Once Upon a Marriage

“He said all that?”

“He’s nodding right now. I got it right.”

Wow. Maybe having Bruce for a stepfather was going to be better than she’d known. Though, as long as her mother was happy, she was thrilled to welcome him into the family.

“I did some things I’m not proud of, Marie. I knew I needed to tell you about them even before Bruce and I talked. Elliott Tanner, he practically begged me to let him tell you the truth about our association and I refused to let him.”

“I know. And I need to talk to you about that...” Since she brought it up. “You can’t go after Elliott for breaking his word to you, Mom. Because you’d put him in an unfair position—making him pose as my friend, and then telling him to lie to me about who he was. He’s a man of integrity and...”

She heard her own words—not her inner critic—as if she were giving advice to someone else. The advice she would have given if she’d been able to step outside herself. She stopped.

“I’d already made that determination, too,” Barbara said. “He was going to be my next phone call. So...you’re not angry with me?”

“I told you I wasn’t happy you lied to me. And if you ever do again, we’re probably going to have some serious issues.”

“I have to tell you something else.”

Marie’s heart made a rapid tattoo against her chest.

“I threatened him, Marie. The first time he came to me, asking to be let out of our agreement. And then in Vegas, too. I told him I’d sue him if he broke client privilege and confidentiality.”

“The first time? I only know about one time. Right before your wedding.”

“That was the third time he’d asked.”

Feeling a little dizzy, Marie laid her head back and closed her eyes. “And you threatened his career.”

“I told him I’d sue him,” Barbara repeated, and the words hit Marie as strongly the first time as they had the second. “I also told him that I knew you, inferring that I knew you better than anyone, and that if he told you what I’d done, he’d be robbing you of your mother. Or some such hogwash. It’s been eating me up ever since. Which is why I finally came clean with Bruce.”

“He didn’t tell me any of that.” He’d kept more secrets.

To protect her mother. And her. When he could have sold her mother out for his own benef

it. He had integrity. Was steeped in it.

“I have to tell you something, too, Mom.” She took a deep breath. Scrambled for what to say. How much to say. “We got married. That night in Las Vegas. We went back to the same chapel...”

“You’re married?!”

Marie had to pull the phone an arm’s length away from her ear and could still hear her mother clearly. “You and Elliott Tanner? You actually... My baby girl is married?”

If she’d been afraid, even a little bit, that her mother would be upset by the news, she’d wasted her energy.

“I can’t believe it. We’ve got to have a celebration! We’ll cut our week short in Florida and fly to Denver! Or you two can fly down here and we’ll have a few days together in Florida. Our treat. A wedding present. And, heck, bring Liam and Gabi with you. It’ll be...”

“Mom.” Marie spoke firmly.

“Bruce just said absolutely, Marie. He’s as happy as I am to welcome you all down—”

“Mom. Elliott and I...we’re...not together.”

“What?” The word was drawn out on a whine. “But you got married.”

“I know. But it wasn’t right. Marrying in haste. I just... You and Daddy. He loved you so much, Mom. But there was no trust between you. And... I can’t live like that.”

“You’re hanging him out to dry for a promise I made him keep.”

“He made his own choice, Mom. But no. I’m hanging myself out to dry because I’m afraid I won’t trust him.”