She laughed and moved closer, handing me one of the plates and reaching up to brush her fingers through my hair.
It felt good. Too good.
"There. Much better." She brushed her hand down my face and lifted to her toes, kissing me softly. "We have to act married."
"Agreed. Sit on my lap at mom's." I winked as she gave me a soft sound of disapproval. "I take that as a no?"
"You're corrupt." She walked off the porch, her body causing mine to ache.
"And I'm yours," I mumbled. At least for a little while longer.
She moved up to the house and knocked, but I reached around her and opened the door. "What? It's rude to just walk in."
"You knock at your mom's house?" I gave her a cocky grin and walked in, calling out. "Mom? Karen?"
"She's in her room, watching that bird again." Karen walked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "What are you two up to?"
"Maddie went and picked up some goodies." I lifted the plate and smiled back at her. "I'm going to go check on mom."
"Go for it." She winked at me and turned to Karen. "Try the blueberry one. It's to die for."
I walked down the hall, knocking on mom's door before slipping into the room. "Mom?"
She turned and gave me a weak smile. "Hey, baby."
"Hi. Maddie brought you some treats." I walked to the bed and sat down beside her as she glanced back toward the window.
"Thank you." She closed her eyes. "I'm not hungry. I'm tired, and I wanna see your daddy soon."
The hot ball of fear stuck in my throat choked me. "Well, then I'll just eat them." I tried to keep my voice light as tears burned my gaze. I prayed like hell that Maddie would stay out. I didn't want her to see me choked up.
"You know how much I love you?" Her voice was a rough whisper.
"Yes, mom." I stood and moved to the desk near her window, setting down the treats. "You know we forgot something at the wedding, right?"
"Your chapter?" She patted the bed beside her, barely moving her thin fingers. "Read it to me now? Please?"
"Only you." I pulled a chair to the edge of the bed and sat down, pulling out my phone and opening the document. I reached out and picked up her hand, kissing it softly. "I love you so much."
"Me too." Her eyelashes fluttered, and she closed them again. "Don't mind me if I fall asleep. Just keep reading."
I nodded and cleared my throat. I was so fucking close to breaking down. We didn't have six months. We didn't have six days from what I could tell. Maybe going to Maddie's parents for dinner was a bad idea.
No. Mom wouldn't feel up to eating anyway, and if anything happened, Karen would call me right away.
I started reading and glanced up to see Maddie stick her head in the room. I motioned for her to come in, suddenly more than willing to have her hear the story too. My voice broke a little as I neared the end of the first chapter and glanced up to see my mother sleeping, her skin almost translucent.
"Gavin," Maddie whispered as she walked toward me. "Come on. Let her rest."
I nodded and stood, turning and welcoming Maddie in my arms. I kissed the top of her head and closed my eyes. Life was beyond fleeing, and I was a man that couldn't seem to hold onto anyone I loved.
"I'm happy we did this." Mattie glanced over at me in the car as I drove us out to her parent's place. She squeezed my hand softly.
"You must have seen the money." I licked the side of my mouth in hopes of curing the dryness on my tongue. My mom wasn't going to last much longer. I should have been right beside her. I didn't want her to die alone. It scared the fuck out of me. "I deposited it earlier this past week. It just takes forever because—"
"Hey. It's not the money, okay? It's you. I'm glad all of this happened because of the friendship that you and I will have when it's done." She pulled her hand back, and I realized she was pale.
"What's up?" I pulled into the drive away as a cold sweat ran across me. I hadn't seen Maddie's parents in years. Were they still kind and welcoming? Would they be pissed about us being married?