Page 44 of Fake To Forever

“I am happy, Mom,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “And Christian… he’s taking good care of me.”

She nods, her eyes glassy with tears. “That’s all I need to hear, sweetheart.”

Christian leans down, kissing her cheek, and I can see how much this moment means to her. It’s bittersweet, knowing that we’re giving her what she wants, but that it’s not the whole truth. But as I look at Christian, standing there so strong and steady, I realize that maybe this won’t be such a bad arrangement.

“We’ll take it one day at a time,” Christian says, his voice gentle but firm. “We’ll make sure you’re part of everything, Mrs. Merrett. You’ll be with us every step of the way.”

My mom nods, her smile softening as she looks at us. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Her words hit me hard, the weight of them settling in my chest. I force a smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside me.

The silence that follows is heavy, but it’s strangely peaceful as well. My mom’s eyes close for a moment, and I can see the exhaustion etched into every line on her face. She’s trying so hard to stay strong, to be present, even when her body is betraying her. The guilt swells in my chest, knowing that we’re only giving her half of the truth.

Christian pulls up a chair beside the bed, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he’s aware of the fragile nature of the moment. He takes my mom’s hand again, and I can see the way her fingers relax in his, like she’s found some measure of comfort in his presence.

“Gary has always spoken so highly of you, Christian,” my mom says, her voice faint but warm. “I’m glad that you’re with Haven. I’ve always wanted her to find a good man to love her and care for her.”

Christian glances at me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “She’s very special to me too, Mrs. Merritt. I’m just grateful she’s let me be a part of her life.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my heart skip a beat. I can’t tell if he’s just that good at pretending or if there’s something more to what he’s saying. The lines between our arrangement and reality are starting to blur, and it scares me, but right now, with my mom looking at us like we’re her entire world, I push those thoughts aside.

“You’ve done more than that,” my mom says, her gaze shifting to me. “You’ve given her a future. A reason to keep going.”

I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them away, not wanting to fall apart in front of her. Not now.

“She’s given me just as much,” Christian replies, his voice low and steady. He looks at me, and it feels like there’s no one else in the room. “More than she knows.”

The intensity of his gaze makes my breath catch, and I have to look away, my mind spinning with emotions I can’t afford to feel right now. Not when we’re in the middle of this charade. The way he’s looking at me… it’s like he’s trying to tell me something without saying a word.

“Mom,” I say, clearing my throat and forcing myself to focus. “We wanted to tell you first. We’re planning to have a small ceremony soon, just us and a few close friends.”

Her eyes brighten at the mention of the wedding, and she squeezes my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. “That sounds perfect, sweetheart. I’m so glad you’re not waiting. Life’s too short to put off the things that matter.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, a stark reminder of the time we don’t have. I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“You’re right, Mom.”

Christian is still holding her other hand, his expression gentle as he watches our interaction.

“We’ll make sure it’s something special,” he promises. “Something you’ll be proud of.”

Her eyes soften as she looks at him, and I can see the gratitude there and the deep sense of relief that we’re giving her this, even if she doesn’t know the full story.

“I already am, Christian. I already am.”

The room falls into a comfortable silence after that, the three of us just sitting there, soaking in the moment. I can’t help but wonder what Christian is thinking, if he’s feeling the same mixture of guilt and relief that I am, but when I glance at him, all I see is calm reassurance. It’s like he’s made for this, like he’s the anchor I didn’t know I needed.

“We’ll come back tomorrow,” I say finally, not wanting to exhaust her. “And we can talk more about the wedding.”

Her eyes flicker with exhaustion, but she nods, a small smile on her lips. “I’d like that.”

Leaning down, I kiss her cheek softly. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, sweetheart,” she whispers. Her eyes drift to Christian, a weary but content smile on her face. “Take care of her for me, Christian.”

“Always,” he replies.

She’s asleep before we even reach the door. My heart in my throat as I try to hold back the emotions that threaten to over take me. We walk out of the room, the weight of what we’ve just done settling over us like a heavy blanket. As we step into the hallway, Christian’s hand finds mine, his fingers lacing through mine in a way that feels too natural, too easy.

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