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“You can say my dad gave it to you. A gift? Belonged to Gramma?”
“Boy, what did I tell you about lying! Is anybody dying? Getting hurt? And I don’t mean their feelings.”
“No ma’am.”
“It’s not their business and it ain’t like it’s the first time they hear that out of my mouth. And if I should want to tell them anything, I will.”
This was good.
“When do I know if you said yes?” Jason whispered. “You gonna tell me, right?”
“Of course I will.”
“Did you decide? If I get a vote, I vote yes!”
“Like I didn’t know that,” she whispered. “You realize he’s not doing all this so you can have a playmate.”
“I know,” he assured, sternly. “But I’ll probably see him more than I do now, which is never?”
“Boy, I need to tell you this like I’m speaking to a grown man. Ethan is not wanting a family. He’s wanting a woman that…” She let out a breath. “He’s wanting somebody who can…”
8-Bit’s curiosity burned.
“Just a friend?” Jason tried to help.
“No, not a friend, like a…a work…a work partner.”
“Well, I can work too!” he shot out, making 8-Bit grin.
“You’re missing the point. This is notthatkind of marriage. He wouldn’t belivingwith us or anything like that. We’d be married on paper only.”
“But…I thought a marriage was what boyfriend and girlfriends did when they loved each other?”
Ah shit.
“That’s silly! In the bible, there was arranged marriages all the time,” she seemed to just remember. “That’s right, they arranged their sons and daughters to be married to certain people when they were still children, probably before they were even born.”
“Wow,” Jason whispered.
“Love ain’t some miracle, it’s a sacrificial act one gives without return payment. Free. Same way God’s love is free.”
His Cat curiosity took an upward turn with that one. Love wasn’t a miracle but a sacrificial act one does without return payment. Love sure might not be a miracle but finding a woman that new that was. And thathe’dfound her was another miracle. Hell, maybe he’d put her over training his men. She’d make a damn good Seargent.
Female chatter got louder as 8-Bit contemplated how to grade her answers. Definitely A +. Her arranged marriage was the perfect example to give the boy. Marrying for love was actually a novelty for the majority of history. Wellfuckingdone.
His phone buzzed and he switched screens. “Bishop,” he answered. “Meetings still on?” He checked his watch. Three minutes till go time.
“We’re running a little late. But be ready in ten. How’d it go with Cat?”
“She hasn’t officially said yes, but she said everything that implied yes.”
“Merci Dieu. I may have told Ma Petite all about it.”
8-Bit stood, switching ears. “And?” He opened his small fridge and pulled out an energy drink.
“She has books at the ready. She wants to start classes right away. Required classes.”
8-Bit paused at that. “What kind?”
