Page 3 of Faking it for Gran's Sake

He shrugs. “I just want you to know they’re for Gran.” His gaze dips to the floor and back at me. “She misses you.” His Adam’s apple slides up and down his throat. “A lot.”

Emotions swoosh and swirl in my belly. I loved his grandmother. Sweet and sassy. Much more welcoming than Mason’s parents.

I lost two people when Mason and I parted ways. My grandma passed when I was three, and his gran filled that void. The woman said the funniest things at the most inappropriate of times.

“How is she?”

Sadness washes over his features. He moves closer and keeps his voice low. “Not good. Gran’s in a nursing home.” He darts a glance toward Mrs. Busybody at the back of the store. She shouldn’t be able to hear us. “Mom didn’t think she could look after her needs. And Dad’s never home.”

Yep. I dodged a bullet there. I would suffer the same future as his mother if I married Mason. He’s married to Brooker and Son. If we had a son, the poor boy would be expected to carry on the family business. Not a family business if the immediate family remains neglected. More like the barbaric Flintstones where the women are excluded from men’s business. I’ll never let my kids watch old, sexist cartoons.

“I’m sorry to hear Gran’s not well. Have you come from Denver to see her?” Duh. Of course. Dried flowers would last between visits.

“I’m trying to see her more. I don’t know how long she has left.”

Blood drains from my face. I grip the edge of the counter. “That bad?”

“She could live another year. Maybe only months. Her mind is sharp. She says she’s in a lot of pain if she doesn’t take medicine to keep her comfortable.”

I move to the cash register. My hands shake as I tap in the sale. “Send Gran my condolences, will you?”

He moves closer, and although I keep my gaze low, musky cologne hits me like a scent of heaven.

“You’re welcome to visit. She’d love to see you. Gran asks about you all the time.”

My head lifts. “Does she?”

“Yeah. She really likes you.” His smile warms me right down to my toes.

“I like her too. I would love to see her again. Maybe I can put a smile on her face.”

Mason places the color-dyed wildflowers on the countertop. “She’ll appreciate a visit.”

“Is she staying at the Georgetown retirement village?”

“Yes. But Lauren . . .” His gaze becomes apologetic, and he rubs the back of his neck. “I didn’t have the heart to tell her we aren’t together anymore.”

My jaw drops. “Come again?”

Oh, I said that too loud and Mrs. Baxter looks over her shoulder. I grin at her and she resumes browsing.

Mason keeps his volume down. “After we broke up, I haven’t been around Georgetown much. She would ask how you were, and I—” He shrugs. “Just said you were busy working but doing well.”

I cross my arms. “Your parents know, though?”

“Yeah. Of course. No wedding plans went forward. Can’t proceed without the bride.” He gives an awkward chortle. “Mom gets why you dumped me. Says I’m married to my job like Dad.”

Mason’s mom got that right. Is Mason still in denial? He can’t expect his future wife to tolerate an absent husband.

I tap my chin. “Let me get this straight.” My voice is barely above a whisper. “If I visit Gran, you want me to lie and pretend we’re still engaged?”

He frowns. “You make it sound like a criminal offense. I can’t upset her. She has enough on her mind and doesn’t need to worry about her idiot grandson.” He mumbled the last few words.

Is he calling himself an idiot because our relationship failed? I didn’t mean to hurt him or break up with him. But how could I marry someone like my father who’s hardly present? I thought Mason would understand why that can’t work. We both have absent fathers. It was the one thing we got about each other.

Mason slides a hand across his cheek. “Gran says you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. She’ll be heartbroken if she finds out I screwed things up.”

I wave a hand down. “Fine. I’ll visit her. Anything else I should know?” What other lies had he blabbed to his innocent grandmother?

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