The Manning Brides: Marriage of Inconvenience / Stand-In Wife

James had contacted him Friday afternoon, and Rich had stopped at the attorney’s office on his way home from work. The agreement was several pages long, but when he asked for the bill, James had insisted it was a wedding present. The gesture took Rich by surprise. James was the only person who knew what they intended, and he was acting as though this was a conventional marriage. Of all people, James was well aware exactly how unconventional it was going to be.

“You think we’re nuts, don’t you?”

“No,” James had responded with a wry grin. “I think you’re both in love and just don’t know it yet.”

James’s comment had caught Rich off guard. He would never have taken the attorney for a romantic.

I think you’re both in love and just don’t know it yet. On this, the morning of his wedding, Rich tested James Wilken’s theory once again. Sure, he loved Jamie, but not in the sense James implied. They were friends. Pals. Not lovers. Not soulmates. Just friends.

“Have you arranged for a witness?” Jamie asked, pulling Rich out of his reverie.

“A witness?”

“Rich—” she groaned “—don’t you remember? When we applied for the license, we were told we’d each need to bring a witness. What do you plan to do, drag in someone from outside the judge’s chambers?”

Rich thought about it for a moment. “I suppose so.”

“Don’t forget the ring,” she said, beginning to sound nervous.

“I won’t.”

“As soon as the ceremony’s over, I’ll return it.” Rich intended to use a small diamond that had once belonged to his grandmother. Jamie had objected, until she’d hit upon the idea of returning it after the ceremony. Wearing a diamond would raise too many questions, she’d decided. The only reason they even needed one was for the exchange of vows.

“Who’s going to be your witness?”

Jamie paused. She couldn’t very well ask any of her friends. “I … I’m not sure yet. I was thinking of Margie from New Accounts. Margie can keep a secret. But then I thought it might not be a good idea if anyone from the bank knew I was getting married.”

“What do you plan to do?” he asked, mimicking her words. “Drag in someone from outside the judge’s chambers?”

“I suppose so,” she returned, and laughed. It had been at least a week since Rich had heard her laugh. It encouraged him, and he chuckled, too.

“You haven’t heard from anyone?”

“No. You?”

Their biggest concern was that one or more of their family members would somehow find out that they’d applied for a marriage license.

In his worst nightmare Rich could envision his mother sobbing hysterically, interrupting the ceremony. She’d be furious that he was marrying Jamie without the large church wedding she’d looked forward to having for Taylor and Christy. Both of Rich’s sisters had chosen small private weddings without any family present. For that matter, so had Paul. And he was doing the same thing.

The family honor now rested in Jason’s hands.

Jason.

“Rich.” Jamie’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Don’t worry, I’ll have a witness.”

Rich got dressed in a hurry, his movements filled with purpose.

He grabbed his raincoat on his way out the door and found himself whistling once more as he unlocked his car. He checked his watch and realized he had plenty of time. More time than he knew what to do with.

He drove to his brother’s veterinary hospital in the south end of Seattle. There he saw three people in the waiting room. Two in the section marked Dogs and one little old lady clinging tightly to her cat on the other side of the room.

“Is Jason in?” he asked the receptionist.

“He’s with a Saint Bernard, but he’ll be out soon.”

Sure enough, Jason appeared five minutes later. He wore a white lab coat, but underneath, Rich knew he had on jeans and a T-shirt.

“Rich, what are you doing here?”

“Can you take an hour off later today?”

“You buying me lunch?” Jason asked.

“No. I need you to be the best man at my wedding.”

Five

Jamie was at the courthouse at the agreed-upon time, pacing the corridor outside Judge Webster’s chambers. Ten to two.

She was there, but Rich wasn’t.

If he left her standing at the altar—so to speak—she’d personally see to his tar and feathering.

She called his cell phone. No answer.

For the tenth time, she checked her watch.

Seven minutes late. The man would pay for this.

A woman Jamie assumed was the judge’s secretary stepped into the hallway. “It’s almost two. The judge can see you now.”

“Ah … hello,” Jamie said, giving the middle-aged woman her brightest smile. “My … The man I’m going to marry seems to have been detained. I’m sure he’ll be here any second.”

“I see.” She glanced at her watch as though to say the judge was a busy man.

“I’m sure he’ll be here,” she repeated. A slow death would be too good for Rich Manning if he wasn’t. “I was wondering … when Rich does arrive, would it be possible for you to be my witness?” She shouldn’t have left it to the last minute like this, but she hadn’t known who to ask.

“Of course.” The gray-haired woman returned Jamie’s smile. “Let me know as soon as your young man shows up.”

“I will, thank you.”

Jamie tried his cell again, and again he didn’t answer. She resumed her pacing. She’d made the mistake of asking for the whole day off. If she’d only taken half a day, she wouldn’t have all this time to contemplate what she was doing. In the last five minutes she’d vacillated between thinking marriage was the best solution and feeling convinced that it was the most foolish decision she’d ever made.

“Jamie.” Breathless, Rich came around the corner at a half run.

“Where have you been?” she cried, her voice cracking under the strain. She was caught halfway between abject relief and total fury. Halfway between hope and despair, trapped in a world of nagging questions and second thoughts.

Rich pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. His breathing was labored, as though he’d raced up several flights of stairs. “I got stuck in traffic.”