CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Brenna arrived at the hospital, telling herself not to think of the worst. She’d tried to call Darren back, but all she got was his voicemail.
The messages she received from him didn’t say much—only that Patty was experiencing complications, so he and Sally had rushed her to the hospital, and for Brenna to come as soon as she could.
The lady at reception gave her instructions on how to get to the wing Patty was in. At least Patty wasn’t in surgery or an intensive care unit, so that was probably a good thing. She allowed herself to relax for the first time since getting those messages.
Reaching Patty’s room, she spotted Darren sitting on a chair next to Patty’s bed. He was reading a magazine while Patty seemed to be asleep.
“Hi,” she said softly.
Darren looked up. “Hey,” he said, getting up and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for coming.”
“What happened?”
Darren told her in hushed tones, his demeanour betraying his concern. “She was asking for you when we drove here.”
“How are you, Darren?” she asked, placing a hand on his arm.
He smiled. “Trying to cope as well as I can.”
She nodded her sympathy.
Sally came into the room. “Hello, Brenna. Glad you were able to make it. Why don’t you and Darren go to the cafeteria and get something to eat while Patty’s asleep?”
“Great idea, Auntie,” Darren said. “Let’s go, Bren. I haven’t had lunch yet.”
“Me neither,” she answered.
*****
“Mum asked me if we’re having relationship troubles again,” Darren said as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Brenna sighed. “That’s the problem with this, isn’t it? I’ve noticed your mum watching us like a hawk every time we’re around her. I’m sure she’s looking for proof that things are alright between us.”
“Yeah. She got really worried yesterday when I told her you won’t be visiting today because you have something else on. She wanted to know what, so I told her you’re attending a friend’s birthday. Then she wondered why I wasn’t going with you.”
“Darren, maybe we should come clean,” she said softly.
“No! Bren, I thought you understood. She’s happy because we’re together again.”
“I know, but let’s think this through,” she said patiently. “Your mum told me before that she was concerned about how you’re coping. She said she was happy I’m around again for you. But you see, her attitude about us is really because of you. I think if she sees you’re coping well with her situation, and that us not being together is okay with you, then she’d be fine with it. We need to show her that even though we’re just friends, things are still well and good.”
Darren shook his head stubbornly. “And what? Tell her we’ve been lying to her all along? I don’t think she’ll be happy with that at all.”
“Maybe we could have a pretend breakup. We could say we’ve realised we’re better off being just friends. If she sees us happy together being friends, then I’m sure that would alleviate her worries.”
Darren buried his face in his hands, then looked at her pleadingly. “I’m sorry, Bren, but I don’t think I want to take that risk at this point in time. She’s not very well at the moment. Can we talk about this another time?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
“Is Ash telling you not to continue with this?” Darren asked softly, although she heard the hard edge in his tone.
“No. He’s fine with this, Darren.”
Darren smirked.
“He really is,” she assured him.
“You know, it still surprises me how someone can stand aside for years if he really loves someone.”
“Darren,” she said with warning in her voice.
“I’m just saying,” Darren said with a shrug. “We might not be together anymore, Bren, but I still care about you. I don’t want you wasting your time on a man who won’t fight for you when the going gets tough. What does that say about the depths of his feelings?”
“It was me who didn’t notice his feelings before,” she said heatedly. “What did you expect him to do? Carry me over his shoulder and lock me in his room until I gave in to him? Or for him to have a fistfight to ‘win’ me from my then-boyfriend—who happened to be you? That’s ridiculous. There are other ways to show you care about someone, including being selfless and doing what you think is best for the other person.”
“Hey,” Darren said, holding his arms up in surrender. “I’m just saying it how I see it. You know me, Bren. I fight for what I want.”
Yes, Brenna thought with irritation. Sometimes without caring about other people’s feelings.
Darren reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. Let’s not fight. I don’t know why I’m testy. I think I’m feeling the pressure.”
She relented. She knew times were truly tough for Darren.
“You’ll stick around to help me, right, Bren? It would be hell if Mum thinks we’ve broken up again. I could just imagine how that would negatively affect her moods.”
“I don’t want to put her under any additional stress either,” she said, meaning it. As far as she could see, lying to Patty about her and Darren was doing wonders for the woman. How could she not continue with it? It seemed too cruel to do otherwise now that they were in too deep with the pretense.
“So you’ll go with the flow with me on this? Do what’s best for Mum?”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing now?” she asked, hoping the flow wouldn’t sweep her off to somewhere she didn’t want to be.
*****
“Hi, Patty, how are you feeling?” Brenna asked, stroking the older woman’s hair.
“I’m okay,” Patty said, her voice weak. “I’m glad you’re here, Brenna. How was your friend’s birthday party?”
“Good, thanks,” she said simply.
“Darren said he didn’t know this friend of yours, that’s why he didn’t go with you?” Patty said, obviously fishing for information.
“No, he doesn’t know my friend. Plus, Darren was due to visit you today. Good thing he did, so he was able to drive you here to the hospital.”
“I know,” Patty said with a dash of guilt. “It’s a little inconvenient for everyone.”
“No, it’s not,” she said lightly.
Patty smiled, taking her hand. “You’re so sweet, Brenna. I’m glad you put up with my son. I know he can be maddening at times, but he’s a good kid.”
“Good kid,” Darren muttered, rolling his eyes. “As if I’m ten.”
“No, you most certainly are not a child,” Patty said, chuckling. “In fact, you’re turning thirty in a few months. That’s getting old, don’t you think? You were already three years old when I was thirty, Darren.”
Brenna fidgeted, guessing where Patty was steering the conversation.
“Haven’t the two of you considered getting married?” Patty continued, to Brenna’s consternation.
“Uh, sure, Mum,” Darren said. “In fact...”
Brenna glanced at Darren in shock. In fact, what?
“Oh my God,” Patty whispered in delight. “You’ve proposed?”
“Oh, no, Patty. He hasn’t,” Brenna said hastily, vowing to strangle Darren for this incredibly stupid lie.
“Oh.” The disappointment was evident in Patty’s face. “I’ve been hoping... because I don’t know how long I’ll still be around...”
“Bren just doesn’t want to make it official until I get her a ring, Mum,” Darren said.
Brenna shot Darren a deadly look. What on earth was he thinking?
“Of course she needs a ring,” Patty berated her son, smiling widely. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” she said excitedly, grasping both Brenna’s and Darren’s hands. “I’d like you guys to consider something.”
“What?” Darren asked.
“The diamond on my engagement ring was originally from your dad’s grandmother’s ring. Please take it and have it set in a new ring for Brenna.”
Brenna stared at Patty in horror. “Oh, no, Patty. Please, no.”
“I won’t take no for an answer, Brenna,” Patty said. “You’ve made me so happy today. Don’t spoil it now,” she joked.
Brenna bit her lip, trying her darnedest best to stop the tears from falling. This was so wrong.
“Oh, darling girl,” Patty whispered. “Please don’t cry. If I die tomorrow, then you know I’ve died with happiness and peace in my heart.”
Brenna squeezed Patty’s hand. All she could do was send the woman a trembly smile.
*****
“What the hell was that all about, Darren?” Brenna hissed the moment they were out of Patty’s room.
“Shh,” Darren said, looking around. “I was only trying to make her feel better.”
“But you’re making this worse!” she whispered furiously. “She’s gonna expect a lot more from us now that we’re engaged. Didn’t you hear what she asked me before we left? She wants to know when I’m moving in with you.”
Darren rubbed his face. “I’m sorry. If I could take it back, I would. I should have anticipated her expecting us to move in together, but I spoke without thinking.”
“What will we do now?”
“How about you bring some of your stuff over to my place? Just the basics, so if ever she comes over to visit—which I doubt she would, since we go to see her instead—she’d think you’re living there.”
“What? No, Darren! That will dig us into a deeper hole,” she cried, getting utterly frustrated. “You know that one of your Aunt Sally’s daughters now lives in my building—on the same floor! She’s bound to see me go home to my apartment.”
“You shouldn’t have mentioned to her that your neighbour had to move unexpectedly.”
“I didn’t know she and her boyfriend were looking for another place to live. I was only trying to come up with whatever topic so the conversation wouldn’t have to be about how the two of us were back together again.”
Darren shook his head. “Who would have thought, hey?”
She sighed. “I know.”
“Okay. We’ll make up some story then about why you’re not moving in yet. But Bren,” Darren said, halting her with a hand on her arm, “did you see how happy she was?”
“But this is so wrong!”
“The doctor told us to expect the worst if no compatible donor turns up within the next couple of months,” Darren said gravely.
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, Darren.”
Darren’s eyes misted. “I wish we didn’t have to do this. It’s hard for me, too. But I just want to see her laugh and smile. She’s hardly smiled since Dad died. At least she’s happy again.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around Darren to give him a comforting hug. “She’s very lucky to have you for a son.”
“She’s lucky to have you too. You’ve always been the daughter she’s always wanted,” he murmured.
Brenna took a deep, ragged breath. She wasn’t looking forward to telling Ash about this new development. He’d be understanding. She knew he would be. But this would trouble him a lot.
“You’re worried about Ash, aren’t you?” Darren asked.
She nodded. “I’m sure he’ll understand, though.”
“You know, you don’t need to tell him about the engagement thing. In fact, you don’t need to tell anyone about it. That’s really only for Mum’s benefit. No one else has to know. It would make it easier for you.”
“But I don’t want to hide things from Ash,” she said, although her mind opened up to the suggestion.
“Why make him worry about this, Bren? He already knows we’re pretending to be together anyway, right? Technically speaking, being engaged is still being together. We won’t be doing anything differently from what we’re doing now. And it’s not as if Ash and my mum talk to each other anyway.”
She swallowed, getting more receptive to the idea. “I guess you have a point. The being engaged bit is only a term to make your mum happy.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay. But, Darren, no more coming up with surprises that would make things unmanageable, please. And to be perfectly clear, we are not telling your mum that we’re moving in together. We’ll say we’re both very busy at work, and we haven’t gotten around to arranging it. And for heaven’s sake, even if she gives you her engagement ring, please don’t order one for me. We are not messing up with her ring.”
“Okay.”
“Good,” she said, pushing away the niggling feeling in her stomach. Like Darren had said, they were not going to be doing anything differently from what they were doing now. Being ‘engaged’ was only a term for Patty’s benefit. Nothing for her to feel guilty or worried about if she didn’t mention this to Ash or anyone else.
She sighed. Hopefully, she was right.