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Mom’s eyes twinkle with delight, and I internally groan. She’s been waiting for a good excuse to marry me off and plan a wedding, especially since my little sister Sophie eloped. “Well, we know plenty of lovely young ladies! Oh, just think of the wedding we could plan.” She claps her hands together.

“Settle down, Diane.” Dad barks at Mom from across the table. “There’s no reason for any son of mine to marry someone if he doesn’t want to.”

I stand and walk over to the fireplace where I left my computer bag last night. After powering on my MacBook, I walk back over to my father and pull up Paul’s email for him to look over. “I’ve been up all night thinking about this, and it doesn’t look like anything will get me elected without a wife.”

Dad busies himself scrolling through the links Paul sent while Mom grabs a notepad and starts writing a list of her friends’ single daughters. I finish my cup of coffee and walk back into the kitchen to get a refill while my Dad stares at my computer with a stern brow. When I enter the dining room again, I see my mother is making a new Pinterest board–”Madden’s Wedding”–on her phone.

Finally, Dad has read enough. He closes the laptop and folds his hands together. “Well, I suppose you need to decide how important it is to you to become a Congressman. How far are you willing to go?”

Mom sets her phone down and looks at me. “You have some time to date, right? I mean, you won’t announce your campaign until mid-January.”

“I suppose so...”

Dad scratches his chin, deep in thought. “Marriage seems extreme. Can’t you simply fake an engagement? Then you could stage a break up after you’re elected and everyone goes home happy.”

“An engagement doesn’t really scream committed family man, now does it? People end engagements all the time. Marriage would make him look much more serious, Ted.” Mom shoots Dad an indignant look, then continues. “It’s the end of May already, so realistically you’d want to be engaged by October.” She calculates the months on her fingers.

“October seems fast.” I draw in a shaky breath.

“The timeline isn’t ideal, but people have met and gotten married in far less time, right?”

“I wouldn’t say that’s a ringing endorsement,” Dad mutters into his coffee as he takes a sip.

I slump in my chair. “I’ve worked so hard for this. At the end of the day, I think I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get to Congress.”

“If this is really what you want to do…” Dad frowns in disapproval, then heaves a gusty, resigned sigh. “Well, it’s not like the marriage has to last forever.”

Mom’s jaw drops. “Don’t put that idea in his head!”

But Dad’s comment has planted a seed in my thoughts. “He’s not wrong. What if I could find a girl who would be willing to marry me for just a few years?”

“Madden!” Mom looks between Dad and I in horror.

Dad smiles slowly, probably because he knows he’s making my mother fume. “You know, several of my friends have a marriage clause in their daughter’s trust funds. I’d be willing to bet that one of those girls might be willing to marry you just to get their hands on their trust money.”

Mom purses her lips at my dad, then turns her head toward me. “Madden, think of the scandal if word got out! It would ruin your chances of getting elected!”

I nod, conceding the point. But I have an answer for it. “Don’t most people sign prenups before getting married? We could just throw in a non-disclosure agreement as well.”

“But will a woman like that make a good politician’s wife? You need someone poised and proper by your side.” Mom rips her list of eligible ladies from the notepad and shakes it toward me. “These are the type of women who will get you to Congress.”

“Will one of those women agree to marry me in four months and be willing to dissolve the marriage after I get elected?”

Mom throws up her hands and looks frantically at Dad. “Ted, tell your son he’s being irrational.”

Dad purses his lips thoughtfully. “Your mother has a point. You’ll probably need to meet a few of these trust fund babies first and see if you can find one who’ll be an asset to your campaign.”

I grin back at him. “You’re brilliant.”

Mom stomps out of the room, mumbling something about not wanting anything to do with our villainous plans.

I focus my attention back to my Dad. “Would it really be so horrible? As long as the woman got something out of the marriage as well? I’ll get my seat in Congress, she’ll get her trust fund.”

“It’s not an ideal situation, obviously. Whether it’s for two years or fifty, marriage is a big commitment.” Dad glances tiredly at the door my mother just stormed through. “But if you really want to do this, I can get you a list of names.”

“Yes. I want to do this. Get me a list and I’ll go on dates until I find one suitable enough.” I scratch my chin as I think. “It can’t be just anyone, she’ll have to play the part of a doting wife and be intelligent enough to win over the public.”

My father smirks. “And be pleasant enough for you to live with for a few years?”