“You are not pregnant, are you, honey?”
“Mom!” she protested with a laugh. “The answer is no. Jason is determined and he wants us to get married now.”
“Why the hurry? You were made head of this company and I have to tell you, honey, that I am a very proud mama, but it seems like he is rushing into things.”
“It is unbelievable, Mom, like something out of a fairytale and I am not sure any of it is real but I know that I want to marry him.”
“Are you in love with him?”
had been trying to sift through the varying emotions she was feeling for the past few months but she had yet to recognize them and identify them. She only knew with all her heart that she wanted to be with him. “I think I do,” she said slowly.
“I expect you to say you are sure, honey.”
“It’s happening so fast.”
“You need to make sure, honey. He is a very wealthy man and marrying him is not going to be easy. They are always in the papers. People are in awe of them and when they take over a company people get hurt and families are left sometimes spinning from it.”
“He is always fair,” she protested.
“I am not saying that. People don’t think about fairness when the bread is boxed from their mouths.”
“Mom, they are not the bad guys. They go into companies that would have bellied up anyway and go about building them back and making them better. It is good for the economy and keeps people in their jobs. They are actually heroes.”
“What about the ones who gets canned?”
“Mom, why are you asking all these questions?”
“Because, baby girl, you are looking at this with stars in your eyes. You are a simple girl from a simple background who is thrown into this wealthy lifestyle that will more or less change who you are.”
“Nothing will ever change who I am.”
“I sincerely hope so.”
*****
“Why are you marrying me?” asked quietly as she got ready for bed that night. She had spent the rest of the day mulling over the things her mother had said and had wondered about it. He had come into the office and spent a few hours before leaving to go to the club to spend the time with his brother.
He looked at her in surprise. “I thought it was pretty obvious.” He stood there looking at her as she slipped the lavender nightgown over her head. His head felt a little woozy and he realized that he had probably imbibed too much while he was at the club with his brother.
“Tell me anyway.”
“Are you having second thoughts?” he demanded as he came and sat on the bed next to her.
“I am not, but you never said you loved me.”
“You never said you loved me either,” he countered.
“Fair enough.” She looked at him and then down at her hands. “I am being plunged into this whole new world and I have to admit that I am kind of scared. I have seen your life through the internet and gotten a taste of it whenever I step out of the apartment. People are hovering around to snap my pictures and want to find out everything about me. It is scary.”
“And I cannot help that. I deal with it by ignoring them for the most time.” He took her hands in his. “I want to do this, ,” he told her softly.
“So do I.” She moved her hands in his restlessly. “It’s just that I am easy going woman who is marrying a billionaire, so you can see my point.”
“The money has nothing to do with it,” he told her firmly. “Look at me.” When she did, he continued. “This is me. A man who wants to give you everything and be with you for the rest of my life.”
“Okay,” she whispered as she placed her hands on his chest. “I want that too.”
*****
The accident happened the day before Michael and his family were supposed to leave for their home. It was late that night and they were asleep when they heard the phone ringing. Jason turned over and grabbed it glancing at before he answered. “Who is this?” he asked, trying to get the sleep out of his eyes.
“There has been an accident.”
He listened for a moment his body rigid before he hung up the phone.
“What is it?” asked him anxiously, fully awake.
“Michael was in an accident,” he said abruptly as he got off the bed. “They rushed him to the hospital. It’s serious.” He was dressing hurriedly.
“I am coming with you.” She started to get off the bed.
“I am going to get Leah and swing by the hospital. Get dressed and come with me so you can stay with the kids.”