But you'll never be strong, 'cause you're a rich girl

Nick was stunned for a moment as he gazed into the deep, wizened eyes of this older woman, Nimue. She wore a gentle smile on her sagging face, and her extended hand trembled, like she was too tired to keep holding it up for long.

That was the impetus he needed to take her hand. He didn’t even think about it, his body just naturally reached out to her, he took her gaunt hand into his. Immediately, he gasped at how light and fragile she felt. As if her wrist would snap if he held her too tightly.

Still moving on instinct, awed by both her appearance and the dignity with which she comported herself in spite of it, he lowered his head and kissed her hand. Even as he did it, his face burned with embarrassment. This wasn’t like him at all. His mind immediately returned to when he was younger, and his stepmother tried teaching him etiquette, emphasizing the importance of greeting a lady with a kiss on the hand. He’d found those lessons so intolerable back then, but right now, he was grateful for them, as embarrassing as this was.

“Oh my…”

Nick raised his head and looked at the surprised yet pleased expression on Nimue’s face. She smiled and held her other hand over her mouth. “Vivian, you didn’t tell me he was such a gentleman…”

Hearing that, Nick bristled, standing up straight and letting Nimue’s hand go. He couldn’t even look at Vivian right now, knowing exactly what kind of expression must have been on her face.

And yet…

“Yeah… he really is, mom,” Vivian said softly.

She wasn’t making fun of him, or teasing him for making such an overly-formal gesture. Her eyes were wet and genuine, and her smile glowed with warm understanding.

It was like he was looking at a completely different woman.

“That’s good,” Nimue said, her tired voice turning raspy. “It’s good… that you found such a nice boy… before…”

Her sentence was cut jarringly short because she suddenly shot upright and began to cough. “Hack! Ack! Agh, ghk, kak-kak-kak!”

Nick’s eyes widened in surprise. “What-?”

“Mom?!” Vivian gasped, her face turning pale.

Nimue’s coughing got worse and worse, and she clutched her heart with one hand while covering her mouth with the other. She started to seize, and to Nick’s horror, she let out another cough, louder and more violent than all the rest.

Crimson red blood burst out through her fingers.

“MOM!” Tears rolled down Vivian’s cheeks as she clung to her mother, her face, white with panic. “MOM!”

“Ah… I…!” Everything began to spin around Nick. His vision blurred as he looked frantically around the room, searching for a call button. Failing to see one, he turned towards the door, **** to get a doctor to help.

Then he felt Vivian’s light hand on his shoulder. He turned back, panicked, and saw…

…Nimue sitting up in bed, lips red with blood. She was holding up a sign reading “PUNKED” while Vivian clasped her hand over her mouth, trying and failing to keep a straight face.

It took Nick a minute to process it.

“Bwahahaaaaa!” Vivian howled with laughter, falling back into her chair. “Oh my god… you should have seen…! The look on your face-!”

“Ohoho, you were right Vivian, he really is adorable when he gets flustered,” Nimue chuckled. Suddenly, her haggard appearance seemed much more energized and vital, and her eyes twinkled with a familiar glint of mischief.

“What-? What?!” Nick was still catching up. He looked to Vivian, then to her mother, then back to Vivian again, trying to make sense of what was happening. “Wait… you… you tricked me!?”

“Consider it payback for breaking your promise and coming in to look for me,” Vivian said, sitting up straight in her chair and smirking. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist, so I got my mom to play a little trick on you.”

“You’re right, he really isn’t too bright, is he?” Nimue cradled a sunken-in cheek with her wrinkled hand and shook her head, her brow furrowed with concern. “The way my daughter explained things, this is all a dream, isn’t it? I’m not even the real me. And yet you still reacted so frantically…”

“It’s because he’s a sweet guy, even if he’s not the brightest,” Vivian said, reaching up and patting Nick on the cheek. “It takes him a while to figure things out sometimes…”

Nick swatted her hand away. “…That was cruel,” he hissed. “You made me think…!”

“More cruel than intruding on a girl’s private time with her mother?” Vivian stood up and placed her hands on her hips. She puffed up her cheeks indignantly. “If my mom was really dying, you’d be such a cad, you know that?”

Nick turned red. When she put it like that…

“Don’t **** the poor boy,” Nimue gently chastised her daughter. “Didn’t you say it yourself? You expected he would come in after you, that’s what you told me.”

“…Okay, true, I did kind of give you that big puppydog look right before I came inside, to bait you,” Vivian admitted. “And I’ve gotta say, you lasted a lot longer than I expected! I was wondering for a while there if I’d have to spend the whole date before you came busting down the door! Not that I would have waited forever, of course. If you had proved me wrong and stayed where you were, I would have been pleasantly surprised.”

The giddy smirk on her face told him that in contrast to her words, she was in fact much happier that he had not done that.

Nick wasn’t thrilled by this little gag of Vivian’s, and he made that very clear with his glare. The worst part was that he couldn’t even really call her on it.

“So… it was all a trick then? Your mom isn’t really sick?” Nick glanced at Nimue. While it was abundantly clear where Vivian got certain aspects of her personality from, he doubted the older woman could fake everything he was seeing right now.

A sad look touched Vivian’s lips for a moment and the light in her eyes dimmed slightly.

“It’s not… that she’s sick,” the heiress said, sobering up slightly. “Not the way you’re thinking, anyway.”

“Vivian is right, you are a sweet boy,” Nimue said, beaming at Nick. “I know how I must look. But there’s no need to be alarmed. I’ve always had something of a weak constitution, just like your country.”

Nick let that one pass since Nimue punctuated her statement with a few coughs.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Nimue said, narrowing her eyes. Nick had no idea how he was “looking” at her, but it must have been something she was very familiar with. “It’s not like I’m terminal. And don’t worry, it’s not contagious. Just a weak body, that’s all.”

Vivian placed her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “She’s tougher than she looks, don’t worry,” she assured him before turning to her mom. “Hurry up and croak you old bat, so I can get my inheritance already!”

“Ha! Over my dead body!” Nimue cackled.

“Yep, that’s the idea,” Vivian nodded.

“Well, you can forget it! I’ll live another hundred years, you ungrateful brat!”

Nick stared at the bizarre scene in front of him as the two women howled in laughter at an inside joke he just didn’t understand.

Then Nimue’s smile took on a sincere look that he could just sense was different. She gazed at him with a tender expression, her eyes twinkling gently. “Hm… you’re made of stronger stuff than I expected… I would have thought you’d be gasping in horror at such a morbid discussion.”

“…Well, my situation is kind of a unique one,” Nick replied, trying to avoid telling Nimue just how irreverent her daughter could be, even though he suspected she already knew.

“Something to do with me being a dream, then?” Nimue scratched her chin. “That girl of mine… she can bring me into a dream world, but she can’t fix my chest pains? I carried her inside me for ninth months and you see how she repays me?”

“Oh come on, mom, are you still playing that card?” Vivian rolled her eyes.

“I brought you into this world, missy, and I can take you out of it!” Nimue threatened, shaking her wrinkled fist.

Vivian turned to Nick and gave him a look that seemed to be saying “Do you see what I have to deal with?”

Given that it was from Vivian, Nick couldn’t say he completely sympathized.

“…You must love your mom a lot, huh?” He said, and a hush fell over the hospital room.

A smile tugged at the corners of Nimue’s mouth. “And here you said he wasn’t that bright…”

“Sh-shut up,” Vivian huffed, glancing away from him. Her cheeks turned a light pink.

Nimue shifted in bed slightly, leaning forward to get a closer look at her daughter’s suitor. Even though she wasn’t the real Nimue Carrington she still behaved exactly as Vivian would expect her real mother to behave.

“So you’re the boy who wants to marry my daughter…” she murmured.

Vivian nodded.

“Well… there’s been some debate on that front,” Nick answered honestly, glancing at Vivian. She smirked back.

“Hm. Well… it’s too bad, you’re not nearly as handsome as my husband,” Nimue said, almost sounding disappointed.

Nick turned red and Vivian chuckled at her mom’s brutal cut down.

“…But I can see why she likes you. It seems you can keep up with her, at least. That’s more than I could ever do.” A note of sadness touched Nimue’s voice, and Vivian winced.

“Mom…”

“Ma’am…” Nick wasn’t sure how to reply to that. Nimue’s expression was completely honest as she gazed tenderly at him, and it seemed as though a thousand things were going through her mind.

“…I’ve been in and out of hospitals ever since I was a little girl,” Nimue said, turning and gazing out the window. “Fortunately, my family had a considerable amount of wealth, so I could afford the best treatments for my condition. It allowed me to live a wonderful life, if somewhat isolating. Any time I’m not spending here, I’m spending relaxing at our villa in the countryside. Which unfortunately means I wasn’t able to be as present in my daughter’s life as I would have liked to be.”

She reached out and wrapped her delicate fingers around Vivian’s hand. Vivian smiled down at her, tenderly holding her mother’s hand for as long as she wanted.

“It’s alright, mom,” Vivian said, smiling sweetly down at her. “We all just want you to be healthy.”

“Yes, I know, but still.” Nimue placed her other hand over Vivian’s and clasped it tightly. A silent conversation was exchanged between the two of them with just looks, and in that moment it didn’t even occur to Nick that this script had been crafted by Vivian herself. It was all so real and sincere, even if her real mother wasn’t present.

“Tell me, Nick, what is it you do for a living?” Nimue turned to look at him, letting go of her daughter’s hands. “I can’t imagine there’s much money in stand-up comedy.”

Vivian stifled a giggle and Nick tried not to say anything impolite.

“I’m… a writer,” Nick said awkwardly. He had to remind himself that he wasn’t actually talking with the mother of someone he was trying to court. “I wrote a book… it’s not anything major…”

“And his stepmother is from the Campbell family,” Vivian chimed in. But her mother ignored that part.

“A writer? Then you must be well-versed in language,” Nimue mused. “Tell me, do you know what my daughter’s name means, then?”

Nick blinked. He turned to Vivian, who suddenly seemed to look very flustered, as if even she hadn’t expected that question.

“Uh… no, sorry,” Nick said, scratching his cheek sheepishly. “I’m… not very good with coming up with names.”

Nimue chuckled. “Oh, that’s quite alright. It’s one of those names that’s both common and uncommon, it seems. ‘Vivian’ originates from the Latin ‘Vivianus’ and it means ‘lively’.”

She looked at her daughter, her brown eyes glistening with gentle affection. “That’s what I always wanted from her. A lively girl who could enjoy every day with a bright smile on her face.”

A long sigh passed her lips.

“…If you two ever have kids, name them something simple. Making a wish on their name will just make things harder on you, trust me.”

“Mom!” Vivian definitely didn’t expect that.

“I’m serious, kid. That girl is a hellion, she’s completely out of control.”

“Oh, man, you don’t have to tell me,” Nick said, shaking her head. “The first time I met her she was climbing down from the second floor on a rope made from the sheet of her bed.”

“Nick!”

“Yeah that sounds like her,” Nimue nodded. “You would not believe some of the stories I’ve been told by that butler of hers…”

“I think I would,” Nick replied.

“Okay, this is not how I expected this to go,” Vivian said, making a sulky face. For once she had completely lost control of the situation, and Nick was taking advantage of every second of it.

Nimue chuckled and looked kindly up at her daughter. “Don’t worry, Vivian… I’m just trying to share the daughter I adore with the boy who’s courting her, that’s all.”

“…Well, it’s not like that,” Vivian said, frowning. “Nick and I, our relationship is purely transactional. …You know how dad is…”

“Ah, yes… that fool,” Nimue said. She made a disgusted face, which was strange considering she was talking about her husband. “If I had a little more strength, I’d smack him in the head!”

Nick found himself laughing at that image. He really wanted to see that.

“Ignore your father, Vivian, you don’t need his money,” Nimue said, shaking her head. “Don’t marry that boy just to get your hands on that inheritance. It’s not fair to either one of you. You’re doing just fine for yourself without it.”

“Well yeah, but I’d still like more money,” Vivian bluntly replied, not even pretending to be shy about her greed in front of her mother.

Nimue let out another tired sigh. She turned to Nick, and this time she was wearing a “Do you see what I have to deal with?” expression. One that looked remarkably similar to her daughter’s.

Yeah. Nick could definitely see both women in each other.

“Come on, mom, you and dad got married so he could get his inheritance, and that worked out just fine for you two, right?” Vivian pointed out. Nick perked up when he heard that detail. So Vivian’s father was doing the same thing to her?

“That was different,” Nimue replied. “I had already fallen for your father by then. That’s what made our relationship work.”

Vivian’s eyes glazed over and she fought back a sigh. It was clear that she had her own opinion on the matter, but it seemed like she didn’t want to argue with her mother about it.

Nimue seemed to sense that, and her expression softened. “…Well… this is a conversation you should have with the real me, I suppose,” she murmured, turning to give Nick another look. “Hopefully he’ll be a little better-dressed then… and not make as much of a commotion.”

The loudest Nick had been was when he cried out from their prank earlier, but he let that slide.

“I’ll make sure of it,” Vivian laughed, smacking him on the arm. “I can turn this guy into a fancy dresser, no problem.”

Nimue nodded. “That’s good. Well… in that case, you two should probably be going, then.”

Vivian blinked. “Huh? But mom…”

“You’re on a date! You shouldn’t be hanging around some old lady like me! Go and have some fun like you young people are supposed to do!” She snapped at her daughter, shooing her off like a fly.

Vivian had a sour look on her face, but she didn’t argue. “Yeah, you’re right.” She walked over and planted a soft kiss on her mother’s forehead. “It was good to see you again, mom. Even if it’s just a dream.”

“Feh,” Nimue scoffed. “It’s good to see you, too. You’re practically glowing. …And make sure you use protection.”

Nick’s eyes bulged out in shock and his jaw dropped.

“I know you’re not as reckless as you pretend to be, but it only takes one mistake to-”

“We’re not going to do that!” Vivian cut her mother off sharply.

Nimue gave her an appraising look, and then nodded. “…Well, alright then. You take care, now. And make sure you go visit the real me when you get the chance, alright?” She reached up and gave Vivian a hug from her bed, which the heiress gladly returned.

“I will, don’t worry,” Vivian promised.

“And are you taking care of those horses of yours?” Nimue asked as they parted.

Vivian grinned from ear to ear. “Of course I am!” She chirped. “You know me!”

“Good, that’s good,” Nimue murmured, nodding slowly. “Once I’m out, maybe we can go for a ride together, if I’m feeling up for it.”

Vivian paused for a moment. “…Yeah,” she agreed. “Yeah, I’d love to, mom. It’s a promise.”

Nick expected to see Vivian cry when they left the hospital room, but she didn’t. She was still as smiley as ever.

“What’s with the weird look?” She asked, catching him glancing her way.

“Nothing, it’s just… you aren’t going to tell me that your mother’s really dead, right? And that’s just a memory you have of her?” Nick braced himself for the worst.

Vivian looked at Nick, horrified.

“Good lord! What’s the matter with you?” She shook her head. “My mom is just fine! She’s resting at our vacation home in the states! You honestly thought I’d bring you to my dead mother’s hospital room?!”

“W-well…” Nick didn’t know what to say. Vivian was right, that was a whole different level of dark, but he just thought…

“My mom isn’t dead, or dying,” Vivian said firmly. “She’s just… weak. That’s it.” Vivian looked longingly back at her mother’s door, before they turned the corner. “She always has been. Ever since I was a kid, she would always promise to go horseback riding with me, just as soon as she felt strong enough for it. …Bet I don’t need to say how many times that’s happened.”

Vivian was smiling, but it didn’t touch her eyes.

“…So that’s what you wanted, right?” She turned and looked directly at Nick. “Something real, that’s what you said? Well… that was my mom. And I love her to pieces, but… what are you gonna do?” Vivian shrugged her shoulders. “All the money in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with her. Even so… she’s the toughest woman I know.”

Vivian’s lips spread into a wider smile, and this one was from deep in her heart. “She’s my mom, after all. She’d have to be an amazing woman, right?”

“…Yeah,” Nick said, not sure what else to say to that. “She’s really something.”