~ * ~
Cal turned and looked at Becky Lee. She looked a bit uncertain. Like she’d proposed the craziest idea—which it was—and she was sure she was going to be turned down.
He’d always figured he’d never get married. He wasn’t really the settle down and get married type. Who would have him? He’d never live up to a woman’s expectations of what or who a good husband was supposed to be. He sure as heck had no role model to follow. He’d drifted around for years now, trying to figure out… What was he trying to figure out? What he wanted to be when he grew up? How crazy was it for a man his age to not have figured that out?
Becky Lee was kind and funny. She’d provide stability for Scotty. A home. A steady job. Heck, she’d even cook healthy meals for Scotty.
What the heck did he have to give her in return?
But, to be honest, the idea had merit. It just might be the only way to keep Scotty safe. There were worse things in life than being married to an attractive, fun, caring woman. She wasn’t getting a very good deal with him, though. But if they actually did this, they could handle the fall-out of their decision after custody was decided and TJ woke up and got her son back.
But it was crazy… wasn’t it?
In a flash of decision, Cal crossed back over to where Becky Lee was standing and took her hand. “Let’s do it.”
“Are you sure?” Becky Lee eyed him intently.
“I’m sure.” Cal squeezed her hand. “Think you can pull off a wedding this weekend?”
“I’ll find a way.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll get married.”
The door to the office opened and the lawyer stepped inside. Cal leaned down and kissed her thoroughly.
~ * ~
Becky Lee’s breath caught in her throat and she unconsciously wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
“Want to make it look good for the lawyer,” Cal whispered in her ear then winked at her.
Becky Lee sat down, her head spinning. Cal was still talking to the lawyer, but their words no longer registered for her. She was getting married.
Married.
This sure wasn’t how she’d dreamed and planned for her wedding, a wedding to the man of her dreams. That was the plan. A long engagement for plenty of time to plan the perfect wedding. And yet, she knew this was the right thing to do. To keep her promise to Theresa Jean. To make up for not finding her sister for all these years. For letting the estrangement go on way too long. She was going to make it up to Theresa Jean. To keep Scotty safe. All of it.
Now, how was she going to pull this off in just days? A simple wedding. She did have a friend who was a wedding officiant. That might work. They had to apply for their license. So much to do.
She wondered if Bella could help her plan the wedding. The woman was the ultimate event planner. Not that it would be an event. Really, it would probably just be she and Cal. Not really anything much to plan except show up and get married. Her thoughts hopscotched from one thing to the next.
It hit her then like a wave knocking her to her knees.
She was going to have to tell Jenny and Bella about the wedding and she wasn’t sure how they were going to take the news.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
First thing on Monday morning, they applied for their marriage license, then Cal went off to work and Becky Lee went to meet Jenny and Bella at Jenny’s house.
Becky Lee pulled up in front of Jenny’s new home. It was a cute older two-story farmhouse that the previous owners had added on to so it had plenty of room for Jenny, Clay, and their three kids.
Becky Lee leaned her forehead on the steering wheel. She hadn’t thought this all through. Cal and Scotty were going to have to move into her cottage after the wedding. She was going to have to clear out some space. Scotty could have the small back bedroom, but what to do about Cal? There was a small sunroom in the back of the house with a daybed. But what if someone came to the house and saw that Cal lived in the sunroom? What if Scotty talked about Cal not staying in the room with her? Things were just getting more and more complicated.
She pushed open the car door and climbed out, squaring her shoulders, ready to face her friends. She just hoped they would understand.
Jenny opened the door to her knock and gave her a quick hug. “Just in time. I just pulled a cinnamon cake from the oven.”
Becky Lee followed her friend to the kitchen. Sunlight poured in through the big picture window in the breakfast nook. Bella looked up from where she sat at the table, leafing through a magazine. “Hey, Bec.”
Becky Lee went over to the counter and poured herself some coffee, then sat down beside Bella. “What are you looking at?”
Bella grinned. “A baby magazine. Seems like so much has changed since I had Timmy.”