Andrew turned to me, a questioning look on his face. It was as if his eyes were saying,It’s not a big deal. Just tell them.And under different circumstances, I would have. Andrew and I would have sat them down and we would have laid all the cards on the table. And their reaction might not have been great, but we would be the ones to decide how we proceeded. But I knew this was over. I couldn’t bear to put them through it for nothing. Least of all Andrew. It wasn’t fair to make him fight for me when I knew I wasn’t willing to fight for him.
But June and Henry were so happy, sitting at dinner with their baby boy’s girlfriend; they were positively glowing. I could almost hear June thinking that, with my mother gone, she would get to plan her dream wedding. Which she wouldn’t. Because even if this did work out—which, I clearly saw now, it could not—it would be a wedding at the courthouse.
“Well…” June reached across the table and patted Andrew’s hand. “We’re very proud.”
I smiled at her encouragingly. “Of course you are. Andrew is so talented. I’m sure he has always exceeded your expectations.”Mine too,I thought.
“Oh,” June said, “he is marvelous, isn’t he? Watching him play matches has been our favorite thing to do for years now. Have you seen him in action?”
I wanted to laugh. Yup. I had seen him in action. “I’ve only seen him at the club. But he is adorable with the kids. It’s so heartwarming.”
June looked at her son dreamily. “He is going to be a magnificent father one day.”
I smiled at him. I wasn’t mad anymore, just sad. “He sure will.” I paused. “One day.”
A cloud passed over his face.
Henry said, “So, Gray, what do you do?”
“I own an affiliate marketing company,” I said.
June squeezed Henry’s arm. “Maybe Gray can help you.” She turned to me. “Henry’s company, Sanford Properties, is looking for a social media consultant.” She looked at him proudly. “The number-one commercial realtor in the Triangle this year.”
I was thinking that that was not in the realm of what I did, but I said, “Congratulations. That is quite a feat.”
“Thank you.” He nodded humbly. “I’ll make sure to put in a good word for you.”
I smiled tightly. “Wow. That would be…” I stammered. “That would be just great.”
Andrew piped in. “Gray won’t need it. She’s a total genius. She has a multimillion-dollar company and—”
I punched him lightly on the arm. “Andrew, honestly. That’s enough.”
“That is really something,” June said.
“Yes,” Henry chimed in. “Smartandbeautiful. You should hang on to this one, son.”
I felt that pang again.
“Oh, I plan to, Dad,” Andrew said. Then he added, “You know what’s the coolest thing about Gray?”
“What?” June asked.
“She has the most fantastic so—”
I kicked him and interjected, “Software. I patented a special software that makes affiliate marketing much easier.”
June laughed. “That’s wonderful, darling, but I’d hardly say that’s the coolest thing about her.”
I waved my hand in the air and avoided Andrew’s glance. “That’s enough about me. Tell me about you two.” I smiled. “Better yet, give me all the scoop on this one.” I glanced in Andrew’s direction.
By the time we got back in the car, I felt like I was going to be sick from the anxiety of not crushing these wonderful people’s spirit by telling them that I was not at all who they thought. I also loved June and Henry. And that was unfathomably painful.
As we stepped out of the car in the driveway, I said, “Thank you so much again for a wonderful dinner. And son,” I added for good measure. I was breaking up with him, but I still wanted his parents to think I was lovely.
June hugged me. Then she took both my hands in hers. “Darling, you are precious. I am so happy my son found you.” I could feel tears glazing over my eyes. “He is in love with you,” she said. “I can tell.” I smiled and nodded. She took my hand and put it on her chest. “That boy is my whole heart,” she said. “Please don’t break his.”
It took everything I had in me to not break down right there in the driveway. Andrew appeared and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Why don’t you come in?”
