Page 75 of The Wedding Hoax

“I mean, you should get back to work. Until it’s time for dinner, and then we can figure out the rest.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I do need to get back to it. Some of the advertisers have been trying to schedule a call with me all morning. I’ll probably go take it out in the car.” Harry stood up, then leaned down to softly kiss my forehead. “Call me if you need anything?”

“Will do.”

Stop. Stop. Stop.

The word repeated in my head as Harry walked out of the room.

All I wanted was for him to stop. To stop pretending like he was actually my husband. To stop pretending like he was always going to be there for my mom, like he was always going to be there for me.

Because if he kept going on like this, I was going to start believing him.

And as soon as I let myself completely fall for Harry, I knew that was when he’d take it all away.

* * *

“Mom?” I was sitting next to my mom, my hand resting on her pillow. “Mom? Are you awake? Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you, Simi.” My mom turned to look at me, her eyes still closed. “Everything feels a little heavy right now, but I can still hear you.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore.” She groaned. “But good. Mostly good.”

“Great.” I looked her up and down. “It doesn’t look like anything’s out of place.”

“Oh? You mean they didn’t reattach my elbow to my shoulder like I asked them to?”

“Mom.”

“I’m only joking.” She tried to chuckle, but it came out too low. “Where’s Harry? Did he leave to go to work?”

“Actually, he’s been working from the hospital all day. He even took a work call out in the parking lot.”

“He’s been at the hospital this whole time?”

“He said he wanted to be here for us.” I nodded. “And the only reason he’s not here right now is because he’s out picking up dinner.”

“Such a good husband.” My mom let out a heavy breath. “Your dad would’ve done the same thing for me.”

“Did the surgeon mention anything? About your mobility?” I changed the subject, not wanting to think about Harry in that way right now. I wanted to focus on one crisis at a time, and right now my mom’s health felt like the most pressing issue.

“Yes. He mentioned that I’m going to need physical rehab for a while,” she started. “But he thinks my chance to regain my mobility is really high. He said I should be able to go from using my wheelchair to using crutches, maybe even a walker someday.”

“Mom! That’s amazing!”

“Isn’t it?” She shifted in her hospital bed. “It’s such amazing news that I can hardly believe it.”

“I’m so happy for you.” I felt tears welling behind my eyes as I spoke.

“Don’t cry, Simi. There’s no reason for tears.”

“How can you tell I’m crying? Your eyes aren’t even open!”

“A mother always knows.” She tried to chuckle again. “I can hear it in your voice. I always know exactly how you’re feeling.”

She paused for a moment before she continued. “It’s why I can tell how conflicted you are about Harry, too.”

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