His Temporary Wife (The Brides of Sunflower Falls #2)

Texts

texts

MELODY

Why am I getting messages from vendors about possible partnerships? And they’re saying you referred them?

TONY

Forking out. Sex later.

Duck.

Fuck.

WORKING out. TEXT later.

MELODY

You could have just not replied and let me think you were still sleeping. Don’t hurt yourself.

TWO HOURS LATER

TONY

Sorry about that.

I just emailed a couple places I’ve worked with in the past and asked them about anything new they had and maybe mentioned seeing some of your work and how our moms are friends.

They took it from there. Cross my heart.

MELODY

Friends? Isn’t that stretching things?

My mom met your mom once. I don’t think that constitutes friends.

TONY

You should check them out. These people do great work and they’d be great features for some of your higher end designs without breaking the budget.

MELODY

I thought you were supposed to be staying quiet and lying low.

TONY

I am. Pinky swear. Zach’s running everything through something that makes them think I’m possibly over in Europe with my parents.

I haven’t left the house since the day we got back.

I might be a bit bored.

MELODY

:photo of boxes piled up in living space by entrance door:

Shocking news. You can stop now. I don’t have space for all of this.

TONY

Donate what you don’t want to whoever needs it most.

MELODY

How am I supposed to explain donations of baby clothes and other stuff when no one’s supposed to know I’m pregnant?

TONY

Have Ana do it?

There should be a few orders of diapers in there. I wasn’t sure which kind would be best or if you’d want to do cloth or not.

MELODY

You realize this baby’s not arriving for another eight or so months, right?

TONY

Being prepared is never a bad thing.

But, again, may be a bit bored.

MELODY

:photos of house under construction:

We’ve got the house closed in, and we’re starting with the main floor for installing cabinetry and flooring.

We had to go back to the county for an amendment to the permitting because of the design changes to the secondary bathroom, but we should have approval for that soon since most of the plumbing won’t be materially affected.

TONY

Excellent. Sorry about causing a delay, but a tub’s going to be much better in there, right?

MELODY

Your house, your design. You get what you want.

TONY

…

Are you okay?

MELODY

…

I will be.

Just tired.

Didn’t sleep well.

TONY

Do you need me to send more peppermint tea?

MELODY

I can buy my own peppermint tea if I need more, but I’m still well stocked.

I’ll be fine. Seriously.

Just lay off trying to make connections for me when I didn’t ask for them? Please?

TONY

Sure.

I just want to make your life easier.

I’m sorry.

MELODY

Thank you.

Go work out some more. Or whatever. I need to get back to work.

TONY

MELODY

Bye.