Page 73 of Fake Fiancée for Dad's Best Friend
I draw and cut out the pattern pieces on white sticker paper while letting Darlene choose among my fabric scraps. And then, I make her trace and cut out the pattern on the fabrics.
Hours later, we turn Barbie into a mermaid in a pink top and a purple skirt.
Darlene grins as she hugs the doll. “She’s beautiful! Thank you, Mommy!”
That smile melts me right away, and I forget my earlier chagrin.
Darlene and I go out to the balcony to check on Alex and Andy, and I’m delighted to find a colorful landscape picture done by markers. The central park in Andy’s drawing is more brilliant than the actual one in front of us. Unlike Alex's paintings over the years, Andy’s picture has so many details, including birds and flowers, not to mention people and dogs.
He might have better eyesight than his father or a more active imagination.
Anyway, seeing the picture, I get an idea.
“We should all go down to the park,” I suggest.
“Are you sure?” Alex asks. “What about your project?”
“Oh, it could wait,” I say.
It’s a weekend and the park is crowded, but we find ourselves a private little spot. I spread a blanket on the grass and let the kids chase each other around.
Soon after we sit down on the blanket, Alex’s phone rings, and it’s Karen calling.
“How are my grandkids?” she asks as soon as we see her on the screen.
“They’re fine. We’re in the park.”
Alex takes the phone and moves closer to the kids so their grandma can talk to them.
The incredible thing is that we found out just months ago when we were visiting his parents that they knew the whole thing was fake from the beginning.
“We knew you were John’s little girl,” Mike blurted out when he had a drink too many. “Your dad showed us your picture when he visited us not long before Alex brought you home. And the fact you kept it a secret from us told everything.”
Alex and I stared at each other, agape for a second. It all made sense. It explained why Karen and Mike didn’t seem to be bothered by the absences of my dad at the engagement party and during their subsequent visit to New York.
“Wow, Mom and Dad, you were the best actors on earth!” Alex said.
Karen rolled her eyes. “We weren’t acting. We liked Vivian and we sensed the chemistry between you. We knew you were meant to be together, so we decided to make it happen.”
Needless to say, we felt foolish like a pair of teenagers got caught lying. But at the same time, the knowledge of the fact made us feel immensely better about what we’d done.
While Karen speaks to her grandchildren, Alex wraps his arm around me and kisses me. “I’m so glad I went to your dad for help seven years ago.”
He’s talking about our fake engagement again. “Me, too,” I say and kiss him back.
