Page 75 of Until He Confesses

Me: Mom is hoping she can see you before you leave.

This time around he took a little bit longer to respond.

Lucas: What time?

Me: Anytime. She's awake and feeling better.

Lucas: I'll be there soon.

I shut off the phone. I returned to the room with my mother, and although I tried my very best to hide how nervous I felt, she eventually noticed and set her hands on top of mine. She stared at me, but before she could ask about him again, I shifted the conversation to her health.

"I'll stay with you here for a little bit," I told her. "I'll be able to take time off work, so I'll let them know as soon as possible."

She looked at me in thought, and then she wrinkled her nose in displeasure.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"My company will let me off work with benefits for a while," she said. "Rather than remaining here, I'd love instead to come to New York. I can get a reference to a doctor and hospital that can monitor me there, right?"

She looked at me as I tried to process her words.

"You want to come to New York?" I asked, and she nodded.

"My life has been too quiet," she said. "It's time to be among the bustle of other people for a little while."

This was yet another request for the day that I didn't quite know how to process, but then she was the one asking, and I was ready to do whatever she wanted, so I had no choice but to nod in agreement. Afterward, I remained silent as she fell asleep and once again went through the contract on my phone.

I still couldn't believe he drafted a contract for us and so quickly at that. However, as I went through it over and over again, I couldn't push away the feeling that something was missing.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and it was a nurse. Just behind her was the most regal-looking and gorgeous man I had ever seen. I couldn't take my eyes off him, and I soon noticed the nurse that had come in was gorgeous as well. And it was then that I realized what was missing.

Throughout the entirety of this agreement, were we going to remain committed to each other, or was it going to be more of an open relationship? This was the one thing that I wanted to find out about.

Lucas

My attention was completely on her mother as I walked in. I was a little surprised from the moment I received the invitation from Callie. It had been many years since I had interacted with her, but I recalled I had always had a cordial relationship with her.

Sure, I had lent a helping hand to Callie on her behalf, but I had been worried for her well-being as well. She and Callie hadn't exactly been close when she was younger, and so more times than not, I had to be the one mediating between them.

She had trusted me with her daughter, and I'd like to think that I hadn't disappointed her. However, as this statement registered in my mind and I glanced at Callie, I recalled she was probably aware of Callie's accusation against me. This made me wonder why she wanted to see me.

Soon our eyes connected, and to my surprise, she had a sweet smile for me. She looked so frail and weak that it made my heart hurt, but I tried my best to maintain a neutral expression. Soon enough, the nurse finished attending to her and gave me a particularly coquettish smile that no one in the room missed before she exited the room. I caught Callie's raised eyebrows in both irritation and amusement and was tempted to smile as well.

"You're still quite popular with the ladies," her mom said softly, and I couldn't help but smile. "Perhaps even more now."

I didn't know what to say to this, so I headed over to her bedside.

"Hello Madelyn," I greeted, and she lifted her hand to lightly touch mine. Her touch was warm and gentle, and I felt the warmth of it radiate through me. There was no hostility or reservation, and it was as though the years between us had passed without any dent in our familiarity whatsoever.

"Callie told me how you helped her out," she said, and I nodded.

"Thank you," she replied, and I nodded again. "I know that thank you doesn't even begin to cover anything, but I think it's a good enough start."

I looked into her eyes, and my heart was moved as emotions from a simpler and happier time flooded my mind. I pulled a chair by the corner over and sat down by her side.

"You know you don't even have to say thanks," I said. She smiled, but her eyes went to her daughter, and I could only imagine what her reaction was to the statement I had just made. I ignored it, and then her mom, to my surprise, spoke to her daughter.

"Could you excuse us, please? We have a few things to catch up on."