Chapter 7
7
CONSTANCE
This is crazy…
This is crazy…
This is crazy…
That single sentence kept playing in her mind as she stood there at the apartment waiting for Keith. Things had not gone well at the school – at all – especially when she required a substitute for today on top of giving her notice. She gave as much time as possible for them to find another teacher, but it didn’t matter. Her family would come first, and if that made her a terrible person, then so be it.
And after today – Keith would be part of her family.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she yanked it open a moment later, seeing him standing there on the landing in a suit. A very expensive, tailored suit, and she was wearing a dress for church. The only thing that she had remotely ‘wedding-ish’ was her veil from her first marriage that she’d kept. Everything else was sold to help pay for Robert’s funeral, and she wouldn’t have felt right about reusing her dress anyhow. It had been intended to be preserved someday, but they never had the money, and time just seemed to slip away until now. This morning was the slowest that time had ever passed in the universe .
“Wow…” Keith said openly, his eyes raking over her. “You look… man, words are failing me, Constance.”
“You clean up pretty nicely yourself,” she replied, smiling for a moment before it faded. “Is this weird? Crazy? Are we doing the right thing?”
“It’s not too late to back out,” he said quietly. “You can still change your mind, and I want you to know that.”
“No. I’m just really nervous.”
“I haven’t eaten since noon yesterday,” he chuckled and tugged at his suit coat. “It was already baggy before, but now?”
“Let’s get moving,” she urged, nodding. “I need some bit of stress off my shoulders.”
“You can feel the romance in the air, can’t you?” he joked as they started down the stairs – and she paused, turning to look at him on the steps.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Constance, I know. It was just a joke made in poor taste. I mean, I think you’re pretty, but we both know neither of us is in love. We’re friends and recognize that we’re both getting something out of this arrangement, and hopefully, we find our way to being the best of friends or something more,” he said openly, his voice careful. “Even if you decided to divorce me later on, I would still be grateful and treat you well – and I hope you know that.”
That was probably the weirdest and sweetest conversation to have before marrying someone because she truly believed him. He had been so open and honest with her so far, even sharing things that bared his soul and humiliated him, but he had told her because she’d asked him.
“Thank you,” she murmured, laying a hand on his shoulder. “I appreciate that more than you know – and I promise to treat you the same.”
“I’m grateful,” he began, his eyes holding hers. “Shall we?”
“Yup. Let’s get moving.”
Less than an hour later, because of traffic downtown, they were both standing in front of the magistrate, pledging themselves to each other publicly, and the press was inside the room, taking photos and filming. He warned her in the car, and she had seen his name splashed across the television last night on the news for multiple reasons.
Which did not help her anxiety in the slightest.
Thank goodness Keith had been honest with her, giving her all the details, because it was the thought that he truly believed she would help save him, save his career, his reputation, that helped her put on this ‘show’ today for the media.
“I, Constance, do promise to love, honor, and cherish you, Keith, as my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health and,” she paused, looking at him as she went off script, speaking directly to him, to his soul. “I am so grateful for that first ‘hello,’ for the way you treat my children as your own, that you’ve become my best friend… and I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful soul to share my life with. I am so excited about what the future will bring us as a family, and each day will begin with hope, love, and our commitment to each other. Thank you for choosing me…”
And she meant every word of it, her blue eyes searching his golden-brown ones and seeing how moved he was. This was real to the audience watching, despite how fake it was between them.
“Thank you for accepting me as I am, flawed but trying…”
“Aren’t we all flawed, Keith?” she said softly, touching his cheek – and heard the clicks of the photographers. Yeah, they were eating this up, and for a brief moment, she could almost imagine this was real.
“Now, by the power vested in me from the state of Texas,” the magistrate began loudly, obviously wanting to be included in the press, too. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Mr. Boucher… and Go Wolverines.”
They looked at each other, chuckling softly, as he slowly gathered her into his arms. To everyone else, it had to appear like a savored moment, but to them, between them, this was an awkward first kiss. His arms slipped around her waist as she rose on her toes toward him and hesitated as the veil was caught between them. Both laughed, the audience laughed, and Keith looked to the side, smiling at the cameras.
“Whoops. I’m a little excited…” he grinned, turning back to her and slowly lifting the veil from her face. Her eyes met his in that moment as time seemed to crawl to a stop between them. His expression melted as his gaze devoured hers, neither of them breathing, both knowing what was coming next. His hands were trembling, and she thought her knees would give out, marveling at the strangely intimate moment they were able to share.
Keith leaned slowly toward her as her lips parted, waiting. She expected some crushing kiss, some macho scene for the cameras, but instead, he dropped the softest kiss against her lips that completely shook her world. He pulled back slightly, only to lean in and kiss her again, just as tenderly as the first time, and she felt his smile against her own, marveling at the person she’d just married.
“Thank you,” he whispered to her, before dropping a third gentle kiss on her lips – and backed away.
The moment gone.
His hand slipped into hers – and he pulled their hands to his chest, holding them over his heart as she looked at him, completely fascinated at this gentle side of him. The clips she had seen of him on the news showed a brutal hockey player on the ice, but the man beside her was amazingly gentle… and confusing.
She remembered how her kiss with Robert had been. He’d been so happy, so enthusiastic, that he’d dipped her and kissed her boldly, passionately, before both of their families.
She was Keith’s now.
She had two children and knew what would come next. Those thoughts had been part of her consideration regarding marriage – and while she wasn’t in love with him like she had been with Robert, it would not be hard to accept this gorgeous guy into her bed. That was part of the reason she wanted to drop the kids off at school and daycare, so they had time alone, because it had been such a long time for her, and she was afraid of how she would respond when push came to shove.
Keith briefly kissed the back of her hand and leaned forward to whisper to her. “We need to answer a few questions and then we are free to go,” he breathed against her ear – and she nodded, grateful he’d mentioned this in the car. It was all overwhelming, and her heart was racing against her chest.
Married.
She was married to a famous hockey player.
They were moving soon to another country.
Yeah, it was a lot to take in.
“Keith! Keith! A moment…”
“The Bouchers, look this way and smile!”
“Keith!”
“Mrs. Boucher, are you ready to support a new hockey team?”
“I’ll be supporting my husband anywhere he chooses to play,” Constance said smoothly, laying a hand on Keith’s arm. “We’ve got each other’s backs.”
“Keith – does your new wife know about your sordid past?”
And she felt Keith freeze beside her – and her defenses surged to the forefront protectively, making her think of his ‘Mama Bear’ comment he’d tossed her way.
“Let those without sin cast the first stone,” Constance quoted openly, staring them all down as she held fast to Keith’s arm. “We’ve all been young and foolish, made mistakes, and those decisions shaped our futures. You want to know if I am aware of his past? – Yes. But did that factor in my decision to share the rest of my life with a sweet man who puts my family first and gives his all to his teammates? No. I believe in redemption and forgiveness,” she said simply, pausing for a moment as she stared at the man who’d asked the question.
“The past is behind you – just like your backside, which asking a question like that - not two minutes after I married the man of my dreams - makes you look like and act like that backside , sir.” A ripple of laughter floated around the building that they were currently trying to leave together.
“Now, I would like to be alone with my husband to celebrate because we have so much to be happy for right now,” she said coolly, sliding up next to Keith and hugging him to show a united front. “Does anyone else have a question regarding our marriage or the future with the new team – because we’re both excited about the move, our new hockey family, and the Wolverines. In fact, we’ll be in the stands cheering him on every chance we can get.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Boucher. Keith, we’re gonna miss ya, buddy!”
They answered a few more questions and made their way toward Keith’s vehicle in the distance, practically rushing for the privacy of the car. The moment the doors were closed, Keith leaned over and kissed her cheek once more and chuckled.
“Remind me not to make you mad…”
“Why?”
“You called that man out in the best way possible – and I’m really glad you are on my side.”
“Well, that was ridiculous and rude,” she huffed… and then looked at him, smirking. “Shall we get out of here?”
“Yeah,” he smiled, starting the car in obvious relief. He pulled out his phone, unfolding the marriage license on the seat between them and taking a photo of it. Before she could ask, Keith looked up at her. “Thank you again.”
“Of course. What happens next on your list?” she half-joked nervously, unsure how all of this would go. He’d been very open about everything, but right now, nothing was clicking in her brain as she looked her new husband over, feeling a twinge of guilt along with that same flare of interest.
“I’ll take you home, and I’m catching the next flight to Quebec to start working on a few things,” he said distractedly, backing out of the parking lot and hesitated – obviously catching her shocked look.
“You’re leaving… today?”
“Yeah, I need to go sign for the house and order furniture for the kids. I want them to have the best of everything…”
“Except being around their new stepfather?”
“I figured that would be a good thing,” he chuckled, glancing at her in confusion. “Constance, Paige does not like me – at all.”
“She’s got to get to know you – and that isn’t going to happen unless you are around,” she said bluntly, hating that her voice was almost panicked. She was tied to this man, this stranger, who was promising her everything but leaving the country… without her. “I thought we’d fly out together.”
“I’ve got to have the house set up for you and the kids.”
“Where are you staying?”
“I’m sleeping on Kenneth Salas’s couch for a few days until I get the keys. We were both rookies years ago and…”
“Goody for you – seriously,” she retorted, looking away and trying to hide the hurt feelings… only to feel his hand touch her arm as he looked at her, completely befuddled.
“Constance, I’ve told you this from the very beginning. I want to get the house set up for my new wife and family, which means going there first. It’s going to take a bit to get things handled, and I might have to fly back once or twice. I’m hoping this goes quickly, but there’s the paperwork and…”
“Fine.”
That single word cutting him off hung in the air between them, where he’d pulled into a parking lot nearby. His heavy sigh and her ragged intake of breath were the only things that echoed in the silence between them.
“I’m sorry,” he uttered gently. “I’m not trying to upset you or run away, but I want things to be right for us to get started on the right foot.”
“By starting off on the wrong one?” she asked painfully, looking at him. “I get it – we’re strangers – but Keith, we are also married now. We’re tied to each other, and that comes with certain bonds, certain expectations, and…” She grew quiet as her face flushed wildly, unable to say the words aloud.
Keith’s eyes widened slightly as he gulped, staring at her.
Her breath hitched as Keith spoke, his voice raw with emotion. She could hear the strain in it, the hesitation, the fear laced through his every word. He wasn’t just rejecting her—he was recoiling, retreating from something she thought they both wanted. The weight of his words pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"Constance," he began hoarsely as if forcing himself to say her name aloud made this conversation more real. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable—pain, apprehension, doubt. "Look, I’m very interested in what you are suggesting—very—but I’ve already messed up once in my life by rushing into something I thought I was ready for, only for it to explode in my face, harming my future."
The sting of rejection settled deep in her chest, sharp and unexpected. She parted her lips to protest, to tell him that she wasn’t his past mistake, that this— they —were different, but before she could find the words, he shook his head. His hands closed over hers, warm and steady, but his touch wasn’t reassuring. It felt like an anchor, holding her in place while he prepared to push her away.
His gaze locked onto hers, pleading. Searching. "I want everything you are mentioning more than you can imagine, but I won’t risk our future when we aren’t ready. Does that make sense?"
No. It didn’t. Not when she was sitting here, vulnerable and hopeful, only to feel like she was grasping at something that kept slipping through her fingers. The house he promised felt like a sandcastle. The future, disappearing between her fingers, and she was terrified it was about to be washed away in the tide, never to return, and she would be left holding a pail, with nothing - again.
Keith swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You lost a husband and married a stranger who was desperate to hang onto a job. What does that say about me?"
The words cut her open, exposing the messy, complicated truth of their situation. He sounded nervous and uncertain, as if he was bracing for her to turn on him, to throw his own insecurities back in his face. But all she felt was raw, aching hurt.
She had lost a husband. She had married a man she barely knew. But none of that changed the way she had started to feel about him. The way she wanted more. The way she wanted him . He was kind, attractive, and gentle – and she was beyond lonely for attention.
"You don’t know me, and I barely know you," Keith continued, his grip on her hands tightening like he was afraid she’d pull away. "Let’s focus on discovering who we are and how we work together before we introduce something so personal… because if I ruin this for you—or you hate me afterward—I don’t know that I have it in me to stand strong against all the emotions that come with it."
His voice broke, and she felt it like a slap. He was afraid not just of messing up—but of driving her away by rushing things or losing her.
"It hurt…" he whispered, eyes dropping to their joined hands as if looking at her was suddenly too much to bear. "It hurt. I was humiliated. I felt rejected, and…"
The words trailed off, unfinished, but Constance could hear everything he wasn’t saying. The past still haunted him, left him wary, and made him second-guess everything. And now, here they were—newly married, yet already standing on fragile, uncertain ground.
Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wanted to tell him that he wasn’t alone in this, that she wasn’t going anywhere, that they could figure this out together. It might not be perfect, but they could fumble their way along if they were together. He was leaving, and it was scary because there was zero connection between them except a sheet of paper and a promise.
“Let me take you home. We’ll work out a few things, and then I’ve got to catch my flight.”
Speechless, she simply nodded, unable to argue with anything he’d said because the decisions were already made – without her. Because no matter how much she wanted to fight for them, wanted to try to figure this out – right, wrong, or otherwise - she couldn’t shake the awful, gnawing fear that maybe he had already decided not to fight at all.