Page 81 of Single Dad's Fake Bride
I stared blankly for a moment, lost in a haze of worry and confusion, then nodded and let him lead me to the car, my mother's keys heavy in my palm.
The emergency room was packed more than normal, but we managed to find a place to sit as they took Mom back. Harrison sat beside me, his jacket draped around my shoulders because I couldn't stop shaking. I knew it was nerves and not because I was cold, but I had no way of calming myself, not when the crippling fear of my mother dying kept eating away at my chest. And Kramer's words refused to stop tumbling around my head.
A nurse with kind eyes and sensible shoes approached us after what felt like hours.
"Miss Quinn? I'm Jennifer. I've been taking care of your mother."
"How is she?"
"We've been running tests, and the doctor will speak with you shortly. But I can tell you that we've confirmed early-stagecirrhosis. The good news is that we caught it relatively early, and with proper treatment and lifestyle changes, her prognosis can be quite positive."
The word cirrhosis hit me hard, even though I'd been expecting it. "What does that mean for her day-to-day life?"
"She'll need to follow a strict treatment protocol—medication, dietary restrictions, regular medical check-ups. The doctor will go over all of that with you. But honestly, she'll do best in a stable environment with people who can help monitor her condition."
I nodded, though I wasn't sure what that meant for us. My mother couldn't afford full-time care, and I was barely keeping my head above water financially even with the security of the marriage arrangement.
Jennifer squeezed my shoulder. "The doctor will be out to speak with you both soon."
When she walked away, I buried my face in my hands. "This is all my fault."
"How is this your fault?"
"I should have been checking on her more. I should have made her see a doctor months ago instead of pretending she was okay. I've been so focused on our situation that I let her get this sick."
Harrison's hand found my back, moving in slow circles. "You can't blame yourself for your mother's illness."
"Can't I? I moved out of her house to live with you. I've been playing house while she's been getting sicker."
"You've been doing what you needed to do to take care of both of you. And you got her into rehab, Sadie. That was a good thing."
I shook my head, my throat tight. “It’s not enough. She needs more than I can give her.”
“Then we’ll give her more,” he said simply.
I lifted my eyes to his, half afraid I’d misunderstood. “What do you mean?”
“She’s going to stay with us,” he said, his voice steady, no hesitation in it. “Full-time. We’ll make sure she has the best medical care, the right treatment, and people who can check on her when we can’t. Whatever she needs, we’ll make it happen.”
The words loosened something in my chest. “That’s… a lot, Harrison. You don’t have to?—”
“I know I don’t have to.” He leaned in, his hand still warm against my back. “But I’m telling you, that’s what’s going to happen. We take care of our own. She’s family now.”
I wanted to argue, to tell him it was too much, but the relief in me was louder than my doubts and suddenly, I felt like I could breathe.
21
HARRISON
The hospital corridor felt endless as I paced outside room 314, my phone pressed against my ear. Through the small window in the door, I could see Sadie sitting beside her mother's bed while a technician prepared some kind of equipment. Mrs. Quinn had been adamant that she didn't want me in the room during the tests—too personal, she'd said—and I respected that boundary even as every instinct told me to stay close to Sadie.
"Harrison?" Juan's voice cut through my distraction. "You still there?"
"Yeah, sorry. The hospital's loud." I turned away from the window and walked toward the elevators where the noise was less overwhelming. "I need your advice."
"About the mother-in-law situation?"
"About all of it. Sadie's mother is sicker than we thought. Early-stage cirrhosis, and the doctor thinks she needs constant supervision. They're suggesting that she move in with us."
