Page 60 of That Fake Feeling

Iput my glass down and turn to face her. “Isthere a problem?”

“It’smy aunt.”

Myheart lurches at the thought of what kind of awful news this could be.

“What’shappened?Isshe okay?”

“Themagazine’s out.Oneof her friends from the coffee shop sent her pictures of the article.Shit.”

Sheshakes the phone like it might erase what’s happened. “Iwas just hoping and hoping she might not see it andI’dnever have to tell her.She’llbe so upsetI’vekept a secret from her.”

Rosedigs her teeth into her lower lip. “AndnowIhave to lie to her because of the nondisclosure agreement.Ihave to tell her you’re really my boyfriend, that this is real.”Hereyes fill as her shoulders slump in defeat. “Shit.”

Thepain on her face is because of me.It’smy fault she has to betray her aunt’s trust.Andif anyone understands how much being disloyal to family hurts, it’s me.Hell,Ispend every day in a jobIhate to avoid that exact same heartache.

“Areyou two close?”Iask.

“She’smy mom’s sister.Theywere really tight.Momdied four years ago, soIdo everythingIcan to keep in touch.It’shard with my schedule and a three-hour time difference, butIdo the bestIcan.”

Christ,Ican’t imagine losing a parent.Themere thought is unbearable.

“Wasit just you and your mom?”

“Yup.Always.AndIhelped her a lot.Wewere a real team.”

“Helped?”

“Yeah, she was severely dyslexic.”Roseslides her phone on the table and sits back in the chair. “SoIhelped her from whenIcould first read.”

“Ah.”Agiant light bulb turns on in my head. “Sothat’s how you got interested in special ed.”

Shepulls her legs up under her, her skirt shifting and revealing a little glimpse of thigh before she pulls it back down. “Yup.I’vebasically been doing it sinceIwas six.”

GoodGod, she’s been a teacher almost her whole life.Nowonder this is her vocation.

“Andit’s why you’re so single-minded about becoming a professor and training as many teachers as you can.Sothey can help people like your mom?”

“Yeah,Idon’t want anyone else to have their lives held back by a learning issue like she did.”Sheturns her gaze to the other side of the room and the wall of windows. “Wow, look at the moon.”

Abovethe trees, a perfect bright crescent stands out against the clear night sky.

“Anyway.”Hereyes drop. “Noone spotted her problem in school.Theythought she was just a bad student.”Sheconcentrates on the ring she always wears on the middle finger of her right hand and rubs the pearl with her thumb. “Mymom was the least dumb personI’veever known.Butbecause she got no help, she didn’t do well on tests, couldn’t go to college, and ended up working a bunch of jobs so we could get by.”

“Man, that is terrible.”Myheart aches for little six-year-oldRosereading everything for her mom.

Shesniffs and looks up at me. “Well,I’mgoing to do everythingIcan to prevent anyone else from going through the same thing.”

It’simpossible not to admire the fighting spirit behind the eyes that could spill over any second.

“Isit okay for me to ask how she died?”

Shenods. “Cancer.”

Christ, if we were sitting on the sofa,I’dscoop her into my arms right now and do my best to ease the pain that’s etched in the pinch between her eyes and obviously lives constantly inside her.It’sallIcan do not to kick this goddamn table out from between us and at least reach across and hold her hand.Butshe’s curled into a little ball in her chair, andIdon’t know if she would even want comfort from me.

“Jesus.Sonow you’re completely alone?”

“Well, thank you for pointing out how sad and tragic that is.”Shemanages a half smile. “Yup, just me andAuntJen.Butshe lives inWashingtonstate, so not exactly around the corner.”