Page 8 of Faking All the Way
“Kat!” Mom steps away from the ladder and tromps across the snowy yard toward me, wearing a broad smile. “Sweetheart, what a wonderful surprise! We weren’t expecting you until later this evening.”
She wraps me in a hug that smells like her favorite peppermint tea, and the familiar comfort of it makes my throat tight with guilt about what I’m about to do.
“I got an earlier flight.” I give a weak smile. “I thought I’d surprise you.”
Dad climbs down from the ladder carefully, then hurries over as well, wrapping me in one of his bear hugs that lifts me slightly off the ground. “Good to have you home, kiddo. How was the trip?”
“Fine.” My voice is muffled against his shoulder. “A little bumpy, but fine.”
When he sets me down, Josephine approaches with both kids trailing behind her, still clutching the extension cord between them. She looks tired but happy, the way she always seems to look during the holidays when she’s trying to balance family time with wrangling two small humans who think Christmas decorations are the world’s best toy collection.
“Hey, sis,” she says, giving me a quick hug. “How was the flight? You look a little pale.”
“Probably from the turbulence,” I lie. “I feel better now that I’m on solid ground. Hi, Oscar and Megan!”
As Dad steps back to make room for me to crouch down and greet the kids, he glances over and finally notices Asher standing quietly beside me, hands in his coat pockets, looking politely patient while we have our reunion. My father’s eyes widen with recognition. It’s not immediate, more of the slow dawning of someone trying to place a familiar face.
“Wait a minute,” he says, drawing the words out. “You look familiar. Aren’t you…?”
My heart starts hammering. This is it. The moment where I either come clean or dive headfirst into the biggest lie of my life.
With no choice but to keep running toward disaster, I take a shaky breath and leap.
“Mom, Dad, Josephine—I’d like you to meet Asher Vaughn. My boyfriend.”
The reaction is instant. Mom’s face lights up, her jaw dropping open in surprise. Her hands fly to her cheeks, then to her hair, then back to her cheeks as if she can’t decide which gesture of excitement is appropriate.
“Your boyfriend?” she squeaks, her voice reaching a pitch that makes Oscar giggle. “The one you mentioned might not be able to make it because of work?”
Right. The vague reference I made during our last phone call, just a casual mention of “seeing someone” when she asked about my love life. I was trying to deflect the usual gentle interrogation about why I’m still single. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I’d actually produce a human being to validate that story.
A very handsome, very broad-shouldered, verytallman who towers over my 5’4” stature.
Dad’s eyebrows shot up toward his hairline at my announcement, and I can practically see the wheels turning ashe processes this information. Even Josephine looks impressed, which is saying something since my sister and I really couldn’t be more different. I’ve always been the black cat of the family, while she’s the one who seems to fit our parents’ expectations perfectly, staying in Maplewood, becoming a nurse, and settling down with a nice guy to raise a couple of kids.
“Of course,” my dad says, snapping his fingers suddenly. “The Philadelphia Strikers. I knew you looked familiar.” He turns to me with a bit of awe in his expression. “Kat, you didn’t mention your boyfriend was a professional hockey player.”
Because I didn’t know, I think frantically.Because I met him less than an hour ago in an airport baggage claim.
Asher steps forward with a calm sort of confidence that makes me wonder whether he’s freaking out as much on the inside as I am, or if he’s actually as relaxed as he seems. “Hello, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Dad accepts the handshake with a firm grip, and I watch his expression shift into pleased approval. Whatever he’s reading in Asher’s demeanor clearly passes the ‘are you good enough for my daughter’ test.
“Paul, please.” My dad shakes his head, his smile widening. “And the pleasure’s entirely ours. We’re thrilled you could make it after all. Kat’s told us so much about you.”
Have I?Because I’m pretty sure the extent of my fictional boyfriend details could fit on a grocery list. But Asher absorbs this information without missing a beat, as if he’s used to navigating conversations with the fathers of women he just met, as if he does it all the time.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t arrange to be here sooner,” he says smoothly. “My schedule has been demanding, but I couldn’t miss spending the holidays with Kat and her family.”
“Of course it has!” My mother practically vibrates with excitement, her hands still fluttering around like agitatedbutterflies. “Professional sports must be so intense. And the first holiday together is such a big step. I’m sure it felt intimidating, but you’re here now, and that’s what matters most.”
The first holiday together. I blink at her words, shooting a sidelong glance at the stranger I just brought home for Christmas. In another world, this would be a milestone in my relationship, a moment I’d remember for years to come.
Well, I’ll definitely remember it, so I guess there’s that.
I’m dying inside knowing this is all elaborate fiction, but I can’t deny that it feels kind of good to see my parents this happy about something in my life. It’s been so long since they’ve looked at me like I’ve accomplished something worthwhile instead of just another confusing choice they’re trying to support with worried smiles.
“We couldn’t be happier that you could join us,” Dad says, clapping Asher on the shoulder. “Kat’s always loved Christmas with the family. Having you here will make it even more special for her.”
