The Make-believe Mommy

The summer sun bathed the picturesque streets of Maplewood in a warm glow, but Ryan Miller couldn’t feel its embrace. His five-year-old daughter, Lily, clung to his hand, her face lighting up as they approached the community fair. The tension in Ryan’s chest only deepened—he could already feel the judgmental stares of the townsfolk. Ever since his divorce, he’d become their favorite topic of gossip, and Veronica’s refusal to cooperate in their fragile co-parenting arrangement only fueled the fire. “Daddy, can Mommy come too?” Lily’s innocent question pierced through him. He crouched down, brushing a golden strand of hair from her face. “Mommy’s busy, sweetheart.” As they reached the fair, Ryan spotted Serenity at the face-painting booth. She laughed easily with the children, her smile tugging at something deep within him—a wistfulness he didn’t have time to analyze. Serenity glanced up and froze for a moment when she saw him. Memories of her teenage crush on Ryan rushed back, unbidden. Back then, he was Melissa’s overprotective older brother, unattainable and wholly unaware of her feelings. Later that evening, Ryan stood at Serenity’s doorstep. “Ryan?” she asked, her voice hesitant. “I have a... proposition,” he began awkwardly. “How would you like to make $10,000 to pretend to be... my ex-wife?” Serenity stared, her heart thudding in her chest. The absurdity of his request clashed with the part of her that had never completely let go of her youthful infatuation. “Are you serious?” “I need your help,” he said, and for the first time, she saw a vulnerability in him that made it impossible to say no.