Merger to Marriage (Boardrooms and Billi - By Addison Fox Page 0,43
smart and safe like the plague.”
“And look where it’s gotten both of us.”
Holt reached for her hand and she slipped hers in his larger one, clasping his fingers so their palms met. “We’ll figure it out.”
She wanted to believe him—did believe him when he claimed this was what he wanted—but what would happen when he grew tired of her? Of them once it was her and the baby? The day would come when he’d feel trapped.
It would have to. No one got off to a start like theirs and ended up not feeling like they were forced into it at some point. Because no matter how he framed up a union between the two of them, nothing changed the fact that if it weren’t for the baby, they wouldn’t be discussing marriage at all. And no matter how she was coming to feel about him, that point didn’t sit well with her.
…
Mayson stared at the oversized fashion closet in the McBride Media building and sighed with ecstasy. “This was a great idea, Keira.”
Her sister had suggested it after they finished up their morning meetings, and it hadn’t taken either of them long to carve out some time in their schedules to make the unscheduled trip.
“Ooh. What about this one?” Keira held up a designer sheath, intricate beadwork filling the bodice before falling into a subtle train. “It’s gorgeous.”
Mayson patted her stomach. “And likely a bit too form-fitting.”
“Point taken.”
Keira busied herself with one long rack while Mayson indulged her love of shoes. “We need to come in here more often.”
“I make a weekly pilgrimage.” Her sister turned from the rack with a quick squeal of excitement. “Mayse. Come here and look at this one.”
She knew before Keira had the dress up on one of the elevated racks they used to display clothing that it was the one. “It’s beautiful.”
“And it’s going to look beautiful on you.”
In moments, she was buttoned up in the dress, the long waves of silk falling artfully away from her waist. The design was simple and elegant, reminding her of something from the twenties. Maybe it was the moment, seeing herself in white. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones that seemed to increase by the day. Maybe it was just the overwhelming sense that her life was on an out-of-control roller coaster. With flustered motions, she dragged at the sleeves. “Take it off. Get it off me, please.”
“Mayson?”
“Get it off!”
Keira made quick work of the dress, fetching a small robe for her to cover up with. After hanging the gown up once more, she took a seat on the small stool next to Mayson’s knee. “Want to tell me what that was all about?”
“I can’t tell you something I don’t know myself.”
“Try.”
“I’m scared.”
Keira gripped her hand. “Of course you are. Do you think that’s not normal somehow?”
“It’s the way it’s happening. All at once. Three months ago I didn’t know the man existed, and now I’m trying on wedding dresses and having his baby. It’s too much.”
“It’s life.”
The discomfort she tried to hide the night before in the car ride home rose up to swamp her once more, and she gave in and admitted the unanswerable question she was afraid to put to words. “What if we’re Mom and Dad?”
“You and Holt?”
“Yes.” She thought of the life growing inside of her. Thought of their obstacles to happiness. “If we weren’t having a baby, he wouldn’t have asked me to marry him.”
“True.” Keira nodded, her gaze warm and her grip firm. “But you are having a baby and he did ask you to marry him.”
“And getting married helps his business objectives.”
“Also true. You give him a legitimacy that does matter in the eyes of some.”
Phrased that way, she saw the truth in her sister’s words. While Teddy Craddick might be heavy-handed in his approach to the people he did business with, she wasn’t immune to the expectations others carried into business. While personal lives were meant to be kept separate, she’d seen the measure of respect that had increased toward Keira now that her sister had a wedding band on her left hand.
The shift was subtle, but distinct. Marriage meant you were an adult. It meant you’d embraced society’s expectations for you and took your rightful and responsible place.
Having a baby only solidified that expectation.
“He doesn’t love me and I don’t love him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Mayson knew her sister had opinions, but whatever they were, Keira kept them to herself. When she did finally speak, it was to point