Chapter 0068
I couldn’t believe I actually agreed to this. Staring at myself in the mirror, I frowned at the unfamiliar reflection. The female business suit I had borrowed from my mother made me look much older, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. Matt was right when he said I could pull off being his mother. For a moment, I had doubts, wondering if I was too young to convincingly play the part. But those doubts slipped away when I grabbed one of my mother’s old business suits and slipped it on. The fit was just right, and somehow, it made me feel like I could handle this situation.
I glanced at the clock—my Uber was arriving soon. The seconds ticked away, and I still had no idea what exactly Matt had done to get into trouble. I should have asked him, but I was too busy preparing myself for the role I was about to play: angry, stern, and very much the concerned mother. I needed to be convincing for the teachers, and I had to show them I was a no-nonsense parent who wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense.
I ran my fingers through my hair, debating whether to put it in a low ponytail instead of leaving it down. It was a silly thought, but I felt the weight of the situation press on me. If I couldn’t pass as Matt’s mom, my only other option was to somehow seduce the teacher, a suggestion I could almost hear my Nan making if I ever told her about this predicament.
The honking outside startled me, and I quickly took one last look in the mirror. I grabbed my purse, shouldered it, and hurried out the door.
I was surprised to see my mother sitting in the living room when I came downstairs. Even more surprising was the fact that she was sipping on a cup of coffee, something I hadn’t seen her do in days.
When she saw me, she smiled faintly and motioned to the kitchen. “I brewed some coffee if you’d like some.”
“You brewed the coffee yourself?” I asked, my surprise evident.
She raised an eyebrow at me. “I’m capable of brewing coffee, Judy,” she said, her tone flat.
I blinked a few times, caught off guard. “I didn’t mean it like that, Mom. I just meant you haven’t really been up to doing anything lately, is all,” I said quickly. “I’m glad you’re out of bed.”
She took another sip of her coffee and gave me a small smile. “I figured it’s time that I start making some changes in my life, and I can’t do that if I’m stuck in my room all day, can I?”
I smiled, grateful that my mother was starting to feel better. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. Her body stiffened at first, but only for a moment before she relaxed and rested her head on my shoulder.
She pulled away slightly and gave me a curious look. “Are you wearing my clothes?”
I swallowed hard, the truth hanging in the air. “I have an interview,” I lied quickly, trying to sound convincing. “I needed something professional to wear.”
“Would this job be good paying?” she asked, her eyes lighting up a little at the prospect.
I nodded, a little too enthusiastically. “Maybe even enough to pay off Dad’s debt,” I said, trying to sound hopeful.
Her eyes brightened at the mention of Dad’s debt. “I have a meeting with his lawyers today to discuss some other options they may have found,” she told me. “I’ll keep you posted on what I find out.”
I smiled and nodded. “I’ll be home a little later; we can talk then.”
The honking outside grew louder, and I knew that if I didn’t leave now, the Uber driver would leave without me. I kissed my mom’s cheek and rushed out of the house.
The ride to the school was quiet, and as the Uber driver pulled into the parking lot, my anxiety only grew stronger. I thanked him and slipped out of the car, trying to steady my nerves.
When I walked into the school, the halls were eerily quiet, most students clearly in class. It didn’t take me long to find the main office near the front entrance. The receptionist, a young blonde woman, was typing away on her computer, barely noticing anything going on around her. I cleared my throat a couple of times before she finally lifted her gaze to meet mine.
“Can I help you?” she asked, raising her perfectly trimmed brows.
“Yes, I’m here to speak with the principal,” I said, hoping I didn’t sound as nervous as I felt.
She glanced up at me, her eyes narrowing. “And who might you be?”
“Judy Landry,” I lied, holding my head high. “I’m Matt’s mom.”
The receptionist narrowed her eyes, giving me a once-over, and then she let out a sharp bark of laughter. She had to sit back in her chair, holding her stomach as she laughed. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
She was clearly not buying it. If I was really Mrs. Landry, that meant I was married to Gavin Landry, and everyone knew that Gavin was a well-known eligible bachelor—a playboy, no less. I should have thought this through before I spoke, but now that the lie was out there, I couldn’t take it back.
