“I’ve managed to refinance most of the items and put myself on a budget until I can build up my monthly payout. “
Payout? Elissa was so confused, but she knew this was something her proud aunt wouldn’t tell her.
“I know my retirement fund payout is smaller after the loan. Yes, I thought it would be back also, but I have to say I’m not concerned. I didn’t really understand when I took the lien that I wouldn’t get my regular amount back then, but it’s okay. I built it up once I can put it back again. Thanks for all of your help.”
Elissa looked through the crack in the door to see her aunt with her head hanging low, and both of her hands braced on the pastor’s desk. Her aunt put up a hand and spoke.
“Lord, you’ve gotten me this far I know you won’t leave me as I go forward. I praise your name in and out of the storms.”
Elissa stepped away from the door and looked up at the ceiling. What had she done? Aunt Becky was a rock and safety, and she had brought her to this. Elissa had been so wrapped up in herself that she had forgotten anyone else. She had to make this right. She turned from the door and went back to the side exit of the church. Elissa had a sense of purpose and stride to her now. She was going to fix this, and she knew just the person who would help her.
* * *
How did she move so fast? One moment they had all been here in the park. He saw one of the churchwomen talking to Elissa. He turned to listen in on the verbal joust that was going on between Colleen and Travers for a few moments, and when he looked back, she was gone. He was a little panicked, thinking they were talking for nothing without Elissa, and then he saw her coming from the side of the church. He didn’t’ know why, but the sight of her made him calm.
Something was different. Elissa’s back was still, and she had full strides as if she were going to war. He wanted to tap Travers on the shoulder, but something in Elissa’s demeanor made him decide to take care of this himself.
He hoped there weren’t any problems with the women in the church. He knew how prim some people could be, especially in a small town. Elissa stopped in front of him and just looked at him.
“Elissa?”
“I know what I need to stay married to you.”
The statement made him take a step back as if she had slapped him.
“Yes?”
“I’ll need money upfront.”
Liam heard the words, but he couldn’t believe it.
“Elissa what-“ he started when she interrupted him by holding up her hand.
“I don’t want to discuss it. Can you give me the money upfront?”
The weight of disappointment weighed him down. Then Traver's words came to him, and he realized that once again, he was being naïve about women and people in general again.
“How much do you want?” he asked. He could tell his tone had changed. He saw Elissa flinch from his tone as well, and he didn’t give in to the urge to make her more comfortable. She probably didn’t see him as anything but a dollar bill anyway. This was a woman who had told everyone in college that he wasn’t the one because he wasn’t smart enough. People don’t change, and he just had to get that through this head.
“Eighty thousand,” she said.
“I didn’t know that was the going price to stay with me. Don’t you think that a little low for your time?” Again he saw her flinch, and he turned away from her to look at Travers. He wouldn’t feel any guilt of shame for his words.
“This is hard enough for us both, Liam. Can you do it?”
Liam laughed bitterly. “I can do it. Let’s go tell –“
“Hold on, there are some things we need to discuss besides the money,” she said.
Liam turned around and laughed. “Oh, was there something more important than the money here, I’m surprised.’
“Maybe we should stop before we start. If you’re going to act like that, there’s no way we are going to do.”
“Fine, what else would you like?”
“No one knows about the money but us.”
“You don’t want them to know how well you made out?”
“Liam, it’s not about me. It’s about Aunt Becky. I don’t want her to be embarrassed.”
Liam sighed and nodded. “Done. I have my own conditions.”
Elissa’s head picked up. “You have conditions? I’m marrying you. I think that’s all you should get!”
“Well, you’re not marrying me for free, so let’s not pretend you are doing a public service sacrifice.”
“Fine, go ahead. What do you want?”
“I want to be the one to decide how long the marriage is. I mean, I want to make sure I get my money’s worth,” he said.
“If this is your attitude, I’m not surprised you need to pay for a wife.”
He gritted his teeth. He wouldn’t feel bad, Elissa was the one charging him. “I want six months with a review, and we’ll stay at the hotel.”
Elissa laughed. “Whoa there! I guess this is the expression give a man a rope, and he thinks he’s a cowboy.”
“What's the problem?” Liam asked, aggravated.
“ The problem is I have a life. I know that you have a life as well, but you can move yours here to Chusada that I can't move mine to the hotel.”
“You want me to stay here in this town?”
“Yes, I do. What is it? Is it that the town isn’t good enough for you anymore? Besides, your grandmother is here.. “
Liam ran his hands through his hair. He couldn't believe how poorly this was going. It was all going sideways. From how much Elissa had changed to where he was right now. All these women in his life were just wrecking it. At least his grandmother cared about him, and she was putting him through these hoops for his own benefit. Elissa, he didn't even know what happened to Elissa.
“Fine six months with the opportunity to review, and we can stay here. “
“Done.”
With that out of the way, you looked at Elissa and saw that her shoulders had stump down in relief. He's supposed that this was pressure. It's assumed that the both of them had been under a lot of stress the last couple of days. Then out of nowhere, he mentally shook himself and remembered Elissa was under pressure, and she was relieving it by asking him for the money. She didn't deserve the sympathy he was giving to her. He had to remember this was just a business deal to secure all the things that he really loved.
“Well then, let's go and stop the dueling duo over there and then get all of his paperwork done. Because if I understand it right, Mrs. Butler, you have to find us a house. “
Chapter Eight
Elissa looked at Liam and had to come to a realization. Liam was good to look at, but she had a weird feeling that he had forgotten what it meant to be in Chusada. She so did not need this. Her aunt Becky said she had a habit of expecting the worse. Elissa hoped her aunt Becky was right.
She and Liam had told Colleen and Travers about the agreement. Colleen had been shocked, and Elissa knew she should expect a phone call about the issue. Travers, on the other hand, had seemed triumphant. She could tell that Liam had been surprised when she’d said her terms, but she couldn’t be concerned with his opinion. The fact of the matter he was the last person to be judging. Who messes up to the point they need to buy a bride?