Falling for the Fake Mom

Dr. Ethan Hayes ran a hand through his already tousled hair as he glanced down at the kindergarten flyer clutched in his other hand. The paper was slightly crumpled from how tightly he had been gripping it since he picked Lily up from school. FAMILY DAY! Join us for a day of fun with parents and children! Group activities, games, and a special mother-child event! Ethan exhaled sharply. “Mom and child event.” That was the problem. His ex-wife had made it very clear she wanted nothing to do with these school activities. Lily, his bright-eyed, five-year-old daughter, had barely said a word on the drive home, her usual excitement dimmed by disappointment. “Daddy, can’t you just ask Mommy one more time?” Lily’s small voice was filled with hope, making his chest tighten. He crouched in front of her, brushing her curls back gently. “Sweetheart, Mommy is… busy.” The lie felt bitter on his tongue, but what else could he say? That her mother refused to be bothered? That she had already moved on with her new family? “But hey, we’ll still have fun at Family Day, okay?” Lily’s lips pressed into a small pout. “But it won’t be the same.” Ethan clenched his jaw, a familiar helplessness settling over him. That’s when the idea hit him. It was crazy. Reckless, even. But what if… what if he hired someone to play the role? Just for the event. Just to make Lily happy. And he knew exactly who to ask. Olivia Bennett was wiping down a table at the coffee shop when the bell jingled, signaling a new customer. She barely glanced up until she heard a familiar deep voice. “Hey, Olivia.” She turned, surprised to see Ethan standing there in his crisp white coat, looking every bit the overworked doctor he was. “Dr. Hayes,” she greeted, giving him a small smile. “You never come in this late. Another long shift?” “Something like that.” He hesitated. “Actually, I need to ask you for a favor.” Her brows furrowed. “A favor?” Ethan sighed, running a hand over the back of his neck. “It’s about Lily.” At the mention of his daughter, Olivia softened. She had met Lily a few times when Ethan brought her in for hot chocolate. The little girl was a ray of sunshine, always chatting happily about school and her favorite cartoons. “What about her?” Nora asked, intrigued. “There’s this school event coming up. A Family Day thing,” Ethan explained, sliding the crumpled flyer across the counter. “They have a mother-child activity. Her mom… she won’t be there.” Olivia’s expression turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry, Ethan. That must be hard on her.” “Yeah.” He exhaled, meeting her gaze. “And that’s why I need you.” She blinked. “Me?” “I want to hire you to pretend to be Lily’s mom, just for the day.” Olivia nearly dropped the rag in her hand. “You want me to pretend to be your daughter’s mother?” “I know it sounds crazy...” “Yes. Yes, it does.” She crossed her arms. “Ethan, why me?” “Because Lily already knows you. She likes you,” he reasoned. “And I trust you.” She hesitated. It wasn’t the strangest thing she’d ever been asked, but it was definitely up there. “And what happens when the day is over? When she realizes I’m not actually sticking around?” Ethan looked away, a flicker of guilt passing over his face. “I just… I just want her to be happy. Even if it’s just for one day.” Olivia let out a slow breath. She wasn’t sure if this was a good idea, but something about the desperation in his voice and the way he was clearly struggling for his daughter made her pause. “How much are you offering?” she asked, arching a brow. Ethan smirked. “So you’re considering it?” “I didn’t say that,” she said quickly. “But if I were, I’d need details.” He leaned forward slightly, a glimmer of relief in his eyes. “Enough to make it worth your time.” Olivia glanced at the flyer, then at the man in front of her. Against her better judgment, she sighed. “Alright, Dr. Hayes. You’ve got yourself a fake mom.” And just like that, the deal was sealed. A few days later, Ethan stood outside his car, nervously tapping his fingers against the roof as he waited. It was the morning of Family Day, and Nora was late. He checked his watch again, frowning. Just as he was about to call her, he saw a familiar figure hurrying down the sidewalk. Olivia, dressed in casual jeans and a soft pink sweater, looked slightly out of breath as she approached. “Sorry, sorry!” she said, adjusting the strap of her purse. “The bus took forever.” Ethan exhaled, trying to suppress his relief. “You made it. That’s what matters.” She grinned. “So, how do I look? Do I pass for a devoted kindergarten mom?” He glanced at her, taking in the warm smile and the way she had tied her hair up in a loose ponytail. She looked… natural. Like she belonged. “Yeah,” he admitted, his voice softer. “You do.” Before Olivia could respond, the backseat door swung open, and Lily jumped out. She gasped when she saw Olivia. “Miss Olivia!” Olivia crouched down, giving the little girl a big smile. “Hey, cutie. You ready for Family Day?” Lily beamed. “Yes! Daddy said you’re coming as my mommy today!” Olivia hesitated, shooting Ethan a glance. He tensed, watching carefully. She smiled and nodded. “That’s right, sweetheart. Today, I’m all yours.” Lily giggled, grabbing her hand excitedly. “Come on! We’re going to be late!” As Ethan watched his daughter happily pull Olivia along, a strange warmth settled in his chest. This was supposed to be temporary. Just for Lily’s happiness. So why did it suddenly feel so real? The schoolyard was buzzing with excitement as parents and children gathered for Family Day. Lily stuck close to Olivia’s side, introducing her to her classmates as her “mommy for today,” much to the amusement of other parents. “You’re so pretty,” one of Lily’s friends, a little girl with braids, said to Olivia. “Thank you, sweetie,” Olivia said, touched by the compliment. Ethan, watching from the side, felt a weird sense of contentment seeing Olivia interact so naturally with the kids. It was easy, effortless, and Lily looked genuinely happy. But then, a voice interrupted his thoughts. “Well, well… Didn’t expect to see this.” Ethan turned, his jaw tightening as he faced the last person he wanted to deal with today his ex-wife. Olivia, sensing the sudden tension, followed his gaze and saw the stunning blonde woman approaching them, her arms crossed. Ethan’s voice was clipped. “Jessica.” She raised a brow. “Who’s this?” Before Ethan could answer, Lily beamed. “This is my mommy for today!” Jessica’s eyes darkened. “Excuse me?” Olivia suddenly felt like she had walked into something way more complicated than she signed up for. Outside the kindergarten, Ethan and Jessica stepped away from the crowd. “What the hell is this, Ethan?” she hissed, her eyes blazing. “You hired someone to play house?” Ethan folded his arms, keeping his voice level. “You refused to come. She needed someone.” Jessica scoffed. “So your solution was to replace me?” “No,” Ethan said sharply. “My solution was to make sure our daughter didn’t feel abandoned.” Jessica’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re being dramatic.” “Am I?” His voice was low but firm. “Lily waited for you. She asked for you. And you didn’t even have the decency to call and say no yourself.” Jessica looked away, crossing her arms. “I have a life, Ethan. I can’t drop everything for every little school event.” Ethan exhaled, shaking his head. “That’s the difference between us, Jessica. To you, she’s an obligation. To me, she’s my world.” Jessica’s expression flickered with something guilt, but it disappeared quickly. “You can’t just bring some stranger into her life.” “Nora isn’t a stranger. Lily adores her,” Ethan said. “And unlike you, she actually showed up.” Jessica clenched her jaw. “This is a mistake.” “No,” Ethan countered, glancing toward the kindergarten doors where Lily and Olivia were laughing together. “For the first time in a long time, I think I did something right.” Jessica clenched her jaw but said nothing. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked away. Taking a moment to compose himself, Ethan inhaled deeply before stepping back inside the kindergarten. He found Olivia and Lily still chatting with the other kids. Olivia looked up as he approached, sensing the tension in his posture. “Everything okay?” Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’m sorry for that. Jessica… she wasn’t supposed to be here.” Olivia offered him a small, understanding smile. “No need to apologize, Ethan. I figured she’d react that way.” Ethan glanced at Lily, who was happily showing off a drawing. He exhaled, forcing a small smile. “Thanks for handling everything so well.” Olivia shrugged. “That’s what fake moms are for, right?”