The Truth About Faking

straight.”
    “Right,” I breathe. I sit there imagining the possibility. That would be a first. I turn away and lean back against the tree. I think about my mom. My nontraditional mother and her crazy ideas. Jason’s beside me, and we both listen to the currents for several minutes. Finally I speak.
    “Do you know why I’m an only child?”
    Jason smiles and pulls my hair back. “They couldn’t top you?”
    “It’s because Mom thinks responsible Christians shouldn’t have more than one baby. She really thinks they shouldn’t have any children. That they should adopt unwanted babies and then raise them in Christian households.”
    “That’s pretty radical. But I thought having kids was one of those sacraments or something.”
    “That’s for Catholics,” I say. “Mom believes God told us to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth. But now that the earth’s full, we should focus on being good stewards.”
    Jason raises his eyebrows and glances back at the creek. “I don’t think that idea’s going to catch on.”
    “The only reason they had me is because Dad really wanted to have a baby,” I say.
    “C’mon, H.D. Your mom loves you.”
    “Oh, really?” I hiccup a breath. “You think so?”
    “I know so,” he says. “I was there when she cross-examined me before the luau. She wasn’t letting me take you anywhere.”
    “Maybe. But that’s just one example.”
    “OK. Give me another.”
    “She likes to say God gave us the Bible, but he also gave us a brain.”
    Jason laughs. “That’s awesome. I agree.”
    “Yes, but you’re not a pastor’s wife. She’s never once cared what her wild ideas mean to Dad. What they could cost him.”
    “I think your dad loves your mom’s wild ideas.”
    “Maybe before, but I’m not sure he loves them now.”
    “I bet he does.”
    “How can you say that?” I demand. “He’s not leading the service tomorrow. He could lose his job.”
    “Your dad is in love with your mom. Like seriously in love with her.” Jason pulls me, and I slide my back against him so he can wrap his arms around me. “And it’s pretty obvious she feels the same way about him.”
    “She’s selfish. She gets on these soap boxes of hers, and she doesn’t care who gets hurt by them.”
    “She loves you and she loves your dad. And she’s fierce. I think you’re going to be proud of her before it’s all over.”
    We’re quiet for a minute. I’m afraid to say what I’m thinking, but I do.
    “And what if Ms. Jackson’s right?” I say quietly. “What if there is something inappropriate going on?”
    “Harley.” Jason pushes me forward. I turn to face him. “You don’t really think your mom would do anything with that guy do you?”
    I look at Jason and think about it for a minute. I think about how my feelings for Trent changed after Jason came into the picture. How after a year of dreaming in lavender, one week with Jason changed everything. What if the same thing happened to my mismatched mom?
    Then I imagine tone-deaf Pocahontas pressing her lips to hairless Ricky’s. Ugh! I can’t even picture that. No. There’s no way. At least not under any normal circumstances.
    But what if he showed up unexpectedly? If she let him in and then he threw himself at her? Would she cave out of pity? Or hormones?
    “What are you thinking?” Jason ducks his head to meet my eyes.
    “It’s hard to imagine, but what if…”
    “What if what?”
    “Remember that night after the movies when I ran into the house?”
    “Our one fake date.”
    “Right. The reason I jumped out of the car so fast was because Ricky was there. His car was parked right in front of our house. At ten o’clock at night.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know, but Dad wasn’t there. And when I went inside, I could hear them in Mom’s office.”
    “What did you hear?” Jason takes my hand again.
    “He was pleading with her, telling her he needed to see her,” I turn my head away. This is so humiliating. “She was telling him to give it time. And she said she would always let him in.”
    I can feel the tears burning my eyes again.
    “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Jason asks softly.
    “I couldn’t. It’s too embarrassing.”
    “But nothing happened, right?”
    I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. Not that night.”
    “I dunno, I mean she’s his teacher. That could’ve meant anything.”
    “Anything? Them at our house? Alone? On a Saturday