Page 43 of Fake To Forever

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I whisper back, trying to muster a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.

The door to Mom’s room opens easily, and the familiar sight of my mom lying in the hospital bed greets me. She’s thinner than the last time I saw her, her skin pale and fragile-looking against the white sheets. When she sees us, a smile lights up her face, and for a moment, she looks like the mom I remember, vibrant and full of life.

“Haven, sweetheart,” she says, her voice weak but filled with warmth. “It’s good to see you. Who’s this with you?”

I walk over to her, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. “Hi, Mom. How are you feeling today?”

“Oh, you know me,” she says with a small chuckle. “Still kicking, despite everything.”

Mom looks from me to Chrisitan with a brow raised. “Who’s this young man?”

Christian steps forward, taking her hand in his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Merritt. I’m Christian Tallow.”

“Tallow?” She furrows her brow for a moment in concentration. “Aren’t you Gary’s friend from college?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mom glances at me, confusion on her face. “What’s going on here? Is this what I think it is? Does your brother know about this?”

I shrug, a small cough escapes me as I murmur, “He’s been in the oil fields… we haven’texactlyhad a chance to tell him.”

“I know I should’ve waited for Garrett to get back before pursuing Haven,” Christian jumps in. “But I just couldn’t resist. I was afraid someone else would come in and scoop her up before me.”

That makes my mom smile, a soft giggle escaping her. “Oh, you’re a charmer, aren’t you?”

He grins, and I can see how easily he fits into this role. It’s so natural for him to be charming and kind. It makes what we’re about to do even harder.

I sit down on the edge of the bed, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. I can feel Christian’s gaze on me, waiting for me to take the lead. I swallow hard, trying to find the right words.

“Mom, there’s something we need to tell you,” I begin, my voice trembling slightly.

Her eyes flick between us, a curious smile playing on her lips. “What is it, honey?”

I glance at Christian, and he gives me a barely perceptible nod, encouraging me to continue. I take a deep breath and force the words out.

“Christian and me… we’re engaged.”

The room seems to hold its breath, the weight of my words hanging in the air. My mom’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Engaged?” she repeats, her voice breathless with disbelief. “How long have you two been together? You’ve never mentioned being in a relationship before.”

“It’s, uh, been kind of a secret,” I explain, hoping she can’t hear the tremble in my voice. “Since Christian is so… high profile, we’ve had to keep things low key.”

Blinking, Mom takes a moment, seeming to let that information settle. I worry that she won’t believe me, but then her lips curl into a wide smile.

“Oh, Haven, that’s wonderful! I had no idea, but I completely understand why you had to keep it a secret. I’m so happy for you!”

She reaches out, pulling me into a weak but warm embrace. I hug her back, my heart aching with the knowledge that this is what she wanted, that this is what we’re giving her, even if it’s not entirely real. I wonder if a part of her suspects something is up. She has accepted my explanation a little too easily, but maybe she just doesn’t want to think too hard about it since her time is limited, anyway. If we all just go along with this and don’t ask too many questions, we can make this work.

When she releases me, she turns to Christian, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “And you, Christian—you’ve made me so happy! You’re going to take care of my little girl.”

Christian smiles, his expression soft and sincere. “Absolutely, Mrs. Merritt. Haven means the world to me.”

I know he’s saying what needs to be said, but there’s something in his tone that makes my heart skip a beat… something that feels real in a way I wasn’t expecting.

My mom looks between us, her smile radiant. “This is all I’ve ever wanted for you, Haven. To know that you’re happy and taken care of, especially now…”

Her voice trails off, and I see the shadow of what she’s not saying—the knowledge that she won’t be around much longer.

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