Mistaken Identity (Identity 1)

“She’s had a really piss poor example of marriage growing up, and she’s terrified. I want to put her at ease and make this into a positive thing.”

“What do you think actually bothers her? I mean she agreed to marry you, so there’s some give?”

“Anything traditional.”

“And your time frame?”

“I want to be married before I leave for shooting.”

“You never did do anything half assed, did you?” His father sighed. “Let me think on it overnight. Can I tell your mother?”

“Please. It’s like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders. Holding this in was killing me.” The tension in his back eased.

“How long have you known?”

“Just a week. It took us both by surprise. She got sick, and I jumped the gun, took her to the hospital, and the diagnosis was more than either of us expected.”

His dad chuckled. “I can imagine. I know this isn’t conventional, or planned, but congratulations. Being a parent is one of the most important jobs anyone could ever have.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“I know you’ll make me proud. Now we should get back out there before they send in a search party.” His dad pulled a container of marinated steak out of the fridge, and they headed back outside.

Seated beside Kansas he was happy. Things were falling in to place with time to spare. The thought of leaving to begin filming with nothing other than a promise to wed at some point between the two of them kept him up at night. Inevitably the truth would get out, and when it did, he wanted to be in a position to protect his family. Kansas was strong, but he knew how the public could rip a person to shreds, especially one with a major case of hormonal imbalance. Last night she’d cried like a baby over a cell phone commercial.

She peered over at him. “What? I feel you staring a hole in my head.”

“Just admiring your beauty.” He bumped her shoulder with his.

“Oh, now I know you were thinking about something mean.”

He chuckled. “Not mean, just something that’d irritate you.”

“By all means, keep it to yourself. We don’t want to start the water works again.” She rolled her eyes.

He snickered. “That’s what it was about.”

The side gate creaked open, and he looked. Who else would they invite tonight? The dark haired woman with peaches and cream skin made his stomach turn. His mouth went dry, and his palms began to sweat. Lis.

Conversation around the table came an abrupt halt, and Kansas tensed beside him.

“That’s her, isn’t it? Lis?” she whispered.

“Yeah. I have no idea what she’s doing here.”

“Oh, I have an idea. Her eyes say it all.”

Lis had the grace to flush as the attention became focused on her. Her hand came up to deliver a half-hearted wave.

“Hey. I just, uh, wanted to welcome Jett back. I didn’t realize he had a guest.”

“Why don’t you come back another time, Honey?” His mother rose from her seat.

He cringed. If she’d come looking to patch things back up and steal him away from Kansas she was grossly mistaken.

“I think you should go handle that,” Kansas whispered.

“What?” He frowned. “She knows where we stand.”