Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)(54)

“And now he wants to marry you,” Montana said with a sigh. “It’s so romantic.”

It was more practical than romantic, but why state the obvious?

Pia shrugged. “He really wants to be a part of things. And I sort of liked the idea of not being so alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Montana told her. “You have us.”

“I know and that’s great.” She hesitated.

Liz got it right away. “But having friends with lives isn’t the same as having someone who is always there for you. When I was pregnant with Tyler, I was scared and confused. You’re having triplets.”

Pia nodded. “I try not to think about the actual number. Anyway, Raoul’s been with me as I made every decision. He’s been a rock. Today, after the ultrasound confirmed all three embryos have implanted, he asked me to marry him.”

“You’re having Crystal’s babies,” Liz said, her eyes filling with tears. “That’s such a blessing for both of you. She would be thrilled.”

Pia was still in the confused camp, but she smiled anyway. “I’m committed now.”

“Babies,” Montana said. “And a proposal. Was it wonderful? Did he get down on one knee?”

Pia hesitated. “Montana, we’re not in love. Raoul wants to marry me and be a part of the babies’ lives. He wants to be their father. When I asked him why, he pointed out that I’m not their biological mother and no one is questioning my commitment. I’m willing to have them for a friend, because it’s the right thing to do. He wants to be their father, and me to be his wife, because of Keith and because it’s the right thing to do.”

Just saying the words was tough. Believing them would take some time.

“I wasn’t sure whether to say yes at first,” she admitted. “But he can be really convincing. We like and respect each other. He’s a good man and I trust him. I haven’t been able to say that about a guy before.”

Liz hugged her. “I have a good feeling about this,” she said. “Arranged marriages have worked for generations.”

“But you’re not in love,” Montana said, looking crushed. “Don’t you want to be in love?”

“Sometimes you have to be practical,” Liz told her. “Love can grow.”

Pia hadn’t thought of that. She wasn’t sure if she could make herself that vulnerable—especially with so much at stake. It would hurt too much if he didn’t return her feelings and, worse, it could make their arrangement awkward.

“Maybe he’ll fall madly in love with you,” Montana told her.

“I don’t think so,” Pia said firmly. “To date, all the men in my life have resisted the process…and me. Men who claim to want to be with me tend to leave. I’d rather have the truth up front. Raoul’s been honest and I appreciate that.”

“I guess.” Montana didn’t sound convinced. “It’s just not romantic, you know?”

“Romance can be painful,” Pia reminded her.

Liz sat back down. “So there’s no love allowed?”

“We haven’t discussed the rules,” Pia admitted. “But it’s understood.”

“Hmm. You’ll need to be careful, then. The heart is a tricky beast.”

“Trust me. I have big plans to stay emotionally whole.” She hesitated. “Could you two please not say anything about why we’re getting married? It’s okay to tell Charity, but no one else.”

“Of course we won’t talk,” Liz promised. “You don’t need that kind of speculation right now. But brace yourself. Everybody is going to find out about you and Raoul, not to mention the pregnancy. You’re going to be a star.”

“I can handle it.” Pia had been the center of attention in town once before and it had been awful. Now the reasons were different and she was sure everything would be fine.

Raoul had given his word and she chose to believe him. He would stay with her and the babies. Maybe they weren’t crazy in love, but that was okay. There were a lot of different ways to make a happy family and they would find theirs.

CHAPTER TWELVE

PIA AVOIDED GOING TO THE grocery store as long as she could. If there was one place in Fool’s Gold where she was likely to run into people wanting to talk about her upcoming marriage, it was somewhere between produce and the frozen-food aisle. But she’d used up the last of her milk that morning and there was absolutely nothing in her freezer, so it was time to grit her teeth and get through it.

Thinking that the store would be quieter midday rather than after work, she used her lunch hour to go there. The trip there was stressful enough with lots of men she didn’t recognize strolling through town. Some guy had even pulled out a grocery cart and handed it to her as she entered the store. Talk about strange.

She got through cleaning supplies, the meat counter and was halfway to the dairy case when Denise Hendrix spotted her.

“Pia!” the woman cried, abandoning her own cart and rushing over. “I heard. I’m so happy.”

Pia braced herself for a warm, enveloping hug. Denise was the matriarch of the Hendrix family. An attractive woman in her early fifties, she’d lost her husband about ten years before. She was an active member of the community and the mother of six, including her daughters who were identical triplets.