Page 43 of Forbidden Obsessions

“For right now, yes,” he inhales sharply, “but she wants to start hospice. Would you like to be involved in the meeting?”

“I don’t know,” I admit softly. I know Mom’s older and wiser, but I don’t want her to fall into the same trap of appeasing people.

“I think I’ll let you two do the first one and join the next one. When are they coming?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.” Unease blossoms in my stomach. So soon. “Is she up for a visitor?”

“You know she’s always up to see you. Bring Tomas, too, if you want. She’d love to see you both.”

“Be there soon.” I end the call and hang my head in my hands, barely able to process the news.

“Oh, babe,” Mia cries, wrapping her arms around me. I sniffle and sit up, taking a steady breath.

“I think Tomas and I are going to have to move the wedding up. She’s starting hospice tomorrow.”

“Go be with her. Me and Lex have it covered.”

I hesitate until she throws the pillow in my face again. “Okay, bye.”

The drive home is short and torturously quiet. My mind swims with the same question: what if she can’t hold on long enough?

“Hey,” Tomas calls, washing a pot at the kitchen sink. He turns to me with a smile that fades the second he sees me. I watch the anguish settle between his brows and in the set of his jaw before I turn into a blubbering mess on the floor.

“Hospice doesn’t mean she’s dying tomorrow,” Tomas says quietly, swaying with me in his lap.

“No, but it does mean she’s dying,” I counter.

Tomas rests his head against mine. “Yes. Sadly, it does mean that. Are you going to the meeting?”

“No, I want her to have the space and autonomy to make her own decisions. I’m afraid being there will push her toward decisions she doesn’t necessarily want.”

Tomas sits frozen for a moment, before tilting my head toward him. “That’s incredibly astute and a brave thing to do. I know how involved you want to be. I’m so proud of you.”

For the first time, I’m proud of myself, too.

Tomas drives us to my parents. His hand doesn’t leave mine once.

“You ready?” Tomas asks, standing on the front step. I’m not. I have an idea of what Mom is going to look like, and the truth is, it’s probably going to be worse. I nod, anyway, needing to be brave for me and her both.

“Hey, Maura,” Tomas greets, bending to give her a hug on the couch. He’s already chatting boisterously, the complete opposite of the brooding professor I started seeing in secret. Mom gives a sweet laugh that Tomas joins in on.

I eavesdrop in the doorframe, trying to soak up these moments I know are fleeting. Dad wraps an arm around me. “I’m glad you two came over. We’re almost out of time,” he says, forlorn.

“I can see that,” I squeak out. Her body looks battered. It’s her eyes, though. They hold so much exhaustion and pain that I can barely even meet them.

“I’ll be right back with Olivia,” Tomas promises, squeezing mom’s hand. He gives me a somber look, his eyes flitting to me and Dad.

“I think it’s time. Do you want anyone here?”

“Just Mia and Lex. Do you want to invite your parents or anyone?”

“Just Brayden and Tim. My parents won’t come,” he says flatly.

“Do we have someone to officiate?”

“Sure do. Say the word, and they’ll be here in an hour,” Dad chimes in.

“Are we really doing this?” I lift my eyes to Tomas’. He nods, his eyes full of adoration and steely determination.

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