The Engagement

Kristen Brennan is a beautiful young woman living in Los Angeles as a paying guest at a residential hotel. She has a dreary, dead-end job, goes to church each Sunday and wonders why, despises her fellow residents, and doesn’t do too much of anything else ever, certainly nothing interesting. When she overhears two of the cattiest residents talking about her, pitying her because she never has a nice young man to take her out, doesn’t even have any friends to hang out with, she decides it's time to give them something to talk about.
Infuriated by their pity, and because deep down she knows everything they said about her is true, she surprises herself and the other residents when she announces that she will be dining the next evening with her fiancé at the elegant Quadrant Grill. In the morning, Kristen is too ashamed and embarrassed to admit her deceit to her fellow residents, so she plans to the go to Quadrant, have dinner alone, and invent stories to tell the others about her wonderful date with her imaginary fiancé. Then, when she arrives at the grillroom she sees that some of the snarkier residents have followed her to the Quadrant to check out her mysterious fiancé. Going crazy thinking about the humiliation of being found out, in desperation, she approaches to a handsome young man in an army uniform and begs him to follow her lead and pretend to be her fiancé. Never missing a beat and awed by the beautiful woman pleading for his help, he instantly agrees to the deception. Hours later, after dinner, drinks, and lots of talking, Kristen has to admit it’s the best time she’s had in years, even if it’s all a hoax. She never for a moment thinks that Peter is interested or attracted to her. She thinks of him as a kind man who helped her and rudely dismisses him after he escorts her home.
Back at Galvin House, everyone is buzzing with the news that Kristen really is engaged, and that he’s gorgeous, and a decorated military officer, too! It doesn't take much to stir up the residents and suddenly everyone is interested in Kristen and wants to be her friend. Life is so getting much better. In fact, it would be perfect, except that Peter Bowen has no intention of being dismissed or playing a role for the benefit of Kristen’s nosy neighbors. He insists that they really are engaged, just as she suggested and he agreed, no matter how much or how often Kristen tries to discourage him. As Kristen ponders her newfound happiness even as she resists it, she wonders about the love of God that has been distorted by her fellow residents and spinster aunt and how it has affected her life, mostly not for good. Is a dreary life like her aunt's or the other residents all she can hope for, or can she change? Peter continues to pursue her with the help of his scheming sister, and Kristen continues to shut him down, even as she admits to herself that she is having the best time of her life. And why does she think about Peter all day, every day? What will it take for her to find her happy ending?