The Marriage Clause Read Free Page A

it? Brownie and I can go after him with the bat,” Gran said angrily. “I never liked that stupid asshole.”
    “Gran, language!” India gasped.
    “I’m not a child. I can call it like I see it, he’s an asshole,” Gran retorted and then patted her hands. “Don’t worry Honeybee, we’ll be a good family to the baby. Brownie will be a second Grandma and Mikael will be a good uncle.”
    “But that’s the thing, Gran.” India shifted uncomfortably and sighed. “If I’m pregnant it would be Mikael’s.”
    Her grandmother stared at her for more than a few minutes and then a big grin split her face and she clapped her hands. “I knew it, I knew it, y’all were acting so strange when we got back and Mikael took his gifts and said he had duty…. Oh, you and Mikael knocked boots and he planted a baby.”
    “Gran!”
    Gran tried to smother her smile.  “Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, go pee on the stick.”
    “I don’t need to go right now,” India tried stalling.
    Gran shook her head. “Eh, hell no, I’ve been shoveling broth and clear fluids in you all day. You can go.”
    She held up the box, and India snatched it and got out of the bed quickly. She had to steady herself as a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her.
    Her grandmother pulled her back to sit next to her. “Head between your knees until it passes.”
    She did as she was told and soon she was in the bathroom taking a test. Please don’t let me be pregnant, please, please, please, she prayed. But the digital read out kept blinking pregnant and the not never made an appearance. She had to move from sitting on the toilet and lift the lid to throw up. Holy shit, she was going to have a baby, for Mikael! India washed her mouth out and came out of the bathroom. Her grandmother sat on the bed looking at her expectantly.
    “Well?” Gran asked.
    India nodded, too shocked to even speak, and her grandmother did a little happy dance of joy.
    “Wait until Brownie hears this!” Gran chortled.
    “I don’t see why you’re so happy, Mikael won’t be,” India muttered. “I don’t think he wants to be saddled down with a kid and me. We were drunk and ended up in bed.” India flopped back on the bed. “Tequila shots are bad, so very bad.”
    “He’ll be thrilled, and when you get married it will be great. I can see you in a nice ivory dress with a vintage feel. He can wear his dress blues,” Gran started planning out loud.
    “Who says we’re getting married? He doesn’t even know I’m pregnant,” India pointed out.
    “It’s a natural step, honey, and besides it’s been all planned for years… oops.” Gran suddenly shut up.
    India lifted her head to look at her warily. “What oops—Gran, what are you hiding?”
    “Nothing Honeybee, um, I was just excited about the baby and a wedding.” She looked away and her left eye started to twitch, a classic tell for when she was lying.
    “Gran, you tell me right now or I swear I’ll….” India couldn’t think of anything to threaten with.
    Gran held up her hand. “Okay, okay, sheesh. When you and Mikael were kids we had a sleepover at Brownie’s house. Remember when he convinced you to build the fort and you fell asleep in there?”
    India nodded. “Yes, and I don’t see how that’s relevant right now.”
    Gran rubbed her hands together. “Brownie and I thought you looked so cute and we had a few Sherries. Then we thought you should get married when you were adults. So we drew up a contract to say that you were to be married and what we both would do for the wedding and contribute to your future.”
    “Oh my God, but that was a joke, right?” India asked.
    “Well no, because we had her lawyer come over and notarize it and we both had a copy,” Gran answered and then said quickly, “The next day it was funny, but then we said why not? We both knew you’d end up with each other and in a way it comforted us…”
    “Are you crazy!” India shrieked. “Gran,