Page 117 of Fake Love

Or maybe I’m getting ahead of myself and overthinking something that won’t happen.

“Then you walk. You walk, no matter how much you love him, because maybe then he will realize that he has lost everything and needs to find his own strength before he can hold on to yours.”

I wipe at the tears that continue to slip out. “Out of everyone, you are the one person that shouldn’t be telling me that.”

“I know, and I love my son, but if gets to that point in his life again, it needs to happen.”

Nodding, I take her advice. Hopefully it will never come to that.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask her, once all the tears are dry.

“Of course.”

“Why did you say no to the biopsy? Wouldn’t it be better to know the results now that way when your surgery comes along, they can take care of it?”

Nora gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “It would, and I know for a fact that it would make Maddox happy, but that type of thing is a lot to handle. Especially since they cut your head open. Emotionally and mentally, it took a toll on me last time, and I didn’t want to go through that again.”

I wouldn’t either.

It seems like an emotional stress on her.

A response is at the tip of my tongue but before I can say anything, my phone starts to ring.

I go still at the sound, wondering if it’s Maddox finally calling me back.

Has he finally come to his senses.

I look over at Nora who gives me a nod to answer the phone.

Taking a deep breath and pulling my phone out of my pocket.

When I see Maddox’s picture on the screen, I let out a sigh of relief.

Not wasting a second, I press the green, answering the call and bringing the phone up to my ear.

“Hey,” I say into the phone, my whole body relaxing a bit.

But that only last for a second.

“Is this Jennifer?” A deep voice, one that is definitely not Maddox's, says from the other side.

I answer cautiously. “Yes?”

Oh my god, did something happen to Maddox?

That’s the only reason that a complete stranger is using his phone to call me.

Something must have happened and now I’m getting the call that nobody wants to hear.

“I wanted to let you know that I have Maddox.”

34

Maddox

Everything around me is spinning.

I don’t know where I start and where the room I’m in ends. Every single corner is curved and the floor seems like it's on a conveyor belt.

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