by Iris Abbott
Abigail opened the box and her breath caught in her throat. “Oh my God, Mason it’s gorgeous. I can’t accept this.” She looked down at the flawless one caret diamond nestled between two rather large emeralds.
She tried to give back the box, but he just took out the ring and slid it onto the ring finger of her left hand. “Everyone will expect you to have a ring. It only adds to the legitimacy of our engagement. It will also prove to your family that this is something we have thought through instead of just a last minute improvisation.”
Abigail should have been surprised that the ring was a perfect fit, but by this time nothing Mason did surprised her. “Well if you insist. I’ll wear it with pleasure. It can definitely compare to Annabel and Aubrey’s engagement rings and sibling rivalry makes the world go around, you know.”
Mason laughed at her joke. My brother and I certainly like to compare notes on our success every now and then. As far as you and your sisters are concerned, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard any of you say a harsh word to each other. And I’m glad you like the ring. I knew I had to buy emeralds to match your eyes, but I didn’t want to forgo the traditional diamond either.”
“It’s perfect Mason, it really is.” Too bad I can’t say the same about our relationship she told herself.
“Well we’ve kept everyone waiting long enough. Let’s face the music, shall we?” Mason helped her out of the car and led her up the path to the front door. He was seconds away from seeing his plan come to fruition. Once their families had been told of the upcoming marriage, it would be hard if not impossible for Abigail to back out. The feeling of elation at that thought surprised him, but he pushed it aside and focused on the upcoming meeting with their families.
Abigail looked under her eyelashes at Mason and thought she saw him smile before he quickly concealed it. At least one of them had something to smile about. She wouldn’t smile until this custody battle was behind her and Emily and Jay were home safe with her and not with some stranger in an unfamiliar place. Because that’s what their biological father was now, a stranger. They were more familiar with Mason and that’s why she had to go through with this sham of a marriage. So what if they didn’t love each other. There were much worse fates on this Earth than being married to the likes of Mason Blake. She just had to guard her heart and everything would be just fine.
They entered the family room and immediately five pairs of eyes turned to them. Abigail made sure to keep her left hand behind her back. Annabel started talking into her mobile phone. “They are here now Aubrey. I’m going to put you on speaker phone so you can hear.” She pressed a button. “Can you hear me Aubrey?”
“I can hear you. Hello everybody. So what’s the big announcement? Don’t keep us in suspense,” Aubrey begged.
Abigail laughed. “That’s my sister. She’s the queen of instant gratification. She can’t wait for anything, and she lives life at a hundred and eighty miles an hour,” she whispered to Mason.
Mason wanted to get this over with so he decided to take charge. “Aunt Linda, I don’t know how it is you came to be here, but this just saves us a trip over to your house later tonight.” Mason turned and made eye contact with everyone in the room. Then he dropped the bombshell everyone had been waiting to hear. “I am pleased to announce that Abigail has agreed to become my wife.”
A squeal emerged from Annabel’s mobile phone. “I knew it,” Aubrey shouted. “I saw this coming from a mile away. Didn’t I predict this back at the start of school?” she asked no one in particular. “I can’t wait to tell Matthew. Congratulations you two. I’ll get wedding details from you later, Abigail. Hugs and kisses everyone. I’ll see you soon,” and with that Aubrey was gone.
Abigail laughed out loud. That was definitely Aubrey for you. She felt Mason slide his arm around her waist. She had to work hard not to let the laughter leave her face. Her mom and sister knew her well. She didn’t want to give them any reasons to question this sudden engagement. So with that thought in mind she let Mason guide her around the room as she received hugs, kisses, and congratulations from everyone.
She couldn’t help but notice that Jay was over the moon at the announcement. “I am finally going to have a dad I can actually spend time with, and do father son things with, like football games and fishing. He let out a joyous whoop and gave both Mason and his mom a hug.
****
Later that night while Abigail was alone in bed she called Caroline. She really wanted to vent her frustration and confide her concerns to someone. The last thing she wanted though was to burden her mom and sisters with the truth of her marriage of convenience. “What do you think, any friendly advice?” she asked Caroline after she had finished relating the facts of her relationship with Mason.
Caroline didn’t say anything at first. Abigail supposed she was taking everything in and weighing how to word her response. Finally Abigail couldn’t stand it anymore. “Well I know you have to have some kind of opinion even if it’s to tell me I’m stupid and the whole thing could backfire in my face and leave me devastated.” There Abigail had finally voiced her worse fear. That this plan of Mason’s was going to backfire and somehow ruin her chance of maintaining custody of Jay and Emily, or worst yet cause her and the children even worse pain if Mason abandoned them like Roger did.
Abigail was relieved when Caroline finally began to speak. “I suppose I would be more impartial than your family, but here’s the problem. I don’t think I believe in love anymore. That being said, I’m all for a marriage of convenience if it suites both parties. By all accounts Mason is a stand up guy that will take care of you and your children. Plus he gets an instant family and credibility in the school board’s eye. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. I say go for it, Abigail. You and your children deserve the best and in this town that’s Mason Blake.”
Abigail somehow wasn’t surprised at her friend’s support of Mason’s plan. “Well I’m glad you’re in full support of this crazy idea, because both my sisters are married and they will want to be co-matrons of honor. I guess that means you are going to be my maid of honor.” Abigail delivered her parting shot in all seriousness as the ladies said their goodbyes to each other and Abigail hung up the phone. She was finally feeling better about her decision to marry Mason.
Seven
The Sunday morning following the football game Abigail was sitting with her family in their usual pew at the local MethodistChurch. She’d seen several women glance her way and knew they were trying to figure out if the rumors about her and Mason were true. Her sister Aubrey had driven down the day before and was staying through Sunday lunch with the family. Abigail noted the menacing glares Aubrey and Annabel sent to any gossipmongers that dared to get too close. They had gained lots of practice with that look when Aubrey had suddenly found herself pregnant and married to rock star Matthew Hampton. Abigail couldn’t believe people were actually scared of her sisters, but no one had actually approached Abigail to ask if she and Mason were really getting married.
She could feel the weight of several eyes on her as she looked straight ahead and tried to minimize the attention she was receiving. She felt like lifting her left hand and casually waving it in the air for all to see, but gave up the idea instantly. It might cause a mad dash of curiosity seekers and well-wishers. She had no desire to be the cause of her family’s demise. She could see the headlines now; local family crushed in church pew by a stampede of lookie-lous. Heck with Aubrey’s involvement in the incident the story might even go national.
Abigail looked up when someone stopped next to their pew. She held her breath and turned to see who had braved her sisters’ scorching looks enough to approach her. Her eyes collided with the cool gray eyes of Mason. He and his Aunt Linda were both dressed in their Sunday finest and waiting to take a seat. Abigail was glad Aubrey was on the end, but her brilliant sister stood up and squeezed over to sit next to Annabel. Abigail knew she had no choice. She slid down to give Aubrey more room. It looked like
she was now on the end and would be sitting next to Mason after all.
She leaned over Annabel and glared at her baby sister. “Thanks a lot, Aubrey,” the look in her eyes didn’t match her words.
Aubrey just smirked at her. “Oh, you can thank me later. My birthday’s coming up soon. I’ll take my thanks in Macy’s gift cards. If that’s all right with you that is?”
The piano began to play and the congregation rose to sing the opening hymn. Abigail took the opportunity to question Mason. “I’m a little surprised to see you here,” she whispered while they shared a hymnal.
Mason wrapped his free arm around Abigail to pull her closer. He wasn’t taking the chance of anyone overhearing their conversation even over the music and singing. Not to mention he kind of liked the feel of Abigail curled up to his side. “I told you I wanted the wedding as soon as possible. I figured since my Aunt Linda and your family are members of this church it makes since to hold the wedding here. I met with the minister yesterday and he has agreed to announce our engagement and wedding date this morning,” he whispered into Abigail’s ear.
She felt the panic settle in as soon as he finished speaking. After the positive reaction from her family and her late night conversation with Caroline she finally accepted that she was doing the right thing. It just didn’t feel real though and she thought she would have more time to mentally prepare for the changes that were coming her way. After the minister’s announcement in church there would be no going back. Things were snowballing out of control and moving way to fast for Abigail. She felt like she was on an express train to hell with no way off.
Then the full effect of his words sank into her brain. Wedding date? They hadn’t discussed a date yet. She turned back towards Mason, but the music ended and people began sitting. The hymn was over. She couldn’t take the risk of questioning Mason and being overheard. She settled instead on giving him her best mommy glare.
Mason looked over at Abigail and had to stifle a grin. He knew it would make her even angrier and her eyes were already promising retribution. He knew she would be upset with him for picking a date without her input, but he had warned her he wanted this over and done with as soon as possible. Besides with such short notice the minister and church had only been available one Saturday in just a couple of week’s time. He knew enough about his aunt, and Abigail’s mother to know they would want the wedding to be at the MethodistChurch. So it wasn’t like they had much of a choice anyway. He would make sure Abigail understood that when they were alone.
Abigail simmered through the entire service. Finally the time for announcements came. She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming when she heard the date. Two weeks? The wedding was going to be in two weeks. Well thirteen days actually since the ceremony was going to be on a Saturday. She hoped the number thirteen wasn’t any indication of things to come. Oh dear God, her mother was going to kill her. How could her mom and Mason’s Aunt Linda put together a decent wedding and reception in under two weeks time?
Abigail wanted to storm out as soon as the service was finished, but Mason wouldn’t let her. He pretended to wrap her up in a hug to make sure no one could overhear their conversation. “It’s show time,” he whispered. “Put on your best smile and act like this is a match made in heaven. Remember what we both stand to gain from this union and what we could lose if we fail. I want to convince the school board we are a happily married couple so they’ll stop trying to shove every single available woman in the county my way. And you want to convince the rest of the community including your ex-husband and the family court that this is a love match. They might not take too kindly to being duped. That’s a risk with your children I’m thinking you don’t want to take, Abigail. So sparkle and try to look like you’re in love.”
Abigail suppressed the trapped feeling that bubbled inside. As much as she hated to admit it, Mason was right. It was time for her to put on an academy award winning performance. Aware that her family and several eyes in the congregation were watching, Abigail lightly brushed her lips across Mason’s. “Darling,” she said loud enough for anyone nearby to overhear. “I hope you and your Aunt Linda are planning to have Sunday lunch with us, because we have so much to discuss before the wedding.” There she thought. Let’s see how smug he is after he has to listen to women hash over wedding plans for several hours straight!
Mason gave her a killer smile and leaned closer to kiss her ear. “That’s my girl,” he whispered only loud enough for Abigail to hear. Then he straightened “Of course we’ll have Sunday lunch at your mom’s. After all we’re already practically family, right,” he said for the benefit of any eavesdroppers.
****
Lunch was a frenzied affair where everyone including Emily and Jay seemed to have an opinion about the wedding ceremony and the reception to follow. Abigail, who had already had a big church wedding when she and Roger had married wasn’t contributing to the conversation. Finally her mother noticed. “Abigail honey, for a woman about to get married, you sure don’t have much to say.”
Abigail stiffened. She couldn’t blow everything now. If her family knew what was going on they would probably try to talk her out of it and she knew Mason was right. She needed him and the appearance of a stable loving two parent home to all but guarantee she kept custody of Jay and Emily. “I just want a small service and reception.” Abigail realized that indeed was exactly what she wanted as soon as she said it. She felt eyes boring into her and knew she would have to explain herself. “Roger and I had a big wedding with all the trimmings and it certainly didn’t help the longevity of that marriage. Unless Mason disagrees with my suggestion, I really only want a simple and small church service, I’m thinking only family and very close friends, also maybe a few of Mason’s work colleagues.”
Mason noticed the anxious look Abigail sent his way when her mother and his Aunt Linda looked like they were about to argue. It instantly occurred to him that she was silently asking for his help. Knowing that she was already looking to him for help and support filled him with an overwhelming need to protect and cherish. “I wholeheartedly agree with Abigail’s suggestion. This wedding is about us. And I agree that small and intimate is the way to go.” Mason felt his heart rate speed up when Abigail’s face lit up with a genuine smile of thanks.
Eight
In the end the two-week timeframe hadn’t mattered much. It was a fairly small church service. Only family, close friends, and business associates were invited, just as Abigail requested. Annabel and Aubrey both served as matrons of honor and Caroline was the maid of honor. Even though small, the wedding was very elegant and the three women all wore black floor length evening gowns and pearls.
Mason’s brother Brian left Texas and his booming computer software business long enough to stand by him as best man. Joyce and Aunt Linda sat in the front pew trying to outdo each other with their Sunday hats.
Once again Patrick Wilson an old family friend was called into service to walk another Montgomery sister down the aisle. Since this was Abigail’s second marriage she passed on the traditional wedding gown. She looked exquisite in a silver colored lace and silk floor length evening gown with bolero jacket. Her bouquet was simple and elegant as well. It consisted only of calla lilies. She floated down the aisle with Mr. Wilson, who deposited her beside a smiling Mason.
Abigail had a second of overwhelming panic and took a step back before she looked into Mason’s steady gaze and realized that for better or worse her future and the future of her children were dependent upon this man. The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. She remembered repeating her vows and before she knew it she was saying I do and being kissed by Mason.
They hadn’t been able to spend any time alone together during the days leading up to the wedding and Abigail was taken aback by the passion promised by that one kiss. She berated herself for forgetting how potent his kisses could be and allowing him to throw her off guard. Then thankfully he was leading her out to the limo that would deposit the e
ntire wedding party at the reception.
About an hour later Abigail looked around the old plantation house that was now home to Annabel, Jonathan, and their children. They had graciously agreed to allow the caterers to use the downstairs to host the reception. As usual Abigail was impressed by the homey comfort the plantation house exuded. She was brought out of her inner thoughts by a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Annabel standing next to her.
“The house is gorgeous, sis. I know this must have taken a lot of time and effort and I just wanted to say thank you very much.” Abigail felt her sister embrace her in a fierce hug.
“It was definitely my pleasure, Abigail. You always helped take care of Aubrey and me when we were younger. You deserve to be happy. Decorating the house and calling in the catering staff was the least I could do.”
Abigail once again expressed how impressed she was with the reception, gave her sister her love, and then moved away to circulate amongst the guests. Deep male laughter caught her attention and she looked over to see Brian laughing at something Caroline was saying to him. Abigail couldn’t help but notice how much Brian and Mason favored each other. No one could ever doubt they were related.
Abigail started as Mason suddenly appeared at her side. It was almost as if by thinking about him she had willed him to materialize out of thin air. Mason lightly kissed her check. “Does Caroline have a boyfriend? I think my brother is definitely interested,” he made sure to clarify the reason for his curiosity.
Abigail sighed as they both watched Caroline suddenly give Brian a cold shoulder and hurry away to leave him standing alone. “No, Caroline doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Abigail answered Mason’s question. “She has been badly burned in the past however, and even though it’s been awhile, I don’t think she’s over it yet. I’m afraid your brother will be going to his hotel alone tonight.”