Page 12 of Rescued By Love

But I’m not sure I’m that much better.

I replay her declaration of love over and over in my mind, desperately searching for clues to whether or not she meant it. She said it with so much conviction… but that didn’t make it true. I’d hired her for an acting job, after all. It would be stupid of me to take something she told my mother at face value.

No matter how much I want it to be real.

I’ve just come back to my cold, empty house when I get a call from a number I don’t recognize. I think about ignoring it, but what excuse do I have? It’s not like I’m busy.

I answer in the gruffest tone I can muster. “Hello?”

“Hello, is this Mr. Derek Sawyer?” a businesslike woman’s voice asks.

“It is.”

“I’m calling from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Your mother was just admitted after a seizure. She’s currently stable and recovering, but our doctors still need to run a few tests to see what caused it. She asked us to give you a call to let you know that she may be staying overnight.”

I’m already grabbing my keys and running out the front door. “Give me her room number. I’m on my way.”

I hang up as I jump into the driver’s seat. Without thinking, my fingers start tapping out a message to Grace. Maybe it’s naive of me, but I feel like she’d want to know.

“Mom’s in hospital. On my way to check on her. I’ll keep you updated.”

And with that, I’m zooming off toward the hospital, my heart pounding a mile a minute.

The first thing Mom says when I walk into her room is, “You really didn’t have to come all the way down here.”

“Of course I did.” I sit next to her and take her hand. “How are you feeling? Any word from the doctors yet?”

She shakes her head. “I really am feeling fine now. You should go home. Go be with Grace.”

I drop my gaze. “Grace is… out,” I say, my throat tight.

“She is?” Mom’s tone is casual. “Is she staying at her place right now?”

I gawk up at her. Did I hear that right? “What?”

She chuckles. “Did she really move in already? My goodness. I suppose you are taking it fast.”

“But she’s my wife. Where else would she live?” I stammer, taken aback, and she just laughs harder.

“Derek, you can stop all that. I know she was never your secret girlfriend. You just met her a few weeks ago, didn’t you?”

“I-I didn’t…” My weak protest dies in my throat. Instead, I ask, “How long have you known?”

“Oh, I guess right away. You really thought I wouldn’t find it strange that you had a girlfriend you never told me about? You’re my son, dear. I think I know you a little too well for that.”

I lean back in my chair, gob smacked. My mother – my careful, responsible, practical mother – had knowingly watched me marry a stranger and said nothing about it. How could that be? She was hardly a shrinking violet; she spoke her mind loud and proud. There was no way she was happy that I had been trying to trick her.

“And you weren’t… upset?” I ask slowly.

She shakes her head. “No. I was a little worried at first, but then I met Grace, and I knew you were making the right choice.” She chuckles. “You always did need to do things your own way. I should’ve known you’d be the same way with love.”

“It definitely felt like the right choice.” I sigh. “But now I’m not so sure.”

Mom folds her hands in her lap. “Do you love her?”

I scrub a hand over my face. “Of course I do, Mom. More than anything in the world. Hell, more than I ever thought possible. But she doesn’t feel the same way.”

She smiles. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, dear.”

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