Page 51 of The Wedding Hoax

“What?” I shook my head in confusion. “How is doing something nice for her mom going to make things right between Simone and me?”

“Because it’s going to catch her off guard. You do something nice for Simone? Maybe get her some flowers? Who cares?” Paul scoffed. “But you do something nice for her mom? She’ll probably forgive whatever fucked-up thing you did just like that. It’s an unexpected kindness. It’s hard to ignore something like that.”

“That’s actually a genius idea.”

“Don’t be so surprised.” Paul laughed. “There’s a reason you hired me to be your right-hand man, sir.”

Paul snapped his fingers before he spoke again. “What about the house? Did you already make it accessible for her mom’s wheelchair?”

“Yep. Already taken care of.” A thought suddenly popped into my head. “But there’s still something else I could do for her. Something I think she’d really appreciate.”

“What are you thinking, boss?”

“I think I’m going to build a wheelchair accessible greenhouse in my backyard.” I grinned. “Eileen said she loves gardening but it’s harder for her nowadays, after the accident. What if I could make it easy for her again?”

“Holy shit.” Paul’s eyes went wide. “That’s the kind of thing that would make a woman want to marry you.”

Paul held up a finger. “Wait. Uh, sir?”

“Yeah, Paul?”

“Is this real?” Paul asked, his voice low. “I kind of thought you just wanted to smooth things over with Simone since you two are living together. But it’s starting to feel like you’re trying to make things right with your actual wife?”

“Simone is my actual wife, Paul.” I nodded toward my office door with a grin. “Now, clear the rest of your schedule for the day. I’m going to need you to find out who can put together a greenhouse this evening.”

20

SIMONE

“It’s going to be okay, Mom. You’re going to be okay.”

I was sitting next to my mother in the doctor’s office and nervously tapping my foot. We’d only signed into the office five minutes ago, but it felt like things were taking forever.

My mom, on the other hand, didn’t seem to share my nervous energy. “Relax, Simi. Everything’s going to be fine.”

“That’s what I just said, Mom. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Yes, but you didn’t mean it.” She lightly chuckled before taking my hand in her own. “Don’t worry. The worst thing they can say is no. Nothing else is going to change.”

“I think getting a ‘no’ is still pretty bad, all on its own.”

“You worry too much.”

“Or maybe you don’t worry enough?”

My mom waved away my concern before she turned her attention toward the office door. I watched the door, too, impatiently waiting for the doctor to step into the room.

When she did, I nearly jumped out of my seat as I ran over to greet her.

“Dr. Jimenez?” I held out my hand for her to shake. “You’re Dr. Jimenez, right?”

“That’s right.” She beamed back at me as she shook my hand. “And you must be Simone and Eileen.”

“Thank you so much for meeting with us today,” my mom said from across the room. “I’m sure you’re a very busy woman.”

“Meeting with people is my job.” Dr. Jimenez motioned for me to have a seat next to my mom. “And I’m always happy to do it. Especially when I have good news.”

“Good news?” I stood by my mother’s wheelchair, filled with way too much anxious energy to sit down.

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