The Accidental Groom

hot chocolate in her hands, savoring the sweet, comforting taste as she gazed out at the street beyond. The world seemed to be moving in slow motion around h

't necessarily devastated, she was left questioning the path she had chosen. Was she too quick to invest so much of her

he lost herself in the rhythm of the swirling moti

e a sip, a familiar voice broke

need you t

he door. He wasn't exactly a stranger to her-he was someone from town, a man she'd seen at the local events and gatherings. Tall, dark-

g to process his sudden pres

s than she had ever seen it. There was a trace of panic in his eyes, and for a

nd of a big favor," Alex said,

ure what you mean." She set her cup

e making sure no one was eavesdropping, "this is goi

on written across her face.

marry me," Al

n impossible reality. Emily blinked twice

f joke, a misunderstanding. But from the look in Alex's

e no other choice," Alex insisted, stepping closer

ly racing. "Marry you?" she repeated, her voice bare

strated. "This is the last thing I wanted. But my family, they're

f. "Are you serious? You're asking me to

. This isn't about love or anything like that," he said, his words measured, but his eyes told a different story. "I just

plea made her hesitate. She thought about the verses she had read just this morning-"Trust in the Lord with all your heart a

ange opportunity to make things right, to help so

midst of the chaos he was facing. And though they didn't know each other well, there was a familiarity to his presence. M

ead. She looked down at her hands, nervously rubbing her palms together. "I'm not

ing from you. I just need to get through this. My family's pressuring me into this-if I don't

king for help, she thought. He doesn't have anyone else to turn to. And there was so

ed to do?" Emily asked,

get married in a small ceremony. I'll handle all the paperwork, and then we can go our sep

t could be the solution to the problem she had been grappling w

nce more: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for

painless as possible. I promise, this will be over quickly, and we won't even h

plea for help, ra

id, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them. "I'll do it

he looked genuinely relieved. "Thank you, Emil

re, temporary contract, Emily couldn't shake the feeling tha

st agreed to?

ental marriage was happening. And the real question was-would it remain

of kindness, perhaps-her heart thudded in her chest with an anxiety she couldn't shake. She had agreed t

intment with a local officiant, arranging for the smallest of ceremonies-it was becoming

he simplest dress possible-a white dress, yes, but nothing that would make her look like a real bride. She wasn't a bride, she reminded herself.

is presence lingered in her thoughts-his deep voice, the vulnerability in his eyes as he'd as

words of Proverbs 3:5-6. Maybe she wasn't meant to underst

opened it to find Alex standing there, his post

e asked with a

sure I'll ever be ready for this." She was trying to mask the u

ted. He leaned against the doorframe, his hands shoved into his pockets. "I'm not

rd, but the weight of it wasn't lost on her. The thought that Alex

e before we go?" Alex ask

a," Emily said, nodding. "

e, something musky and warm, making her heart race for reasons she wasn't ready to

g routine. As they sat down with their drinks, Emily couldn't help but glance at Alex over the rim of

I mean, what exactly is going to happen after this? Are we just... pret

s on the table. "Honestly, Emily, I don't know. I didn't think this

gh on her chest. She stared at her coffee, swirling it gently. "But I don't know wh

ot to ask. It's insane. I don't even know what I'm doing, but... I s

on her. Emily's heart shifted uncomfortably as she remembered the Bible verse that had stayed with her from earlier: "For I know

if this was her moment to make a differe

settling over her. "But we need to be clear abo

You can leave whenever you want. You'll never h

ether to be relieved or to be even more uncertain. The m

seen many weddings in recent years. The few cars parked outside gave the whole scene a quiet, almost intimate feel. In

ture of nerves and sincerity. "You

n. Was she sure? Could she

though she wasn't enti

ted them as they stepped inside, his smile wel

conflicting emotions. She tried to ignore the sensation of Alex standing so close t

join these two in marriage, not for convenience, not for practicality, but for the vows that t

s meant for couples who had known each other for years, not a m

s she spoke her part, she couldn't help but feel the truth of what she was saying, despite the circ

luttered at

ced them husband and wife, Alex leaned over and w

ing between them, a silent acknowledgment of

hers, and for a fleeting moment, Emily wondered if this