Page 36 of Faking it for Gran's Sake

Mason’s phone rings. “Can I get this?”

I wave a hand. “Sure.” Not like they were in the middle of some profound moment, anyway. His phone constantly interrupted us in the past. Funny how it hadn’t happened much lately. Maybe he silences it for Gran’s sake. Why couldn’t he prioritize when we were engaged?

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MASON

Two days later, I have enough courage to visit Gran and break the news. The old news that Lauren and I aren’t together. Not even friends. Gee, that’s depressing.

My arm threads through Gran’s, and we stroll around the retirement home gardens. She’s not too wobbly but a little cautious. All this time, she could walk. But the chair lessens the need for more pain medication. The arthritis is real. But she needs to exercise or lose muscle strength—the dilemmas of old age.

We stop at a budding flower, and Gran fingers the petals. “Spring is here, and the wedding isn’t far off.”

I swallow. “About that.”

Gran drops her hand and squints at me. “I don’t like the tone of your voice. What’s going on, Mason?”

Yep, no beating around the bush with Gran. “When I thought you were dying, I didn’t have the heart to tell you . . .” I trail off and look anywhere but in Gran’s steely gaze.

Gran places her hands on her hips, standing perfectly fine by herself. “Tell me what?”

I dip my head like a schoolboy having to apologize to the teacher. “Lauren and I broke up months ago. We’re not engaged.”

Her eyes go wide and transform into lasers. “Excuse me, young man?”

“I’m sorry we lied to you.” I swallow the swarm of bees in my throat. This stings.

“What about the planned wedding? I don’t understand.”

“We were willing to have a fake ceremony to make you happy. I thought you only had months to live. I couldn’t bring myself to let you down. I didn’t want you to worry about me or cause you more grief.”

She lets out a breath and shakes her head. “I don’t care about me. What about Lauren? You can’t let her go. She’s good for you.”

“I still love her.” I meet her eyes now, and I find compassion there.

“Why did you end it?” Her white brows pucker.

“Lauren said I was married to my job, so she broke it off.”

Gran slaps my shoulder. “Well, make changes, boy. Don’t make the same mistakes as your father.”

I dig my hands in my pockets and kick at the grass. “It’s not that easy. The business needs my undivided attention. We’re in the growth phase.”

She huffs. “It’s been growing for decades. Hire someone to help you.” Gran waves a hand like swatting a fly. “You don’t need all that money. Pay someone to share the load and become a family man. Lauren is family. Family comes first.”

I lift my head to the skies and let the sun warm my skin. Gran’s right. I need time to smell the flowers, enjoy the sunshine, and most of all, be with my people. Lauren’s my special person. All the money in the world cannot replace her. Why have I let it?

I need to tell Dad that things need to change. I can’t live my life doing power naps in the middle of the night when reports are overdue. I don’t want that level of insanity. Dad can do it if he wants. Lauren helps me keep a balanced life. I need her. And she needs me to change. So that’s what I’m going to do.

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