'Statement'
They were standing in the barn and looking at Joe when a familiar face came around the corner.
"I told you I'd be checking up on you."
It was him, the devil himself, Mr. Gilbertson.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well we think this whole thing is a sham which is why your father here has made a deal. Andrew, if you fess up now you are free and she gets deported. If not, then you are going to be sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. So what's it gonna be?" Mr. Gilbertson looked at both of them, he knew he had claimed yet another victory.
Andrew looked at Margaret who was still shaking from being thrown into the icy water. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and keep her warm.
"Well?"
Joe looked at his only son. He didn't want to see him suffer any longer. "Just give it up Andrew."
"Fine! You know what… I give up! Here is your statement!" He looked at Margaret who knew it was time. She was fixing to be deported back to her home country… "I've been working for Margaret Tate for 3 years. We were never dating. Two days ago she pulled me into this sham and forced me to be her fiancé. But you know what, I don't care now."
Mr. Gilbertson smiled, he had finally gotten his statement.
"I don't care because I have fallen in love with this woman."
Margaret looked at him, she was fighting back the tears.
"What?" Joe and Mr. Gilbertson were both surprised by his statement.
"That's right. I'm in love with her and tomorrow we are getting married." He walked over to Margaret and took her hand as they walked into the house together and up to their room.
"You didn't have to do that. You could have just told him the truth and this would be over."
"Margaret I don't care, look, I meant what I said."
"Andrew I…" He interrupted her with a kiss as he pressed his lips to hers. She didn't protest as she let him kiss her.
Their kiss was interrupted when Gammy walked into the room. "Now Andrew you are going to come with me. Tomorrow is your wedding and you two have to give it a break. Come on now."
He smiled and looked at Margaret. "You know if I don't go, she will just…"
"Come right back, I know."
He placed a soft kiss upon her lips. "Goodnight Margaret."
"Goodnight Andrew."
With that he left and went downstairs to sleep on the couch.
Margaret laid in bed and thought about what Andrew had said, he loved her. She began to realize something. She wanted to love him in return and tomorrow morning she was going to look at him and say, "I do." She closed her eyes and sleep came easy. They were going to be together forever, and she was okay with it.