Fake Marriage Box Set

"Already done." She pursed her lips and took in a deep breath. "I took care of that before coming to see you. They should be here any minute. I'll go with you to the funeral home this afternoon if you want me to."

"No." I walked over and pulled the older woman into a warm hug. "Thank you for everything. I know it was your job, but I'm grateful that I had someone to trust with mom while I was gone."

She nodded and moved out of my hold. "It's never easy to let someone go. Not even for me who's had to do it a million times."

"What can I do to help you? Need me to help you get your things together?" I tried to focus on her, which would be much better than focusing on me and my pain.

"No. You go on over to your place, and I'll let you know when the mortician shows up. I think Maddie headed back over there."

"Okay. Thank you again." I nodded, squeezed her shoulder and walked out into the bright sunlight.

Maddie was sitting on my porch and stood the minute I walked up. She pressed her hands to her mouth and let out a soft cry.

"Come here." I walked over and pulled her into my arms, pressing my cheek to the top her head and holding her while she cried.

"We should have been there." She shook in my arms, and her grief comforted me. She cared about my mother. It had been more than obvious. What a waste that it was all for not. It could have been something beautiful. Us. Our relationship. Hell, it was turning that corner whether either of us wanted it to or not.

"Shhh... it's okay." I kissed her head again and moved back. "I don't mean to be brash, but I need some time to myself, okay? I'll call you when things settle down a little."

"Are you sure?" The need in her eyes let me know that she was either the best actress in the whole fucking universe or the girl was falling in love.

"Yeah. Forgive me." I touched her cheek. "I need some time to grieve without worry about you seeing me."

"Gavin." She pleaded with me in her expression, but I couldn’t give in. Not to her. Not right now.

"I'll call you later." I walked in and grabbed her keys from the counter. "Thanks for everything."

She took the keys, leaned in and kissed me and turned, walking to her car with her arms wrapped around herself. It might have been shitty of me, but I needed to get drunk after talking with the mortician.

Liquor would give me a break that nothing else could.

I closed the door and walked to the kitchen, pulling out a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. I grabbed a shot glass and set it on the counter beside it and walked back to mom's house.

An older gentleman in a dark suit with slicked-back gray hair showed up half an hour later and helped walk me through my next steps. His voice was soft, his eyes kind.

"Do you have any other family that can help you through this, son?" He reached out and touched my arm, glancing down. "A wife?"

"No." I pulled off the ring and put it in my pocket. "But I'm fine. Just do what you need to do and tell me where I need to be and when."

"Of course. We'll get everything set up and let you know when the funeral will be. We'll put the ads in the paper and invite your family and friends for you."

I extended my hand, my mind locked on the bottle of liquor waiting for me back at the house. "Thank you, Sir. I appreciate you."

"Of course. And if you need—"

"I won't." I turned and walked back to the house, stumbling into the kitchen and leaving the front door open as I sat down and poured my first shot. I lifted it and closed my eyes as pain ripped through the center of my chest.

My mom had been the center of my world since my father died. There was rarely a day that had gone by that I hadn't spent beside her. What the fuck was I going to do with myself now?

"To you. The only one who believed in me." I shot the drink back and nearly choked at the sound of Ron's voice.

"She wasn't the only one." He smiled, closed the door and walked in. "You got another glass for an old friend? I lost someone I loved today."

Tears filled my eyes, and I stood up and grabbed another glass. "Then we'll share our pain and drink until we can't stand."

I poured him a glass as a tear streaked down his cheek. "I'm here for you, brother. I'm not going anywhere."

"How did you know?" I hit my glass against his and sank down into my chair.