Page 91 of Fauxmance

"No." As I exhaled, she added, "But I want to be clear, Magnolia. I'm not encouraging you and Hayden to keep this whole façade going. Though I like that kind of thing in fiction, I want you both to find love. Real love. I've decided to keep your secret, not just because I'm your therapist and I'd never divulge anything you tell me in confidence, but also because I love my son."

I blinked, hardly able to believe my ears.

"To be honest, I think you may be good for each other." She smiled. "Who knows? Romance might be just what the doctor ordered. No pun intended."

"Okay," I said, "but you understand this isn't real. Right?"

She gave a small shrug. It'd only been a day since my last appointment, but I truly hoped she'd forgotten the part where I said I was falling for Hayden. The twinkle in her eyes made me think she remembered every word.

"This…didn't go how I expected."

"Did you think I'd run off to tell the family?"

I nodded. "Yeah, kind of."

She waved that away. "If and when they find out, it won't be from me."

I felt a sudden wave of relief.

"I've always liked you, Magnolia," she said. "For someone so young, you've been through so much, and still you seem to find joy in the world. Not everyone gets to that place."

"I had a lot of help," I said, nodding to her.

"Thank you for trusting me to help you."

I gave her a small smile. "Thank you for not revealing Hayden and my secret."

She let out a scoff. "As if I'd choose my in-laws over my son and his new girlfriend."

"We're just pretending," I reminded her.

But she carried on as if I hadn't spoken. "Plus, you've already done the impossible. You got Hayden to a wedding."

"Two," I corrected. "He went to my sister's last weekend."

Dr. M (aka Mrs.Davenport) shook her head. "I never thought it would happen."

Tilting my head, I said, "You know, I was wondering about that. Why does he hate them so much?"

Her eyes went wide before she hid her reaction. "Did you ask Hayden that question?"

"Hmm," I said, "but he didn't answer."

"Of course, he didn't," she mumbled then patted my arm. "It's a…tough subject. I'm sure he'll tell you at some point if he wants you to know." Before I could ponder that, she added, "We should get back. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the Davenports don't play nice for long."

I nodded. "I'll be there soon. Just have to use the restroom."

Once she had walked away, I went into the restroom and stood at the sink. What I really needed was a breather. A moment to get my head together. Seeing Hayden's family, the surprise of my doctor being his mom, all of it left me a little jumbled. Though…now that I thought back, Hayden was always saying how his mom psychoanalyzed him. Well, of course, she did, I thought. It was her job.

I gave a mental scoff.

Why hadn't I seen it sooner?

Or better yet, why hadn't Hayden told me himself?

He so should've.

Of all the shocking things to spring on a girl.

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