Page 76 of The Wedding Hoax
“Can we talk about something else? Please? Literally, anything else.”
“It’s okay to be conflicted,” Mom reassured me. “Life is full of difficult choices. It’s hard to know who you can trust. It’s even harder to trust someone with your heart. You should take your time.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I smiled over at her, even though she couldn’t see me. “I’ll keep thinking about it, okay?”
“Dinner is served!” Harry announced as he stepped into the hospital room. “I had to go to three different places just to find those sushi rolls you wanted. Seems like cooked salmon is in high demand for a dinner option.”
Harry looked over at my mom, a huge grin forming on his face. “Eileen! How are you feeling?”
“She’s good,” I answered on her behalf, wanting to save her the effort. “Recovering. And her mobility prospects after physical therapy look really good, too.”
“That’s great to hear,” Harry said while placing a takeout bag on the table in the room. He then held up two bottles of sparkling apple cider. “I got these as sort of a surprise. I was thinking we could toast? If all went well?”
“You want to toast with apple cider?” I tried to keep my expression blank, even as my anxiety spiked through the roof.
Oh my God.
Is that why Harry was being so nice to me lately?
Did he already know about the baby?
“I figured your mom couldn’t drink anything with alcohol in it, because of the pain meds.” He moved closer to the bed. “But I didn’t want that to stop the celebration.”
“Always thinking about other people.” My mom sighed. “Such a good husband.”
“Well, not that great of a husband since it looks like I completely forgot the glasses.” Harry grimaced.
“We can just drink from the bottles.” I pulled one out of his grip. “I don’t think my mom is in the right headspace for a toast, anyway.”
“Yeah, I think she just fell asleep.” Harry laughed. “God. Those pain meds are going to have her knocked out all the time.”
Harry clinked his bottle against mine. “Cheers to your mom’s surgery going off without a hitch.”
“Cheers.” I clinked my bottle against his, too. “And thanks for everything. Being here. Getting dinner. All of it.”
“You’re very welcome.” Harry opened his bottle of cider before he took a long swig. “Hmm. Apple cider might not be as delicious as champagne, but it’s still pretty good in a pinch.”
“Are you still going to stay the night?” I tried to be casual about it as I opened my bottle. “Because it looks like there’s only one couch.”
“Yeah, but I think we can make enough space for both of us.”
I nodded and took a drink from the bottle, trying not to get lost in his eyes.
We ate our dinner as my mom slept on her bed. I was ravenous, and I finished quickly.
Soon, we were both snuggled up on the couch for the evening.
“Are you comfortable?” I asked as I practically lay on top of him.
“Pretty comfortable, yeah.” Harry pulled me even closer. “I’m surprised you haven’t passed out yet.”
“Why? Because I ordered like four rolls of sushi?”
“No, because today’s been so stressful for you. I just assumed it would’ve gotten to you by now.”
“I think I’m too freaked out to sleep,” I admitted. “Hospitals remind me too much of what happened to my dad. It’s like I’m stuck inside of the worst night of my life all over again.”
“I’m sorry you’re having to relive that.” Harry ran a hand through my hair, his voice soft.