
“Yeah, I was going to call, but I didn’t know what to say,” he explains and then exhales deeply. “I just . . . I’m not really sure there is a way to say it.”
The hesitancy in his voice causes my heart to pound and my mouth to go dry. “Say what?”
“Look, I have a lot of shit going on at work and . . . I don’t know, Mare, it’s like, we got engaged really fast and are getting married even faster.”
“You know why.”
“I know, and that’s not . . . I mean, I was away the last week and we didn’t even try to reach out to each other. Isn’t that strange?”
My lips part as my mind goes in circles. What the hell do I say to that? “We’ve never been that way.”
“And yet, all the other guys do. They call or send a message. You and I don’t, not unless it’s mission related.”
“I’m not understanding what you’re upset about. Do you want me to sit at home and cry when you’re gone? You didn’t text me or call me while you were gone either. I didn’t know this was an issue.”
Devney pulls the car over to the side of the road and waits.
“No, that’s the thing. I don’t think about it either. Neither of us does. When I’m gone, do you miss me? Do you even want to see me? Do I want to see you?”
It feels as though I’ve been punched in the chest. “We’re getting married in a few days.”
Oliver sighs, and I squeeze my eyes closed, knowing I didn’t answer his question.
“Which is why I’m calling. I don’t think it’s the right time. I think we should wait and see how this goes.”
“You asked me,” I remind him with a very high-pitched yell. “You got down on your knee and asked me to marry you! I didn’t do that! You said you wanted to do it quickly, to give my dad what he wanted. Now you want to wait?”
“After hearing about your dying father’s last wish. Of course, I did.”
“I never pushed you to propose, Oliver! I was sharing what he said!”
I never said I wanted to get married, just that I hated I wouldn’t be able to give my father what he always wanted.
Oliver didn’t hesitate. He asked me, and I thought . . . I thought it was the right thing. I looked at all the possibilities, and I was . . . stupid. I’m so stupid.
“I’m just sharing how I feel with you. I don’t think this is right. We need more time. We can push the wedding back.”
I shake my head, unable to process this. He can’t do this to me. Not now. Not when my dad is dying and he says this is all he has. What the hell am I going to do now? This is a fucking nightmare. I can’t do this. My heart is racing and I am freaking out.
“We don’t have time, Oliver.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s dying. He doesn’t have months or years. We have to do this now. We can’t back out. You have to marry me.”
Oliver sighs. “So, are you upset that I’m not ready to marry you now or that you won’t be able to make your dad happy?”
I pause, and my gut clenches because this was his idea and my father is literally dying. This is all he wants and now he’s taking that away. “I’m upset because you decided to say this now! Two weeks before the wedding—over the fucking phone! You can’t do this.” I calm myself, working through the way to deal with this. “Just come here, okay? Just get here like you were supposed to, and we’ll work it out. You and I . . . we care about each other, and this is important. You just have cold feet.”
“I wish this were a case of cold feet.”
“It is. Just grab socks and come to North Carolina so we can warm them. Please, Oliver, don’t do this.” The pleading in my voice is sad, even to me.
Devney gasps, her hands over her lips. “No!”
I nod as tears fall down my cheeks.
“You don’t love me, Maren.”
“I . . . I will. I know I will. I already feel it. I know that this is right. I’m begging you, just come here so we can figure it out together.”
“You can’t even say you love me. How is that not a concern for you? It’s just been too short a time. We haven’t even met each other’s family or friends. It’s like we live in this bubble, and now we’re going to get married? It doesn’t feel weird to you?”
“You can’t do this to me. Not now. Daddy was sent home on hospice, and . . . I can’t tell him that you’re backing out. I can’t.” The last word comes out as a sob.
I just . . . I want to give my daddy what he wants.
Jesus. He’s right.
He clears his throat. “I don’t want to marry you now. Maybe in a few years, but . . .”
“But not now,” I finish.
“No. Not now.”
I nod once. “I wish you would’ve told me this weeks ago.”
“I wanted my feelings to change. I thought they would.”
“I don’t know what to say at this point,” I confess.
Devney takes my hand in hers. My friend, here to help collect the pieces.
“I didn’t want to hurt you, Maren. I really didn’t. I do have feelings for you, but we’re doing this for the wrong reasons, and I think you know it too.”
The saddest part is that I do know that, even if I don’t want to actively admit it. My heart is more torn up over my father being disappointed than about what Oliver is telling me.
I don’t know how I’m going to break his heart.
“So, I guess I’m supposed to go there now and cancel everything? I’m just supposed to be the one to pick up all the pieces you’ve broken?”
“I’ve already told my family, and they agree that we rushed into this.”
“Fuck you, Oliver. You told your family before you told me. You talk about not wanting to hurt me, but you do this over the phone. You say you care about me, but you clearly don’t or you wouldn’t have waited this long. Then you tell me that maybe it will happen in a few years? Are you kidding me? I can never forgive you for this.”
At least he doesn’t sound happy about it. “Breaking your heart isn’t easy.”
“It sure seems easy to me. And don’t worry, my heart isn’t broken, it’ll be my father’s.”
“And that’s the answer, Mare. You’re not even sad about calling off the wedding. If that doesn’t tell you something . . .”
“I don’t have anything left to say to you.”
“I wish things were different. I wish you were devastated over this ending, but neither of us are, are we?”
“No, I guess not.”
“I’m sorry. I really am. I hope you spend this weekend with your family and you and your father have some time together. I think that’s what you need most.”
I huff, not really caring what he thinks anymore. “Goodbye, Oliver.”
I hang up the phone and look at Devney. She leans over the center console and pulls me into a hug. “It’ll be okay, honey. I’ll help you handle everything. We’ll figure it out.”
I shake my head, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I can’t believe this.”
“I can’t either. Are you okay?”
I huff and rub my temples. “No. I don’t know. He’s partially ri
ght. I don’t love him, not the way that you love Sean. Not in the way that should have me wailing and sobbing because he called off the wedding. Instead, I’m so mad and hurt because it’s going to hurt others, most of all my dad.”
She rubs my arm. “I’m sorry. I hate this for you. I know that it would have meant a lot for you to give your dad that memory. You may not realize it yet, Mare, but you wanted that too.”
I look out the window and breathe through my nose. “I do. I wanted him to walk me down the aisle too. I wanted to have that memory to hold on to.” I wipe away the tear that falls. I was so focused on giving it to my dad that I failed to see I wanted it for myself too. “What the hell do I do now?” I ask, turning back to her. “I have family and friends flying in. I mean . . . I’m going to look ridiculous—more so than when I told them I was marrying a guy none of them had actually met.”
“Well, I did think you were a bit crazy when you told me,” Devney says with a laugh. “But if you were happy, who was I to say something. I’m totally supportive.”
My head falls back against the headrest. “You kind of are, and I love you for it. Switch seats with me. I need to drive.”
“Okay . . . why?”
“I think best when I’m driving. My mind works better in motion.”
We swap seats, and I pull away from the shoulder of the road. We have about ten more minutes before we reach the resort. I have exactly that much time to decide if I want to call everyone and tell them the wedding is canceled or if I let them all come and force them into a weekend gathering. We can make it a last party for my dad. Linda will lose her mind, but who cares about her? My mind goes in circles as the possibilities cause different outcomes.
“Are you going to tell your dad now?”
“No. If I do, they won’t come and then I may not get to see him before he . . .”
“Right, because Linda doesn’t let anyone at the house. What about the rest of your family?”
“I don’t know. If I tell them, they won’t come either. What if this is their only chance to see him where Linda had no damn excuse.”
Devney sighs. “Okay, so . . . we don’t tell them anything yet. We’ll let them show up and then . . . surprise. No groom. You don’t think they’ll be upset if they find out he dumped you before the wedding?”
I focus on the road, taking the turns and letting my mind roam a bit for options. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Okay. Well, I’m here. I’ve got your back, and we’ll get through this. We can keep this all on the downlow, and when they get here, I’ll help you explain it. It’s better to have the weekend with your dad than to cancel.”
“Yeah,” I say with defeat. “All he wants is to walk me down the aisle. I know it sounds crazy, but he says it’s the only reason he’s fighting to hold on. It’s probably best that Oliver did it before we were all together, otherwise my father may have tried to kill him.”
She laughs. “Well, too bad we can’t just conjure up another Oliver for you to marry. Your dad never met him, so it wouldn’t be like he would know the difference.”
As I take the next turn, the craziest idea hits me.
What if I did have an Oliver I could conjure up?
“What’s the face for?” Devney asks.
“What face?”
“The one that says you’re about to do something stupid.”
Not stupid. Completely and utterly insane.
“I have an idea.”
Devney shifts in her seat. “I was worried you did. What is it?”
“Well, there’s an Oliver right here, and . . . he’s a friend who would help if I asked.”
Her mouth drops. “Oh no. No way. You can’t ask Oliver Parkerson to marry you. That’s . . . that’s crazy!”
“Is it, though? You just said we need an Oliver.”
“Maren! That is not what I meant, and you know it!”
“Well, I can’t tell my dying father that I don’t have a groom and the one thing he wants is gone now too. I can’t do it, Dev. I have to try something . . . anything . . . to give him this. He’s going to die, and—”
I can’t. That’s all I keep thinking. I literally can’t say it. I can’t tell him that he can’t walk me down the aisle or give me away. There’s not a chance I can get the words past my lips.
I would rather lie to him and give him what he’s always wanted than let him down. I have to at least try. If Oliver won’t do it, then I’ll have to break my father’s heart and pray it doesn’t kill him.
Dramatic? Maybe. Out of options? Yes.
“This is crazy,” Devney says as we approach the resort where we are set to meet Oliver Parkerson and his family.
“It’s desperation.”
“You know this is insane, right?”
I sigh, pulling my blonde hair to the side. “I know.”
“You’re my ride or die bestie so I’ll be right here and I’ll do what I can.”
I nod. “That’s all I ask.”
We turn into the drive and pass the sign for the Fire Resort.
Devney tilts her head. “I thought it was Firefly Resort.”
“Maybe the rest will be going up later?” I hedge my bet.
“Later? Why would it go up after they open? They are open, right?”
“Umm, not really. He booked the wedding as a favor to me. The resort doesn’t open for a few more weeks. I guess we’re a test run.”
“God, the hits keep coming.” Devney laughs in earnest now.
“You’re who told me he was opening this place and I should call him about a venue,” I remind her.
Devney raises one brow. “You cannot give me credit for this insanity. This is all on you.”
“Heard.” It changes nothing.
“You do remember I dated him, right?”
“Yes, but I’m not asking him to really marry me.”
Her brows raise before she huffs. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying that Oliver might be a good guy, but he isn’t going to agree to this. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up and end up hurt when he says no.”
“I can’t be any more hurt than I am now. I remember him being great and always rescuing girls who needed it,” I reply.
“True, but . . . this is just . . .”
“Crazy. Yes, I know.”
“He’ll never do it. He’s not good at lying and none of this makes sense anyway. How are you going to explain this to the people who have met the original Oliver?”
The only people I invited who know the original Oliver are my bosses, and that’s an easy fix. There’s no risk of anyone finding out unless someone opens their mouth. We will make our plan and stick to it and everything will be okay.
It can all work out perfectly, providing I can appeal to Oliver Parkerson’s knight-in-shining-armor side.
“It’ll be easy. His name is Oliver. Neither he nor my ex has ever met my family. So, all he’ll have to do is pretend to be in love with me, and we’ll fake the entire thing.”
Devney laughs once. “And what? You pretend to marry him and then tell everyone it was a lie?”
“I’ll worry about that later.” I need a bit of time to work that part out.
She snorts. “Sure. Don’t you think that’ll upset your dad more if he finds out the wedding was a big sham instead of just telling him that the real Oliver called it off?” she counters. “You aren’t thinking right. What is your plan? You just walk up to him and say, ‘Hey, Oliver, it’s been about ten years, but I need you to fake marry me?’”
“Do you have a better plan?”
Devney scratches the back of her head. “You turn around, pick up your morals you left on the road somewhere, and we tell your dad when he gets here.”
“That’s plan B.”
She groans. “Of course not. Look, I haven’t seen Oliver in years. I have no idea if he’s dating someone or married himself. You’re assuming a lot of things here, so just . . . prepare yourself in case this doesn’t work out. Okay?”
We pull up to a beautiful building. It has a rustic, yet elegant style that suggests this building has always been here even though it’s clearly new. It has oak-color siding with a mahogany-colored roof. The porch wraps around the entire thing, and the sunlight reflecting off the lake makes it look majestical.
I exit the car and head toward the three people standing outside the main entrance. One man draws my undivided attention.
Oliver Parkerson.
He was always handsome with dark brown hair, scruff on his face, and toned muscles, but now he’s freaking hot. Now he’s grown into every feature, filled out in every spot that a man should be, and I want to run to him and kiss him.
I mentally slap myself. This is Devney’s ex, and I lost my fiancé fewer than twenty minutes ago. I should be devastated, not thinking about shoving my tongue down Oliver’s throat.
No, this is a mission that has to be successful.
I walk toward him.
When I get to him, my hands start to shake. While I know why I’m asking this of him, it’s not easy.
I smile, hoping to hide my nerves. “Hey, Ollie, it’s good to see you.”
He shifts his body to the right. “Yeah. Hey, Maren.”
He looks just as uncomfortable as I feel. God, it has to be hard seeing Devney for the first time since they broke up. Maybe he still loves her.
Shit. I miscalculated.
Well, if he does, it doesn’t change the fact that I have to ask him if he’ll do this for me. I need him to help me make my father’s last wishes come true and trust that we’ll get everything fixed after.
“It’s been a long time.”
I’m stalling. I’m really not sure how to say this.
“It has. How are you?”
Here’s my opening. Not wanting to wait another second, I decide to say it all now. “Well, not so good. I . . . I have a problem, and I think you’re the only one who can help me.”
He blinks. “Me?”
I nod.
“How can I help?”
I bite my lower lip before saying, “I need you to marry me.”
There I said it. Now to pray he agrees.
Five
OLIVER
I’m clearly losing my damn mind. “You what?” I ask.
A Chance for Us (Willow Creek Valley Book 4) Page 3