Episode Nine: The Weekend We Forgot to Pretend
1912 Words
Saturday morning. Ethan’s apartment. Light rain taps against the windows. Olivia had agreed to spend the weekend with Ethan and Lily to “keep up appearances” since Jessica hinted at dropping by.
The smell of cinnamon rolls drifted through the apartment as Ethan peeked into the living room. Lily sat cross-legged on the floor, giggling while Olivia helped her dress up a Barbie in a tiny pink lab coat.
“She’s a doctor, just like Daddy!” Lily announced proudly.
Olivia smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Wow, I didn’t know Barbie had a medical degree.”
“Barbie can do anything,” Ethan said as he walked in, holding three mugs of hot chocolate. “Including drinking hot chocolate with extra whipped cream.”
He handed one to Olivia, their fingers brushing briefly. She tried to ignore the jolt that came with it.
“Careful,” he said. “It’s hot.”
She arched a brow. “I’m not Lily. I can handle heat.”
He smirked, sitting beside her on the couch. “Yeah… I’m starting to notice that.”
Their eyes locked for a second too long before Lily interrupted them.
“Can we do a movie marathon today?” she asked, her hands clapping in excitement.
“Of course,” Ethan said, turning toward her. “You pick the first one.”
Lily raced to the DVDs. Olivia exhaled, trying to calm the flutters in her chest.
Later That Afternoon — Mid-Movie Confessions
All three snuggled on the couch, a mountain of pillows and blankets engulfing them. Lily had fallen asleep halfway through the second movie, her head resting on Olivia’s lap.
“She likes you,” Ethan said softly, his voice warm. “More than I’ve seen her like anyone. Even Jessica…”
Olivia ran her fingers gently through Lily’s curls. “She’s easy to love.”
He turned to face her more fully. “So are you.”
Olivia’s breath caught. Her eyes met his, but she quickly looked away. “Ethan… don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because we agreed this was pretend.”
“I know. But…” he leaned closer, his voice low, honest, “it doesn’t feel like pretending anymore.”
Silence stretched between them, the only sound was the movie playing softly in the background.
Olivia finally spoke. “We can’t do this unless we’re sure. Not with Lily involved.”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Then let’s take it slow. Not for the lie. Not for Jessica. Just for us.”
She looked at him, vulnerability written all over her face. “Are you sure about this?”
His answer was simple. “Yes.”
Evening – Complication Arises
Just as Olivia was helping clean up after dinner, there was a knock on the door.
Ethan frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone…”
He opened it to find Jessica, her arms crossed, face unreadable. She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.
Her eyes scanned the scene: Olivia barefoot in the kitchen, Lily dancing in pajamas, Ethan smiling too comfortably.
“You all look… cozy,” Jessica said, her tone clipped.
“Jessica,” Ethan began cautiously, “did you need something?”
She turned to Olivia, eyes sharp. “Just wondering how long you plan to keep playing this little fantasy. Because it looks like you're getting really comfortable in my daughter's life.”
Olivia stiffened. “This isn’t a fantasy. Lily asked for a mom. I’m just...”
“You’re not her mother.” Jessica snapped. “You never will be.”
Ethan stepped between them. “That’s enough, Jess.”
Jessica stared at him, wounded. “Is it? Or are you seriously falling for this… fake mom act?”
The room fell painfully quiet.
Jessica’s eyes glistened. “I see. Maybe I should’ve fought harder for custody.”
She turned and stormed out.
After Jessica Leaves
Ethan shut the door, tension radiating off him. Olivia stood frozen near the kitchen.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean for things to escalate.”
He walked toward her, stopping inches away. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I’m not trying to replace her, Ethan.”
“I know.”
“But maybe she’s right,” Olivia murmured. “Maybe this is all moving too fast.”
Ethan gently cupped her cheek, lifting her gaze to meet his. “Then we’ll slow it down. But don’t walk away, Olivia. Not now.”
Olivia’s eyes softened. She leaned her forehead against his chest, sighing. “Okay. I won’t.”
Lily’s voice piped up sleepily from the hallway. “Mommy Olivia… are you going to sleep here again?”
Olivia and Ethan both turned toward her and smiled.
Ethan’s apartment, later that night. The apartment is quiet, Lily’s gone back to sleep, and Olivia steps out of the guest room, unsure if she should leave or stay. Ethan is in the kitchen, sipping a glass of water, staring out the window, visibly tense. Olivia stepped into the warm glow of the kitchen light.
“Couldn’t sleep?” she asked softly.
Ethan turned, startled for a second before softening.
“Not really. I keep replaying everything Jessica said.”
Olivia folded her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “I didn’t mean to step on her territory. I swear, I was just trying to help.”
He set his glass down. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Jess—she’s complicated. She wants to feel like she still matters in Lily’s life, but she hasn’t earned that place. You… you have.”
Olivia swallowed hard. “I’m scared, Ethan.”
He stepped closer. “Of what?”
“That I’m getting too used to this. To you. To Lily calling me ‘Mommy Olivia.’ It’s getting harder to tell myself it’s just pretend.”
Ethan’s voice was gentle, honest. “Then stop pretending.”
She met his eyes, heart hammering. “And what if we mess this up? What if we start something real and it falls apart? What will happen to Lily?”
He took her hands in his, anchoring her. “Then we’ll be honest. We’ll go slow. We’ll be careful. But Olivia, don’t walk away because you're afraid. I’m afraid too. But I’d rather be afraid with you.”
Tears welled in Olivia’s eyes. She looked away, blinking them back.
“You’re really making this hard to say no to,” she said with a small laugh.
“Good,” Ethan whispered, brushing her hair back behind her ear. “Because I’m not giving up.”
They stood there in the silence, hands entwined, breathing syncing in quiet rhythm.
Later that night, Olivia sat on the bed, looking at a picture Lily had drawn earlier. Three stick figures: Daddy, Lily, and “Mommy Olivia,” all smiling under a bright yellow sun.
She clutched it to her chest, her heart heavy with something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Belonging.
And just as she was about to turn off the lamp, her phone buzzed.
Text from Ethan:
“Can’t sleep either. Just wanted to say thank you… for everything.”
She smiled softly and typed back:
“You and Lily are worth it.”
Jessica, alone in her apartment, stared at her wine glass, untouched. Her jaw clenched, eyes glassy. She scrolled through her phone until she stopped at an old photo of her, Ethan, and a toddler Lily on a beach. Her thumb hovered over the screen before she tossed the phone aside.
“I didn’t think he’d really move on…”
She looked into the mirror across the room, whispering to her reflection.
“I made a mistake letting them go.”
The next morning – Ethan’s apartment
The morning sun filtered softly through the kitchen windows. Ethan, wearing a loose hoodie and sweatpants, was making pancakes while Lily sat at the counter, her hair tied into a messy ponytail, munching on sliced bananas.
Lily grinning.
“Are we making Mommy Olivia’s favorite pancakes too?”
Ethan smiled as he flipped a pancake. “Of course. With strawberries, just how she likes them.”
Just then, Olivia walked out of the guest room, already dressed for work but looking a little hesitant, unsure where things stood after last night’s intense conversation.
Olivia:
“Good morning.”
Lily:
“Mommy Olivia!”
She hopped off her chair and ran to hug her.
Olivia kneeled, hugging her tightly, a little overwhelmed by the sincerity in the child’s embrace.
Ethan quietly.
“Morning.”
Their eyes met, a moment of silent understanding passing between them. Everything felt different but not in a bad way. It was as if a wall had come down and they could finally see what was on the other side.
Olivia trying to keep her tone light.
“I should get going. I have an early meeting.”
Ethan, stepping forward:
“Let me drop you off.”
She smiled but shook her head. “You’ve got Lily to take care of. I’ll be fine. Besides, I think we both need a little time to... breathe.”
There was no tension in her voice, only gentleness. Ethan nodded, respecting her space.
Ethan:
“Okay. But about last night...”
Olivia cutting in softly.
“We’ll talk later. I want to talk. I promise.”
With that, she kissed Lily on the forehead and slipped out the door, her heart pounding.
Ethan’s car – Later
After dropping Lily off at kindergarten, Ethan sat in the car for a moment longer than usual, gripping the steering wheel.
Jessica’s words echoed in his head: “She’s not her mother. I am.”
But in his heart, there was no denying what Olivia had become to both him and Lily. She wasn’t just a placeholder. She was the glue holding them together.
Ethan to himself, under his breath.
“She’s not pretending anymore. And neither am I.”
Jessica’s apartment – Late morning
Jessica sat at her vanity, phone in hand, red lipstick half-applied. Her mother’s voice rang through on speakerphone.
“You need to be smart about this. If Ethan moves on, you’re out of the picture entirely. Do you really want that?”
Jessica stared at her reflection, her eyes flickering with a complicated mix of regret and pride.
Jessica coldly;
“No. I’m not going to let that woman take my daughter.”
Jessica’s mom sharply;
“Then do something about it.”
Jessica ended the call, her fingers tightening around the lipstick tube.
Olivia’s workplace – Afternoon
Olivia tried to focus on her laptop screen, but her mind kept drifting to Lily’s smile, to Ethan’s steady gaze, to the way it felt being called Mommy like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her co-worker Mia, peeking over the cubicle wall, raised a brow.
“Okay, I’m gonna ask, are you glowing or are you in trouble?”
Olivia startled.
“Neither. Maybe both?”
Mia grinning.
“Is it about that hot doctor you mentioned before? The one with the daughter?”
Olivia gave her a half-smile. “It’s complicated.”
Mia smile softly.
“The best ones always are.”
Olivia looked down at her phone, Ethan’s last message still on the screen: “You and Lily are worth it.”
Her fingers hovered, then typed back:
“Let’s talk tonight. No more pretending.”
- Writer
