The Holiday Hoax

The Original Sin

I didn’t say anything to Miles as I walked to the bedroom and sank on the bed.

I couldn’t tell him about the Cameron connection. Admitting that Derek was modeled on my ex meant admitting that I had spent three years pretending to be over a man I dated for five.

It meant explaining why I really started lying to my family. It meant showing Miles the pathetic truth: I had invented a perfect boyfriend because the real one broke me and I couldn't stand my family's pity.

‘Hey,’ Miles sat by me and pulled me into a hug. ‘What’s going on? Who’s this Cameron?’

I bit my lower lip, feeling the tension rise within me.

‘Oh, he’s just my ex,’ I lookedat him and scoffed, trying to act nonchalant. ‘Ancient history kind of thing. Absolutely nothing to worry about.’

‘Then why does he affect you so much?’

‘It’s not affecting me,’ I looked away from him. ‘I’m just tired. It’s been a stressful morning.’

‘When exactly did you and Cameron end things?’

I didn’t feel like answering, but I forced myself to. ‘Three years ago.’

‘Did he meet your family often?’

‘No…rarely.’

‘Was he ever someone you imagined a future with?’

I clasped my fingers together and focused my gaze on them.

Why was he asking such questions?

‘We were dating, so… yeah… I guess.’

‘When you talk about him, what memories do you pick?’

‘I don’t understand…’ I shook my head slowly.

‘Thea, if he saw me now, what would he recognize from himself?’

My mind swirled around a cobweb of thoughts. What was he trying to insinuate?

‘Just let it rest, okay?’ I stood up. ‘Everything’s fine. Now, shall we get on with our day, or d’you want to keep talking about Cameron?’

I guess he bought that because he shrugged and smiled.

The rest of the day was filled with an inner tension on my part, and Miles interacting with everyone congenially.

At dinner, everyone had a thing or two to talk about, and quite unexpectedly, so did Miles.

‘It would be nice to have a little flower garden here right after the spring,’ Miles said to everyone. ‘There’s this lovely space I saw in Boston. I like how the rooftop garden project incorporated reclaimed wood and glass panels together. It’s functional but still elegant. The details matter.’

I stopped short, and almost choked on my food.

‘Oh. That would be wonderful actually,’ mom complimented it. ‘At least, give the house a bit of elegance too.’

‘Do you think you can do anything for the house, Derek?’ One of my aunts asked.

‘My specialty,’ Miles replied. ‘You know that urban loft redesign with the floating shelves and asymmetric windows… you’d pick up on that immediately. It’s distinctive.’

I glanced at Miles, trying to hide my shock.

‘I’m not yet gone, and you all are thinking about reconstructing the house?’ Grandma interrupted the conversation with a light chuckle.

‘Oh no no no mom,’ my mother answered her.

‘We would never, Nona,’ Miles gave her a warm smile. ‘But some designers sure are gifted. And there’s this office complex in Chicago, the atrium uses skylights to light the whole space naturally. It’s one of those small touches that makes a big difference. You’d notice that, right hon?’

He was talking to me.

‘Uh, yeah…’ I tried to keep my composure.‘I did.’

My pulse quickened. He shouldn’t know that project. I barely remembered mentioning it in passing to my family.

‘I know some of these projects- like the coffeehouse renovation with the mezzanine and curved seating- remind me of your taste. I can see you nodding at the clever parts.’

That struck me. The coffee house was the first project Cameron had worked on while we were dating.

My throat went dry. I gripped the edge of my chair, my heart hammering. Every word he spoke made me flinch inwardly.

‘Or maybe it’s just my taste in noticing things,’ Miles turned to me grinning. ‘Some of these projects- I can totally see you appreciating them.’

I forced a casual laugh, but it sounded hollow to me.

All those works he mentioned; they were Cameron’s work. First he asked me questions earlier today about Cameron, next he’s spewing details from Cameron’s architecture portfolio.

There’s no way he didn’t know.

As the night dragged on, the plates cleared and the fire dwindled. Everyone retired to bed quite early that night, and I slept easily than the first night too.

The next day was branded as Family Activity Day.

There was tree decoration, cookies baking- Uncle Jeff ate the muffins we had made earlier. There was also snowball fights that became so aggressive, aunt Caroline turned red in the face.

For Miles, he integrated seamlessly into the activities.

I watched as he charmed my aunts, joked with my uncles, and allowed my younger cousins climb on him like a jungle gym.

My chest tightened. Not from jealousy, exactly, but from noticing how naturally he fit in.

I was happy because he was too good at this, but slightly concerned because he fitted into my family better than I did.

‘Theodora!’ My grandma pulled me aside.

Whenever grandma called me by my full name, she meant serious business.

‘Are you happy?’ She looked into my eyes as she asked.

It wasn’t a casual question. It was a real one, weighted with everything unsaid.

‘Yes, Nona,’ I laughed casually.

‘Then why does he look at you like he’s afraid you’ll disappear?’ She glanced at Miles.

That question burrowed deep into my brain. From that moment, I began taking notice of Miles, watching him differently from the way I used to. When he thought no one was looking, I observed.

And I realized Grandma Eleanor was right. There was something desperate in the way he watched me, something that doesn't match a week-long performance. He was looking at me like this mattered, like I mattered to him, like losing this will cost him something real.

That realization was scary to me.

It snowed all morning the next day, covering the entire space in a white fairytale.

We all stayed cuddled up in the house until the sound of someone’s car parking in the driveway brought us out.

My heart hammered within my chest when I saw who it was- Cameron McCall and his fiancée.

His well sculpted face complimented his well tanned skin; and his height was like the Tower of London. He was more handsome than I remembered, and his fiancée- she was gorgeous and kind.

‘Thea,’ he smiled in a rather familiar way when he saw me, before pulling me into a bear hug. Then he turned to Miles and extends a hand. ‘So you’re the famous Derek. Thea has told me so much about you.’

Miles shook his hand with a casual smile.

Although that statement didn’t sit right with me. I had never told Cameron about Derek; we’ve never spoken in three years.

That meant someone in the family had been talking.

‘I can’t wait to chat with you,’ Cameron smiled.

But I knew. That smile meant something more.

He already knew something was very, very wrong, and it wouldn’t be long before he found out.