The Marriage Clause Read Free Page B

you’ve done some insane things, but this? I should have you institutionalized, or even better put you in an assisted living community.”
    “I’ll have you know I am quite in control of my mental faculties,” Gran said primly.
    India glared at her. “Are you really? Because you and Brownie made a binding contract to betroth your grandchildren.”
    “Betroth is such a sweet old fashioned word…”
    India pointed at her. “No, you don’t get to be all moon-eyed. Gran, did she give you a goat and you gave her a lotus flower to seal the deal?”
    “Well that’s so silly for these contemporary times.” Gran frowned. “You should be happier over this, I mean a baby and a family…”
    India threw up her hands and laughed. “Really!  Oh, I’m thrilled. Go get Brownie over here right now.”
    “Okay, and then what?” Gran asked.
    “I’m calling Mikael to get his butt here, and then we’re all going to sit down for a long, long talk,” India said. She was so mad she forgot to be sick.
    “That’s a great idea, I’ll put some tea on and some lunch, something light for you since nothing is staying down, but we need to nourish the little bit.” Gran went off merrily humming.
    “I don’t believe this!” India said to the empty room.
    She took her cell off the bedside table and went through the contacts to Mikael’s number.  He was usually always in her recent calls, but since they slept together she’d been avoiding his calls, and he had called a few times.  India took a deep breath and pressed the phone icon to connect the call.  She listened to the ring and half expected him not to answer. He’d called and left a few messages, some of them really sweet, but she was too much of a coward to call back.
    “Well, well, well, I thought you had joined witness protection and changed your name.” His voice was a deep baritone of amusement that sent shivers down her back. She could remember vividly what that mouth could do.
    “Hi…I’m sorry, I just needed some time,” India said.
    “I understand, we’ve been friends for so long that I hoped you could talk to me about anything, even us,” Mikael said.
    “We need to talk, and I need you to come over,” India said. “Like right now because your grandmother and my grandmother have taken insanity to a whole new level.”
    “Oh hell, do we have to go bail them out or something?” Mikael asked.
    “No, apparently they betrothed us when we had that fort sleepover and in their tipsy of sherry stupor entered us into some kind of marriage clause. Get this, it’s a legally binding contract,” India explained.
    Mikael laughed. “But we were nine and seven, what the hell? Is that even legal in the United States?”
    “How am I supposed to know? I’ve never been set up in a marriage before,” India snapped.
    “Well okay, I get this can be serious, but do I need to come over right now to take care of their crazy?” he asked.
    “There’s more,” she said slowly.
    “What else?”
    “Our night of tequila shots and the fun that ensued afterwards…”
    “Mmmm yes, that was more than fun.” His gravelly voice gave her that sexy shiver again.
    “Yes well, we have some consequences to that foray into pleasure. I’m pregnant and now Gran and Brownie think we’ll be getting married,” India explained.
    “Pregnant.”
    “Yes.”
    “With my baby.”
    “That’s correct.”
    “And our grandparents set us up to be married.”
    “That’s about the size of it.”
    India listened to the silence for a moment and wondered if he’d passed out.
    Finally he spoke. “I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes.”
    “Okay. Brownie is on her way so just come on up to my place,” India replied.
    “Um, are you happy, sad, or going to put my nuts in a vise?” Mikael asked.
    India smiled. “No nuts in a torture implement, and I don’t know how I feel yet.”
    “Understandable, see you in a bit.”
    “Okay, bye.”
    India disconnected the call and looked