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“As long as we are sure about this, the rest doesn’t matter. They’ll have to accept it,” he states in a matter-of-fact tone. “I was talking to the real estate agent earlier.”
“Real estate agent?”
“I don’t like that Ray doesn’t have a yard to play in and neither does Mr. Stanley.”
“I can’t move too far from the bakery, Zach. Once Mom is moved to the care facility, I’ll have to work more than before. I’m sure any day now Hank is going to go all nuclear on me and force me to come to the bakery.” My palms turn sweaty as I remember that jerk. I can’t even imagine what he will do next.
“Force you?” Zach’s menacing voice breaks my train of thought. He sounds so foreign to me in this moment.
“He’s not a veryniceperson.” I squirm, remembering my fewnot so nicemoments with Hank, especially his outrageous move with CPS. I haven’t forgiven that weasel for it.
“He makes you uncomfortable. Did he fucking touch you?” My head jerks to Zach as his grip tightens around the steering wheel.
“No. He wouldn’t dare. He’s an all-talk, no-action kind of guy.” At least I pray so.
“Remember to tell that fucker you’re married now.” The threatening look on his face scares me for a moment and I’m thankful his anger is not directed towards me.
“About the house?” I try to divert his attention. “Can we please wait on that?”
I want to have some control in my life, which seems to be completely turned upside down at the moment.
We findNurse Colleen coming out of Mom’s room. “Look at you two lovebirds.” She pulls me at an arm’s length, assessing me head to toe. “You look different, honey.” She gasps as her gaze fixes on my ring. “Did I not see it before, or did you not have it before?”
Crap! I look at Zach for some help.
“You didn’t miss anything, Colleen.” He pulls me from her and plasters me along his side, dropping his arm over my shoulders. “With all the anxiety, she lost weight, so the ring was at the jewelers for fitting.”
“Aww, my poor girl. Your mom is fine. Don’t worry too much.” She holds my hands and presses them affectionately. “Go see her.”
“What was all the commotion outside?” Mom asks as we enter her room. “What in God’s name is that?” Her gaze shifts from the ring to my face.
Oh! Come on, ladies!
What’s up with these women? They have some sort of radar for engagement rings and to hell with Zach for giving me such an ostentatious one.
“We got married,” I say, trying not to unnecessarily beat around the bush.
“When? Why didn’t you tell me? He was supposed to take you on dates, woo you…”
My chest tightens. My marriage is a total contrast from her dreams.
“You don’t even like him yet.” Mom’s wide gaze stays on my face, making me nervous.
“I never said that,” I reply meekly.
“You don’t have to. You made that annoyed face every time he showed up at our doorstep.” She raises her eyebrow like she used to when I was a child. “Don’t think about lying to me, Hope Amanda Davis.”
Geez!
“I’m not lying. It’s true that I didn’t like him…much in the beginning. I used to think he was insane. Maybe I still sometimes think that.” From the corner of my eye, I look at Zach who is uncharacteristically silent sitting on the couch facing us. “But you can’t deny he is genuinely caring in his own way. He loves Ray and you—"
“What about you?” Mom doesn’t let go.
“He… I… We…we are getting there.”
Zach walks to us and my heart tugs when he puts his arm around me, pulling me closer, and I willingly accept the affection. I’m sure we are portraying the picture of a newly wedded couple.
Mom nods before a slow smile appears on her face. “If you’re happy, honey, I’m happy, and I’m sure Ray will be over the moon.”
