Page 112 of Defend Her Heart

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin. It’s nice to see you.”

Neither of my parents say anything for a full minute. They’re too busy looking between the two of us and hitting each other, whispering unintelligible things to each other. I take advantage of whatever they’re doing and explain the part of the article that says we’re married.

“So…the article wasn’t entirely untrue.”

Both of my parents freeze. Then, in slow motion, turn their heads to look at us. Connor loops his arm around my neck, pulling me into him and kissing me on the top of my head.

“Surprise! We actually are married.”

I know I should tell them the truth about our marriage and how it only happened so I could get health insurance, but I’m having too much fun playing with them right now. Connor doesn’t miss a beat.

“Mom. Dad. Are you going to say anything?”

I nearly choke on a laugh, but somehow manage to play it off as a cough. My father wears a look of pride, but my mom’s eyes continue to bounce between Connor and me. Dad might be thrilled, but Mom isn’t buying it yet.

“Explain.” She sits back and crosses her arms. My dad looks at her like she’s grown an extra head, not understanding why she’s not excited.

I push off Connor’s chest but keep him in the frame.

“Well, when Bryan and I got divorced, I was removed from his insurance almost immediately. Since then, I’ve been to the hospital quite a few times and was racking up a ton of hospital bills I couldn’t afford.”

My dad sits up straight—ready to kill my ex, I’m assuming—but my mom’s face drops with sadness.

“When I got to Wisconsin, I fell and hit my head.” Mymom gasps. “I’m okay, Mom. It was actually a good thing because I found a doctor here who took my concerns seriously. But getting answers meant a lot more tests and a lot more money.”

Understanding dawns on my mom’s face, but my dad hasn’t quite gotten there yet. He leans closer to my mom’s phone and talks in a booming voice. “I’m lost. So when did you and Connor reconcile?”

I look up at Connor with questions in my eyes, hoping he can take this one for me. He smiles at me and turns back toward my parents.

“I ran into Avery at the hospital and then a couple more times after that. She wouldn’t let me pay for the tests, so I offered a different solution.”

My dad seems to comprehend it at the same time my mom sniffs. When I move my attention to her, I see her wiping under her eyes.

“Mom, I’m okay.”

My dad wraps her in a hug but she pushes him off.

“I’m fine.” Mom looks at me now. “I know you’re okay. I just wish you could’ve come to us with this. I don’t understand why you didn’t.”

I knew this would hurt her feelings so I do my best to reassure her that it had nothing to do with them, and everything to do with me.

“Mom, I didn’t want you to worry. Besides, you’re still working crazy hours to pay off my old hockey debt. I didn’t want this to fall back on you. I’m an adult. I wanted to handle it on my own.”

Both of my parents nod, and this time when my dad goes to hug her, she lets him. I’m hoping this means we’re nearing the end of the conversation. My dad picks his head up but continues holding my mom.

“While I understand where you’re coming from, I want you to know you can always come to us, honey. That’s whatyour parents are for. And by the way, you should know your hockey debt has been paid off for years.”

My jaw drops. “Then why are you two still working so much?”

My dad laughs. “We’re working so much so when the time comes to retire, we’ll have enough saved up to do all the things we want to do. It has nothing to do with you and your prep school. I promise.”

I’m stunned silent by the realization that they’re not working themselves to the bone for me, rather so they can enjoy their future retirement. I’m still trying to digest that information when my dad surprises me with his next question.

“If you had all the tests and you officially have a diagnosis, does that mean you two will be getting divorced now, too?”

My mouth drops open. I have no idea what to say because I’ve thought the same thing a few times now but didn’t want to say anything to Connor. Honestly, I don’t think I want to get divorced but I don’t want to say that in front of my parents. I’m trying to find something to say when Connor grabs the phone from my hand.

“Not if I can help it, sir.”