Chapter 6

“Why were you searching, 'Maxwell Sturgis' on the computer?” my best friend, Kendra, asks.

“Oh yeah, I need to tell you something,” I say. Kendra turns to me with an apprehensive look. “Don’t judge me.”

“When have I ever judged you?” she asks. I give her a look and she quickly responds, “Okay, except for the times you made questionable wardrobe choices.”

“I’m marrying Maxwell in two weeks.”

Kendra looks surprised, then hurt, “Let me get this straight, you’re marrying one of the city’s most eligible bachelors, and didn’t tell me?” I shake my head. Kendra looks annoyed. “Is it because you’ll have a rich husband that you will stop being friends with me?”

“No, it isn’t anything like that,” I try to explain.

“Okay, then explain. I would love to hear why my best friend decided not to tell me about getting married.” Kendra crosses her arms.

I take a deep breath. “You remember me telling you about Ben?” Kendra nods, so I continue, “Maxwell is his grandson. I guess he is having a hard time with women. I thought he was ugly, but he is surprisingly handsome.”

“And a huge womanizer!” Kendra yells.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Girl, you are so sheltered.” Kendra shakes her head, “His fiancée dumped him for one of his close friends.” I look at her, surprised. “Ellie, it was the hottest gossip for months. Anyway, he became a huge womanizer. He frequents different clubs and hooks up with as many girls as possible. I heard he is so paranoid about one of them trying to baby trap him, he’ll take the condom afterwards.”

“That’s gross and weird,” I replied. “Anyway, you can’t tell anyone this, but they offered to pay for my school, my dad’s bills, and his care facility. All I need to do is be a wife to Maxwell for at least two years.”

Kendra looks around the room. “Have you thought about a maid of honor?”

“I haven’t; this all happened last night. I haven’t told my dad or brother yet. The only thing we discussed was possibly having the ceremony at the hospital chapel. Tom said it would be good publicity.”

Kendra looks unimpressed. “He sounds like a catch.”

I shrug, “I don’t think he is bad. Tom lost his wife and daughter fourteen years ago. I think that caused him to put all his focus into his business.”

“How are you going to tell your dad?”

I shake my head, “I don’t know. He would be upset if he knew the only reason I'm doing this is so I can take care of him. But how else do I explain why I’m marrying someone I never met in person?”

“I don’t know, but you need to tell him sooner rather than later. Leave out the part about the money. Just say you met him in the lobby, and it was love at first sight.”

“I doubt my dad will go for that line,” I tell her.

Kendra thinks for a moment, “I don’t know.”

“Me either, but I need to tell him this afternoon. James will be there too with Sarah and the girls. I will tell them all at once.”

“Do you think you will be happy?” Kendra asks.

I look at her, surprised, “Yeah, it will make me happy knowing my dad is getting the care he needs. Plus, it will be nice to finally finish school.”

“Then you tell them that you met someone, and they make you happy. Say that you want to get married before his grandmother passes. Explain he lost his mother young, so his grandmother means a lot to him.” Kendra suggests.

“That isn’t a bad idea. My dad will ask to meet him, but it isn’t possible,” I tell her.

My stomach stays in knots all afternoon until I get to the hospital. I know if I put off telling my family, I won’t tell them. Seeing me visibly distressed, my dad asks, “What’s wrong, Ellie?”

James and Sarah look at me questioningly. Taking a deep breath, I try to explain, “I met someone a couple of weeks ago. It sounds crazy, but I’m getting married in two weeks.”

My father stares at me without saying a word. James and Sarah look confused. The seconds seem to drag as I wait for them to say something. Finally, Sarah asks, “Why are you getting married in two weeks? Did you say you just met?”

James then asks, “Are you pregnant? Don’t just marry someone because you're pregnant.”

Sarah flinches at his words. The reason James and Sarah married is that she was pregnant.

My father quickly replies, “Of course she’s not pregnant.” Turing towards me, he asks, “Right?”

“I’m not pregnant. The situation is weird,” I explain.

“What’s his name?” my father asks.

“Maxwell, he is Ben’s grandson,” I explain.

“I remember hearing about a Ben, but not a Maxwell,” my dad says. “Does Maxwell have a last name? When do we meet Maxwell?”

“You will meet him on the day of the wedding,” I say.

“How is Dad going to meet him on the day of the wedding? Dad can barely walk. Just getting from the bed to the bathroom makes him gasp for air. He won’t be discharged in two weeks. They want him to stay here until he can walk down the hall and back.” James said in an annoyed tone.

My heart races, and I want to burst into tears about the truth. In a soft voice, I say, “We are talking about having the wedding here, at the hospital chapel. Maxwell’s grandmother, Bea, isn’t doing well. Since his mother died when he was young, his grandmother is very important to him. He wants his grandmother to see him get married, that’s why he asked me.”

James seems confused, Sarah looks uncomfortable, and my father looks like he is trying to seem calm. “Is this what you want?” my father asks. I nod. After a moment, my father says, “Okay, let us know the time and day. We will all be there.”