Lined With Silver (3 page)

His eyes caught hers for a moment before he
turned back to watch traffic. “My shoulder was wet.”

“I slobbered?” Sondra was horrified.

“No. You were crying.”

“Oh.” What could she say? She hadn’t seen him
since she was thirteen. She didn’t feel like dumping her load. But
then again, he’d let her cry and sleep on him and they were
travelling companions at the moment. And would she ever see him
again after this? Probably not. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

“Want to talk?”

She sighed. “I haven’t known who to turn to,
and maybe talking about it will help me make up my mind.” She bit
her lip in indecision and then continued, “I don’t know if you
remember Nikki. She was assigned to a different family for
trek.”

“I think I remember her. Is she blond and
about 5’3” or 5’4”?

Sondra nodded and wondered how he could
remember Nikki after he’d totally forgotten about her. Maybe it was
because Nikki hadn’t suffered from freckles and crooked teeth.
Surprised at the twinge of jealousy she felt, Sondra continued,
“Nikki’s husband, Brad, is dying of cancer. They froze some embryos
before his radiation and chemotherapy treatments. They haven’t been
surviving. She’s miscarried six of them. There are six left.”

“And…” Zack prompted.

“She asked me to try.” She ran a finger
through the moisture forming on the window, the cold a distraction
from her pain.

“What does your husband think about it?”

“I don’t have one.” She rubbed her hands
together to dry the moisture she’d gathered.

“Oh?” he raised his brows in surprise.

“Not divorced.” Not that it mattered…

“No prospects?”

“No. Not really.”

“What would your boss do?”

“I’m an attorney. I don’t think the head of
the firm would mind. We have a good working relationship, and he’s
been a close friend of my parents for years, but I do have clients
who might not like it.”

Zack’s lips twitched in amusement. “I can’t
imagine why not. Although I confess I haven’t seen any pregnant
lawyers arguing in court.”

“Do you go often?”

“It’s not my hangout spot, but I have had my
share of visits.”

“Divorce?” Sondra felt a sudden desire to
slap her hand over her mouth. It wasn’t something she’d meant to
ask.

Before she could spit out an apology, he
barked a laugh. “Hardly. Solidly single, I’m afraid. My turns in
court have been over legal ownership of software. It’s not as
interesting as family court.”

“I think I’d settle for uninteresting. There
are times I want to run out of the courtroom screaming. I’m afraid
I’m a bit jaded against marriage. I see the dark side too many
times.”

“You seem young to be jaded.” Zack sent her a
searching look before he concentrated on traffic again.

“As you well know, I’m twenty-nine.” Sondra
sniffed. “Definitely old enough to be jaded.”

“I’m thirty-two. Not jaded, but I haven’t
found anyone I’d like to spend my life with, either.” He gave the
truck he was passing careful attention, avoiding Sondra’s eyes.

Sondra lifted her brows in surprise. Deciding
not to address his lack of love life, she opted for a safer topic.
“So…back to my problem. What do you think I should do?”

Zack glanced her way and then shifted back to
the traffic. “I imagine this is a difficult choice. But I have to
say, assuming there is no other option for her, if Jade, my sister,
were asking it of me and I had the ability to do it, I’d help her
out.”

Sondra was quiet a moment. “Thanks. Sometimes
it helps sort out all the issues just hearing someone else’s
opinion.”

“You’re welcome.” Zack cut through a narrow
space in the traffic and moved to an off ramp. A few minutes later,
he pulled into a parking lot in front of a nondescript building. “I
hope you don’t mind my making a stop before dinner. Do you want to
come in?”

“How long will it take?”

“It should only be half an hour.” He paused
and said with some feeling, “I’ll make it half an hour. After that,
I’m free.”

Since icy cold was already seeping into the
parked car, Sondra agreed. They trudged through the fresh snow into
a waiting area lined with burgundy leather chairs. It looked a lot
like the waiting area in her office. The elegant maple receptionist
desk was empty.

With no sign on the door, she wasn’t sure
what kind of office she was waiting in. To her relief, it was
comfortable and warm. The furniture looked expensive and had no
wear. She couldn’t tell if it was new furniture or just never
used.

She picked up a literary magazine. The choice
of reading material revealed the background of those who visited.
No sports, gossip, or glamour magazines were in sight.

As she placed the magazine back with its
companions, she heard a door close. She looked up and was shocked
to see the pallor in Zack’s face. He was almost green.

She stood and touched his arm. “Are you
alright?”

He grunted and sat heavily, slumping in his
chair.
His color is returning, so it isn’t a heart attack
,
Sondra thought with some relief.

“Want to talk?” she asked.

“Not here.” Zack strode to the door, holding
it against the frigid air as Sondra stepped through. “I’m hungry.
Let’s eat.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed.

They travelled in silence. A few minutes
later, Zack pulled into a curved drive in front of a restaurant,
helped Sondra out under the awning, and handed his key to a valet.
The maitre’d greeted them warmly, “Mr. Carlson. What a pleasure to
see you again. Would you like your regular table?”

“Yes, please.”

Sondra almost missed the casual exchange of
funds while they were directed to a secluded table. Couples and
groups they passed were dressed in business or formal attire.
Conversations were muted and kept private with ample space between
the tables and booths. There were no children she could see. They
either weren’t welcome or were sequestered in a different part of
the building.

As they were seated, Zack turned his wine
glass over, indicating he wasn’t interested in being served
alcohol. Since the alcohol steward was heading their direction,
Sondra followed his example. The steward headed to a different
table.

Sondra opened the menu and was surprised to
see no prices listed. She glanced over the top at Zack to get some
help on what to order. He caught her eye and said, “If you like
seafood, the steak and lobster is very good. I’ve heard good things
about the salmon. I prefer the rib eye steak.”

His suggestions eased her discomfort with the
menu.

After they’d ordered, Sondra turned to Zack.
“Did you want to talk?”

Zack pursed his lips in thought then said, “I
met with my dad’s attorney. Dad is in hospice care and isn’t
expected to make it through Christmas.”

“I’m so sorry.” Sondra whispered.

“He’s suffered from a heart condition for
years. Because he is a diabetic, he hasn’t been able to qualify for
a transplant.”

“That must be hard.”

He mimicked her earlier tone. “Life can be
challenging.”

“I did say that, didn’t I?”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Since I’ve
known Dad doesn’t have long to live, I’ve been preparing for it. I
wasn’t prepared for what happened today.”

“And?” Sondra prompted.

“Through his attorney, he told me he is going
to give everything to my sister if I don’t get married before he
dies. The lawyer showed me the will. It’s all carefully written
out.” He paused a moment, savagely wrinkling the pristine white
napkin next to his plate.

He dropped the napkin on his lap and then
continued, “I wouldn’t mind so much, but my sister has sworn she is
going to kick my grandmother out of the family homestead if she has
any say. She has every intention of putting her in a nursing home.
If I am thrown out of the will, I’ll no longer have the right to
stop her. We’re the only family left. My grandparents wanted to
stay in the home they built with their own hands. My grandfather
thought he’d made those arrangements with Dad. He would never throw
my grandmother out. My sister will. I know it.”

Before she could stop herself, the demand,
“marry me” blurted out. At the look on his face, she wished she
could take the words back. What a stupid thing to say. They were
practically strangers, after all. She didn’t know him from—

“What did you say?”

Afraid he wouldn’t listen, her words came out
almost as one. “I’m a divorce lawyer. I can write up the prenuptial
agreement. I can help out my sister without losing my clients, and
you can satisfy your father’s request.”

His reply was measured. “He could go any
day.”

Sensing him softening to the idea, she took a
deep breath and said, “We can get married tomorrow morning.”

“You’re kidding, right?” He stared at her as
if she had two heads.

“You don’t have to be so insulting. I was
thinking how it would solve both our problems, and we can get a
divorce after your father dies and the baby is born.”

Zack’s reply was cut off by the arrival of
their food. They ate through the meal in silence. Sondra assumed
this was the most expensive meal she’d ever eaten, but she couldn’t
even taste it. When Zack sat back, Sondra was still swishing a
final piece of lobster back and forth through a bit of sauce.

“As crazy as your proposal sounds, I’m ready
to consider it. Are you familiar with the marriage laws in DC?”

She bit the inside of her lip, wondering if
she was doing the right thing. She’d never intended to have her
marriage be anything less than eternal, but this was a temporary
arrangement—a contract of convenience for both of them. “No, but I
had a client who recently moved to Virginia. She wanted to re-marry
right after her divorce, so I checked into the laws for her.
Virginia doesn’t have a waiting period. We can go to a county
clerk’s office, show some ID, have our information notarized, and
can marry right after we get the license. The office should have a
Justice of the Peace who could perform the ceremony.”

“I don’t have much time.”

“I’ll write up the agreement tonight.”

Zack’s brows were crunched with uncertainty.
“I’m no lawyer. How will I know you won’t write something in it
that will give all my property to you?”

“I promise I’ll keep out the legalese. It
will be a simple document any lay person can understand.”

Zack sighed and ran his fingers through his
hair. “I don’t feel like I have a choice. I don’t care about the
inheritance, but I care about my grandmother. I care about her
desire to die in the same house my grandfather died in. It would be
a lot easier if Jade felt the same way I do. Unfortunately, she
feels Granny would be better off in a nursing home.”

Sondra reached out to touch his hand. “I’m so
sorry. This must be very difficult.”

His smile was wry. “Not much harder than what
you’re facing.” He stood to help her with her chair.

“No tip?” Sondra asked.

“I have an account. They know what to
charge.”

“Sorry. I was going to leave my own.”

“We had an agreement. This is on me.”

They headed out into a flurry of snow.
Humidity gave the arctic air an added bite. Sondra huddled into her
coat, wishing for a pair of thermals.

The valet must’ve responded from some signal
from the maitre’d because he was pulling up in the car as they
walked out the door. The smooth trade of keys for a tip revealed
their familiarity with the routine.

Sondra shivered and rubbed her arms while
Zack worked on the frozen passenger door. “This would be easier
with a hands-free lock.”

“I took what was offered. It was the last car
left.”

“And I’m glad you got it.” Zack smiled down
at her as he opened the door.

After they were both settled in, Zack turned
to her and asked, “Where to now?”

“I’d like a hotel close to the National
Mall.”

“I know a perfect spot.” He paused a moment.
“Did you want to catch a store first?”

“Yeah. I ought to pick up some things.”

A few minutes later, they’d pulled in front
of a department store. “I’ll wait out here and keep the car warm.
You can call me when you’re ready.”

They exchanged cell numbers before Sondra
stepped out of the car into the icy air. A few feet from the car,
she glanced back at Zack, who was illuminated by his phone. “This
isn’t the best time for a Capitol Tour—or a wedding.” She mumbled
to herself. “I should’ve checked the weather.” She hadn’t done much
thinking since Nikki had thrown a wrench into her life.

Light from the hotel awning created jewels
out of the falling snow. Its warm glow welcomed their arrival.

As they pulled under, Sondra could see the
dome of the Capitol Building a few blocks away. The sight satisfied
her desire to be close enough to tour the area.

To her surprise, Zack stepped out of the car
and retrieved his luggage and a couple of her shopping bags. He
handed the key to the valet, then headed to the front desk with
her.

“Carlson, adjoining rooms.” Before Sondra
could protest, he had pulled out a card and paid for the rooms. He
must’ve called ahead. No wonder his phone had been lit up.

Sondra, carrying two more shopping bags and a
new suitcase, followed Zack to the elevator bank. As the doors were
shutting, she turned to Zack. “That isn’t necessary. I can pay for
my own room.”

“I have every intention of paying for the
room of my future wife.” Zack’s tone spoke volumes.

Sondra’s eyes opened wide and she pressed her
lips together, resisting the urge to spout something she would
later regret. What could she say? She was the one who had presented
her harebrained scheme. If he was going to play nice, she’d need to
play it his way… unless things got out of hand. She didn’t know a
thing about this guy, not really. Trek was over a decade before.
Would he take advantage of her situation? Connecting rooms? What
was he thinking?