For Real This Time

By Ada Stone

Candace’s parents have the kind of romance that could rival any great love story. They are so in love that they are planning a vow renewal, and they want nothing more than for Candace to find their one true love. Candace was growing tired of disappointing their parents so they decided to make up a partner, just to get their parents off their back. However, things start to go downhill when Candace’s lie comes back to bite her.

Lucy was tired of her family obsessing over her relationship status, especially her mom. Lucy’s family strongly believes in marriage and relationships, so the fact that Lucy has been single for so long worries them. With her family reunion coming up, Lucy is determined to not show up solo this time.

When Candace and Lucy matched with one another on a dating app, it felt almost fated. Both of them decided that they could help each other get their families off their backs. However, as feelings start to grow, the line between deception and reality starts to blur. Do Candace and Lucy truly have feelings for each other? Or are they both just really good at playing their part?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Jun 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094420578

Ada Stone

Ada Stone is a queer and trans book-obsessed human from the Pacific Northwest, where they live now. They love spending quiet time among trees and mountains, listening to their favorite albums on repeat, and receiving “your holds are ready for pickup” alerts from the library.

Book preview

Prologue

Candace, honey, could you help your dad in the kitchen? The intruding voice broke Candace’s concentration just when they were on the brink of solving an issue they’d been working on all afternoon.

Mom, I’m busy, Candace called out, projecting their voice through the closed guest room door. For the last week, they’d set up a makeshift office using the dresser as their desk. A laptop and a large additional screen took up much of the space, along with a notebook that Candace used to sketch out their ideas. At home, they had their wall-mounted white board, but they’d stopped short of bringing that along for their holiday visit.

I thought you were here to see us, not to work all day every day, their mom responded.

Candace sighed. Both, Mom, it’s both. I’ll be done soon, if you’d just give me a few minutes to wrap up. Okay?

No reply came from the other side of the door, but Candace heard their mom’s shuffling steps fade away down the hall. They turned back to their notes, trying to jot down everything that had been popping into their mind before the interruption. A long while passed while they grappled with the phantom of the thought, trying to pull it toward the tangible world. Even when the process seemed complete, somehow the idea no longer felt as monumental, and Candace knew that some part of it had slipped their mind as they spoke to their mom. They dropped their face into their hands and threw their pen down against the carpet. It had been a mistake to dedicate a full week to visiting their parents; they should’ve seen that from a hundred miles away. With their momentum totally ruined, Candace shut their laptop, closed their notebook, and left the room for the kitchen.

Nice of you to join us, Canadace’s dad smiled with a passive aggression they recognized well from its regular appearance over their entire thirty years of life.

You needed help? Candace asked, choosing to ignore the undercurrent of resentment.

I remember how you used to love peeling the potatoes when you were a kid, so I thought I’d bequeath you the task, but apparently you have more important things to do, their dad shrugged.

Sorry, was all Candace could think to say. They’d let go of their potato-peeling attachment before middle school, but that apparently had never become clear to their dad.

Anyway, the ‘tatoes are already boiling in the pot, he said. Maybe next time.

Yeah.

So, back to work now, or…?

Candace pulled out one of the barstools and sat down. No, I’m taking a break for now.

Ah, well, you can help me chop the carrots then, her dad suggested, handing them the cutting board and the colander of washed carrots. Candace accepted their task and began working silently. So, your mom and I were talking the other day, wondering when you’re gonna bring someone home to meet us. The words were offered in a soft pondering tone, though Candace the question landed like a dagger. Also present, if unsaid, was the fact that Candace’s younger brother, Joseph, was already engaged to his fiance. The couple sat in the living room, watching a football game on TV.

Candace struggled to form a coherent answer that would satisfy their dad. Oh… well, I don’t know, Dad, they began, stalling for time.

You don’t know? he stopped stirring the pot and set the wooden spoon aside on the counter. Underneath, potato-starched water pooled in a small puddle. What is it you don’t know, exactly? He crossed his arms and smiled, a confrontational pose that was trying, and failing, to hide behind casualness.

Candace rubbed their cheek with their hand, fidgeted with the knife with the other. Think, think, think, they prodded themself. I don’t know if she would be ready to meet family, Candace explained. They’d found an answer that their dad would certainly enjoy, though it had come at the expense of the truth.

What’s this now? their dad stepped closer and leaned over the counter toward Candace.

Before Candace realized it, their mom had also appeared in the room. She’d apparently been eavesdropping, as usual. Who? Tell us about her, honey! she insisted.

My girlfriend, who else? Candace rolled their eyes, as if their parents’ should already know the answers to their questions. As if this wasn’t the first time in years they had used the word ‘girlfriend.’

How’d you two meet? their dad asked.

How long have you been together? their mom asked at the exact same time.

Candace felt heat on the back of their neck. It began spreading to their face, where it would turn their fair skin dark pink and overtake their freckles. At least their parents would read it as embarrassment about the revelation, not trepidation about lying. Candace asked themself if they were really going to go through with whatever story this was turning into. They held their mouth closed for a moment longer, giving themself one final chance to back out.

Mutual friends, Candace replied. We got introduced at a party. Susan — you know Susan, my friend from volunteering at the clinic — had this grand idea that we’d make a great match. They smirked as if recalling a fond memory and inwardly cringed at just how easily this lie was coming to them. We both thought setups were silly, but, well, we got along great, and one thing led to another. That was five months ago, they added to answer their mother’s question.

Five months! their mom exclaimed. And you’ve been hiding her from us this whole time!?

If you must know, Candace sighed, I didn’t want to put any pressure on it by telling too many people. We’re taking it slow, okay? Maybe if everything goes well you can meet her next winter.

Uh uh uh! their dad interjected. Next winter? If you keep putting this off, we’ll be in our graves before we meet her. And, anyway, aren’t you even gonna tell us her name?

Candace wanted to turn and run from this conversation. Of course their parents wanted all the details, details which were just throwaway inventions that would never lead to any real flesh and blood person appearing in front of them and shaking their hands — or, more likely, being wrapped up in a tight embrace among words like finally an we’ve heard so much. Candace cringed at the simple thought of observing the overzealous introductions.

Still, they persevered. Her name is Virginia, and Dad, you need to stop being dramatic. You’re 65 and you have a lot of years left to live!

Plenty of healthy people our age drop dead every day, Candace’s mom persisted with a shrug. You just never know.

Candace very well knew their parents didn’t live their lives glancing over their shoulder to check for the reaper, but that didn’t stop them from bringing up their so-called advanced age when they thought it would serve them. Okay, I’ll ask her to come along next time I’m planning on a visit, Candace conceded, knowing that the intervening months would give her plenty of time to have a fake breakup with their fake girlfriend.

Alright! their dad said, with an over-the-top pump of his fist. He turned partial attention back to the pot of potatoes, testing their progress with the tines of a fork.

We’re both so happy for you, Candace’s mom said, turning sincere. Your dad and I just want you to have a full, wonderful life. You deserve more than grinding that mind of yours all day every day in front of a computer screen. She reached out and tapped Candace on the top of the head with a single finger.

I know, Mom, Candace said, giving their mom empty words to make the moment pass faster, hopefully. Though they sometimes did wish for a partner, their work was their life passion, and it would always be there for them; the same could not, however, be said for another person. And, besides, in their on-and-off dating career they’d never met anyone who was deserving of huge amounts of their carefully-allotted time.

Candace’s dad had been busy draining the potatoes, but now, after setting the heavy pot back on the stove, he rejoined the conversation with a jump into the pool of memories. Maybe for others it was rightfully called memory lane, but every time Candace had to sit and listen to an old parental story, they felt as if they were being pulled down into otherworldly depths from which they might never return.

My life in my twenties was fine and everything, Candace’s dad was saying. I didn’t have too many complaints. I was making a living with my songwriting, working with great people on fun projects, but until your mother came along, he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her on the head. I had no idea what I was missing. Everything changed. He paused. It was the way everything I wrote started to call back to her; I just couldn’t pull my mind from the outline of her body or the sound of her laugh. On cue, Candace’s mom giggled and playfully slapped her husband on the arm.

He continued, I remember, there was this one night I was up late at my friend’s studio. The streetlamp light was shining through the empty bottles of Heineken we had stacked up on the sill, and I kept dragging my hand through the green shadows, staring at my mutant flesh and imagining that my desire for your mom was consuming me in some biological or chemical sense. He sighed. I went out into the front office and dialed her number, woke her up. Bless her, she invited me over. I don’t remember if we ended up finishing that song we were stuck on or not. I hope Virginia brings out that kind passion in you, if she hasn’t already. He smirked.

Candace winced internally at their father’s melodrama, but kept it together. The sooner this conversation ended, the better. Yeah, Dad, she’s pretty great, Candace answered. That’s for sure.

With that, their parents let the matter drop, though Candace could tell they wanted to ask many more questions. At least they had the wherewithal to know that Candace wouldn’t be providing in-depth answers, and that they would instead have to wait to ask Virginia when she finally showed up. Candace returned their attention to chopping carrots and found their mind wandering back to the work problem that still had a few missing pieces.

When dinner was ready and everyone came together at the dining table, the discussion revolved around Joseph and Melanie’s wedding plans, though the event was only in the imaginary stage. A glass or two of wine later, Candace’s parents again began to reminisce about the early days of their own relationship. Like the occasion of

Reviews for For Real This Time

[Kelly Izell · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I couldn’t get past the use of they/them pronouns for a singular person enough to get into the plot.