by Holly Rayner
Sorrow lit Jay’s eyes at her words, and he took a small step forward, his hand outstretched once again. Marianne stepped back, and he didn’t move closer.
“Marianne, I really am truly sorry. I promise you I can explain. I have a very good reason and some good news to go with it.”
“I’ve already read your good news,” Marianne said as tears sprang back up in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you that you got your citizenship handled. As you demonstrated today, obviously, that means you have no need for me anymore, so you left me and my daughter to our own devices.”
She choked on the end of her sentence, and she took another step back, wrapping her arms around herself as though she could hold herself together that way. Her gaze was on the ground as she fought to control her emotions. Looking at him hurt too much.
There was no help for it. Marianne had succumbed to love, and was now in love with a man that wanted nothing to do with her. It was simply too much to bear.
“You got your citizenship,” she said in a low voice. “I get it. It’s fine. There’s no point in dragging this out. Our arrangement is over.”
When he didn’t say anything, Marianne braved a look up at his face and was surprised to see him stunned into silence, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at her in disbelief.
After another moment, he took a small step closer, but not so close that she would back away again.
“Marianne,” he said, his tone soft, “That isn’t the case at all.”
She looked up at his earnest expression as he continued, his words tumbling out of him as though he’d been waiting ages to tell her.
“My lawyer called me this morning to tell me the results of the inquiry, and after that, things just kind of moved at the speed of light. I spent the rest of the day making calls and tracking down paperwork to secure my citizenship for one reason, and one reason only.”
Marianne sniffed. He wanted to be able to stay here, to continue running his empire like he’d been taught to do. Marianne already knew that much.
“Marianne, please,” he said.
He reached out for her hand. She stared at his open palm, and in that moment, her mind broke through the doubt and the negative thoughts she’d been engulfed in the entire day. He was just Jay, standing before her with his hand seeking hers.
Seeking her.
She reached out and tentatively placed her palm against his, quietly relishing in the tingling sensation that ran through her every time they touched. He closed his hand around hers and held her gaze.
“I wanted to get my citizenship secured, so that you’ll know that what I’m about to do next is genuine, and has absolutely nothing to do with the arrangement we made.”
With that, he lowered onto one knee, and Marianne gasped as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
“This belonged to my mother,” Jay said, his tone reverent. “She wasn’t wearing it when their plane went down. She didn’t wear any jewelry other than her wedding band when they went traveling. When she died, she’d left a message for me in her will that she would like me to pass on her engagement ring to the one woman in the world that made me truly and completely happy.”
Marianne’s heart raced as her gaze darted between Jay and the ring, which glistened in the muted light of her kitchen. When it landed back on Jay, she was mesmerized completely.
“Marianne, these past few weeks have been nothing but a dream. I was so lost and alone, and then you came into my life and I became alive again, probably for the first time since I lost everyone I loved. I never really thought that I would get that feeling back again, and yet, with you, I have it ten times over. You’re my last thought when I go to sleep at night and my first thought when I wake up in the morning. I can barely keep from running down fifty flights of stairs just to peek in and see your face. Knowing you’ve been so close, and that I never even knew…”
He shook his head in bewilderment.
“I’m grateful for every moment since you walked through my door. I know this all happened very quickly, but I’ve never been more certain about anything in my entire life. Marianne…” he said, hesitating on the question.
“Would you—pending Zoe’s approval, of course, which I understand may take several zoo visits to make up for my absence today—would you consider marrying me, for real?”
Marianne was crying again, but she was amazed at how different these tears felt. Before, they were hot and angry. She was confused and misinformed. Now, as she stared down at the man she loved while he asked her to give him a piece of her forever, her joyful tears were nearly overwhelming.
She laughed.
“Yes. Of course I’ll marry you!” she said.
Jay grinned, beaming from ear to ear as he slid the diamond ring on her finger and stood, wrapping her in his arms.
“I promise I’ll never leave you hanging like that again,” he whispered against her cheek.
“You better not,” she said.
“Mama?”
Both Jay and Marianne glanced at the entrance to the hallway, where Zoe stood bleary-eyed in her pajamas, staring at them both.
“I thought I dreamed that the doorbell rang,” Zoe said.
“No, honey,” Marianne said, brushing away her tears as she remained close to Jay’s side. “Though there was a knock at the door and a special visitor.”
Zoe looked up at Jay.
“Are you Mama’s friend?” she asked.
Jay nodded, and, squeezing Marianne’s hand, he stepped away from her and knelt next to Zoe.
“Yes, that’s me,” he said, “And I wanted to come by and personally apologize for not getting to meet you at the zoo today.”
Zoe considered him for a moment, clearly unsure of what to think. Marianne watched, curious to see how this meeting would play out.
“Mama said that important things come up,” Zoe said, ever the diplomat.
“That’s true,” Jay said, “But I still don’t think it was a good excuse. I was hoping this might make up for it a little bit, and then maybe we could try another zoo trip in the future.”
Jay pulled a small necklace from his back pocket. Marianne leaned over to see black and white diamonds in the shape of a little panda. Zoe stared at the necklace, then looked up at Jay and grinned.
“Apology accepted, but don’t make my mom sad again, okay?”
Jay handed Zoe the necklace, then looked up at Marianne.
“I promise, I will do everything in my power to make your mother happy, for as long as you both are willing to let me try.”
“I’m good with that,” Zoe said, her tone matter-of-fact. She looked up at Marianne.
“I’m pretty awake, now. Can I stay up with you?”
Marianne hesitated, then, seeing the opportunity, she nodded. She looked down at Jay, who was still kneeling by her daughter.
“Jay, would you like to watch some television with us before we get sleepy enough for bed again?”
His eyes were bright as he stood and moved back to Marianne’s side.
“I would like that very much.”
“Awesome!” Zoe said.
“Zoe, can you go get some extra blankets from your room?” Marianne asked.
Zoe nodded and disappeared down the hallway, excited for the extra bit of hangout time she’d just won. When she disappeared into her room, Jay tugged Marianne’s hand and drew her close, sneaking a delectable kiss as she rested her hands on his broad chest.
At the sounds of running feet, Jay pulled back and winked at Marianne, and she beamed up at him, happier than she’d been in her entire life.
“I’ll be in the middle!” Zoe said, dragging her comforter to the couch and spreading it out for the three of them.
Marianne and Jay sat on either side of the precocious little girl as they put on a family movie, and she nestled in between them. Just before the movie began, Zoe looked up at Jay.
“Are you going to be my new dad?” she asked.
“I mean, I’d like to try out for the position, if you’ll let me.”
“Do you love my mama?” she asked, her gaze pointed as she grilled him.
To his credit, Jay was cool under that pressure. He gazed over at Marianne.
“Very much,” he said.
Zoe looked between them a few times, then back at the television.
“Good,” she said.
And apparently, that counted for a Zoe approval. Jay reached his arm along the back of the couch, and Marianne snuck her hand into his as they spent time as a little family for the first time.
Marianne snuggled in, looking forward to many more nights just like this, and knowing she would have happiness in her heart from that moment onward.
Epilogue
A Year Later - Marianne
Warm sunlight tickled Marianne’s cheeks as she lay in bed, embraced by the cozy warmth of a good night’s sleep. She kept her eyes closed, savoring the sensation of comfort, and she smiled.
Today was going to be wonderful.
She rolled over and reached across the bed, her hand landing on an empty pillow.
She cracked open an eyelid.
Jay wasn’t there.
Marianne blinked as her sight adjusted to the light of day, and she ran her fingers along the indent in his pillow.
She couldn’t believe it had been a year since she’d stormed into Jay’s office, ready to make her demand. It seemed like so long ago, and yet also like no time had passed at all. Every moment they’d had together since had been pure bliss.
The distant sound of Zoe laughing caught her attention, and Marianne sat up and stretched before she lowered her feet to the floor and padded over to the French doors at the veranda. They had a perfect view of the stables from their room, and Marianne watched as Jay stood in the center of the training arena as Zoe cantered for the first time, riding Peach with her hair whipping around beneath her black helmet.
Marianne opened the veranda doors and gazed up at the bright blue sky, then wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the light chill of morning as she gazed down at her beloved child and the man she had come to call her father.
As though sensing her presence, Jay glanced up and caught her eye. Even from that distance, she could see his proud papa grin. He gestured to Zoe, and Marianne beamed back at him.
She would have given anything to have access to horses like this as a girl. Now, her daughter could have all the things she’d never had and so much more.
Marianne sighed happily, watching Zoe ride for a few more minutes before a knock on her bedroom door stole her attention away.
“Is everyone decent?” Elaine shouted, not looking past the cracked door as she waited to enter.
Marianne laughed.
“Yes. Jay’s at the stables working with Zoe.”
“Ah, good,” Elaine said, opening the door all the way.
She joined Marianne on the veranda and stared down as Zoe slowed back down to a walk, chatting happily with Jay as she did. Alongside the stables, a large white tent had been erected. There were several tables beneath it, laden with crisp white tablecloths and beautiful purple flowers. A small dance floor was placed in the very center.
Just beyond the tent there were several rows of chairs in front of a small altar made of sticks and more flowers.
Elaine ran her fingers along a strand of Marianne’s hair, which was still tousled and unkempt from sleep.
“Happy wedding day,” Elaine said, her tone soft.
Marianne looked at her mother with bright eyes. She couldn’t stop smiling, and it was the greatest feeling in the entire world.
“Thanks,” she replied.
“You know we have a lot to do before you’re ready in a couple of hours,” Elaine said, her tone growing firmer as she reached for her daughter’s hand and tugged her toward the door.
“I’ve asked that butler gentleman to make sure Jay stayed in this part of the house and then the yard only. I don’t want him to see you until the moment you walk down that aisle.”
Marianne grinned at her mother as she was escorted from her bedroom, casting one last glance in the direction of Jay and Zoe.
“Mama, am I allowed to eat breakfast? I don’t want to faint on my wedding day,” Marianne said, her stomach growling in protest.
They headed down the hall toward a separate wing of the house. When they reached a second hallway, she found a small team of beauty professionals waiting by a door, all dressed in professional black garb.
“Good morning, Miss,” a young woman with dark hair said.
“Marianne is fine, thanks,” Marianne said, shaking hands with the little team.
It felt a little strange, having a whole group of people there just to make her look pretty, but Jay had insisted that she have every convenience with nothing spared. He’d flown the team in from Houston simply because they had the best reputation for creating a perfect day for a bride.
“Are you hungry?” a young man asked.
His hair was blond with streaks of blue along the sides. Marianne decided he was her favorite, if for no other reason than he was the one with the food.
“Famished,” she said.
“Come in,” he said with a small smile.
Marianne glanced at her mother, who hadn’t moved from the door.
“We’re missing a member,” she said. “I’ll go try to pry Zoe from her ponies long enough to get ready with us.”
“Tell her there’s pancakes,” Marianne said, casting a hungry glance at the delectable table laden with a breakfast feast.
Elaine nodded and disappeared as Marianne helped herself to a breakfast of fresh fruit, hot oatmeal, and a hardboiled egg. She was a little surprised that she wasn’t more nervous or jittery, but then she reasoned that there was no reason to be.
Today was something they’d been planning pretty much since they’d met.
Marianne grinned again as she thought back to the early days of their relationship and the convoluted beginning they’d had. So much had changed since then.
She felt she was changed forever.
“Mama! Did you see me canter?” Zoe said, rushing in.
Elaine walked in behind her, her hair slightly askew.
Zoe rushed into her mother’s arms, and Marianne hugged her tight.
“Of course I did. You’re a master rider, now!”
“Jay taught me everything. He’s really good at teaching,” Zoe said.
“Yes, he certainly is,” Marianne said.
Zoe picked up a plate and loaded it up with fruit and a pancake. She sprayed half a bottle of whipped cream onto it before Marianne insisted she stop, and then took a seat next to her mother. Elaine joined them, as well.
“Mama,” Zoe said, “Do you think after today I can call Jay ‘Dad?’”
Marianne’s throat grew dry as she fought back an unexpected wave of emotion. Of course, she’d always hoped that Zoe would someday feel comfortable enough to call Jay that, but she didn’t know that it would happen so soon.
“Of course, my love. I’m sure that would make his day.”
Zoe nodded, taking a bite of her pancake.
“Good.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of little paws rushing down the hallway, and Marianne could hear the sniffing of a little puppy nose.
“Uh oh,” she said as Zoe beamed.
“Panda!”
The little black-and-white mutt barked, thrilled to have found his owner, and in an instant, a small ruckus began as Panda bolted into the room and jumped right onto Zoe’s lap at the table. He knocked her plate onto the floor, sending whipped cream flying everywhere.
The beauty team stared on in horrified silence.
Marianne stared at Zoe as she snuggled the pup, who frantically licked every inch of Zo
e’s face. They’d never been able to have pets before in their rented apartments. It was one of the first things Jay had insisted they get. Zoe was thrilled to be a new dog owner.
“He sure is happy he found you,” Marianne said with a laugh.
“Good boy!” Zoe said, completely undisturbed as Panda’s tail wagged enough to knock all her cutlery off the table.
That was enough for Elaine.
“Okay, okay, I think that’s enough of the dog mess. Ladies, we have to get you ready! You’re going to be walking down the aisle in a few short hours!”
As a group, they managed to get the dog back out of the room and to the kitchen, where his food bowl lived, and then cleaned up the whipped cream mess from the floor.
Once that was all done, the three Lawson women were seated, with a beautician working on each of them as they chatted. Marianne was handed a glass of apricot juice, and she sipped while her hair was lifted from her shoulders and twisted into a beautiful coiffure.
“I think I’ll need Jay next week to work on my cabinets,” Elaine said, accepting her own drink and raising it to her lips before lipstick was applied.
Marianne lifted a brow and glanced over at her mother, careful not to move as her hair was being styled.
“I’m sure he’d be happy to help with that, Mama, but we’ll be on our honeymoon.”
“Oh, yeah,” Elaine said with a laugh. “Well, once you get back, then.”
“I think he’s still trying to earn your approval,” Marianne said, casting her mother a wry grin.
Elaine shrugged.
“And so he should be. Sure, he made up for the 401(k) scandal by giving us a large sum of money. Sure, that money helped pay off my mortgage and I’m financially independent, now. But none of that matters compared to making my little girl happy, no matter what.”
Marianne sipped at her juice to hide her smile. While Elaine was clearly very fond of Jay now, she had been slow to accept him in the beginning. Once she’d learned that he was handy, she’d had him at her house almost every weekend working on projects, and Jay—who’d learned carpentry on the many philanthropic house-building trips he had taken with his parents—was always happy to oblige.