The Unexpected Wedding(32)

“I can’t even imagine how much things have changed since I had Daniel over sixteen years ago.” Jenny joined them at the table with a tray of cake. “Help yourself.”

Becky Lee took a small china plate with a large piece of cake from the tray. Might as well fortify herself…

“You feeling better, Izzy?” Jenny took a bite of cake.

“I am. Thank goodness. It was only a few days of feeling a bit sick. Now it seems like I want to eat everything in sight. I’m going to look like a whale pretty soon.”

“I doubt that.” Becky Lee couldn’t imagine her petite friend ever looking anything but adorable when she was pregnant. She was one of those glowing pregnant women who never looked awkward or uncomfortable when she was with child.

They chatted, and Bella had a second piece with a shrug of her shoulder and an I-refuse-to-feel-guilty smile.

There was a knock at the kitchen door and Jenny’s mother-in-law, Greta, poked her head in. “Oh, hi. I didn’t know you all were here.”

“Come in.” Jenny motioned to Greta. “Sit and have a piece of cake.”

Greta joined them at the table. “It’s good to see you girls. Don’t you love Jenny’s new kitchen? So bright and cheerful. I love having them all live next door.”

“It is a pretty kitchen.” Bella took another bite of her cake. Then another one.

Becky Lee looked over at Greta. Now she was going to have to explain the situation in front of Greta, too. She needed everyone to keep the real reason for the wedding a secret, but she trusted Greta to keep the secret, too.

Becky Lee pushed back slightly from the table. “So I have some news.”

“What is it?” Jenny asked.

“Well… I’m getting married Saturday.”

Bella dropped her fork. “What are you talking about? To who?”

“Cal Gray.” Well, to James Calvin Grayson III, but she still thought of him as Cal Gray.

“But you just started going out with him. I had no idea you’d fallen in love. What’s the hurry?” Bella’s forehead creased.

“We haven’t even met him,” Jenny added.

Becky Lee sighed. “It’s complicated. Cal’s father has filed a motion to get custody of Scotty. He’s tried it before and almost got Scotty taken away from Theresa Jean. There is no way she wants Scotty raised by Cal’s father.”

“What does this have to do with getting married?” Bella asked.

“Everything. See… Cal’s name is really James Calvin Grayson III. His brother was Gordon Grayson.”

“Grayson. Aren’t they supposed to be a… well, crime family?” Greta’s brow creased.

“Yes. Those Graysons. And, according to Cal, most of the rumors said about his family are true. He got out of the business, changed his name. So did his brother, eventually. But now his father wants custody of Scotty. Cal said his father is ruthless and Scotty will be sent off to boarding school like he and his siblings were.”

“Do you think he has a chance of getting custody from Cal?”

“The lawyer thinks so. He said that Cal is single, hasn’t held a steady job, doesn’t own a home, just moved to town, hasn’t registered Scotty for school yet. I could go on and on with the strikes against him. Plus, he can’t find the paper that Theresa Jean said she signed giving him custody. It looks like it wasn’t ever filed with the courts, either.” Becky Lee looked at her friends with their worried expressions and continued. “So, we decided to get married. We’ll have a stronger case to keep Scotty if we’re married. I own my home and have worked a steady job forever. Cal is going by the school this afternoon to get Scotty registered for the fall.”

“But you can’t get married. Not like that.” Jenny reached over and touched Becky Lee’s arm. “You don’t love him, do you? It’s just a… marriage of convenience.”

“I want to do this. For Theresa Jean. She needs me now to help keep her son safe and I won’t let her down.”

“But you’ve always had such dreams for your wedding. It’s not even… right… to marry someone you don’t love.” Bella scrunched up her face. “There has to be a better way.”

“Well, I can’t think of one and we’re running out of time. We need to get married this weekend. Before the court date next week.”

“Cal’s okay with this crazy idea, too?” Jenny shook her head.

“He is. I’m sure I’m not his dream wife, but he feels like I do about Scotty. We’d do anything to keep him from being raised by Cal’s father.”