Fake Marriage Box Set

“Yes, god forbid that I wasn't out here finding fake bugs beneath fake rocks,” he said mock-seriously.

I laughed. “It's not all about finding fake bugs under fake rocks,” I said.

“True,” Andrew said. “Actually, I never built a fort when I was a kid either. Out of blankets or out of boxes.” He laughed, sounding a little self-conscious. “I don't know what my father would have said if he found me practicing my architectural skills rather than working on something to do with business, but I don't think he would have praised me for my creativity.”

I winced, struck again by how normal my childhood had been in comparison with his. Sure, I didn't get along with my father, and my mother was something of a flake, but at least she had always been there to encourage me in whatever pursuit struck my fancy. I was lucky to have that.

And I only hoped that Emma had that as well. But from watching her father watch her as she scampered around through the exhibits, I found that I didn't really have any worries.

“We're going to need to build a blanket fort back at home,” I told him. “You can't go through life without having a blanket fort.”

Then, I blushed brilliantly, realizing what I had just said. “I mean, when we're back at your home. And maybe just you and Emma should focus on building the blanket fort. I guess that might be a little too intimate for us, to be together in such a small space.” I coughed uncomfortably.

“Relax,” Andrew said. “I knew what you meant. And I wasn't worried.” His phone rang just then, and he glanced over at me, a querying look on his face.

“Go ahead and answer it,” I said. “I'll keep track of Emma if you need to go someplace quieter.”

“Thanks,” Andrew said, turning partially away from me as he answered the phone. “Hey,” he said warmly to whoever it was on the other side.

He listened for a minute, walking a couple steps away from me and then half-turning towards me, as though he was about to start pacing right here in the middle of the museum. I raised an eyebrow at him and was surprised to see him blush faintly and turn away.

“I'm not home right now, babe,” he said.

Renée.

“I don't know when I'll be home today.” He paused, listening. “That's a nice idea, but I'm not at work, actually. I took the day off. No, I'm not sick.”

I wondered how he was going to explain this one to her. He was such a workaholic that there was no way she was going to buy the notion that he had just decided to take a day off work, for no reason whatsoever. The sick excuse would have been a good one if he was looking for an excuse. Otherwise, he was going to have to tell her exactly what he was up to, but I couldn't see him doing that, either.

He started to look agitated, beginning to pace and to fidget. His fingers drummed agains

t his leg. “Look, I'm a little busy right now, so why don't I call you tonight?” he finally suggested. “I promise I'll explain everything then.” He paused. “Yes, okay. Talk to you then. Bye.”

He hung up, looking towards the sky for vindication.

“Why don't you just tell her about us?” I suggested, carefully not looking at him.

I knew, again, that I had no right to tell him how to handle his relationships. Still, I couldn't help thinking that things would be easier for both of us if he just came clean to his girlfriend about the fact that his daughter was currently living with him. Besides, it wasn't as though he could hide that forever.

Or if he could, he wasn't the kind of man who I wanted to have around my daughter.

“As I said, it's complicated,” Andrew said, frowning over at me. “I don't want to risk telling her just to potentially have everything blow up in my face.”

“It's not the media that you're worried about, is it?” I asked.

“How do you know?” Andrew asked sharply.

“Because if you were worried about being found out by the media, you probably wouldn't have come here with us today,” I pointed out. “Don't you think this little outing could seem suspicious if someone were to notice us and recognize you? You're here with a mysterious woman, not your sister, and a young girl. You know the conclusion that people would be drawing.”

Andrew was quiet for a minute.

“Look, honesty is really the only way to handle this,” I told him. “If you're not honest with her, that's how you're going to lose her.”

“And I, of course, should trust you, because you're a woman and you know these things,” Andrew said snidely. “Never mind the fact that you've never had a conversation with her, let alone dated her for a few months.”

“I'm not trying to start a fight,” I said. “Let's not do this here. But how else are you going to explain where you were today if you're not sick and you're not at work?”

“I shouldn't have to explain where I am,” Andrew said, sounding cranky. “I'm a grown man, and she's a grown woman. We should be able to do what we want to with our own time, without being subject to scrutiny by the other person. I don't ask where she is every day. I don't ask what she gets up to. For all I know, she could be fucking someone at the gym, or bringing someone home after her nights out at the bar with friends. But I trust her not to do those things, and she trusts me in the same way.”