Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“It might work better for us. She loves you.” Wrapping her arms around my neck, she says, “In the meantime, it looks like we have another thirty-six hours. How should we spend them?”
Squeezing her fine ass, I stare into her playful eyes, reading a whole book of naughty ideas populating the irises. “I have a few ideas.”
“I thought you might.”
I kiss her, then rise to carry her into the bedroom. We’ve fucked all over this house, but this time, I want to savor our time together.
Tuesday 8 a.m. sharp
“You’re here bright and early,” Roberta says, hoisting herself up on the stool that’s too tall for her legs. “My first account of the day.”
“Wanted to make sure I got in to see you.”
“You’re seeing me. How can I assist you today, Mr. Faris? Are you still Scooby Doo-ing the mystery marriage?”
“Sure are.” I rest on my elbow, leaning in. “I wanted to get a little more information, and I’m hoping you can help me with that.”
Poised with her fingers over the keyboard, she says, “What am I searching for?”
“How was the marriage license sent? Was it an online form back then, through email, fax, or . . .?”
She types, stares at the screen, and then types again. “Ah. Submitted online.” Tapping the screen, she says, “Did I tell you that you and Mrs. Faris were part of our original beta program?” My mind is still stuck on the Mrs. Faris part of that question and how much I like the sound of that.
“No, you didn’t mention it, Roberta. What does that mean exactly?”
“We’ve had so many people come in over the years to finalize the marriage.”
My gut twists. My chest tightens. I start rubbing the knot forming near my heart to loosen it while the worst flashes through my head. Is she saying— “What does finalize mean?”
“There was a glitch in the system. Some people got their emails, and some didn’t.” Spinning on her stool, she leans on the counter in front of her. “We were testing an online system to move from hard copies . . .” Her hands roll into the air above her head. “And put everything into the clouds. It was also being tested in case of emergencies. Natural disasters, pandemics, the ocean swallowing up California like they’ve predicted forever. That kind of thing.”
I’m still staring at her when she sits back like she’s wanting to chat all day while my life is falling apart. When I don’t say anything, she continues, “Anyway, you were part of the program. The license was filed as if it was complete, but now I see you never got the follow-up email. I wasn’t looking at the file as a whole. I was looking at the license since that’s what you were both verifying. The license is correct. The marriage . . . ”
Please don’t say it. Please don’t say it. Please— “Mystery solved. You’re not married, after all.” She’s smiling like she’s done me a favor. “All that upset for nothing.”
It’s for something alright. I’ve not only had my life ripped out from under me, but I no longer have my wife. Now I realize they were one and the same.
I can’t lose Cat. I can’t. “How do we finalize it?”
“Easy. In the beta cases, the license is being honored. Complete the second step, and you’re good to go.”
“What’s the second step?”
“Getting married.”
36
Shane
Get married.
Roberta makes it sound so easy. She even said it. “Easy. Get married.”
What the fuck am I going to do? Cat’s not going to want to get married. Not when we’ve been trying to get divorced this whole time.
Fuck.
I pull into the parking lot of Parkdale Retirement Home and lock up her Toyota. Though it’s tempting to let thieves steal it. The air-conditioning is shit, the check engine light is on half the time, and the steering wheel is tight on the turns.
Spying my Ferrari parked away from other cars, I smile, knowing she’d taken good care of it this morning on her drive in.
The buzzer sounds, alerting me before the doors slide open. I nod at the camera in thanks before stepping inside and catching Cat’s eyes. She waves, my pretty girl, my gorgeous wife. Mine.
I’m a fucking caveman, but I have no shame. I’m not losing her, not again.
Holding her finger in the air, she nods. I catch her drift and detour to a table by the window to wait for her to finish with her patient. Staring out the window, I think about how I’ll tell Cat about us not being married. Or if I just let it go and pretend I never heard different than we did before.
“Mr. Big and Strong is back.”
I turn to find the little lady from last time standing behind the chair next to me. “Mrs. Winston, right?”
“You can call me Maggie.” She eases into a chair like she was invited. I don’t mind. She was entertaining last time. She looks over her shoulder like she’s making sure no one’s eavesdropping, and then asks, “You’re here to see Nurse Cate?”