Goody Two Shoes (Invertary 2)

“That went well,” Mitch said from behind him.

Josh turned to see that Mitch had eaten both portions of lasagne. His stomach grumbled.

“They’ll come around.” He opened the freezer and started his hunt for food all over again.

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Caroline walked straight past the community centre and into the Presbyterian church on the corner of Dewar Street. She wasn’t sure how she’d gotten out of the castle. All she remembered was agreeing to marry Josh, and the next thing she knew she was walking back to work. They’d shaken hands to seal the deal.

She shook her head slightly. When she’d imagined a proposal as a child, it hadn’t included a handshake. But, in saying that, back then her proposal fantasy had included a unicorn, a flowing pink dress and a real-life prince.

She pushed open the heavy wooden doors and went searching for the minister. She found him in his office.

“Caroline,” the old man grumbled. “If this is more hassle about the roof fundraiser, you can turn around and leave now.”

Caroline sat down hard in the rickety wooden chair facing his desk. She held her briefcase tightly in her lap. “I have a confession,” she said.

He looked confused. “You know we’re not Catholic, right?”

“Of course I know that, but I need to confess. I’ve done something terrible.”

“Okay.” He took off his bifocal glasses and linked his hands on the blotter in front of him. “I’m all ears. What do you need to confess?”

Caroline took a deep breath. “I’ve agreed to marry a man I don’t love.” The words rushed out in a gust of air.

Reverend Morrison frowned at her. “Why are you bothering me with this? We both know that isn’t a sin. If it was, half the town would be in here complaining.”

“But it’s wrong. Isn’t it? It has to be wrong.” She glanced around the room, taking in the battered desk and the wall full of photos from his years running the parish. “I only did it to get my hands on the castle.”

“The castle?” He thought for a minute. His eyes went wide. “Did you agree to marry that singing American?”

She nodded as her cheeks burned.

“Caroline, I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know why you’re asking me if this is okay. You have a better grasp of life’s moral issues than I have. Does this man know you don’t love him?”

She nodded again.

“Then you aren’t lying.” He sighed. “Does he know you want the castle?”

“I made it a condition of agreeing.”

“Then you’ve been up front. I guess now all you need to decide is whether or not you’re going through with it.”

She sat up straight. “Of course I’m going through with it. I made a promise.”

He spread his hands wide. “What do you want from me, then?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say reassurance.

The minister let out a long-suffering sigh. His shoulders relaxed.

“Look, lassie, if your conscience is clear and you think you can live with the man, then I don’t see what’s to stop you.”

In an uncharacteristic gesture, Caroline gnawed her bottom lip. “I don’t really know him,” she confessed.

“Maybe you should get to know him.”

“The wedding is in three weeks.”