Some days later…

Dahlia had just walked onto the unit floor when Mary Anne rushed up to her, a weird concerned look on her face. She grabbed Dahlia by the arm and pulled her to one of the med rooms, shutting the door behind them.

“What’s up?”

“Oh my god, Dahlia, you should go talk to Dr. Dale.” She said hurriedly as she began punching in the code for one of the Pyxis. She gave the brunette a look over her shoulder, “He’s being weird. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s too damn quiet. Earlier today I asked him about some patient who showed up really late to his appointment and he didn’t even get mad like he usually does. He just shrugged and said okay. What’s up with that?”

Dahlia leaned against the other big machine, head cocked to the side. She'd begun having more serious conversations with him lately. The first time being the talk about his grandfather’s company about four months ago. They were now in February and he appeared gloomier than usual.

“Has he said anything?”

“No. But he talks to you. Maybe go see what’s wrong? It is so unnerving.”

“Hmm. I’ll see what I can do.” Dahlia waved at Mary Anne who went back to grabbing pills off the Pyxis.

......

Once again, she found him sitting in his office staring out the window. It was a bright breezy February day and she wondered if he was admiring the sunlight.

She knocked on his door before poking her head into the room. He looked at her, a little lost.

“Hi. Good morning,” she said trying to sound cheerful. He gave her a little nod and a barely-there smile.

“Morning.”

Taking the seat in front of his desk, she looked at him. He looked tired, there were dark bags under his eyes and he still hadn’t really smiled.

“What’s up?”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t look like yourself.” Dahlia watched him until he stood up and went over to the door, closing it. He sighed, running a hand over his face.

“Well, he did it. He fricking did it.” Jared raised both hands to his head, holding his hair in exasperation. “He put my damn house on sale. I got the notice in the mail two days ago and his lawyer called me yesterday. He fricking put my house on sale.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” Wow. That man was not kidding. “What’s going to happen now?” Jared gave her a haunted look.

“I either have to vacate the house, agree to the company presidency, or get married and keep the house. I don’t understand. I still don’t understand why the hell they're doing this to me?” He looked like he wanted to punch a wall. Dahlia stood to stand next to him, patting him on the shoulder softly.

“It’s okay. Take a deep breath. I know it’s stressful, but you need a clear mind to figure this out-- Oomph!” She gasped when he turned and gave her a tight hug, burying his face on her shoulder. She didn’t know what to do with her hands, she was way too shocked to do anything really. Finally, she patted him awkwardly on the back while trying to figure the situation out.

“I’m tired of this s**t. I want them to just leave me alone. I don’t want the company. I want my freedom. Now, I'm about to lose my damn house all because I don’t feel like marrying some random woman for money. It’s all about damn money with them all.” He muttered against her hair.

Dahlia continued to pat him on the back. Part of her was worried that someone would walk in and find them embraced, thinking the worst of the situation and get her in trouble. Part of her was trying to be a decent human being and provide support. A tiny inkling of her was trying to not notice how nice he smelled today that he was not doused in cologne. Just clean, fresh, and whatever detergent he used on his clothes.

“Err.”

Jared slowly opened his eyes and was met with dark brown hair that smelled of strawberries. He tensed, realizing that he was hugging Dahlia. Great. Not only was he losing his house, he’d soon lose his job too if she turned in a complaint for sexual harassment. He let go of her quickly, dropping his arms to his side, giving her a wide-eyed look. She was giving him the same kind of wide-eye look as well, a blush quickly making her cheeks red.

“Ah.”

“I’m sorry.” He stated, feeling his face heat up as well. He shook his head and added quickly. “Please don’t turn me in for sexual harassment!”

She laughed softly, shaking her head at him. “What? No. I wouldn’t do that. I understand that you weren’t feeling too great. I’m trying to be a decent human being and be supportive?”

“That sounded more like a question than a statement.”

“Err. You just caught me off-guard,” she murmured as she looked away to the wall. He let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do. He tried to set me up with the grand-daughter of a friend a couple years back.” He scowled. He had been so angry that day, he could still remember it well.

.......

After several weeks of his mother nagging him and blowing up his phone with text messages and missed calls, he finally called her back. She wanted to see him, she said. She wanted him to visit them for a week. They were going to be celebrating a big event and she wanted all her children present. She didn’t specify what the “big event” was going to be, and he really didn’t care. A month later, he flew up to Washington.

He was surprised to see that they had fixed up the house for a big party. They’d even hired caterer and a band. Damn, must’ve been important. Was it their anniversary? He couldn’t remember.

Come Saturday morning, he knew something was wrong. They were going to have a couple of his grandfather’s and parents’ friends over for lunch, so he thought no big deal. He must’ve just forgotten a very important date. Then all hell broke loose.

His grandfather introduced him to one of his old friends, a partner in the same kind of business but with a company established in Oregon. Then, his parents introduced him to said friend’s son and daughter-in-law, finally introducing him to a young woman who was probably in her early twenties who looked ready to run off.

Stomach sinking, he knew whose party this was for.

“Jared, honey, I want you to meet Julian and Rosemary Chiarottino.” He shook hands with the couple, eyeing his mother curiously. She smiled widely as she introduced the young woman. “This is their daughter, Nicole.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said softly as she seemed to become even paler than her already fair appearance. She looked down at the floor, and Jared could tell right away she didn’t want to be here any more than he did.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jared.” He said, giving her a nod as they shook hands.

“Yes.”

He eyed her across the dining table as they ate lunch, their parents and grandparents all involved in their conversation. He looked up to Caleb and Andrew who were giving him weird looks. Karinne looked tense. She hadn’t touched the food in the plate before her. Caleb mouthed something to Jared about “match” and he didn’t really get it.

The girl looked like she was going to be sick.

“Well, Jackson, I’d say we made a good choice in accepting your proposal. It’s going to work out great for the company.” His grandfather patted the other man on the arm. “It’s great that we’re going to be family.”

Jared stared at his siblings who all looked back at him confused and pale.

“Yes, your daughter is very beautiful,” his mother gushed as she looked over at Nicole. “I think she and Jared are going to make a wonderful couple!”

“What?” Jared asked and Andrew nudged him on the side. Oh hell no. “I’m sorry, did you say ‘couple’? What do you mean by that?” he asked his mother trying to remain calm and not explode.

“Why, honey, the Chiarottinos have agreed that you and Nicole should be married. I think it’s a wonderful idea!”

“Excuse me? Rewind a moment,” Jared said through gritted teeth. His siblings and Nicole were all staring at him wide-eyed. He dropped his napkin on his plate, turning on his seat to look at his mother. “You are telling me that you told her parents that I needed a wife? That I was okay with getting married? I’m sorry, mother, but you must be off your rocker!” He ignored the collective gasp that went through the table.

“Would you please remind me when I told you that I needed to get married, or when it was that I had agreed to this? Please remind me, because it seems to have slipped my mind.”

“Jared, you listen here.”

“No! You listen here, mother. I am not getting married to her, to anyone now or later. I never agreed to this. I wasn’t aware of this. I’m tired of these games. If you want, you can marry her yourself.” Camille glared back at her son through slitted eyes. His grandfather was staring at him, turning red in the face but not saying anything. His dad looked bored out of his mind.

He stood up, turning to the Chiarottinos. “I apologize for the misunderstanding. I apologize for my mother making up ideas. I am not looking for a wife. I don’t plan to get married any time soon.” They mumbled their answers, looking a little shock. He turned to Nicole who was still sitting very pale in her seat. Taking her hand, he gave it a little kiss on the top. “I think you’re a very beautiful woman, but I don’t want to marry you. I want to be able to choose whom to marry and I think you want the same.” He glared at his mother again before turning back to Nicole. “Say, just how old are you, if you don’t mind me asking you?”

“I’m twenty-one,” she said looking at him with wide eyes. “My birthday was a month ago. How old are you?”

“Thirty-two,” he answered through gritted teeth. He nodded at her before turning back to his parents. “This is ridiculous! She’s just a child!” Still bristling, he tried to bite his tongue from saying anything worse. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go grab my bags and get the f—hell out of here. Good-bye father. Grandfather.” He glared at his mother, “Mother.” He nodded at the Chiarottinos. “Nice to meet you. Sorry about the fiasco. Excuse me.”

The last thing he heard before rushing out the room was Nicole’s voice as she told her parents that she was leaving too, her girlfriend was waiting for her outside. There was another set of loud collective gasps and next thing he knew, Nicole was running out the room as well. She stopped to kick off her heels and met Jared’s eye as he stopped halfway up the stairs. She grinned.

“I’m getting married!” She exclaimed and he nodded. “You’re hot and all, but I really much rather not get acquainted with a penis. Ever. If you know what I mean.” He gaped and she waved, rushing down the hallway.

Well...

“How did that work out? What happened?”

Jared turned to Dahlia who was eyeing him curiously. She was curious to hear what had happened after that. His parents made him look like an angel.

“I apologized to the girl and her family, then left. She was only twenty-one while I was already thirty- two.”

Dahlia made a face. “Wow. That was crazy.” Paused. “But what are you going to do now?” 

She could see the way his shoulders tensed. Could see the lost look on his face. “I’m not quite sure. Find a wife, I suppose. Although, I'm honestly at that point where I don’t care what happens to the house. I just don’t want to deal with the company.”

“Okay. Just... Good luck?” She added giving him a small smile. “I’m sure you’ll find someone nice and understanding.”

“I hope so.” He agreed with a nod. “I really hope so.”

“Anyways, I have to run,” she said with a clap. “I have phone calls to make. I’ll talk you later.” She patted his arm before walking out the office, Jared staring after her.

Well, at least she was nice enough to trust. 

.........