BRIDE FOR HIRE
The weddings off! Abigail announced at dinner, shocking her parents into silence.
Her mother nearly choked on her tea as she took in the unexpected words from her daughter.
Abby! Have you lost your mind? The dress is bought, the rings are ready, the receptions been paid for Your Daniel has been waiting for this wedding like a man dying for a breath of air Please, tell us youre joking, her mother pleaded.
Im not, Mum. No jokes. Floyd and I are leaving for London soon. It’s serious, said Abigail with finality.
London? Honestly? Where everything and everyone is a stranger! Youll get lost there with nothing to your name! Dont be ridiculous, love! This Floyds got your head spinning, hasnt he? Hes probably married with kids, and hes not far off retirement! Daniel adores you – hes been like a son to us! Don’t trample on love. Everything comes around in the end, her mother begged, clearly distressed.
Im not afraid, Mum. Ill handle whatever comes, Abigail said, standing firm in her decision.
A couple of weeks later, Abigail and Floyd set off for England.
Since childhood, Abigail dreamed of seeing how people lived in different countries if only for a short while. Shed mastered French, become fluent in English, and recently started learning Spanish just in case fate took her somewhere unexpected. After university, she worked as a translator at a travel agency, which is where she met Floyd. She was assigned to accompany him, an overseas visitor, around various events. Floyd had his eye on Abigail from the moment they met.
Abigail was easy to speak with, cheerful, and not unattractive. Most importantly, she was young twenty-three, as opposed to Floyds forty-six. At first, Abigail humoured Floyds advances. She never expected hed want to marry her he proposed after just a week. Abigail said nothing of her upcoming marriage to Daniel.
She was caught off guard – what should she do? Not every girl gets the chance to marry a foreigner! How could she just let the opportunity slip by? While she didnt love Floyd, life with him would be different full of excitement and adventure. Shed be grateful for what he offered. Surely, that would be enough for Floyd with such a young bride by his side? As for Daniel, hed be hurt, but time heals. Hed move on he was still young and would find his happiness.
Thats what Abigail was thinking as she set out on this unknown journey.
Over the phone, Abigail told Daniel everything. He didnt really understand what had happened but still wished his former fiancée happiness and retreated to drown his sorrows in heavy drinking.
Floyd and Abigail landed in London.
Abigail was bursting with happiness she couldnt believe her dreams were coming true. It felt as though she could embrace the whole world and capture this moment of joy forever.
Floyd took Abigail to a huge house. There, she met his family two grown sons, Hale and Evan. (In time, Abigail would marry Evan and find true joy.) Soon after, Floyds ex-wife, Eleanor, came out from her room a striking, well-kept woman by any measure.
Eleanor was furious.
Have you gone mad, Floyd? (Eleanor always called her ex-husband Floyd in a familiar tone.) Who is this girl? Where have you dragged her from? Is she seriously going to live here with us? she yelled.
Yes, she is. I’d like to remind you, Eleanor, this is my house. Abigail will soon be my wife. I expect you to treat her with respect, Floyd replied, trying to sound both firm and apologetic.
Abigail felt uneasy and out of place. It turned out the family, though technically split, all lived together in their beautiful home. It soon became obvious that Eleanor held everyone tightly under her thumb. But in Abigails mind and heart, a place was already occupied by Evan. Not like Daniel with his drinking and teary kneeled apologies this was something else. An everlasting love, pure and true
Evan, Floyds younger son, was twenty-four and resembled his mother: a strikingly handsome fellow. He immediately noticed the beautiful stranger, brought by his father out of thin air, and something invisible but electric sparked between them. Their souls fluttered, longing to plunge into unspoken feelings together.
Floyd told Abigail to wait before making any wedding plans, without offering any explanation. Abigail was compliant she had no intention of returning home anyway.
She was given a snug, welcoming room (the house was more than big enough). She and Floyd got on perfectly well their relationship warm, but innocent. Eleanor, meanwhile, ignored Abigail completely.
Three months passed. In that time, Abigail grew close to Evan, who opened her eyes about the familys true situation.
Evan explained that his father, Floyd, was still in love with Eleanor and it was mutual. But after one fierce argument, they ended a marriage that had lasted decades.
The couple stayed apart, but neither made a move to reconcile. Floyd then decided to make Eleanor jealous, hoping shed change her mind. He needed someone to play the part of the fiancée, and Abigail fit the bill perfectly.
The idea was that, as soon as the exes made peace, Abigail would be sent off home with a parting gift and a plane ticket from misty England.
After Evan explained this, Abigail burst out laughing through the tears.
Just my luck! Im a rented bride! I ran away from my fiancé, and now here I am Evan, what do I do?
Abby, I cant live without you! Evan replied, taking her hand.
Me too. Finally, youve said it! I wondered if you ever would, Abigail breathed in relief.
How could I have told you, knowing you were meant to marry my father? I didnt know about this game until Hale told me. But as soon as I did, I was thrilled! The girl Id fallen for was, at last, free! But would you have married my father? Evan asked, slightly uncertain.
Oh, Evan! From the moment I first saw you, every plan I had changed forever. Of course, I wouldve said no to your father, Abigail replied, beaming.
The two young people embraced as though theyd known each other their whole lives.
Abigail forgave Floyd and Eleanor for their part in the charade. What wouldnt a person do for love? Even in the sweetest journey, you can stumble. Couples bicker just to make up. Still, there was a silver lining to this tangled tale Abigail met Evan! Fate really does understand what you need, even if its halfway across the world.
People chase happiness, only to find it at their feet. Evan and Abigail married soon after.
Fearing Abigail might run back home, Evan didnt hesitate to start a family. Abigail had a son, then a daughter two years later. Evan doted on Abigail, and their home overflowed with warmth.
As for Floyd and Eleanor, theyd come to their senses and healed old wounds. Every grudge has its time, after all. Now, they treated each other with tenderness, avoiding further drastic stunts, and were delighted to babysit their cherished grandchildren.
One day, Abigail received a worried letter from her mum, urging her to visit.
Abigail prepared for the trip, deciding not to bring the children they were too little for such a journey and left them with Grandma Eleanor.
Abigail hurried home, her heart uneasy.
Her mother met her in tears and, barely shutting the door, began to wail:
Oh Abby! Your Daniel is gone! Took his wife with him to the other side! They crashed on his motorbike left their little girl an orphan!
Only three years old, the poor thing A real tragedy. Abby, you know, Daniel never forgot you. He still loved you, even after you left. He quickly found someone else because he couldnt stand to suffer he brought home some country girl, not much to look at, but she was good to him, loved him, and gave him a beautiful daughter! They named her Abigail, after you so clever, that girl. Shame about her, now shell end up in care, nothing else for it
And the worst, Daniel came to me right before wanted to give our Abigail a present, so shed always remember him! His end was near, but how were we to know? Daniel would help your dad and me out around the house, even though he was always a bit lost. While you were off in England all this was happening He never got round to giving that gift, poor man her mother sobbed, dabbing her eyes with the corner of her apron.
Abigail listened, then thoughtfully replied, tying up her hair like she had a solution:
He managed in the end, Mum. Evan and I will adopt little Abigail. Thats the gift from Daniel
Evan will support me, Im sure. Life makes us answer for everything, Mum you know that. Now, could you please feed me? Im tired and starving from my travels craving a tart apple, or a nice pickled cucumber. Expectant mothers, after all, have to eat for two! Abigail added with a knowing wink.
