Priceless

“Oh my. This is an orangery? It’s gorgeous.” She floats over to one of the forty orange trees in the room and strokes a leaf.

“Is that you, Major?” I hear a voice calling me.

“Yup and I’ve brought you a present.” I gesture for Maple to come close. Reluctantly she peels herself away from the foliage and joins me. “Mom, let me present Maple London, your soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”

Mom’s wheelchair comes to a stop at my words. She clasps her hands to her chest and cries, “Maple London? Daughter-in-law? I didn’t realize I’d raised my son to have perfect taste. Come here! Come here!” She waves her fingers in Maple’s direction.

Maple stands in stunned silence so I have to nudge her forward. She gives me a dirty look before crossing to my mother. “Mrs. Bennington, there’s been some misunderstanding here.”

As soon as Maple is within touching distance, Mom grabs her hand. “With Major, there always is. Please come and sit down and tell me all about it. Is it over the cake? He has terrible taste in desserts. Really, terrible taste in everything. I mean, look at him in that awful work uniform. It’s so stuffy, isn’t it? And have you been to that office? My chakras die every time I step into that cold building.” She shudders as if the glass and steel literally cuts into her bones.

“It is pretty terrible,” Maple admits. “I wouldn’t be able to create a thing, but this place”—she swings her arm around—”I can feel the creative energy in the floor.”

Mom leans forward. “I’m fairly sure that this house was built on a ley line. Do you know what that is, dear?”

“Sure. It’s a spiritual line that can generate power.” Maple shakes her head then and tries to regain control over the conversation. “Your house is beautiful and your garden is amazing but I am not really your son’s fiancée. He’s joking.” She sends me a killing glare. “I’m here to talk to you about the necklace that you would like.”

“You’re making me a necklace?” Mom cries.

“To wear to our wedding,” I helpfully add.

“We just met!” Maple explodes. “We just met and I’m only making this necklace because your son sued me. We are not getting married. Not now and not in the future.”

Her eyes are wide and wild. Her cheeks are flushed with anger. Her small, talented hands are splayed wide. In her yoga pants and T-shirt, she looks more beautiful than any woman has a right to be. It’s odd how you don’t know that your life is missing something until that necessary piece is thrown at your face. I didn’t believe in fate or destiny before, but, now, having met Maple and knowing in an instant that this is the woman who I’m going to have by my side until I draw my very last breath, I figure that there must be a higher power somewhere.

“Is this true, Major?”

Without taking my eyes off of Maple, I approach slowly, cautiously, as if she’s a wary fawn ready to bolt for the woods at the first sign of danger. “It’s true that we just met. It’s true she is making a necklace because I sued her. The rest of it is not true. We are getting married. She will be the mother of your grandchildren. I am going to be the happiest man on the planet in a week’s time.”

“Well,” my mother huffs. “A week.”

Maple nods, feeling justified that someone is finally taking her side. “Like I said. This is outrageous.”

“It certainly is. I have no idea how I’m going to plan a wedding in a week.”

Chapter 12

Maple

What the f—?! I stand with my mouth slightly agape in shock. I look back and forth between Major and his mom. I must be in a mental institution because everyone here besides me is insane. I start to say something but I can’t seem to form any words. I sneak another glance at Major and I can see the slight smirk that he’s wearing after hearing his mother’s reply. It’s his victory smile. The same one he wore when he knocked on my door an hour ago after I’d agreed to all of this craziness. I just hadn’t realized what I’d bargained for. I also didn’t account for his mother being so darn, adorably sweet. I try and push on even if I don’t really want to tell her no.

“I’m sorry again, Mrs. Bennington, but there really has been a misunderstanding,” I repeat, to clarify things for her in case she misunderstood me the first time. She simply squeezes my hand. She looks over to Bennington with a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face. One that a proud mother wears when their child does something extraordinary. I take a deep breath in to get my wits about me.