Page 46 of How To Fake A Fiancé

Translation: she wants to talk about me behind my back. Now? She’s doing this now? “Mom, visiting hours will be over soon. I don’t think we have the—”

“Don’t worry; it won’t take long,” Mom assures me.

I slowly nod. “We’ll be just outside if you need anything.” Closing the door behind me, I’m left to wonder what will be said and what Kami will say.

Chapter Thirteen

Kami

“Good. We’re alone now.” Ian’s mom relaxes onto the pillow of the hospital bed. “Again, I’m sorry for taking him away from you.”

This woman collapses without any warning, and she’s saying she’s sorry? “There’s no need to apologize, Mrs. Brown. All of us are just glad you’re okay.”

He could love you like that if you let him.

The possibility of a man like Ian to care for me that deeply, ready to do whatever is needed, fills me with warmth.

“I know my two boys are more than glad. Ian especially.” She cringes. “How did Ian react to the phone call?”

I debate with myself. Do I tell this woman the truth or do I try to sugarcoat? I don’t have the heart to lie to her, but I don’t want to give her anything more to worry over either.

“You can be honest. Let me guess. He drove like a maniac to get here.”

“Like a race car driver,” I admit.

She rolls her eyes “I swear, that boy. I can’t blame him, though. My health hasn’t been the best until recently. Ian, like his father, has always been the one who drops everything for everyone. So selfless and stubborn at the same time. I’m sorry you had to see that. If it helps at all, he’s probably feeling mortified as well.”

I always thought I’d be too afraid to meet any guy’s parents. Would I not be good enough for their son? Do I look funny? Am I too damaged? But facing this fear and realizing it was all in my head has me wondering if I’ve been letting my fear dictate my life for too long.

“It’s no trouble. I can see your son loves you very much.”

Ian’s brother, Matt, further confirmed this to me when we were over at the vending machines. Reminding me so much of a younger version of Ian, Matt had the same eyes, smile, and charisma, only perhaps carrying a different kind of wisdom than his older brother.

I’d look over at Ian every couple of seconds as he paced back and forth. Despite the tense circumstances, I liked talking with Matt about anything and everything. We talked the most about Ian.

“He’ll be okay. He’s been through much worse, trust me,” Matt assured me.

“To take care of a cancer patient for as long as he did, I can’t imagine how on edge he is.”

“Once he has updates from the doc and sees Mom, he’ll start going back to normal.”

“The last decade must have been hard on both of you.”

“When Mom was first diagnosed, it was him and Dad who took care of her. They were a team. But when he died, Ian devoted all his time and energy into taking care of Mom, the house, and the business. I could barely get him to take a break.”

In a way, he had to.

I looked back at the man I’d come to know as charming, snarky, and sweet, only to come face to face with someone riddled with anxiety and fear all because of one phone call. All I seem to want to do now is take his pain away.

But why? What is it about me that’s so special to him, let alone brings him back to the land of the living? Have I truly made such an impact that he’s become motivated to start planning and promising himself a better future? A future with me? That question was answered when the doctor came in, and Ian told her I was his wife.

“Mrs. Brown…” I start.

“Please, call me Jenny.”

“Okay…Jenny.”

Jenny smiles. Something about this woman puts me at ease.

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