Chapter 8

Leon hadn't expected Kelly to give him an answer so quickly. “Have you thought it through?”

“Yes,” she responded firmly. “But I have one request.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t want my parents to know about our marriage just yet.”

Leon was quiet for a few seconds before responding, “That’s not how things are done. Marriage is a big deal. I might’ve lived abroad for a while, but I know how things are done here.”

“The groom is supposed to meet the bride’s parents, get their blessing, and agree on the wedding date. That’s how it’s supposed to go.”

Kelly pressed her lips together. “I don’t want any of that. If they find out I’m pregnant, they’ll force me to get an abortion.”

Her father, William, cared too much about his reputation. If they knew the truth, she wouldn’t just be scolded; she’d probably get beaten up too. Leon fell silent.

Afraid he might change his mind, she choked out, “I don’t need anything. I just want to get married right away. Professor Butler, I just want to have a family.”

Her plea reached him through the phone, and it felt like he could see her – Harding all alone in the dark, looking up at him with desperate, pleading eyes. Silence stretched between them as Kelly nervously waited for his answer.

Eventually, Leon said, “This is my personal number. It’s linked to my Facebook. Add me and send me your basic information. I’ll let you know once I make an appointment.”

He had agreed. A smile broke across her face. “Okay!”

“It’s getting chilly out. You should head back.”

Kelly was surprised that Leon knew she was outside. “I will,” she responded softly. “Get some rest. Sweet dreams.”

Maybe it was just her imagination, but Leon’s voice sounded unusually gentle over the phone. In the years to come, she would look back on this call as the best decision she’d ever made. She had thrown herself into the unknown with blind courage, and Leon hadn’t let her fall. Instead, he had given her a place to belong.

On Monday morning, Kelly did something she’d never done before; she took a day off from school. She walked out of the school gate with her state-issued ID in hand. She had asked Helena for it the day before, claiming the school needed it. She’d been a nervous wreck the whole time, and just thinking about what she needed for the day made her even more anxious. She was afraid she’d give herself away if Helena asked her any more questions.

A sleek black Mercedes was parked discreetly by the road. Leon spotted her in the rearview mirror and opened the car door to get out. Kelly’s heart skipped a beat when she laid eyes on him. He stood tall and poised beside the passenger door, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his lean figure. His features were sharp and refined, his gaze calm and composed.

He looked so well-dressed. Kelly couldn’t help but feel like a naive college student next to him. Nervously, she tugged at her clothes, frustrated with herself for not putting more effort into her appearance.

Leon seemed to have noticed the contrast between them too. His eyes flickered between their outfits before he smiled and said, “I guess I overdressed.”

Kelly hurriedly waved her hands. “No, it’s my fault. I should’ve put more effort into my appearance. I’ll go and change real quick.”

With that, she turned to leave. He grabbed her wrist, and the warmth of his touch startled her. Instinctively, she looked up and met his sharp, handsome face.

“We’re right on schedule,” he said. “If you head back now, we’ll miss our time slot.”

Kelly stopped in her tracks.

“Besides, there’s an easier solution for this problem, don’t you think?”

As his words fell, she watched as he took off his suit jacket, revealing a white shirt underneath. He loosened his perfectly tied tie and undid the top button. Gone was the rigid professor, and in his place stood a man who was more relaxed and alluring. Her eyes involuntarily traveled to his Adam’s apple, his collarbone, and wandered just a little lower before she forced herself to look away.

“Well, what do you think? Do I still look like an old man who’s creeping on a college student?” Leon deliberately teased her after noticing her nervousness.

He was a serious, no-nonsense person, so the fact that he was joking caught her off guard. She froze for a second and couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. He might not look it, but the age difference was still there. However, she kept that thought to herself because she’d heard older men were sensitive about their age.

“We’re all set. Hop in,” Leon said as he opened the car door for her like a gentleman.

She slipped into the passenger seat. He got in after her and handed her a bag. “Here, have some breakfast.”

Kelly hadn’t expected him to prepare breakfast for her. She hadn’t dared go to the cafeteria, and she had waited until her roommates had left before sneaking out. She just didn’t have the guts to go.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, eagerly accepting the bag.

“It’s a beautiful morning,” Leon said as he started the car.

Kelly held the stuffed croissant and carton of milk. As she opened it, she suddenly remembered something and asked, “Have you had breakfast?”

“I have. Don’t worry about me.” His eyes stayed focused on the road.

She blushed before taking a bite of the croissant. The croissant was stuffed with vegetables and wasn’t greasy at all. A smile crept onto her face without her even realizing it.

After eating two croissants, she poked a straw into the milk. But as she lifted it, milk spilled up through the straw. Frantically, she looked around for a napkin; she didn’t want to make a mess in his car.

“The napkins are in the glove compartment in front of you,” Leon said calmly.

He was behind the wheel. How did he know she needed a napkin? Kelly wondered as she opened the compartment and pulled out a napkin to wipe her hands.

By the time they reached the courthouse, she’d finished her breakfast. Leon watched her toss the empty bag into a bin near the entrance and concluded that her appetite seemed normal. There were no obvious signs of morning sickness yet.

As soon as she walked into the courthouse, she felt dazed, like none of this was real. Kelly followed Leon like a puppet on strings, filling out forms when he told her to. Leon, on the other hand, seemed like a pro, very familiar with the whole process.

In the end, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Professor Butler, have you been married before?”

At that moment, Leon was handing the completed forms to the clerk. As soon as those words rolled off her tongue, both he and the clerk turned to look at her. Kelly realized she had said the wrong thing and immediately felt embarrassed.

“Why do you ask?” he inquired.

Her face was burning as she murmured, “You just seem so familiar with everything.”

Leon chuckled. “The staff here can vouch for me. This is my first time getting married. I just did my homework online beforehand. I don’t like going in unprepared.” He then gave her a long, meaningful look. “Except for you. You were the exception.”

Her heart pounded. Goodness gracious! He had no idea how swoon-worthy that line was.

Chapter 9