Page 66 of Fa-La-La-La Faking It
“I promise,” Adaline said with a hitch in her voice.
She could read between the lines of what her grandmother was saying. Gram knew she was becoming more forgetful, and it probably scared her even more than it frightened Adaline. One day, Gram might not recognize her anymore, but that didn’t mean she’d ever stop loving her.
The love remained.
She just needed to keep believing...kind of like she’d done when all the other kids at school were telling her there was no such thing as Santa.
“I love you, Gram,” Adaline whispered and wrapped her arms around her grandmother’s slender shoulders.
She was going to have to come clean about Jace. Sharing such a meaningful moment with Gram didn’t feel right when Adaline was still telling lies.
“I love you too, dear,” Gram said, and then she ended the embrace and searched Adaline’s gaze. “Now where’s that sweet boyfriend of yours gone off to? I’m surprised he left you all alone out here. You look so pretty tonight. Isn’t he worried someone might try and steal you away?”
Adaline gulped.No time like the present for a Christmas confession.
“Jace isn’t coming, Gram. Actually, he and I aren’t really—”
Gram cut her off before she could finish. “What are you talking about? I just saw him a few minutes ago.”
Of all the times for Gram to get confused...
“Gram, Jace isn’t here,” Adaline said, enunciating each syllable with care.
“Ijustsaw him a few minutes ago,” Gram repeated, this time louder. “I gave him his Christmas gift.”
Adaline tilted her head. “You got a Christmas present for Jace?”
When had that happened? Was any part of what she was saying real? It couldn’t be, could it?
Gram brightened. “Technically, it’s a gift for you. But I gave it to your boyfriend for safekeeping.”
Adaline took a measured inhale and counted to ten in her head. If Gram’s confusion had been about anything else, she would’ve just gone along with it. But she couldn’t pretend that Jace was here when he wasn’t. Not that.Anythingbut that.
“Gram, I know what you thought you saw, but Jace—”
“See?” Gram said as the chapel door creaked open again and a man stepped outside—a man who looked an awful lot like Adaline’s fake boyfriend. “There he is.”
Adaline’s knees turned to water. She was going to faint and fall right over in her sparkly Cinderella shoes. Gram hadn’t been confused, after all. He was really and truly here.
She took in a deep breath and prayed she wasn’t dreaming. “Jace.”
“Adaline,” he said, and he didn’t sound like a made-up Christmas character or person in a dream. He soundedreal.
“I’m going to let you two have some privacy,” Gram said, and then she wagged a finger at them. Something about her hand seemed different, but Adaline couldn’t quite put her finger on why. She was too caught up with the fact that Jace was there. It was a wonder she was still standing upright. “Don’t take too long out here. You don’t want to miss the wedding.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jace said without tearing his gaze away from Adaline.
The door clicked shut behind Gram, and it was just the two of them on the chapel steps. Alone together on the most magical night of the year.
Adaline shook her head. “I can’t believe you came.”
“Did you really think I’d break one of our rules, sweetheart?” His left eyebrow inched upward. “You’re the rule-breaker in this relationship, remember? I told you so from the very beginning.”
“That’s because you know me better than anyone else ever has,” Adaline said.
She was finished pretending. She’d never thought she’d see him again, and now that he was here, she wasn’t going to waste another second trying to act like she wasn’t head over heels in love with him.
Jace’s smile turned sad around the edges. “I’m so sorry, Adaline. I should’ve never left.”
