Chapter 3 No.3

Deloria's POV

When I walked out of the county clerk's office, it was only 11:30 AM. I suddenly realized what an insane thing I'd done.

I actually married a man whom I had just met.

Gerald, who was standing next to me, said, "You still got time if you wanna change your mind."

"No, of course not." I quickly turned around and smiled at Gerald. "I was just thinking that this is probably the craziest thing I've ever done."

"Same here," Gerald agreed. Then he looked at his watch again and said, "I'm about to go on a business trip for a meeting."

"Go. I hope I didn't delay your trip," I replied immediately.

Gerald looked at me resignedly. "How am I gonna contact you when I come back?"

Realizing what he meant, I embarrassedly patted my forehead. "I forgot. We haven't exchanged our numbers."

Gerald took my phone and entered his number. Then he handed my phone back to me.

I immediately dialed the number. Hearing the ringtone, I hung up.

"That's my number. Safe journey, Mr. Locksley." I shook my phone with a smile.

"Thank you for your kind wishes, Mrs. Locksley," Gerald replied as he gazed at me with his deep eyes.

Hearing his address to me, I felt a bit bashful. I quickly took a few steps forward and left in a cab.

Soon, I returned to Elaine's apartment.

Woody had already left home for work. And Maeve was helping Elaine hang the laundry on the balcony.

Seeing me return, Elaine asked with concern, "Deloria, why are you back? Don't you have to work today?"

"I'll go to work in the afternoon. Is Alan still asleep?"

Alan Todd was Elaine's son, and he was a little imp.

"Not yet. Or it wouldn't be so quiet." Elaine grinned.

I took Elaine's hand and said, "There's something I wanna tell you. Maeve and I are planning to move out."

"Why? Did Woody say something that upset you?" Elaine looked at me in surprise.

Maeve walked over and asked, "What happened?"

"Mommy, Elaine, I got married," I handed Maeve the marriage license. Then I continued, "Surprise! Mom, we're moving in with my husband."

"You got married?!" Maeve squealed. "Today?"

She immediately took the marriage license and scrutinized it.

Elaine stared at me in disbelief and said, "Deloria, what's going on? You don't even have a boyfriend, do you?"

"Today was the first time I met him," I shrugged and answered.

"Are you nuts?" Elaine exclaimed, covering her mouth.

"Why don't you discuss it with me?" Maeve asked in disapproval. "I just want you not to close yourself off because of your previous relationship. I hope you can go out and meet some boys. You don't even know this guy. How can you marry him? Hasn't my failed marriage taught you anything?"

"Maeve's right. You were too impulsive," Elaine said, holding my hand.

I gazed at Maeve and thought of that report again, a lump in my throat.

I fought the urge to cry and asked Maeve, "Mom, are you still gonna hide it from me? I saw the pathology report. I really don't want you to worry about me anymore."

"Geez!" Maeve exclaimed, grabbing my arm excitedly. "That's someone else's report. I'm perfectly fine!"

"What?" I looked at Maeve, stunned. "You're not lying just to make me feel better, are you?"

So the whole thing was a mistake?

"Didn't you see the name behind the report?" Maeve shook her head, feeling funny.

I was slack-jawed. At that time, I feared that Maeve would find out, so I just took a quick glance. I didn't notice the name behind the report indeed.

Maeve took out the envelope from her pocket and looked at me, saying, "Take a closer look."

I quickly opened the envelope. This time, I made sure I didn't miss anything. Maeve was telling the truth.

"Talk to the guy and get a divorce. It's all a misunderstanding," said Elaine.

"I don't think it's appropriate," I said. "Gerald is Daphne's friend. She introduced us to each other." I gently patted Elaine's hand. "You don't needa worry about Gerald's character. He told me something about him on our date. He works at the Kircher Group with a stable income. Currently, he rents a condo and owns a car. On top of that, he's handsome."

"Since that's the case, you should thank Daphne and invite Gerald over to a meal. I needa make sure if he's the right guy for you," Maeve recovered from the shock and said.

"No problem, Mom." With that, I returned to my room and rang Daphne up.

She picked up and said, "I'm so sorry, Deloria! Jerry had something to attend to, so he had to take a rain check."

Hearing Daphne's words, I was so shocked that I almost dropped my phone.

If Daphne's friend was called Jerry, then who the hell was the guy I married today?

I immediately called Gerald, trying to figure the whole thing out. Yet he had already turned off his phone.