Fake Fiancé

Engagement Party

"We were thinking," Joe's father said paying more attention to his phone than his son and his son's fiancé. Isabella glanced over at Joe, her heart jumping into her throat.

"We want to throw you an engagement party," Lily finished for her husband.

"What?" Isabella stuttered, glancing over at Joe. "That's not necessary."

"Oh nonsense," Lily giggled. "We already have our invite list. What about you, Isabella? Have you told your parents about the engagement? I bet your mom is so excited!"

Joe looked over at Isabella instantly seeing the look in her eyes drop. She glanced down at the ring on her finger, playing with it. Joe heard her clear her throat.

"Bella?" He whispered.

"My father left when I was a little girl and my mom. . . I lost my mom when I was thirteen," Isabella said under her breath.

"Oh," Lily whispered. She turned to her son, putting on her perfect 'What were you thinking?' mom glare. "Joe, why didn't you tell us?"

"Well. . . I just. . ."

"It's not his fault," Isabella said, quickly coming to Joe's aid. She reached over and grabbed his hand before continuing to explain, "I don't talk about my father. There's not much to talk about really. He left when I was too young to remember him. And my mother. . . I asked Joe not to say anything. I haven't been able to talk about what happened and I didn't want it to be the main topic. Especially with the wedding. I didn't want our focus being on my mom not being here instead of on us spending the rest of our lives together."

Joe looked at Isabella with soft eyes as he intertwined their fingers. He scooted closer to her, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. She shrugged, taking a shaky breath.

"What do you two have planned already?" Joe's mother asked, not-so-smoothly changing the subject.

"Not much," Isabella shrugged. She glanced over at Joe and chuckled. "Actually, nothing at all. And every time I try, I get extremely overwhelmed and end up having a panic attack."

"I lost track of how many times she's called me, freaking out about color swatches or flower arrangements or weather conditions," Joe chuckled. "There were a few times I even had to go to her place to calm her down."

"So, clearly, I need all the help I can get," Isabella giggled.

"And I would love to help," Lily gushed. "I only have one son and a million ideas."

"Honey," Joseph Sr. sighed. "I don't think Isabella and Joe want you planning everything. Remember, this is their wedding. Not yours."

"Don't worry," she sighed, "Isabella will have the final say. I'm just here as a sounding board or a second opinion."

"What about me?" Joe laughed.

"No offense, honey, but you have trouble matching your ties to your suits. Not to mention the fact that you can't organize a meeting without needing me to take over. I can't imagine you planning a wedding," Isabella teased. "You don't even plan the work Christmas parties. Maybe it's best if you let your mother and I handle the plans. You just focus on showing up."

"I won't be even a minute late," he said. Isabella held her breath as he leaned over and gently kissed her cheek.

Isabella's face burned even more when as Joe leaned back, his mother giggled excitedly.

"Before we plan the big day," she said, slowly calming down, "let's plan the engagement party."

* * * * *