Chapter 7: Two Weeks to Get Married?

Everyone was surprised when the doorbell went off. It was too late for additional party guests to be popping in.

“I’ll go and check,” Gilbert suggested, getting up and heading for the front door. Celia heard voices across the house, and then footsteps returning. She turned around to see who it was.

She froze, feeling a sudden lurch in her stomach.

Impossible.

There, in her parent’s ordinary backyard, stood Carter—in his usual crisp suit and dress shirt, hair slightly tousled, a glint cast in his eye by the firelight.

“Good evening,” he announced, flashing a grin at the assembled company. “I just came to collect my wife and kids.”

“Your wife and kids?” Andrew asked in surprise. “Celia isn’t married.”

“Yes, she is,” Carter replied smugly.

A jolt went through Celia as he sat down and placed his arm around her.

Celia didn’t know how to react. Carter was obviously making a joke.

When she looked up into his face however, he looked serious—or at least committed.

Well… she wasn’t enjoying herself here, anyway.

“We’ll see you again next time,” she announced to the group of stunned people around the fire.

“It was good meeting you,” Carter said with a broad smile, revealing pearly white teeth.

Looking up at him, Celia got the feeling that he was aware of his every move. He was most probably aware of the effect of his smile.

Anyway, right now, it was working in her favor.

They walked back through the house, the kids trailing behind them, chattering with one another. Celia was very aware of how Carter’s arm remained around her. It somehow made her feel safe. As if she belonged there.

Her legs were a little weak as he guided her out of her family home because the aroma of his cologne was overwhelming. She was aware of his strength in ways that she did not wish to acknowledge.

Being independent has been her sole resolve over the past couple of years, so she was not about to be coaxed into relying on some presumptuous man.

…But his arm around her felt so warm and comfortable that it was difficult to play tough and cold.

“You can all get in,” Carter said when they reached his SUV.

Celia could not protest, because her brother was watching them from the door, and she wanted to keep up the act.

She reached out to open the door, but Carter’s hand was also there to open it for her. His hand brushed against hers by accident.

An electric spark passed through her hand making her a little giddy. In passing, she wondered whether he had touched her unintentionally, or whether he was going to make a move on her. Celia suspected that Carter was planning on breaking down her resolve.

Well, she was not going to be as easy to win over as he apparently thought.

“What on earth was that all about?” she asked as soon as they drove away.

“I came to your rescue after Lennie phoned to tell me about your distressful situation,” Carter responded.

Celia turned around to glance at her son in shock. The two kids were busy peering out the window at everything racing by.

“Why were they being so tough on you?” Carter asked in a quiet, level voice, with a sideways glance at her.

But Celia was still stuck on his previous statement. “Come on—are you really telling me you came because a little boy summoned you?” she asked. “Why didn’t you confirm with me first?”

“I didn’t want to waste any time,” Carter replied. “I could sense that the little guy was afraid for you.”

“It still seems like an inappropriate thing to do,” Celia huffed.

“OK, fine,” Carter grumbled. “But you didn’t answer my question. And what was Georgina doing there?”

“She’s actually an old family friend,” Celia responded in a strained voice. “Anyway, Lennie should not have phoned you,” she added, glancing towards the back again.

“So she’s like a sister to you, I’d imagine,” Carter remarked—both of them were insisting on their preferred topic of conversation. “But I don’t see the two of you together at work.”

“No, we grew apart when I was away,” Celia lied. “I can’t believe you listened to a child!”

Carter merely smiled at this.

***

Celia was so distracted she was hardly paying attention to where they were going. So she was surprised when Carter drove through a gate and parked the car next to a strange house.

“Where is this?” Celia asked. “We can’t visit anyone so late. Besides, the lights are already off.”

“Don’t worry, nothing is wrong,” Carter replied.

“Does this house belong to you?” Celia asked. The house looked too modest to be his.

“No, it does not because it belongs to the company,” Carter replied as he helped the twins out of the car.

“I didn’t know that the company owned houses,” Celia remarked in surprise. “So, are you using it at the moment?” she asked.

It was a really beautiful home. The façade was tasteful stone, with intricate masonry around the windows, and it was sheltered by beautiful tall trees.

“No, because you are going to use it,” Carter replied.

Celia whipped around to face him. His gaze met hers evenly. His expression was nonchalant, but there was an intent look in his eye—like he was desperate to see her reaction.

“You are not serious,” Celia responded. “You’re giving me to a company house? At this time of the night?

“Yes, I realize that it sounds a little bit crazy,” Carter responded. “I promise you, it’s safe,” he reaffirmed.

Celia wondered why she was trusting the man. He was almost a stranger. Was it just because she was charmed by him?

Ultimately, it wasn’t a matter of logic. She didn’t know whether she liked or disliked Carter—but she knew she trusted him. Whatever his intentions were, she was safe here.

She gave a curt nod.

Carter’s expression cleared, a slight grin tugging at his handsome lips. Was that a look of… relief?

Before she could ponder it further, he was tugging up the steps to the house.

As the door swung open and he flicked on the light switch, Celia froze, her breath catching at the sight.

It was a normal home by every standard, and yet, somehow, it was the most beautiful one Celia had ever seen. A chandelier hung over the entryway, casting gentle light onto the tiled floor and dark wood walls.

Celia stepped in, her kids tagging after her and Carter following quietly. She walked into the living room and there was a bookcase opposite her. Celia picked out the titles of famous art books and autobiographies of legendary designers.

“Wow,” Celia breathed. “Wow.”

Then she whirled on Carter.

“But you really didn’t have to say we were married,” she said accusatively. Even she wasn’t sure whether it was a joke or not.

“I’m sorry,” Carter rushed out sincerely. “I… I guess I was trying to protect you.” He looked away, grimacing.

Lennie and Lillian had gotten sleepy on the car ride, but the excitement and confusion of the big house had roused them.

“Mom, are we staying here tonight?” the twins asked, almost in unison.

“Well…”

Celia thought it through. She was still dubious that giving employees a home was standard company policy, but given how hard it was to find housing in this city, she supposed it was possible.

Above all… she had to admit that she wanted this for her children. She wanted them to have a home big enough for them to play and run around like she did when she was a child.

“We are,” Celia replied.

“Wow, great!” Lillian exclaimed.

“I wish I could repay you for all your trouble,” Celia remarked to Carter. She was feeling a little guilty about having been so upset earlier.

“You can by cooking a meal for me,” Carter suggested with a bright smile.

“Oh, I could definitely do that,” Celia agreed. “But it’s rather late now. I will have to do it tomorrow,” she promised shyly.

“I look forward to it,” Carter responded. His low, soft voice made her shiver. “Well, here are the keys,” he said briskly.

Their hands touched again when he handed her the keys. She made sure that their eyes did not meet. He should not know that he had an effect on her.

***

“It sounds as if you really can cook,” Carter remarked as he walked in at the door on the following day.

“Oh, I just try my best with the basics,” Celia responded with a shy smile.

“We can go and sit down, because the food is ready to be dished up,” Celia announced.

“Thank you,” Carter responded with a pleased smile.

The two adults had a meal at the small table with the two children, looking like an actual family.

“I could get used to such hospitality,” Carter announced as he helped return plates to the kitchen.

Celia turned around and faced him.

“Is there something that I still have to do with regards to the house?” she asked seriously.

“No, but remember when I said that you were my wife?” Carter asked, with that familiar glint in his eye.

“Yes, but was that not just a joke?” Celia asked in alarm.

“It can become reality within two weeks’ time,” Carter replied.