We sat down and picked up our forks. Crystal looked as though the world had been lifted off of her shoulders, but she was still a bit pale.
After we were done with the tiramisu, she gave me a quick kiss, grabbed her purse and headed for the front door. “Thank you again, Gavin. Having you help with this means the world to me.”
“Hold it! You’re still pale. You need to go get in my bed and get some rest. I have some work to do; then I’ll be in later. Don’t worry. I’ll wake you up in time for a bite of breakfast together before you have to head home and get ready for your day.”
She nodded, and let me lead her toward my bedroom. After giving her a peck on the cheek, I quietly closed the door behind me, careful not to let myself linger too long. Having Crystal curled up in my bed was definitely a temptation, but I had work to do.
After cleaning up the kitchen, I pulled up some contacts on my phone and sent off a few text messages. I had made numerous legal connections over the years while working for the Truman’s. If everything went according to plan, we could easily convince a Moldovan judge that we were married. Richard had taught me quite a bit about international law, and faking a marriage certificate should be relatively easy.
The only tricky part would be getting Crystal to convince the court that we were actually married. Lying, or faking it, as it was called in this situation, wouldn’t come easy for my gal. Crystal wore her emotions on her sleeve, so to speak.
As I was receiving information from a few contacts about what paperwork would be needed, I thought about how much fun it was going to be playing house with Crystal in Moldova. I had never been so smitten with anyone before. Every morning I woke up thinking about her, and every night I dreamt about her. Living together might not be the same, though. So I was eager to see if we had enough chemistry between us to make this work for the long-term.
Regardless of what happened, I would always be there for Crystal — that was certain.
15
Crystal
Two Weeks Later
Icouldn’t believe how easily our scandalous adventure was coming together. Gavin had spent the past few weeks getting all of the legal documents in order, or as legitimate as they could be. The only item I had to provide was a new passport photo, which was easy enough. All I had to do was have one taken at the drugstore not far from Annie’s studio.
Honestly, I felt it was best not to ask Gavin too many questions. He was a smart man with many legal connections, and I trusted him to get me through this mess without going to jail. If everything went as planned, then I’d have ten million dollars to my name in just a few short weeks.
I spent the morning nervously packing my bags. The trip was to convince a Moldovan judge that Gavin and I were married, but he had suggested we do some fun sightseeing while we were in Europe. Of course, I agreed.
Gavin glanced down at my shaky hands as I put another outfit into a suitcase. “Honey, there’s no reason to be this nervous. Everything is taken care of, and no matter what, we’re going to have a good time. Both of us need to get away for a while.”
I sat on the bed and glanced over my checklist one more time. “Gavin, make sure we have the fake marriage certificate and every document we could possibly need. I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just —“
“Everything will be alright, Crystal.” He kissed the top of my head.
“Something tells me this is a one-shot opportunity, and hopefully, we will make it back to River Valley without getting caught.”
“I have every document that we could need to prove we are married, dear.”
“But not too much documentation, because then it would be obvious that we’re trying to fake a marriage. Wouldn’t you agree? What if the judge doesn’t believe a single word that we say?”
Gavin pulled out his wallet and smirked. “No worries. Look, I even got you an identification card that indicates your legal name is Crystal Ann Tillery. So if we’re in front of the judge, and they need further proof, we’re covered.”
“Thanks, but I can’t help but be a bit worried. Lying is something I’m not used to doing.”
I sat on the bed and watched my hands shake uncontrollably. Gavin reached down and grabbed them. “For someone who’s into holistic medicine and yoga, you need to learn how to chill and breathe.”
My hands instantly stopped shaking, and I smiled up at him. “I remember that was something my mother used to say when I got nervous.” Throughout this entire process, it felt as though she had been sending me signs from above that I was on the right path.
The rest of the afternoon, Gavin and I ran a few last-minute errands and finished packing. Then, later on that evening, we headed to Richard’s mansion for a going away party.
That’s what they told us it would be, but when we arrived, there was a big banner in the living room that said “Happily Unmarried." In addition to Richard, Annie, Jake, and Julianna, Mr. and Mrs. Truman were also there to send us off with good wishes. I was still unsure about the whole plan, but seeing everyone there for us made me feel a little more at ease.
Richard and Annie had our favorite Italian restaurant cater to the entire party, and he also gave us some suggestions for what to do while in Moldova.
“Make sure you try some of the local food. Don’t go to American restaurants just because it’s familiar. They have amazing dishes, like Moldovan pie and their version of chicken noodle soup that I know you two will love,” Richard told us.
He piqued my curiosity. “What’s in a Moldovan pie?”
“They make them with all different kinds of ingredients, such as cheese, dill, and even sweet versions. What makes them so good, though, is their flakey crust. Trust me; you guys will love it.”
