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We break into giggles, when suddenly Dad yells from the other room, “Would you two quit the chatter and bring me a cup of Odette’s weak coffee?”
Chapter 4
Madden
I step out of my Audi into the cool November air, leaves rustling around my feet as I walk into George’s Bistro in downtown Wichita. My mom and brothers invited me to lunch and, as much as I love excellent food, I can’t help but dread this meeting. They probably want to interrogate me about my total failure.
I was supposed to have found a woman and proposed to her by now, but after going out with the nearly twenty women that my dad recommended over the past four months, I still have found no one I’d be willing to marry, even for just a few years. I even scrolled through all of my contacts multiple times and considered reaching out to a few old flames, but I thought better of it. How could I expect any rational woman to enter a fake marriage with me if she won’t receive any benefit? At least the trust fund babies would have gotten some money.
How will I get to Congress now?
I strike my fist against my thigh. The only woman I felt any connection with in the past few months was the stunning redhead I met at my high school reunion in August. And every day I internally kick myself for not getting her number. Maybe she would’ve been the answer to my problems.
I’m sure my brothers will have some practical advice for me, although I wouldn’t call them marriage experts. David never dates and Brooks dates too much.
After the hostess seats me, I order a charcuterie plate–since Mom loves it so much– and lean back in my chair to take in my surroundings. George’s Bistro is a little piece of Paris in Wichita. With the black walls, gold trim, and modern gold sconces, the aesthetics are remarkable and the food is incredible. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It feels good to enjoy a moment of peace after such a hectic week.
When I open my eyes again, I see my brothers walking toward me. So much for peace.
Standing to greet them, I notice with suspicion that they both have huge, mischievous grins on their faces. We all take our seats and Brooks picks up the menu to study it, concealing his face. David simply smiles innocently.
“Okay, what’s going on? Why do you both look so suspicious?”
David sniffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Just as I’m about to call him out on his bald-faced lie, Brooks drops his menu and confesses. “Okay, okay. Don’t be dramatic! Sheesh. You know the Hastings, that older couple from church that Mom and Dad adopted as their own little charity case?”
“Yeah? What about them?” I look between my brothers in confusion.
“Do you remember that they have a daughter, Odette? She went to high school with you.” Brooks raises his eyebrows suggestively.
“Odette Hastings?” Her name sounds vaguely familiar. “She might have been on my debate team. She was pretty quiet, though. I remember little about her.”
“So, a few days ago, David and I met for dinner and we saw Mom at the same restaurant, eating with Mrs. Hastings. Well, Odette stopped in to pick up her mom and whoa.” Brooks says dramatically, eyes opened wide.
David nods in agreement and looks at me like I should know what they’re talking about.
“Whoa, what?” I ask in irritation.
“Whoa, meaning she looks a lot different than she did in high school. She’s kind of a babe now.” David laces his fingers together in front of him and smirks.
I chuckle. “We can’t possibly be thinking of the same person. The girl on my debate team wasn’t very attractive, from what I can remember.”
Brooks scoffs. “I’m not old like you two, so I never saw her in high school, but the woman we saw was gorgeous.”
“What is the point of this conversation, anyway?” I ask with one eyebrow raised.
Brooks throws his head back in exasperation. “She could be the perfect wife for you! Keep up.”
With my face void of expression and my tone dripping with sarcasm, I respond slowly, “Really? And she’s willing to sign away the next two years of her life just to help me win my campaign? Come on.”
Brooks goes on, undeterred. “She looked like the perfect Congressman’s wife. And she had a kind smile, unlike all those women Dad suggested.”
“There’s no way we’re talking about the same person.” I scrunch my nose up. “And you never met those women. How do you know what they looked like?”
Brooks’ expression freezes in a caught-red-handed smile. “I might have peeked at Dad’s list and called up a few… Only after you nixed them, though!”
David cuts in, probably hoping to avoid an argument. “Look, Madden, would it really hurt to get to know her? You might have more in common than you think. We asked Mom about her and she says Odette just moved back from D.C. Maybe she’s into the whole congressman thing.”
