Fake Marriage Box Set

said. “Our puppy growing up hated his crate until my dad started feeding him in there, then he never wanted to leave it.”

I watched as Gavin seemed to relax the more he spoke with Ron. His eyes still flickered over to his mother, and I recognized looks of concern pass between their faces, but he seemed less stressed than he had on the patio. Either that, or he was an amazing liar.

“Either way I’m not getting a dog,” Gavin said. “Maybe a cat, but there’s no way in hell I could clean after a dog in this house. It’s too damn big.”

“That I agree with,” Ron said.

I picked at my dinner, roast beef with vegetables and a buttered garlic roll, as I watched Mona in the corner of my eyes. She seemed fragile with thinned hair and sunken cheeks, but she didn’t actually look like she was dying. My uncle passed from cancer when I was little, and I remembered just how terrible he looked in his final months. Mona seemed to have the energy of a woman in her prime, not the clock of death ticking in her head.

Mona glanced at me and smiled brightly, and I felt an instant guilt. She didn’t seem to mind her fate, so why was I spending so much time on it?

“Everyone,” Mona stood and received the entire room’s attention immediately. “I’m so grateful that you all could make it.”

I glanced at Gavin. His hands were in fists on the table, one clutching a fork and the other a knife, I realized that he hadn’t taken a single bite of his food, while Ron was already on a third plate.

“I know for some it’s been a long time since we’ve shared an evening,” Mona was saying. Several guests nodded. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t enjoy more. And for those who I’ve seen often, I’m still glad that you’ve set aside an entire night just for this. It truly means so much to me.”

There were a few murmurs through the table, just guests wondering what the point of her speech would be. My trained ears caught words on people’s tongues. Gavin, marriage, bride, heir, money and father were among them. It seemed the popular theory was that Mona would announce Gavin’s engagement. Ron knew better, and he leaned forward in his seat and listened to Mona.

“I have some news I wanted to share with everyone,” she continued. “Some unfortunate news that has changed a lot in our life.”

Gavin shifted in his seat and pulled at his collar. I wanted to touch his shoulder, offer some sort of comfort, but I kept my hands on my lap and waited for the inevitable.

“Most of you know that I’ve been battling cancer for quite some time now,” Mona said. “But it doesn’t seem like I’ll be winning this one. The doctor has given me six months at best.”

The room grew so quiet that we could have heard a pin drop. Ron sucked in a breath and glanced at Gavin, who kept his eyes trained on his mother. A few quiet murmurs echoed in the silence, but everyone waited for Mona to continue.

“I wanted everyone here to hear it from me first,” she continued after a pregnant pause. “Thank you so much for your support; I’ll never forget any of you.”

She sat down and grabbed Gavin’s hand. Not a single person spoke as dessert was served, a dark chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream and toasted hazelnuts. Mona was the first to bite into the cake, followed by Gavin, and then the rest of us.

“I know what we need,” Ron said to the room. He raised his empty wine glass. “A refill. I think we’re all going to need a refill.”

Several guests chuckled as they wiped tears from the corner of their eyes. Mona smiled at Ron and gestured at one of the workers.

“More wine for everyone,” she said in a loud voice. “Make sure no one has an empty glass today. Let’s celebrate life, not mourn death!”

Her bright attitude was infectious, and soon the entire room was covered in a bubbly fog of alcohol as they laughed and joked and enjoyed each other’s company. Mona was the happiest of all, a cheerful presence beside her son who seemed to have a permanent scowl on his face. He had emptied his glass twice by the time I had just started on my second, and he didn’t stray far from his mother.

Several women offered their condolences to Gavin throughout the night, and I watched as Mona frowned each time Gavin waved them away. I realized Mona had been serious about her wish, and Gavin not so serious about the promise he had made. I couldn’t blame him; how could he even spend more than a moment thinking about woman and marriage and a wife when his mother was dying?

He had this giant, empty mansion and apparently enough money that no one in his family would ever have to work ever again, and yet I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave it all away the moment his mom was gone. Ron told me how hard it was for Gavin to sell his father’s company, but they needed the money for Mona’s hospital bills. I watched Gavin make small talk with the wealthy businessmen that Mona had worked alongside her entire life. He seemed uncomfortable in the room, always pulling at his collar, itching beneath his cuffs, scratching his ears. I couldn’t stop thinking about the promise he made his mother.

My mind was full of wine as my thoughts spun wildly. Surely Gavin had connections in the entertainment industry somewhere, maybe a talent scout in Hollywood who owed him favors? Someone with as much money as him would have to have a connection for a woman like me, and it just so happened that he had a predicament that I could help solve.

The evening was nearly over, and guests were beginning to leave. Mona thanked everyone profusely and apologized for the sorrow announcement.

“Don’t you ever apologize again,” Ron said as he hugged her. I stood awkwardly to his side as Gavin and Mona said goodnight to the both of us. “Just call when you need a drinking buddy, alright? Or a smoking buddy, whatever you need.”

“Don’t try to get my mom to do something illegal,” Gavin warned. I had caught a moment between Ron and Gavin earlier, a serious exchange about Gavin’s feelings and thoughts. I couldn’t bear eavesdropping on such a conversation and walked away just as Gavin admitted he was lost.

“It’s whatever the lady wants,” Ron said. Gavin winced as his mother agreed. I knew instantly what was on Gavin’s mind.

An idea had been forming in my head, a thought that was too fresh to voice. But it would solve both of our problems, more so Gavin’s, and I felt that his desperation might need it. I didn’t want to offer it just yet.

I said goodbye to Mona and gently tapped on Gavin’s shoulder as he said goodbye to Ron. My cousin said he would meet me at the car, and I pulled Gavin to the side, out of earshot of his mom.

“I’m glad you could make it,” he said, though it sounded forced and rehearsed.