Fake Summer Wife

She was absolutely thriving.

Her new job was amazing, and she completely lit up when she told me about the projects she was working on. She had already been bringing new business into the PR company with all of her new top tier corporate contacts, and they loved her for it.

In short, my darling girlfriend was a dynamo and I couldn’t be more proud.

Well, I could. In just a few more minutes.

Finally I heard Claudia’s new car in the driveway. Since I couldn’t always pick her up from work and the bus wasted a lot of time, last month I insisted on getting her a safe, reliable car. She pretended to protest, but I could tell that she was extremely relieved. I threatened to kidnap her again to take her to the auto dealer if she wouldn’t come on her own.

I also had to abduct her to take her to a couple of furniture stores so she could pick out a couch that wasn’t “apparently made of rock”.

“Hey, honey,” Claudia’s sweet voice rang out as she came into the foyer. She set a few bags down, then turned to where I was sitting on the brand new living room couch.

“Oh my god!” she squealed. “It looks even better in here than I imagined. Plus you have the lamp in the perfect spot.”

“Anything for my gorgeous wife,” I teased, pulling her down to sit beside me. “How was your day?”

“Unbelievable. Ellen needs PR for three of the charities she works with, and they’re all hiring us. I’m already up for a promotion in a few months, but I’m going to be managing one of her accounts right away.”

“That’s because you’re amazing,” I said as I nuzzled her throat. “Even though you work too hard sometimes.”

Claudia laughed. “At least I’m not on my feet slinging burgers all night. I loved the people at the diner, but it was really rough on the feet.”

“We should have dinner there next week so that you can order something ridiculous that’s not on the menu to freak Scotty out.”

“Great idea, I love it!” she exclaimed.

It was so wonderful to see her so relaxed that I almost didn’t want to get her all excited again. Yet I couldn’t possibly wait another moment.

“Let me show you the closet.” Taking her hand, I led her upstairs. “I called Jeanette to have her ship over another ten cocktail dresses and matching shoes.”

“Oh my God, you didn’t!” Claudia laughed. “I mean, thank you, husband.”

We went into the bedroom, then the closet, where I’d cleared a huge section for her things even before she had moved in.

She followed my pointing finger toward the new dresses, and racks of shoes. Then I opened a drawer. “Necklaces and bracelets.”

“Wow,” she breathed. “Thank you.”

Opening the top drawer, I said, “Dangly earrings for parties. Oh, and there’s one more pair. Here.”

Dropping to one knee, I held up a small box. Claudia’s hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. The one-carat diamond studs were perfectly classic. Below them was a ring.

“Mom wants you to keep her ring. I’d like to add this as a wedding band,” I said, taking hold of her shaking hand. It was a row of alternating diamonds and emeralds that complemented my mother’s piece perfectly. Slipping it on her finger, it looked absolutely perfect.

“Claudia, will you marry me?”

She nodded quickly, sniffling slightly as her eyes became glassy. “Yes.”

I stood up to kiss her, soft and deep, possessing those lips that I’d grown to crave every minute of every day.

Lifting her slightly, I danced her awkwardly out of the walk-in closet, then down the hall to the guest room that had become my odds and ends junk room.

As I opened the door, Claudia froze. The room was completely empty except for a purple teddy bear sitting on the center of the cream carpet, on a little pillow that I’d borrowed from an easy chair in the basement.

“A teddy bear requires a seat?” she asked, clutching my arm.

“Well, yeah. I didn’t want him to sit on the floor. That might make him sad. I want him to be happy while he waits