Doing the Right Thing

Allison White doesn't trust men, but then she agreed to marry one? It's for a good cause. After all, the court won't approve of her adopting her best friend's baby unless she can prove she's married. She'd do anything for her little namesake, even marry a total stranger. But Mark is nothing like she expected. Is he really the good guy he seems to be? Can this fake marriage turn into something real? Is it really that important for little Allie to have a dad in her life? Can they make this work? >Excerpt: "What happened?" My sister's arm comes around my shoulders as the tears fall. "They took Allie away until I can prove my ability to provide for her. They'll call to let me know when the hearing will be." Sniffle. "Until then, she stays with a foster family." "Okay, but you'll be approved, right? You're the closest thing to family Allie has." "They said if I'm not married, it probably won't go through." "What are you going to do? Are you even okay with that?" "No! Of course not! I can't let her be adopted away from me!" "Good. Now what are we going to do about it?" "Well, I think I already found a solution." I'm about to tell my sister what I did this afternoon and I have no idea how she's going to react. "Out with it. What's the plan?" "I guess I get married." Rose's eyebrows raise almost to her hairline in shock, or maybe incredulity at my words. "Just like that? Last I checked, you don't even have any guy friends." "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sis," I mutter. "I'm trying to be helpful. Let's make a list of any eligible guys that might be willing to marry you. It doesn't even have to be real. If you can prove you're married just long enough to secure the adoption, then you could get it annulled once Allie is safe." "I already know of someone." "Who?" she demands. "His name is Mark...um...something. I think it starts with a B? I met him at the courthouse. He heard the whole conversation I had with the social worker. He even witnessed my complete emotional dump in the hallway afterwards." I take a deep breath and look away from my sister's prying eyes. "He offered to marry me for Allie's sake and we walked down the hall, signed some papers and were married by the Justice of the Peace." Silence. No sound. Like, a complete void. I can't remember a time that my sister didn't have anything to say and that must mean this is bad. Really bad. What have I done?

Pages: 186, Paperback, Independently published