Flash Marriage: He made my jaw drop

8

Chapter 8

Damien walked her over to the bedrooms. “There are three bedrooms here, so pick whichever one you like. I know we just got married and don’t have any real emotional bond, so you probably don’t want to sleep in the same room as me.”

Vivienne looked embarrassed at having her thoughts spoken aloud. Damien did not beat around the bush.

She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ll try to make our marriage smooth.”

*

Vivienne wasn’t wrong. You live for a lifetime, but there are only so many chances you have to choose a partner, fall in love, and grow old together.

She’d only known Damien about a week, but she was happy with how this had all turned out so far. Damien, in turn, smiled. “There’s another room that you can bring your mother to stay in. If there’s anything you think is missing, add it–I’ll work hard to buy us a house of our own so that we don’t need to rent anymore.”

It was another test of sorts, to see if she was going to be greedy now. He’d bought the house after the wedding, and it belonged to Vivienne now as well. But she didn’t know that.

“It’s a nice place. There’s convenient transportation nearby, too. And I’m not worried about renting, so there’s no rush for you to buy a house.”

If they bought a house, Vivienne thought, she wouldn’t be able to help much payment–wise, considering her income. Even with

Damien’s income, it wouldn’t be easy.

Mortgages could overwhelm a person. If you were looking to save, it was smarter to just rent–that’d be cheaper than the price of a house, at least short–term. And she was surprised that Damien had offered to let her mother stay with them. What son–in–law, or even daughter–in–law, would be willing to live with their mother–in–law?

Vivienne’s understanding warmed Damien’s heart. “Whatever you like.”

Vivienne was rather uncomfortable with how complacent her husband was being. “You’re well–qualified and handsome. You’ve got a car and a decent job… Why didn’t you find anybody on any of your dates?”

“Destiny, maybe.” Damien saw no harm in answering. “They just weren’t the ones for me. Besides, it’s tough to buy a house here in D.C. with a job like mine.”

That was true, too. Without either a six–figure income or parents who helped pay bills, it was difficult to pay bills and support a family in this area. Plus, with children to feed and educate, it was out of the question. Here in the capital, expenses were ridiculously high. Vivienne was already barely getting by with her own income.

“Oh.” Vivienne nodded, but she was suddenly concerned that Damien might have some condition he hadn’t told her about. There wasn’t any tactful way to ask directly, though. “So why did you marry me?”

Chapte

“Didn’t you say yourself that the purpose of dating is to get

married, anyway? Marriage is a gamble. If you’re willing to gamble, why shouldn’t I be?”

Good answer.

Damien glanced around at the house. “Well… Let me know when you move in. I’ll help you.”

“I’ll go and talk to my mom about…” Vivienne looked down as her cell phone rang. “Sorry. I have to take this.”

Damien nodded and waved her off. She picked up, and a woman’s urgent voice sounded on the other end. “Vivienne, this is Georgia. Your mother fainted, so I had to call an ambulance! They just took her to the People’s Hospital.”

Vivienne felt her heart drop. “Why did she faint?!”

Mrs. Quinn had been working as a cleaner in a hotel to help pay the bills, and Georgia was another lady who worked with her there. “I’m not sure. Your mother and I were changing a set of sheets when she suddenly fainted. You should hurry to the hospital.”

“I will. Thanks, Georgia.” Vivienne hung up and turned to Damien. “My mom’s in the hospital. I have to go see her.”

Damien had overheard the worried call. “I’ll go with you.”

Vivienne nodded, but she was at a loss. She and her mother were

dependent on each other. What would she do if something awful

had happened to her mother?