“Addison, you of all people know we don’t have time to waste. We have to move quickly if we’re going to meet the deadline, and I, for one, am not going to drag my feet,” Fran said. “I’ve already had Millie clear your schedule, so please let’s not argue about this. Don’t forget, if we wait one day too long, this is all for naught.”

There wasn’t a muscle in Addison’s body that didn’t tighten when she realized her days were now being planned by others. She wasn’t a woman who answered to anyone, and even though she knew she had no choice, she was not yet prepared to give in to the inevitable. Opening a folder on the table, Addison shoved it toward Fran. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” she said in a voice low and void of all emotion.

“What’s that?” Fran said.

“There’s no medical report in there,” Addison said, pointing to the file.

Fran flinched back her head. “Medical report? What in the world are you talking about?”

“What are those?” Joanna asked, pointing to the papers.

“Oh,” Fran said as her shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry, Joanna, but I had to run a background check on you. That’s the report.”

“What’s it say?”

“It says you’re in debt, but you’re definitely not a criminal in any way, shape, or form,” Fran said, and closing the folder, she looked at Addison. “But I wasn’t told I needed to get a doctor’s release, too.”

“Did you actually think I’d just allow some stranger into my home without first knowing if she’s carrying some sort of disease? Marriage of convenience or not, one sneeze and she could infect us all with the plague,” Addison said with a sneer. “Before we go to the registry office, she goes to a doctor and gets checked out.”

“Addison, we don’t have time for this,” Fran said.

“Make time,” Addison said, slamming her hand on the table.

“I’ll go,” Joanna said, directing her response to Fran. “I don’t have a problem getting a physical, as long as she does the same thing.”

“What!” Addison barked.

“You heard,” Joanna said. “If you want a medical report on me, then I want one on you.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me.”

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem, now should it?” Joanna said, folding her arms across her chest.

Addison’s eyes turned murderous as she glared back at the woman sitting across from her. “Fine! Millie, call my doctor and tell her I’ll be over later for an exam.”

“Addison, it’s nearly five. The office will be closed,” Millie said.