Fake Marriage Box Set

“That reminds me,” Maddie said. “Would you happen to have those old stories Gavin used to write? We’ve been talking about them lately, but he said he doesn’t have them anymore. I figured as a mother you might have kept them.”

“That’s not necessary,” I said. “I doubt she kept them.”

“Of course I have them!” mom said. “I know exactly where they are. If you’ll just excuse me.” She stood, and I pushed myself off of the table and helped her balance.

“Mom, really, sit down. You don’t need to get those,” I said. Maddie was also on her feet, a fork in her hand, as she told mom not to worry about it.

“I want to read them, too,” mom said. “I’ll just be right back. Finish your food.”

Maddie and I both sat back down in silence. I was having trouble keeping my anger hidden, and Maddie looked just as embarrassed as I had been earlier.

“I’m sorry, Gavin,” she said. “I didn’t think she’d actually go and look for them.”

I took a deep breath and ignored her as mom returned with a binder. She gave it to Maddie, who flipped through printed pages of stories that I had written a long time ago.

“Thank you, Mona,” Maddie said, and it almost sounded heartfelt. “I’ll return them soon, I promise.”

“No rush, dear,” mom said. “Well, as long as it’s before six months.” She laughed, and Maddie bit her lip and looked at the table.

“I don’t know if dark humor is appropriate yet, mom,” I said. We all had finished our dinner and were waiting for a dessert that mom insisted on making as well.

“An old lady has to get her kicks in somewhere,” she said as Karen brought over three small plates. They each had two miniature cannolis, with chocolate chips and powdered sugar sprinkled on the ends.

“These are my favorite!” Maddie ate the first one in practically a single bite. “My roommate begged me to stop bringing these home. We both were eating way too much.”

“Take it from me, sweetie,” Mom said. “Eat as many cannolis as your stomach can handle. You’ll never know which one might be your last.”

“They’re good,” I said and ate mine.

Mom had a forlorn look on her face, eyes cast downward, and shoulders slumped. I picked up the second cannoli and brought it toward Maddie’s mouth. She raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth as I fed it to her. A crumb fell onto her lip, and she blushed as I wiped it away.

It was a romantic gesture, and I was rewarded with my mother sniffling beside us before breaking out into a grin. I didn’t realize how much it meant to her that I was happy with a woman.

“Thank you so much,” she said to Maddie. “This dinner meant a lot to me.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” she said. “If there’s one thing I love about Gavin, it’s how much he loves you. I hope we can make this a regular thing. Maybe once a week?”

Maddie had crossed off two things on the checklist in a single sentence. Compliment one thing about me, and plan to have one dinner a week with us. I was almost impressed with her.

“Of course, darling,” Mom said. “I’ll have Gavin set up the schedule.”

Mom was beginning to sway a little, and I realized she must have been exhausted from cooking all day and then having dinner with us. Karen was hovering nearby, and she also noticed mom’s lack of energy.

“I’ll start the bath,” Karen whispered into mom’s ear and left for the restroom.

“I think that’s my cue,” mom said. “It was so nice having you here, Maddie. I’ll see you again soon.”

I stood, excused myself from the table, and helped mom to the restroom.

“Don’t leave her alone too long,” mom said. “You don’t want that one running away.”

I grunted and moved her in front of the tub. Karen was checking the temperature and getting a washcloth ready.

“You looked happy,” mom said and sat on the toilet lid. “And you have no idea how happy that makes me.”

I kneeled in front of her. “She does make me happy,” I said. “You never have to worry about that.”

“My sweet boy,” mom pressed a palm against my cheek. “I love you.”