My Fake Fiance's Brother

Family time

Well, this is awkward... For a second, I thought they would recognize me. For a second, when his mother looked at me and asked for my name, I thought I wasn't a forgotten old memory in their busy lives. For a second, I wanted to answer that I am indeed Ava Moore and I know where the dining room is because I've been here before.

But now that chance is gone and I am certain that it's for the better. Never in my life have I been subjected to such a festive celebration... the new god damn year... the Earth did a 360 around the sun day... that goes on and on for course after course of exquisite food and... not a single word spoken.

An opera singer with a divine voice is in one corner of the room, surrounded by a full orchestra, but no one seems to pay any attention to her performance. They just... stare at each other?

Was it always like this and I wasn't old enough to notice?

Finally, after the dessert was served, Alex's mom turns to me with an exercised smile and frees the table from the silent curse.

"How was the food dear?"

"It was fantastic, Mrs. Rhodes. The seared scallops with spiced pomegranate glaze were particularly divine." I offer a polite smile, a general compliment, and then I mention something extremely particular. Art of conversation as a guest. Before she died, my mother would make me practice with her. It used to make me so mad because I knew, with our uncle gone, I would never need it again, but never say never, I guess.

"Oh, dear. Those are my favorites too. Such a delicate taste, with a kick to it. Those brutes never appreciate them, though. They would be happy eating burgers at every meal. My fault for only having sons."

"What is wrong with a good steak and some potatoes? They taste better than any fancy thing that comes out of that expensive cook's mind. He earns more than some of my partners!" Mr. Rhodes chimes in and I can't help but let out a chuckle. My only real memory with his is that he always complained about the food everywhere, claiming they should have served stake and potatoes like back in his days.

"Oh, stop it! You came with me to the taste test!"

"You fooled me, my love. You asked him to cook steak and that was the last time he did!"

Mrs. Rhodes turns to me and I offer her a sympathetic look.

"He thinks I am horrible because I stop him from eating things that his doctor forbade him to." She shakes her head and before Mr. Rhodes gets the chance to say something else, she turns her full attention back to me.

"Tell me about yourself, dear."

I can sense Alex froze next to me. Can't blame him. I said I would come to the dinner and be on my best behavior, but I would not lie. I am not some heirress that his parents would immediately approve of. I am a waitress without parents that tries to support her younger sister. The perfect set up for a gold-digger.

"I work at a dinner near Washington Park, where I met Alex. And I live with my little sister near the bridge on the east side. I did not get a chance to get to college, but I would have loved to study architecture." Most true, except the part where I met Alex at the dinner. But I said I will not say big lies, not small ones. Well, some big half-truths as I didn't say that we have met before.

"I see." She seems surprised, but the polite smile doesn't leave her beautiful face. David and Mr. Rhodes exchange looks that can only mean We knew it. "And your parents? We are going to be family, I would love to meet them."

"My mother died a few years ago. She was my father's whole life so when she left, all he wanted to do was to go after her. I was old enough to understand, but my sister wasn't so everything I did and do is for her."

Mrs. Rhodes' smile breaks in the end as the silence curses the table once again. Alex is basically a statue behind me, waiting for his parents' disapproval while his brother has a very complicated expression on his face, like he wants to say something, but doesn't know what.

"Oh darling... I am so sorry." Mrs. Rhodes finds the words and from the look that she exchanges with her husband, I can see that they understand. They share the same type of love my parents did and losing it would kill them.

"It is alright. It was a long time ago, and I am at peace with whatever happened. I did not plan to spoil the mood, but since I am here as a possible member of the family, I thought you would have the right to know. And selfishly, I wanted to get it out of the way as soon as possible. Rip the bandage, as they say." Again, almost entirely sure. But I will never be part of their family. I am just a fiancée for rent. Close enough to a gold-digger that I have a sour taste in my mouth.

"You take care of your sister all on your own?" Mr. Rhodes asks, putting his glass down and looking at me like he just now saw me.

"Yes. It's not hard though, as she is such a gem. She's a dreamer and kind, but determined. Top of her class and next year she will be off to college to study business administration while taking cooking classes on the side. In a few years, she will own the restaurant that everyone will be fighting to catch a table at." I answer, being perfectly sincere with every word for the first time tonight.

"And you, Miss Moore. Where will you be in a few years?" He asks.

I have to take a deep breath and keep my tone and expression as neutral as possible. I'm not looking for sympathy. I am to prove that I am no danger to their wealth and they can be at peace with my presence at the periphery of their lives for the little time I have left. Because as I talked about my sister, I realized that truly, there is nothing that I wouldn't do for her. Including playing the fiancée or wife of whatever to some rich guy with daddy issues. So I decided to accept Alex's deal.

"A few years from now I will be dead."