10 — Texts and Truths

The hospital's antiseptic smell enveloped me, carrying memories I'd rather forget. As I stepped into the room, the soft beeps of machines and hushed tones of conversations blended, transporting me back to a time I'd rather not relive. My dad's face flashed before my eyes, his warm smile and twinkling eyes a stark contrast to the pale, lifeless skin I'd last seen.

The fluorescent lights overhead cast an unforgiving glare, making my mom's pale skin appear almost translucent.

I approached her bedside and took a seat next to her - the stiff, plastic hospital chair creaking beneath me. My mom's eyes lit up with a weak smile as I entered. "Hey, sweetie," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I took her frail hand, the skin was paper-thin and cool to the touch. I forced a bright smile, despite the guilt churning in my stomach, and said, "Hey, Mom. How are you feeling?"

Mom's gaze drifted off, her eyes clouding over. "I'm tired, Ally. So tired." Her voice cracked, and my heart ached with sorrow. I squeezed her hand gently, trying to offer what little comfort I could.

But before she could say more, I knew I had to tell her. About Trevor, about the marriage contract, about the whole messed-up situation. I knew I had to convince her. A knot formed in my stomach, and my palms grew sweaty.

Mom's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but I could see the exhaustion etched on her face. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"Mom, we need to talk," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her expression turned serious, and she nodded weakly. "What is it, sweetie?"

I hesitated, unsure how to break the news. But before I could speak, Mom's eyes narrowed.

"Is it about the bills? I know we're struggling, but-" I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt.

"No, Mom, it's not about the bills."

Her gaze locked onto mine, searching for answers. I took another deep breath and let the words spill out.

"I'm getting married, Mom."

The room fell silent, except for the steady beep of the heart monitor. Mom's eyes widened, shock written across her face.

"Marriage?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "To who?"

I cringed at the thought of Trevor.

"Mom, it's only a marriage of convenience, nothing else. It's no big deal, people do this a lot either in movies or in reality. The man is...generous, Mom."

I hated using that word to describe Trevor, but I couldn't think of a better one. Mom's expression turned skeptical, her eyes narrowing.

"Sweetie, you're getting it wrong. Marriage should be about love, nothing else. If your father were here today, I'm sure none of this would have happened."

Regret swirled inside me, knowing I'd disappointed her. "I know, Mom. But always remember, you come first."

"I raised you better than this, Ally. I know you're trying to take care of me, but not like this. You could have said no when he mentioned this sham to you, but you didn't. Why Ally?"

She asked in a disappointed tone, and I couldn't blame her. I was disappointed in myself too. Trevor made me feel cheap like I could be bought, and I didn't like it.

If not for the situation at hand, he would have heard an earful from me. My mother did raise me right, but what could I do? I was stuck on a dejected bridge with no way forward anymore, and when Trevor brought the proposal to me, I had thought of declining it, but it comes along with comfort, and that's just what my mother needed.

As we talked, the steady beep of the heart monitor created a sense of urgency, reminding me of the fragile state of my mom's health. The hospital room's sterile environment felt suffocating as if the very air had been drained of life. I tried to push aside these thoughts, focusing on my mom's words.

"Because I had to think about you, Mom. You're not getting better, and the bills are piling up. This marriage provide for us, the man promised me a lot of money, Mom, and we are running low on cash. Old Campbell's diner isn't doing well lately, resulting in him cutting our pay short, and you told me to quit working at the club. Mom, it's just six months, and during that time, you'd get better, trust me, that's all that matters. He even promised to take care of your hospital bills, and he also mentioned something about getting you a stay-in nurse with his money." I paused, looking for any sign of anger.

My mother's expression softened, her eyes filled with sadness and understanding. "I admire your selflessness. But marriage is a big step. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. But before I could respond, my phone buzzed with an incoming text from Trevor. Out of curiosity, I decided to open it.

"Alessia, don't forget about the cake tasting tomorrow," the text read.

I frowned, my unease growing. Cake tasting? It seemed so... rushed, yet, normal. So... happy. But this wedding was far from happy.

I pushed the thought aside and focused on Mom, trying to explain the situation to her.

I continued, "I wanted to say no, Mom, but he talked me out of it. I had to agree. Mom, you are very much aware that I love you more than anything in this world - nobody comes close, of course. You're strong, beautiful, and brave. For the past few months, you've not had comfort, although you don't complain, but I know you don't want to make me feel bad."

I paused, squeezing her hand gently.

"You're my only family, so tell me, why would I want to lose the only person who means so much to me? All I want from you is for you to get better; the rest can come after that. Look at your skin; it has lost its color. Dad would be so disappointed in me for not taking good care of you. I'm sure he's shaking his head at me, Mom. I promise I will never let you down. You don't have to worry about it, okay? Let's work on getting your pale cheeks rosy again, will you do that for me?"

I gazed at my mother, her fragile form swathed in hospital blankets. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I bit them back. She didn't need my tears; she needed my strength.

"Stop crying, sweetie," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll get better, just for you."

I forced a smile, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. I kissed her wrinkled fingers. "I'll get you some water, Mom."

Why did this have to happen to her? As I helped her drink, her eyes fluttered closed, and she began to cough. My mother was a kind woman, a great wife, and the best Mom anyone could have. I gently patted her back.

After the coughing fit passed, I settled back into my chair, watching her sleep. The hospital room was dimly lit, the only sound was the steady beep of the heart monitor.

I didn't want to tell my mother the name of the man I was marrying, and I was glad she didn't ask. Saying Trevor's name out loud to my Mom would make the whole thing seem real, and it wasn't.

I lost track of time, but eventually, the nurse came in, shaking me gently awake. "Visiting hours are over, sweetie. You can come back tomorrow."

I nodded, still feeling groggy. As I gathered my things, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My eyes looked sunken, my skin pale. I needed a shower, a good night's sleep, and a stiff drink. I kissed my mother's cheeks and walked out of the room.

The cab ride home was a blur. I stumbled into my apartment, shedding my clothes as I made my way to the shower. The hot water stung my skin, but I welcomed the pain. It was a distraction from the ache in my heart. My troubled thoughts.

After the shower, I warmed up some leftovers, my stomach growling with hunger. As I ate, my phone rang, shrill in the silence. I snatched it up, not bothering to check the caller ID.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice curt.

"Alessia." Trevor's voice was low, husky, and infuriatingly arrogant.

I rolled my eyes. "Hello, Trevor. You're not exactly my favorite person to talk to right now." My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, and I struggled to keep my tone neutral.

"I'm calling to remind you about our cake tasting tomorrow," his husky voice purred through the line. "And when did I say you could call me by my name? You're forgetting I am your boss, Alessia." His words dripped with condescension, making my skin crawl.

"Really, Mr. Reynolds?" I drawled out. "What do you want, a wife or an employee?" I questioned, frustration washing over me. It was like he knew how to make me angry, the words to say. Very rude man.

"You have a long day tomorrow, cake testing -remember." He said, completely ignoring my question. Dismissive - One more quality to add to his list. He must have thought it was stupid too. Fake or not. Why would you have your wife formally interact with you?

I bristled at his tone. "I hadn't forgotten," I said curtly, recalling the text he'd sent me earlier. If he wanted to ignore and change our conversation, I was a better player than him.

"Good. Mother wants to meet you tomorrow. I'll pick you up at seven."

Why would his mom want to meet her fake soon-to-be daughter-in-law? Did I really want to go through with this marriage?

I clenched my jaw, the tension radiating through my body. "I don't need you to pick me up. I can drive myself."

There was a pause, and for a moment, I thought he'd hung up on me. But then, his voice came back, smooth as silk. "I'll be at your place at seven, Alessia. Don't even bother about arguing with me."

The line went dead, and I was left staring at my phone, my heart racing with anger.

Rude much.

I spent the rest of the evening lost in thought, my mind consumed by the implications of my situation. As night fell, anxiety gripped me. The looming wedding and my conflicted feelings for Trevor - as much as I liked to deny it, the feelings were there. That was a strong word, maybe tingles. The tingles were there.

As I prepared for bed, my phone vibrated beside me with a text from Trevor. "Don't forget, I'll be at your place at seven tomorrow. Be ready."

I glared at the screen, my skin crawling at his commanding tone. Who did he think he was, ordering me around like that?

Two texts, and a phone call in one day? I typed out a quick response, my fingers flying across the keyboard. "I'll be ready."

As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Would I be able to pretend to be the perfect fiancée? And what would Trevor's mother be like?

The darkness closed in around me, and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. But as I slipped into the depths of sleep, I knew I'd face whatever tomorrow brought, head-on.