Page 37 of Tart
She held up her hand. “Okay, maybe more like sketchy and not exactly ethical.”
“I’ll give you that,” I agreed, “but then again, there have been sketchier things done in the world. Listen, I already carry insurance on Athena, so I have the family plan regardless. Adding a spouse,” which I put in quotation marks, “isn’t going to change the premiums or raise any red flags.”
“Except we’ve only known each other for two weeks!” she exclaimed.
“They don’t know that. I’ve been employed in the district for six months. For all they know, I moved here for you.”
“And then after I have expensive tests and they pay for a ridiculously expensive brace, we what, just get divorced?”
“We cross that bridge when we get there,” I said hesitantly. I couldn’t say that I was already in love with her. I couldn’t say that I’d fight like hell to stay married to her if I ever convinced her to agree to this crazy scheme. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. If, in the end, it didn’t work out between us, her quality of life improved in the process. There was no downside to the plan other than my broken heart, which I would keep to myself for right now.
She waved her hand in the air. “Wait, it’s a preexisting condition. That’s not going to work.”
“They can’t deny treatment because of preexisting conditions anymore, Amber. Is that why your insurance is refusing to pay for anything? If it is, you have a lawsuit on your hands.”
Her head shook instantly. “No, they would pay for the nerve conduction tests, but not until I meet the first ten grand. That said, I don’t have any coverage for durable medical equipment, so they aren’t going to pay for the braces no matter what.”
“My insurance doesn’t have that condition,” I explained. “We pay the first thousand dollars, and then everything else is paid after that. I’ve already spent that between Athena and me this year. Durable medical equipment is paid one hundred percent after the deductible, too.”
“Seriously? I thought it was always twenty percent.”
“Teachers don’t make a lot of money, but we do have decent benefits in most districts.”
She was quiet while she pondered the things I said. Her eyes remained focused across the room rather than meet mine.
Her cheeks were rosy from the fever she was still fighting, so I took the cold washcloth and held it to those cheeks for a moment. “Listen, Amber. I don’t have all the answers, okay? I just know that I have one answer. I can do one thing to help you over this hump right now. I can’t tell you what will happen in the future because I don’t have a crystal ball. All I can say is, if you marry me, we can get you the treatment you so desperately need to stay part of the bakery and living life the way you want to live. If you want to think of it as a business arrangement, that’s okay with me. Take some time to think about it, okay? I’ll let you rest and try to kick this fever, but if you need anything, you have my number, right?”
“Right,” she whispered, her voice soft and unsure. “I think I’ll go take that cold shower after all.”
“Do you need help getting to the bathroom?” I asked, brushing a piece of hair off her forehead.
“No, I’ll be okay. Thanks, though.”
“You bet. Maybe after that shower, you should take a nap. You look worn out.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of tired,” she said on a yawn, still avoiding eye contact.
“I’ll let myself out. We’ll talk soon,” I said, sliding the door open and letting myself out before she could say anything that would only make my heart hurt more. I had probably just blown my chance at ever marrying Amber Larson, for love or any other reason.
