Calling Love: A Contemporary Christian Romance (Modern Conveniences Book 2)

by Leah Atwood

  Tears poured down Gran’s face. She released their hands and put her palms to her cheeks, catching several of the beaded drops. “Pay no mind to my tears. They’re the cries of a dying woman who will live to see one of her greatest wishes come true after all.”

  Choked up, Archer fought the swell of emotions bombarding him. To hear Gran say she was dying slashed his heart. Only after he’d steadied himself enough to speak, did he realize what Madison had said, and panic shattered any calm he’d managed to retain hold of. He dared a glance at her, but she grinned happily at Gran.

  What was she thinking?

  A nurse came into that room to check Gran’s vitals.

  Archer took the opportunity to escape and hopefully discover what had possessed Madison to make such an outrageous, unattainable claim. “We’re going to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. We’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time.” Gran’s giddy smile never faded even as she was poked and prodded.

  Clenching his teeth, Archer escorted Madison from the room. Instead of heading to the cafeteria, he took her to the small waiting room where they’d have more possibility of privacy.

  “That went well, I think. Your grandmother is sweet.” Madison’s relaxed chatter caused him to wonder if she even realized what she’d said.

  He didn’t respond until they were out of the hallway and away from any eavesdropping ears. “Sure it did.”

  “Did I miss something?” Crinkles formed on her forehead, and she glanced around. “I thought we were getting coffee?”

  “Why did you tell Gran we were getting married next week?” The vein on his neck bulged. He didn’t want to be angry when she’d only been doing him a favor, but she’d gotten them into quite a predicament. “Here, at the hospital, nonetheless.”

  She narrowed her eyes and looked up—he knew the exact moment she realized what she’d said. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “Oh no. What have I done? I got caught up in the moment, and Gran was so happy…”

  “And now she’ll be crushed when I tell her there’s no wedding next week.” Closing his eyes, he sucked in a long breath before he said anything he would regret.

  “I’m so sorry.” The pained expression on her face gave away her remorse. “Maybe we don’t have to tell her.”

  He snorted. “Short of a wedding, how do you suggest not telling her?”

  “Don’t get testy,” she shot back. “I said I was sorry, and I am, but we wouldn’t be discussing this at all if you hadn’t lied in the first place.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” He paced the length of the room twice.

  “Let’s think. There has to be a solution.” She braced a hand on her hip as she thought. “I’ll call off the wedding. At least in that situation, she won’t know you only pretended to be engaged.”

  “It’s not about that.” He released a long sigh. “All I wanted was to make Gran happy, and now she’s going to be more crushed than before, but I don’t see another way around it. I never should have lied to begin with.”

  “Why don’t you both just get married and be done with it? You already argue like an old married couple,” a dour voice suggested.

  Madison and Archer both jumped at the intrusion into their assumed private conversation. A man sat upward in a seat. His worn flannel jacket was rumpled, and snow white hair stuck out in all directions. Red-rimmed eyes suggested either he hadn’t slept in some time, or had recently shed tears. Maybe both.

  “Wh—who are you?” Archer stuttered, stunned at the interloper. He didn’t recognize the man, and he’d been in the hospital enough times to recognize most visitors to the floor.

  “Excuse my fiancé’s manners.” Madison nudged Archer. “We didn’t realize anyone was here.”

  “That’s obvious, but don’t you mean fake fiancé?” The man showed yellowed teeth through a craggy smile.

  Great, I’m not in the mood to deal with this right now. He curbed his thoughts, realizing this man must be there for a reason. “Do you have a family member admitted? I haven’t seen you here before.”

  The man stood and walked forward with a limp. “My brother. Made it through Korea and Vietnam, outlived two wives and beat cancer twice, only to be hit by a drunk driver this morning. In surgery now, but the doctors didn’t seem too optimistic.”

  Compassion ebbed away the unmerited hard feelings toward the man. “I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”

  Madison approached the man and touched his arm. “What is your name? And your brother’s?”

  “James McKinley’s my name and my brother is John.”

  “May we pray with you, Mr. McKinley,” Archer asked, following the conviction on his heart.

  “I reckon I’d like that, though I need to get back downstairs soon. I came here because it was the first place I found without anyone around and drifted off as I prayed.” Gone was the cranky stranger, replaced by a man worried for a loved one. “Pray that his children make it on time. They’re on a flight from California, and my wife is waiting at the airport for them.”

  Archer held out his hands, and the three formed a circle. Public prayers were never something he felt comfortable with, but in this case he’d make an exception for the sake of James McKinley. “Father, we come to you today, asking your intervention for John McKinley. We pray for his healing, and for the doctors performing his surgery. Bless their hands as your instruments of healing. We also ask for your grace in timing that John’s children will make it on time to the hospital. In your name, Amen.”

  When he opened his eyes and lifted his head, he saw that Madison’s eyes were misty, and that James openly wept.

  James released his hand to clutch his arm. “I’m sorry for my surliness earlier, but I know God placed both of you here for a reason. Thank you for taking the time to pray with me.”

  “An apology is unnecessary, Mr. McKinley. I do wish the best for your brother.” Madison gave him a smile meant to calm and offer peace.

  “Same for me.” Archer shook hands with him. “I’m here several times a week to see my grandmother. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

  “You’ve done enough.” James checked his watch. “I have to run—don’t want to risk missing the doctor. Before I go, I don’t know your story, but I can always tell when a couple has forever written on them. For whatever reasons, I surmised you’re not engaged yet, but don’t waste precious time waiting for the perfect moment. Every day is a gift, more special when spent with the one you love.”

  James walked away without another word or giving them time to respond.

  “What do you make of that?” Madison asked once James was out of earshot.

  “I’m not sure.” The encounter unnerved him, for reasons not clear to him. “But I have to believe he was here for a reason.”

  “Which would be?”

  “I don’t know.” He crossed his arm, raised a hand to rub his jaw.

  “Maybe we could do what he said?”

  “Do what?” His head started to hurt, and he moved his hand to rub his temples.

  “Get married,” she said nonchalantly as though she’d suggested a place to eat.

  His hand froze. “Say that again?”

  “Why not get married temporarily?”

  “That’s ludicrous.”

  Her shoulders trembled, and he realized she wasn’t as confident about the suggestion as she appeared. “Is it? Neither of us is in a relationship and no one but your family would need to know.”

  Archer sunk into a seat, reeling at her unexpected suggestion. “That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? What would you gain from this?”

  “Nothing except a chance to right a wrong.” She sat two chairs away from him. “I like your grandmother, and I don’t want my big mouth to be the cause of any setbacks in her health.”

  “A marriage in name only, correct? One in which we could get a quick annulment when it’s over?” Why was he even entertaining the idea? It went against all that he believ
ed.

  “Absolutely. Nothing would change, and we’d still have our two separate lives.”

  The idea of marriage, even one of convenience, scared him. Yet, the more he thought about it, the more the idea had merit. “We’d have an agreement written beforehand, something akin to a pre-nup, but to protect each other.”

  Madison’s brows shot to a V-shape, and she scowled. “I’m not after your money.”

  “I never said you were.” He laughed and gave a derisive snort. “If you were, you’d be sorely disappointed.”

  “Forget I even suggested it. It’s clear the idea was foolish.” Her foot hitting the ground to leave sent a quiet echo through the waiting room.

  He shot out an arm to stop her. “Sit back down, please. It wasn’t foolish, but it is a rather dramatic solution and would require a lot of discussion. As far as the agreement, I said similar to a pre-nup. The truth is, you probably make more than I do, so it’s more for your protection. Also, we need stipulations for when we end the marriage, etcetera.”

  Once again, she lowered herself into the seat. “You have a valid point, about the stipulations, and we don’t know each other well, so putting safeguards in place would be a wise idea.”

  “We can get to know each other better. We’ve gotten along well during the time we’ve spent together.”

  “True.” She folded her hands in her lap. “I feel like I’ve known you longer than a week.”

  “Me too.” In a week’s time, he’d come to know her and was comfortable around her, no longer intimidated. “I’m still not sure I’m on board with the idea, but I’d like a day to think about it.”

  Chapter Seven

  “I’m insane. This is crazy. What was I thinking?”

  Madison continued to mutter as she raced through her bedroom, gathering all she needed. White satin pumps, a wedding dress off the clearance rack of the bargain store, the marriage license and a small cosmetics bag.

  In less than an hour, she would marry a man she’d known exactly two weeks. She’d heard of brides being nervous, but the anxiety pulsing through her put a new spin on that idea. In theory, nothing would change, except she couldn’t date until the marriage was annulled. Not dating wasn’t an issue since there wasn’t a line of men waiting to go out with her, but the entire ruse had snowballed into a deception of epic proportion that collected more lies as it careened down a steep hill.

  She and Archer, acknowledging the marriage couldn’t continue indefinitely, had agreed that the paper union would last four months, at the longest. Neither of them was willing to say it would last until Gran’s death. Beyond the fact that it sounded cold and callous, there was always a chance Gran could recover. Madison secretly hoped for that. She’d only met the woman one time, but had instantly fallen in love with her kind heart, infectious smile and grace in the face of trials.

  They’d mutually decided that Gran witnessing the wedding was the most important aspect. She’d never know if Madison and Archer had their marriage annulled at a later date, as long as they still made occasional appearances together at the hospital. They’d come up with a story to tell his siblings when the time came.

  Choppy breaths took over as Madison locked her front door, then threw her bags in the car. She’d get dressed at the hospital, not taking any chances that someone she knew would see her in a wedding dress. As she drove to the hospital, she obsessed over every scenario that could go wrong.

  Her family could find out. Gran could see the truth. Archer’s siblings, the only other people to know of the marriage, could find out it was one strictly of convenience and tell Gran. Archer could change the terms of the marriage and refuse to file for annulment, thus furthering complications. She could meet the one, and miss her chance at true love because she was too involved in this ruse.

  Why was she doing this? She hadn’t even told Sean. Part of her wondered if, subconsciously, she’d latched on to Archer as a replacement for him, which would be ridiculous, but Sean’s news of moving had hit her hard and left a void in her heart. In a moment of weakness, she’d committed herself to a matrimonial union.

  There was time to back out, but she wouldn’t. The girl who struggled to believe in happy marriages was dedicated to seeing this through. Right or wrong, good or bad, she’d go along with Archer and make his Gran happy. It made no sense, but she couldn’t shake the rightness she felt in her heart.

  In the back of her mind, the voice of her conscience reminded her she’d never prayed about it or sought God’s will. She quickly shushed it. If His answer was no, she didn’t want to hear it.

  “Besides,” she said as she pulled into the hospital parking lot. “How can it be wrong to help the elderly?”

  The silent voice started to project an answer in her mind, but she ignored it and found a parking spot at the rear of the lot.

  “Great, more risk of someone seeing me.” She gathered her bags and stepped out from the car.

  “Would you like a ride, Miss?” A man behind the wheel of a golf cart pulled up beside her. “It’s a free service offered by local veterans.”

  She glanced at her loaded arms, then to the hospital entrance a football field length away. “Sure, I’d appreciate one.”

  The man nodded to the rear. “Hop in the back.”

  Following his directions, she sat directly behind him and laid down the bags on the empty space beside her. She darted her eyes from side to side, paranoid she’d see a familiar face. The golf cart moved at a snail’s pace toward the entrance, in direct contrast to the racing of her heart.

  When the man brought the cart to a stop in front of the doors, Madison collected her belongings and handed the veteran a few dollars as a tip.

  He raised his hands in refusal. “No, ma’am. I appreciate it, but we do this as a service, not asking anything in return.”

  “Thank you.” The generous gesture momentarily granted reprieve to the dancing butterflies in her stomach. Acts of kindness had a way of doing that.

  Unfortunately, when she walked into the hospital and was met with curious stares as people eyed the wedding dress she carried, every doubt she had magnified. She drew a long, calming breath and made her way to a small room off the chapel.

  Archer had taken care of all the arrangements, both with a pastor and the hospital. The ceremony had to be quick—the hospital wouldn’t close off the chapel for more than a twenty-minute block.

  She understood, wouldn’t want to keep anyone from the building when they needed it. All right, my motives aren’t purely altruistic. The sooner this is over, the sooner my life can return to normal. Was that possible? Her life had been in a tailspin since she met Archer, and despite the in-name-only marriage—more like on-paper-only because she wasn’t changing her name—the wedding would still have implications to her life.

  No dating. Secrecy. Lies. The latter of the two plagued her as she knew they did Archer as well. But what could they do? They were in too deep.

  As she approached the room, the door opened.

  Archer walked out, dressed in a black suit with a white button-down shirt underneath. No tie. He rolled his shoulders, adjusted the buttoned jacket. He glanced up, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You’re early.”

  “Late, actually.”

  He looked at his watch, his mouth forming an O. “I lost track of time.” Pausing, he regarded her with a solemn expression. “Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”

  “I think we’re beyond superstitions.” She released a shaky giggle.

  “There’s something I ought to tell you.” Wringing his hands, he also rocked on his heels.

  Madison’s blood froze in anticipation. “What?”

  “Gran had Landon retrieve her wedding ring from the safe deposit box.” He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath before opening them. “She wants you to have it.”

  Her hand went to her chest, but she forgot that she carried her dress in it and the clear plastic covering rubbed against her face. Sh
e stammered several times. “I can’t accept it.”

  “If you don’t she’ll know this is a ruse, or she’ll be offended.”

  “Then let her think less of me, but I won’t take an heirloom for a sham marriage.” She looked at the fake ring on her finger—that was bad enough. “Tell her it won’t go with my engagement ring.”

  Not meeting her gaze, he muttered, “It does match. It’s a plain gold band.”

  “Then why did she have it in a safe deposit box?”

  “Not all value can be measured in monetary terms.” A scowl passed his face.

  Great, now she’d insulted him. “I didn’t mean any offense. I’m stressed, nervous, and wondering what in the world I’ve gotten myself into.”

  “Maybe I overreacted.” He raised his shoulders in an apologetic shrug. “Gran’s ring is special.” He reached into a pocket, withdrew the ring, and then handed it to her. “Look on the inside.”

  After depositing her armful of wedding gear on a nearby chair, she accepted the piece of jewelry, and peered at the inner band. Held it closer to her eyes and squinted. “God has joined together.”

  “Granddad surprised her with the engraving. If you look closely, you’ll see their initials also engraved.”

  She examined it again and saw J.R.R. & E.D.R.

  “Jonathan Ryan Reeves and Edna Diane Reeves.” He took back the ring and secured it once again in his pocket. “Maybe God did bring us together for a bigger picture than we can see. I don’t know, but I do know Gran wants you to have the ring. We’re already in this deep…”

  “If it’s that important, I’ll wear the ring, but when this is over, it goes back to your family, no questions asked.”

  “Thank you.”

  His intense stare wreaked havoc on her already heightened nerves. She let out an involuntary uneasy laugh. “I never had problems saying no until I met you.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, I never proposed to anyone until I met you.” His comment, followed by a wink, broke up the nervous tension between them.

  “That’s a relief. I’d worry if you made a habit of that.”