The Wedding Favor by Caroline Mickelson Read Free Book Online Page B

interrupted. Doubtless they’d have a moment alone together later to discuss their plans but now it was time to see Mr. Ortega again after many years. Ava took a deep steadying breath, surprised at how nervous she felt about seeing Mateo’s grandfather all these years later.
    She stood silently behind Mateo as he reached down to kiss his grandfather’s cheek. As soon as he straightened, Mateo held out his hand to her and Ava gratefully took it. She stepped forward and took her first look at Mr. Ortega in well over a decade.
    Mateo’s grandfather was in a wheelchair, his back straight and his eyes sparkling, but he’d lost a great deal of weight since the last time she’d seen him. His hair then had been salt and pepper but now it was all silver. While these things were a natural part of aging, she knew the unhealthy pallor of his skin and the dark circles under his sunken eyes wasn’t. Cancer hadn’t spared Joaquin Ortega its cruelty. Tears pricked the back of Ava’s eyes.
    He reached out a frail hand. “Ah, Ava, how lovely to see you.”
    Ava didn’t hesitate. She reached out and took his hands between hers. “Hello, Mr. O. I am so very, very happy to see you.”
    “Mr. O? No one has called me that for years.” A smile stretched across his features. “It’s nice to hear it again, Ava.” He looked up at his grandson. “I can see why this young lady has stolen your heart, Mateo.”
    Ava looked up at Mateo as well, in part to see his reaction to the painfully untrue words and partially to not have to continue to meet the older man’s eyes. So far the guilt she thought she might feel at pretending to be Mateo’s fiancée had been theoretical but now she realized it would be a hundred times more difficult than she’d imagined. Judging by the look on Mateo’s face, she guessed he was quickly coming to the same realization.
    Ava moved to slip an arm around Mateo’s waist. The gesture felt so intimate and possessive that she felt awkward. But wasn’t this how a loving fiancée would act at her engagement party? And if she was going to act the part, she might as well do it to the best of her abilities. She flashed a smile up at Mateo before turning to his grandfather. “I think it might technically be the other way around, Mr. O. Your grandson stole my heart.”
    Mateo’s grandfather laughed, although it was a much quieter version of the hearty laugh she remembered from years ago. “I’m happier to hear that than you can imagine.” He coughed and then accepted a glass of water from his daughter. He leaned back and closed his eyes for a long moment but when he opened them again he focused his gaze directly on Ava. “But I can clearly see we have a problem, Ava.”
    Ava’s heart began to race. She glanced at Mateo for reassurance. Had she said or done something wrong?
    “What is it, Papa?” Joaquin’s daughter Sylvia asked. “Do you want to go back inside now?”
    Joaquin Ortega shook his head and waved her away. He pointed to Ava’s left hand. “My grandson didn’t give you an engagement ring when he proposed?”
    **
    Mateo froze. The ring. Damn. He’d noticed earlier that Ava wasn’t wearing it but he’d forgotten to ask her about it. “I’m sorry Abuelo, I haven’t-” but Ava interrupted him.
    “I have it here,” Ava said. She withdrew her arm from around his waist and reached into her pocket to pull out the small, velvet box he’d sent to her office.
    He appreciated her helping him out of an awkward spot. He smiled down at her. Ava was a gem. He searched her face for a sign of how she was feeling, or more accurately, of how far she was willing to take this charade. When she handed him the box, he got his answer. She was in. He took the box, flipped open the top, and pulled his abuela’s ring out.
    “May I?” Joaquin held out his hand.
    Mateo didn’t hesitate. He placed the amethyst ring into his grandfather’s outstretched hand. He watched as his abuelo gently examined it. He