CHAPTER FIVE
Lorelei
Immense relief floods through my body once my grandmother’s doctor assured me she is going to be alright. It has been weeks since her last emergency, and when I saw her by the bed clutching her chest, it felt like the entire world was crashing down on me.
“But her condition is worsening a bit, Lorelei. You might have to move her into a care home or somewhere where she might be provided better care.”
That statement keeps ringing in my ears, and even when I return to her side, where she is sleeping peacefully.
If I’m going to have to move her into a care home, then it’s important that I not only remain in the US, but I’ll need to increase my income.
Moving her into a hospice isn’t cheap, and at my current income, I’m not sure I can afford that.
“Lorelei,” my grandmother says weakly as she turns to look at me.
“Grandma,” I say softly, holding her frail hands.
It’s painful seeing her lie in this condition. When the doctors gave a diagnosis of her disease, my heart dropped as I realized that both our lives would never be the same again. It’s been four years now, but it still feels like yesterday.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
“Thank you so much, Lorelei,” my grandmother says weakly as I lean over and kiss her on the forehead.
I smile at her and remind her that there is no reason for her to thank me.
We are family, and looking after each other is what we do.
She is the only family I have been with in the past twelve years, and while I couldn’t have prevented my parents’ death, I would do everything in my power to prevent her death.
The memory of the day she had held my hand in that little hallway and told me that she would be my legal guardian from that moment on.
For me, that day was a defining moment, and she became the only family in the world.
Not only did she raise me, but she had let me remain here in the United States, paying for lawyers, immigration documents, and interviews, whatever it cost for us to stay together.
Now, it is my turn to return the favor, and I won’t be caught slacking.
Once she falls back asleep, I head to the lounge where I sit trying to gather my thoughts.
At the moment, I have quite small savings, which might keep us afloat for a few months when I finally lose my job, but the most important thing is staying in the United States.
My visa would be expiring in six months, and I had always hoped that I would get it renewed, but that doesn’t seem like a possibility.
“What would I do?” I sigh heavily into my hands.
Almost immediately, Desmond’s face pops up in my head.
I shake my head, not wanting to think of the offer he had made.
Marriage sounds like a crazy idea, but I know what it would mean for both my grandma and me.
If I get married to a US citizen like Desmond, I could stay here longer, and while it doesn’t mean I automatically become a citizen, I will be able to look after my grandmother.
Yet, the idea of marrying a total stranger is something I really can’t wrap my head around. I mean, Desmond is, without a doubt, a nice, handsome gentleman who is sweet on me and has been nothing but a good shoulder.
Yet I find myself craving him. Especially after that kiss.
I wouldn’t exactly call it a kiss, even though it is just that.
His warmth, the softness of his lips against mine, had sent a sharp flutter through my body.
I know it is dangerous to linger or even think of being attracted to Desmond, but the truth is that I can’t help myself.
Somehow, it seems like my entire body is attracted to him, and I know I want him in every sense of the word.
S till not enough reason to get married to him, though.
There’s very little I know about Desmond.
What if he has a lot of debt? Criminal history?
Girlfriends? Partners? Ever since he suggested marriage, I just can’t get it out of my head.
Dreams of me being dressed in a wedding gown and Desmond carrying me to our wedding bed before ravaging me.
His hands making their way down to my crotch as he goes down, eating me out with reckless abandon.
That is something to look forward to.
I sigh again as I lift my cup of coffee.
Even if we do get married, I know that Desmond won’t touch me.
Heck, I’m confident he won’t even consider the idea of being in the same room with me.
Yet, I know I would be getting married to him, and while I convince myself that it is for my grandmother, that isn’t the truth.
“There you are,” a familiar voice says as someone touches my shoulder.
“Katherine!” I get on my feet and hug my friend. “Thanks for coming.”
As I called an ambulance, I reached out to my best friend Katherine, who has been my greatest support. Since she was in a meeting, she promised to join us as soon as possible, and knowing her, she probably rushed down here.
“How is she?” Katherine asks as she sits next to me.
I fill her in on the details, and concern fills her face. She asks me if I have decided on my next course of action, and I honestly admit to her that I am unsure. With my visa situation and everything, I can’t even think of my next steps.
“I think I should just get married to him,” I finally say out loud.
“To a stranger?”
“That’s the only way I can remain here with her.”
If I can’t stay in the US, she would have to leave with me, and while healthcare is free in Canada, it would be a tough job finding the right place for her, especially now that she needs even more care.
“But are you sure he is a good man? Remember how you thought Paul was a good man?”
A cold tremor runs through my body as she brings up my ex.
Our relationship had ended eighteen months ago, though that wasn’t the last time I saw Paul.
From the start, Paul was never good for me, and back then, I had fallen head over heels in love with him and convinced myself that Paul just had a few flaws.
Turns out I was so wrong.
“Desmond is different. Besides, this is an arrangement, not something done out of love or anything.”
Just survival. Nothing else.
That’s the only thing I’ll consider. I’m getting married just to get a visa, nothing else.
Katherine doesn’t seem entirely convinced, but the truth remains that Desmond is my best bet for remaining in the US.
Katherine tells me she has to leave, but asks that I carefully consider if Desmond is as good as I think he is.
I remain in my seat for like half an hour before I go check up on my grandmother, who is still fast asleep.
Not wanting to wake her up, I kiss her on the forehead and head to work, where Alice has been filling in for me.
My thoughts drift on the ride to work, and I know that I can’t afford to lose Grandma Lillian.
After my parents had died in that car accident that almost claimed my life, she raised me all by herself.
The doctors had stated that it was possible that I would never speak again, but she didn’t give up on me.
She worked odd hours, raised me by herself, and refused the suggestions of me returning back to Canada, where I had no one waiting for me.
She is the reason why I chose to remain here, and losing her would mean losing the only family I have left in the world.
I can’t let that happen. Not again!
I won’t lose the people important to me, and if marrying Desmond means remaining here in the US, then I’d marry him without a second thought.
Desmond is concerned when I appear, and he asks if everything is alright. I nod gently, telling him that I needed to run a personal errand. I can tell that he is very curious, but he makes no mention of it. During our lunch break, he tells me that his friend had mentioned he won’t be able to help.
“I feel guilty since I made you think he might be able to do something, but he mentioned that the new policy is to try and save costs,” Desmond apologizes, his hand rubbing the base of his neck.
His concern and kindness make me realize how vastly different he is from Paul. Paul has never been kind the way Desmond is. Right from the start, Paul always cared about himself and blamed the world for whatever evil befalls him, but Desmond isn’t like that.
“You remember the proposal you made last time?” I begin, shifting my weight from one leg to another.
I slowly rub my hands together, feeling my heart starting to beat faster.
There is no easy way to approach this, but it is still something I need to do.
“About the two of us? What does it entail?” Desmond pauses, his eyes carefully studying my face before he asks if I want to really talk about it.
“Yeah. I want to know what it would mean for both of us.”
“Let’s grab a bite somewhere private.” We head out together to the taco stand outside, and Desmond tells me he isn’t exactly sure. He knows that all we have to do is get married, and I file my papers.
“Even a kid knows that's silly. I mean, what does being married mean for both of us?”
“Oh! That,” Desmond laughs, his laughter warming my belly. “I haven’t really thought of that. Don’t worry, I don’t bite, and I won’t ask you to move in with me or anything like that. Though I suspect we might have to keep up appearances in case anyone wants to see if we are truly married.”
Yeah, though I guess Desmond can move into my place or something.
The two of us in my cramped apartment! Whew, that’s a sight.
“Are you okay?” Desmond asks, his hand touching my forehead.
“I’m fine. Just cold,” I snap at him, stepping back. His facial expression tells me how awkward I must have acted, and I quickly apologize. “I’m sorry, just this whole situation is weighing me down.”
That’s a lie. You can’t admit that just a single touch from him sets you ablaze.
Desmond doesn’t say anything as he continues to eat his taco. The way he seems to enjoy eating surprises me, as it almost seems like this is the first time he has ever eaten street food. Desmond Anthony is a peculiar man, and being married to him would be quite an experience.
“How soon can we get married?” I suddenly ask.
He almost chokes on his food, and I had to pat him on the back as I apologized for taking him by surprise.
“No need. I’m ready when you are. Next week sounds good?”
“Tomorrow. I don’t want to delay it too long,” I answer, my gaze failing to meet his. The earlier we get married, the quicker I can begin to file my papers.
What if he has second thoughts?
“That works with me. I’d love to marry you tomorrow, though I guess I’d have to get us rings later today,” Desmond says, with an unusual softness in his eyes.
How Desmond can look at me with care and without judgment is totally beyond me.
Last night, while in bed, I found myself wondering if Desmond had perhaps fallen in love with me, but I quickly dissuaded myself.
Desmond is the practical type, and I’m sure he isn’t the type to believe in love at first sight.
My body then?
I chuckle at that statement as I doubt that Desmond is marrying me because he wants my body.
But you love the idea, don’t you?
Yes. If Desmond wants to marry me for my body, I’ll gladly offer it up without a care in the world, and it’s not because I am desperate to save my grandmother, even though I am.
He likes the slim ladies who look like fashion models, though.
“Do I have something on my face?” Desmond asks as he rubs his cheek.
“Yeah, you have something here.” I point to his left cheek, but he misses it. I lean over and help him remove it.
Desmond teases that anyone who sees us would think we are already a couple, and my face flushes at his statement.
He is quite a tease, no doubt, and I remind him that our lunch break is almost over.
We both head back to our office, and somehow, I feel the weight on my shoulder slightly lifted.
Yes, tomorrow, I’d finally have an answer to my current problem, even though it means being legally bound to Desmond, a man whom I still know very little about.
However, he is my only lifeline, and I am not letting go of it.
Not when my grandma’s life depends on it.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll be a married woman, and I will be able to stay in the US.