Episode Ten: No More Pretending
1872 Words
The apartment was quiet, except for the occasional hum of the refrigerator and the gentle tick of the wall clock. Lily had fallen asleep early, tired from her exciting day at kindergarten.
Ethan paced the living room, hands in his pockets, glancing at the door every few seconds. The coffee table had a tray with two mugs, a pot of tea, and a small plate of biscuits his awkward attempt at creating a comfortable atmosphere.
The soft knock on the door sent a jolt through his chest. He opened it slowly to find Olivia standing there, wearing a beige coat and a cautious smile.
Ethan:
“Hey.”
Olivia:
“Hey.”
She stepped inside, slipping off her coat, then glanced toward the hallway. “Lily?”
Ethan:
“Out like a light. She wanted to wait up for you.”
They sat across from each other on the couch. The air was thick with words unspoken, but this time, neither wanted to run from them.
Ethan (carefully):
“About the other night… when I said I wanted more than pretending I meant it.”
Olivia looked down at her hands, then back at him, her voice quiet but steady.
Olivia:
“I know. And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.”
A pause.
Olivia (gently):
“When I agreed to help you, it was just about Lily. But somewhere along the way... I started caring about you too. And not just because of Lily.”
Ethan’s breath caught. “You did?”
She nodded.
“But I don’t want to blur lines if it’s only temporary, Ethan. I’ve lost people before. I don’t want to lose a family I never expected to find.”
He reached across the table, covering her hand with his.
Ethan (softly):
“This doesn’t feel temporary to me. I don’t know when it happened, but I stopped seeing you as someone pretending to be Lily’s mom. And started seeing you as the person I want in her life. In our life.”
Olivia’s eyes shimmered.
Olivia:
“Then why does it feel like Jessica is still between us?”
Ethan (honestly):
“Because she is. And I need to talk to her. Really talk to her. I need to draw that line.”
Olivia nodded slowly. “Then do it. But Ethan… please don’t keep me in the dark. Not if we’re going to move forward.”
He squeezed her hand. “No more hiding. No more pretending.”
Jessica’s Apartment – Later That Night
Jessica sat on her couch, scrolling through old pictures of Lily on her phone. A knock startled her. She opened the door to find Ethan, his face unreadable.
Jessica (crossing her arms):
“You’re here late.”
Ethan:
“We need to talk.”
She stepped aside, letting him in. He didn’t sit. He stayed standing, as if grounding himself for what he was about to say.
Ethan:
“I’ve been trying to avoid this. Hoping things would settle on their own. But they won’t. So here it is, I don’t want to live in limbo anymore.”
Jessica narrowed her eyes. “This is about Olivia?”
Ethan (firm):
“It’s about me. It’s about Lily. It’s about doing what’s right.”
Jessica (defensive):
“She’s not her mother. I am.”
Ethan:
“But she is her mother in all the ways that count. She’s there. She listens. She loves her. You left, Jessica. And I’m not punishing you for it, but I won’t let you use Lily to play tug-of-war with someone who’s done nothing but care for her.”
Jessica’s breath hitched. “So that’s it?”
Ethan (calmly):
“No. You’ll always be Lily’s mom. But you can’t dictate how I live my life or who I let into Lily’s. I’m setting boundaries. For all of us.”
Jessica blinked, emotions flaring, anger, heartbreak, maybe even guilt but she didn’t fight him. She just nodded tightly.
Olivia’s Apartment – Just Past Midnight
Her phone lit up.
Text from Ethan:
"I meant what I said. No more pretending. If you’re willing… I want us to be real."
Olivia stared at the screen for a long moment before smiling softly.
Olivia (to herself):
“Me too.”
The soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains as Olivia stirred a spoon in her cup of coffee. She hadn’t gotten much sleep after Ethan’s message, and her thoughts were restless, caught between the warmth of his words and the uncertainty of what came next.
A knock on her door.
She hesitated before opening it only to find Ethan, holding a small box of her favorite pastries and two cups of coffee.
Ethan (with a sheepish grin):
“I figured if we’re not pretending anymore… I should at least start with breakfast.”
Olivia (trying not to smile):
“I thought you had work.”
Ethan:
“I told the hospital I’m coming in late. Lily’s with Ms. Harriet for the morning. I wanted to see you.”
She let him in, her heart thudding just a little too loudly in her chest.
They sat down across from each other, both tentative but slowly warming like the coffee between them.
Ethan (quietly):
“I talked to Jessica.”
Olivia’s expression turned guarded.
Ethan:
“She didn’t take it well. But I was honest. I told her that what we have isn’t about replacing her, it’s about moving forward. For Lily. For me.”
Olivia (gently):
“And what did she say?”
Ethan:
“She listened. That’s enough for now.”
He reached for her hand across the table, just like he had last night.
Ethan (softly):
“But I don’t want to spend another second pretending we’re something we’re not. We’re not just a fake family anymore. You matter to me, Olivia. Lily adores you. And I… I’m falling for you.”
Silence.
Then Olivia’s hand tightened over his.
Olivia (whispering):
“I’m falling for you too.”
A Park Nearby – That Weekend
Ethan, Olivia, and Lily sat on a picnic blanket. Lily was giggling as she ran around chasing bubbles, her curls bouncing wildly in the wind.
Ethan leaned back on his elbows, watching Olivia watch Lily.
Ethan (softly):
“She’s happier lately. Did you notice?”
Olivia:
“Yeah. She’s opening up more. Laughing louder.”
Ethan turned to look at Olivia.
Ethan:
“That’s because of you.”
Olivia blushed, glancing away.
Lily suddenly ran over, holding her favorite bubble wand in one hand and tugging on Olivia’s sleeve with the other.
Lily:
“Mommy, more bubbles!”
The world froze for a heartbeat.
Olivia blinked. Ethan sat up straight. Lily didn’t seem to notice she was already handing Olivia the wand and waiting eagerly.
Olivia (carefully):
“What did you call me?”
Lily (grinning):
“Mommy! Like my friends at school say. Can I?”
Olivia looked at Ethan, her lips parting.
Ethan (softly):
“If you’re okay with it… I am.”
Tears pricked Olivia’s eyes as she nodded and smiled at Lily.
Olivia:
“Of course, sweetheart. Let’s make the biggest bubbles ever.”
As she spun bubbles into the air, laughter surrounding them, Ethan knew something had shifted. They weren’t just playing house anymore.
They were becoming one.
Later That Afternoon – Back at Ethan’s Apartment
Lily had fallen asleep in the car after their afternoon at the park. Ethan gently carried her into her room, tucking her in with her favorite bunny plushie. Olivia stood quietly at the doorway, watching him with a tender smile.
When Ethan stepped out and gently closed the door, Olivia spoke first.
Olivia (softly):
“She called me mommy.”
Ethan (nodding):
“She did. It wasn’t planned. But it felt… right.”
They walked together to the living room, the silence between them more comforting than awkward.
Olivia (sitting down):
“I don’t want to confuse her. I’m not trying to replace Jessica, Ethan.”
Ethan (kneeling in front of her):
“I know that. But Olivia, you’ve been more of a mother to her these past few weeks than Jessica has in years.”
She blinked, unsure of what to say.
Ethan (his voice sincere):
“You care for her. You talk to her, play with her, read to her… You even braided her hair when I was hopeless at it. Lily feels it. I feel it.”
A beat of silence. Then...
Ethan (with a smile):
“And… if we’re being honest here, I think I’m falling for you even harder than I thought.”
Olivia looked away, overwhelmed, a smile tugging at her lips.
Olivia (quietly teasing):
“You already said that earlier, Dr. Carter.”
Ethan (grinning):
“Right. Just wanted to make sure it really landed.”
She chuckled, then leaned forward, resting her forehead against his.
Olivia:
“It landed.”
Their moment was quiet, full of emotion and interrupted by the sound of Ethan’s phone buzzing.
He frowned and picked it up. His expression shifted slightly.
Olivia:
“Everything okay?”
Ethan (reading the message):
“It’s Jessica. She wants to talk.”
Olivia (sitting back, guarded):
“Now?”
Ethan:
“She’s outside.”
Ethan’s Front Door
Jessica stood with her arms folded, clearly tense. Ethan stepped outside to speak with her while Olivia stayed inside, pacing.
Jessica (tight smile):
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to fight.”
Ethan (carefully):
“Okay…”
Jessica:
“I saw the three of you at the park earlier. You looked happy.”
Ethan:
“We were.”
She looked down at her shoes, then up at him with watery eyes.
Jessica:
“I messed up, Ethan. I walked away when things got hard, and now I’m watching someone else raise our daughter. And the worst part is… she’s doing a better job than I ever did.”
Ethan:
“You can still be part of Lily’s life, Jess. But you need to be consistent. She deserves that.”
Jessica (nodding):
“I know. I want to try. But I also know that you and Olivia… there’s something real there.”
She hesitated, then forced a small smile.
Jessica:
“I’m not going to fight you on it. Not anymore.”
Ethan (surprised):
“Are you sure?”
Jessica (gently):
“She loves her. You love her. I see it. And maybe… maybe Olivia is what Lily needed all along.”
A moment passed before Jessica turned to leave. Ethan watched her go, feeling a strange mix of relief and gratitude.
Back Inside
Ethan returned to find Olivia still pacing.
Olivia:
“She was here, wasn’t she?”
Ethan (smiling):
“Yeah. She said she’s not going to fight anymore.”
Olivia blinked, surprised.
Ethan:
“She actually… gave us her blessing.”
Olivia sat down, stunned by how fast things had shifted. Ethan joined her, this time pulling her into a gentle hug.
Ethan (softly):
“So… what do you say? Are we still playing pretend?”
Olivia (smiling into his chest):
“Not anymore.”
Their quiet laughter echoed in the room as the weight of pretending finally lifted for both of them.
- Writer
