Married Again
1341 Words
Chapter 5
I finally found a payphone outside a 24-hour diner two blocks away after walking for almost an hour.
Lyke answered on the second ring. "Ethel."
"He's dead." I broke down. "Morris is dead and the detective texted me that they're issuing a warrant as early as six am tomorrow."
"Where are you?"
"I don't know the name of the motel."
"Ok, Ummm, just stay there where you are. I'll be there in twenty minutes." His voice was calm. "Don't talk to anyone and try not to draw attention to yourself."
The line went dead.
I walked back to the diner and sat there waiting patiently for him to show up. From where I sat, I could easily see the pay phone. I bent my head whenever someone passed because they were all looking like cops to me.
It took him another hour before he found me.
"Pack your things," he said once I was within ear shot. "You can't stay here. They'll check motel registries."
"I don't have things. I left everything at the house."
He nodded, then pulled a small duffel bag from his shoulder. "I grabbed some essentials. We can get more later."
I stared at the bag. "You went to my house?"
"Yes, perks of having connections." He set the bag on the bench. "We need to leave. Now. Before someone recognizes you."
"Wait." I didn't move toward the bag. "Before I go anywhere with you, I need answers. Why are you doing this?"
He paused as if choosing his words carefully.
"My father was Richard Calloway. He died six months ago and left everything to his sons—me and Morris. But there were conditions."
"Wait... What?"
"He's my half-brother. Same father, different mothers. My mother was his secretary. The affair was messy but child support was generous. I never got acknowledged by him in exchange for the fat monthly pay checks." "While Morris got the name, the legitimacy, the empire."
I sank onto the bench. "So you and Morris were..."
"Rivals, Yes. But that was hidden. In public, we were business associates. Friends, even but our father's will set us against each other." He pulled out a document from his briefcase. "The inheritance goes to whichever son marries first and stays married for three years. My father wanted to force us to settle down to prove we could run his company in his absence."
"That's insane."
"Yes, I know," He handed me the document. "My twenty-fifth birthday is in two weeks. After that, the window closes and everything goes to Morris or now that he's dead, to his estate which means to his wife."
I looked up sharply. "You mean the woman who looks like me?"
"Exactly." His expression darkened. "If she can prove she's the legitimate Mrs. Calloway, she inherits everything. Twenty billion dollars. But if I marry first, before the deadline, I inherit all and as my wife, you'd have legal protection coupled with a husband who can't testify against you."
"And you get twenty billion dollars."
"We'd both benefit." He crossed his arms. "I'm not pretending to being a saint. I need a wife. You need a powerful alibi. It's a transaction."
"A transaction that binds me to you for a year."
"Three years, actually." At my expression, he held up a hand. "My father's will specifies three years minimum or the inheritance reverts. But we can structure it so you're free after one year practically. You'd just need to keep your legal status as my wife on paper."
I looked at the document in my hands.
"What happens if I say no?"
"You already know what would happen. Without me, you don't have a chance."
"And with you?"
"With me, you get to walk freely together with ten million dollars." He paused. "And maybe, we might figure out who actually killed Morris. And who that woman is."
I stood, moving to the window of the diner. Outside, the sky was beginning to lighten.
"If I do this," I said slowly, "We would need to establish rules and boundaries."
"Of course."
"I mean separate bedrooms and all.This is a contract, not a real marriage."
"Agreed."
"And no one can know it's fake. Not your friends, not business associates. To the outside world, we're a real couple."
"That's the point."
"And after the year is up or three years, whatever, we divorce quietly. I get my ten million and disappear. You will never contact me again."
He nodded. "I'll have my lawyer draw up a contract. Trust me."
I turned to face him. "Why should I trust you? Morris was charming too. He seemed perfect and look how that turned out."
"You shouldn't trust me." His honesty surprised me. "You should trust the contract and the fact that I need this inheritance more than I need to manipulate you. I am here just for my own interest."
"What we should do now?" I asked.
"We have to get married today. The sooner you're legally my wife, the sooner I can start building your defense."
"Today?" My voice cracked. "I can't... I don't even have a dress. I don't..."
"I have everything arranged. My judge friend owes me a favour. For the dress we can go as we are or I get one if that's what you want." He pulled out his phone. "I just need your answer. Yes or no."
Before I knew it, I was standing in a courthouse bathroom, staring at my reflection.
The dress Lyke had provided was a simple cream-colored, elegant dress. It fit perfectly, which shouldn't have surprised me. Lyke seemed like the kind of man who planned everything down to the last detail.
Just like Morris had been.
I pushed the thought away as I tried to apply lipstick with shaky fingers. I gave up after the third attempt, wiping it off with a tissue.
I didn't need lipstick. This wasn't a real wedding. This was a business transaction.
A knock came at the door. "Ethel? It's time."
I took one last look at myself. The woman in the mirror looked terrified.
"Coming."I said louder.
The hallway was empty when I emerged except for Lyke. He was wearing the same suit but with a fresh tie. He'd shaved, combed his hair.
"You look beautiful," he said.
I didn't respond. Beautiful felt like the wrong word for a woman about to commit legal fraud.
He led me to a small chamber and a judge waited inside.
"Shall we begin?" the judge asked.
No. I wanted to scream. No, we shouldn't begin. This is insane. I'm making a terrible mistake.
But I heard myself say, "Yes."
The judge opened a book. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Lyke Ashford and Ethel Hartwell in holy matrimony."
Ethel Hartwell. In a twinkle of an eye, I was no longer a Calloway.
I was trading one man's name for another.
"Do you, Lyke, take Ethel to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." His voice was firm, certain.
"Do you, Ethel, take Lyke to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Everyone looked at me.
I tried to speak but my throat refused to open.
This was wrong. All of it was wrong.
But what choice did I have?
"I..." My voice came out as a whisper. "I..."
Lyke's hand found mine and he squeezed gently.
"I do," I finally said.
"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The judge smiled. "You may kiss the bride."
Lyke raised an eyebrow as our eyes met.
I shook my head almost immediately.
He turned back to the judge. "We'll save that for later."
The judge chuckled. "Very well. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Ashford."
I signed the certificate with a shaking hand and watched Lyke sign below me and just like that, I was married. Again.
To a man I didn't love, to s man I barely knew.
A man who might be just as dangerous as the one I'd just escaped.
- Writer
