I hug my dad, then sit in the seat across from them. Leighton and I decided that I’d tell my parents about our situation when I saw them today. They know her, and I don’t want them getting any ideas and being disappointed. But now that I’m sitting with them, I’m wondering what we were thinking.
My mom is here to get the results of her one-year scan. She seems in good spirits, but her mind has to be spinning. Then again, it would distract her, and it won’t upset her, I don’t think. She’ll understand why we’re doing it.
I look around the room and lean in closer. My mom takes the hint, leaning in, but my dad is still looking out the window at all the sailboats in the water.
“I have to tell you something,” I whisper.
No one is close to us, and the people who are might not even know who I am, but I need to be careful.
“Did you get a tattoo?” my mom whispers.
My eyes crinkle, and I shake my head.
“Because I don’t care anymore. That’s the good side of this disease. You just don’t care about the small stuff.”
“I didn’t know you were against tattoos?” My head cocks to the side.
“I’m not. Now.” She shrugs.
“Well, that’s not it.”
“Okay.” She looks at my dad. “Dave, any guesses what Hayes has to tell us?”
My dad looks at me. “What’s the game?”
This is the result of a family who treats everything like a game.
“We’re not playing a game,” I say.
“I thought you wanted me to guess?” My mom looks confused. “You bought a farm!”
I hate to tell her she couldn’t be further from the truth because she looks so happy.
“I’d rather you buy a lake house. If you’re going to spend your money, you should be on a lake where you can fish.” My dad goes back to looking at the water gleaming in the sun. “Or a sailboat would be nice. We could take lessons together. Father and son bonding.”
“Oh, that would be nice. Wouldn’t it, Hayes?” My mom smiles at me.
“Sure, I’ll think about it. Anyway, that’s not what I have to tell you.” My mom opens her mouth, but I raise my hand. “No guessing.”
Her smile falters, and she draws back in her chair, crossing her legs as if I just ruined her fun. “Fine. What is it then?”
I glance at my watch and see that we have about five minutes before her appointment time. Even then, they’re always running behind from what Callie has told me.
“Well, what is it?” My dad looks at me.
“You know about Leighton and the kids, right?”
My mom sits up straighter. “What about them? Did something happen? I forgot to tell you how proud I am of you stepping up to help her.” She pats my leg.
“Yeah, well, there’s the whole custody thing and all that, so we sort of told the court that we’re dating.” When my mom’s eyebrows raise up to her hairline, and she grins, I quickly add, “But we’re not.”
My mom frowns.
“I don’t understand,” my dad says. “You are or you’re not?”
“Not. But you’re going to see pictures of us on the internet and stuff because we’re telling everyone we are. I just didn’t want you to think we were a real thing, and then… well, I didn’t want to lie to you.”
“Why aren’t you dating her?” my dad asks. “She’s a sweet girl, and you’d be lucky to have her.”
