Page 21 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“What? Why didn’t Moses warn us?” I sort of shouted, and bysort of, I meant I totally shouted his ear off with that one.

“I asked the same thing. He thought we should be married, too.”

“It’s not legal. We never signed any papers. So, it didn’t happen.”

“Except remember I said Moses was there visiting his brother, Michael, the executor of my grandfather’s will?”

“Ugh…why do I suddenly feel like I’m stuck in a bad comedy movie?”

“My family is a nightmare, but I was close with my grandfather. He always said he didn’t know where he went wrong with my father.”

“Still doesn’t mean we’re married,” I protested.

“I’m getting to that. See, Glory, I love numbers. I love finance. I understand it. My father also agreed with my penchant for numbers because I made him a lot of them. That’s why Paris was my first vacation in five years. My grandfather worried I’dturn into my father, more caught up in making money than living my life.”

“I don’t understand.”

“He left me the bulk of his estate, but he made it contingent on me getting married.”

“Let me get this straight, you can only inherit your grandfather’s money if you get married?”

“Yes. Technically, I get until I’m thirty or it gets donated to the NRA.”

“National Road Authority? Like in Ireland?” I asked, hopeful.

“National Rifle Association. He knows I don’t support them.Henever supported them. The old man thought it incentive for me to meet the right girl.”

“You want me to agree that we’re married for money?”

“Not for me. I mean, I don’t want that much going to the NRA, but I want it for you.”

Gut punch. “I’m not?—”

“Michael and Moses say we’re married, so it’s mine.”

“You’ve got your money, then? Why call? What’s in it for me?’

“Half.”

I started choke-coughing. “I’m sorry?”

“Half the money is yours so long as we don’t divorce. If I’m named in a divorce there’s a freeze on the account. It all goes away.”

“You’re trying to buy me for money?”

“You have no idea how much money, but no. I have more than I’ll ever use already. I hope this is incentive to get you out here.”

“Get me out there?” I asked.

“I want you to come to Vermont. I want you to meet Michael and I want to kiss you again. Gloria Kowalski, I miss you. Please, please say you’ll come to Vermont.”

“Can I have some time to think about this? Youreallyhurt me going no contact.”

“I know. It hurt me too. Please understand, I thought I was doing right by you—so you never had to meet my family. Being away from you gave me perspective. I didn’t want their ugly to ever touch you and I knew if I made this call, I’d never let you go, not ever again.”

I gasped.If I made this call… Never let you go again…

Back on the boat to Africa, he’d asked me what I’d do if he made a mistake. This was a doozy, but as far as apologies went… Could I do it? Did I want to? “I’ll come to Vermont.” The words tumbled out of their own accord.

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