Good grief, Michelle thought. Her sister would examine every inch of Josh’s house and know instantly something was wrong if asked to put Michelle’s things in a separate bedroom. How could she get out of this? “I can’t let you do that!”
“Nonsense. You can stay at some fancy hotel downtown and just give me the keys to his place. By the time you get there Sunday night, I’ll have all your things moved and put away.”
“I’ll check with Josh,” Michelle stalled.
Panic struck. She hoped Josh could come up with a convincing reason to refuse her sister’s offer. Michelle obviously wasn’t as quick on her feet as he was. She liked order and organization. Josh’s very life’s career dealt in uncertainties and quick thinking.
Michelle felt exhausted when she went to bed. Abby was sleeping on the couch and planned to stay with her sister until the ceremony. Tomorrow they’d finalize everything and Friday night go to Caroline’s for the evening. Michelle knew things were spinning out of control, but she couldn't seem to stop them. Not without giving her family a hint of the true nature of this rushed marriage. And that she refused to do.
At work Thursday morning, Michelle located a children’s hair salon which could take Penny on a rush basis. She called Josh. He wasn’t at home, so she tried the office.
“O’Malley.” His tone was clipped.
“Hi, Josh. I’ve got some good news and some bad. Which do you want first?”
“If the bad is you’ve changed your mind, I don’t want to hear it. No, Penny, don’t touch that!” The receiver banged on the desk. Michelle waited patiently. In just a moment he spoke again.
“Sorry, she was trying the paper cutter. That’s all I'd need, to show up Saturday with a kid minus four fingers.”
“My bad news is not that I changed my mind.”
For a moment she let the knowledge he’d consider that bad to permeate. It was nice.
“Actually in other circumstances it might be considered good. But not in this.”
Quickly she outlined Abby’s suggestion.
“So what’s the problem? We’d owe her big-time because we don’t have to move the stuff ourselves.”
“Don’t you see, she’ll think we are sharing a room and move all my stuff into your bedroom.”
“And we can’t move it out later?”
“You wouldn’t mind the disruption?”
The silence on the other end went on for several seconds. Finally, Josh spoke slowly. “You know, Michelle, we might want to think about this for a bit. We’ll be married.”
Stunned, Michelle gripped the receiver. Was he propositioning her?
“Penny, put that down. Michelle? I’ve got to cut this short. We can discuss that later. What’s the good news?”
“I’ve found a place that’ll cut Penny’s hair this afternoon at one thirty.” Reading the address, Michelle was amazed her voice even worked. She wanted to discuss his odd comment now, not at some future date. She found Josh O’Malley absolutely fascinating. Was he suggesting making this marriage real?
Backing away from the tantalizing thoughts of making their marriage something more, Michelle tried to get a grip on her emotions. All brides were emotional. This would pass. And she had obviously misunderstood what he was saying. He’d gone on and on why he didn’t believe in marriage any more.
“Okay, I’ll take her and if she screams the place down, we'll be sure they have your name!”
Michelle laughed. “She’ll be fine. You’ll see a world of difference between a beauty parlor and a barber shop. These people cater to kids. They know what they’re doing. The experience will be good for you.”
“I have all the experience I need right now. Anything else?”
“No, I guess not. You have the address and room for the judge.”
“Yep, tucked in my wallet. And the new shoes for Penny. Saturday we’ll get dressed early enough that if I can’t get the buttons done, I’ll go next door to my neighbor. She’ll want every detail anyway.”
Michelle laughed again. Talking with Josh was always an adventure. And he was wonderful with his daughter. That little girl would never lack for love and attention while she was growing up.
“See you Saturday, babe,” Josh said as he hung up.
Michelle grimaced as she replaced the receiver. Babe again. Was she going to have to cure him of that like she needed to cure Penny of saying “gots”?
Saturday was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. Caroline prepared a lavish breakfast which she and Abby served Michelle in bed. Then they both promptly sat on the spread and shared the feast.
“This is like when we were kids,” Caroline said, nibbling on a slice of bread coated with marmalade.
“Yes, only we don’t have to worry about Grandmother storming in and ruining everything,” Abby said.
“No, she ruined everything long ago when she ran our father off,” Michelle said.
Caroline and Abby looked at her.
“I vaguely remember him, but you were so young, I didn’t think you’d miss him that much,” Caroline said slowly.
“I didn't have to know him to miss him. Remember all the school events when parents attended? Not just the recitals that Grandmother came to, but the soccer events, or the May Day carnival? I was always so envious of girls whose fathers swung them up in their arms and hugged them. I imagined them playing ball, or tag or something in their yards on weekends. Or going on picnics or even just sitting together on a sofa and reading.”
“So it wasn’t just me who missed him,” Caroline said slowly.
“No, it wasn’t,” Abby said. “I’d have loved to have both our parents. Once I learned Grandmother was the reason our father left, I couldn’t help wondering about Mom. Did she just give up? Of course I don’t remember either of them but I have to wonder that if Eugenia hadn’t interfered, would both
