Jessica tossed and turned in a bed that, just yesterday, had felt so cozy. Sleep snapped like an overstretched guitar string. Something had shifted today. The mattress felt harder, the pillows heavy as if stuffed with rocks, and her favorite blanket was stiflingly warm. With a frustrated huff, she threw off the blanket and sat up in bed.
The full moon outside the window caught her eye immediately. Five minutes of staring, and she felt an overwhelming urge to howl like a wolf from the ache of despair and hopelessness. That moon knew how to unravel her.
It could turn her inside out, lay her soul bare to the point of a bitter lump in her throat. She needed to look away, to stop thinking.
But thinking was inevitable. Tonight, Liam wasn’t sleeping beside her as usual. He’d settled on the couch in the living room, and that wasn’t even the worst of it.
She could have handled that. The real blow was the reason she’d banished him from their bedroom: Ethan. Not that Ethan himself had done anything to Jessica.
He probably didn’t even know she existed. He was only seven, according to Liam. How could an ordinary kid be at fault? The blame fell squarely on Liam.
Liam was guilty of betraying Jessica years ago. The result of a fleeting passion with a woman Jessica didn’t know was this boy, Ethan. Liam had dropped this bombshell over dinner.
Thankfully, their daughter Lily had already eaten and was playing in her room with her grandmother, Liam’s mother, Patricia. Liam had been unusually pensive, avoiding Jessica’s eyes, picking at his salad listlessly, responding off-topic. It wasn’t exhaustion—he’d had the day off.
“Liam, what’s wrong?” Jessica asked. “Something happen at work?”
“No, everything’s fine,” he mumbled, spearing a cucumber slice and holding it up to his eyes for no apparent reason.
“Victor asked me to cover his shift tomorrow. I’ll probably do it.”
“Sure, go ahead,” Jessica said. “Did he propose on one knee?”
“What?” Liam blinked, confused.
“You know, ‘cover for me’—like a marriage proposal. Only proper way to do it,” she teased. “Congrats to the happy couple.”
Liam forced a smile. “Yeah, got it. Jess, I need to tell you something. I just don’t know how. I’ve been keeping something from you.”
“What, you’re not really an ER doctor but a gynecologist?” Jessica feigned outrage. “How could you hide that from me?”
Liam didn’t laugh. His face stayed grim, and Jessica’s stomach twisted. “No, Jess, it’s worse. I don’t know how you’ll take this, but I can’t keep it in anymore. I have another kid.”
“I know, I gave birth to her,” Jessica said, trying to lighten the mood. “Guess it’s true what they say—guys don’t feel like dads until their kid starts first grade.”
“Jess, I’m serious.” Liam closed his eyes for a moment. “I have a son. His name’s Ethan. He’s seven.”
“What?” Jessica’s ears rang. Liam loved a good prank, but this didn’t feel like one. “You’re not joking?”
He shook his head. “It just happened.”
“What do you mean, ‘happened’?” Jessica snapped. “You were walking down the street, tripped, and fell on some woman, and nine months later, your son Ethan popped out? Is that it?”
“Jess, please, no jokes. This is hard enough.” Liam looked down. “It’s tough for me.”
“Oh, it’s tough for you?” She pursed her lips. “Must be a breeze for me, right? You just told me you cheated and have a kid.”
“Lily, come here!” she called out sarcastically. “Guess what? You’ve got a little brother! You asked for one, and Dad took care of it.”
“Stop it, please,” Liam pleaded. “We need to talk about this calmly.”
“Fine, let’s talk.” Jessica pushed her plate away. “I’m all ears. Hope it’s a tearjerker.” She grabbed a napkin dramatically. “Ready to cry without smudging my makeup.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you.” Liam sighed. “Just don’t interrupt. You can call me a jerk afterward.”
About eight years ago, Liam went to a nearby city for a two-week medical training course. Lectures, seminars, and practice consumed most of his days. On the fifth day, he and his colleagues decided to unwind at a bar.
They sat at a table, griping about the latest lecture. “Why do they drag us here?” Victor, Liam’s colleague, grumbled. “I could read all this online. Total waste.”
“Exactly,” Liam agreed. “They’re just milking the budget, pulling us away from actual work.”
“Not all bad,” Victor winked. “A break from the happy married life, right? Too bad we’re stuck listening to these medical bureaucrats. I could teach a better lecture myself.”
“How’s your wife doing?” Victor asked.
“Jess? She’s okay,” Liam sighed. “First trimester was rough. I worried we’d need to admit her. She could barely eat anything but oatmeal. Seems better now.”
“When’s she due?” Victor asked.
“Two months or so. I’m freaking out,” Liam admitted with a smile. “Can’t imagine being a dad.”
“To smooth sailing,” Victor raised his beer glass. “No bumps in the road.”
A loud crash interrupted them, drowning out the bar’s music. Liam turned to see a waitress sprawled on the floor, a tray scattered around her. Without a word, he and Victor rushed over.
“Fainted,” Victor muttered. “Let’s turn her over.”
A crowd of patrons and staff gathered. “Should we call an ambulance?” someone suggested.
“Let’s see,” Liam said. “If she doesn’t come to, we’ll call. Could just be exhaustion.”
The waitress stirred after a minute. “When did you last eat?” Liam asked in his stern doctor voice.
“I don’t remember,” she mumbled. “Yesterday, I think.”
“Yesterday?” Victor exclaimed. “It’s almost midnight! Alright, folks, nothing to see here.”
“Who’s in charge?” Liam asked.
“I’m the manager,” a young guy in a loud T-shirt stepped forward. “What do we do?”
“She needs rest, hot tea with at least three spoons of sugar, and a chocolate bar if you’ve got one,” Liam instructed. “I’ll stay with her, monitor her condition. Where can we go?”
“My office,” the manager said, pointing. “Follow me.”
Liam sent Victor home and followed the manager and the waitress to the office. The manager personally made tea, tossing in five sugar cubes for good measure. The waitress sipped it and grimaced. “Ugh, too sweet.”
“You need it,” Liam said. “Your blood sugar’s probably crashed. Ever had this before?”
“Yeah,” she admitted quietly. “I’m trying to lose weight, so I’m on a diet. Today was a water-only day.”
“You’re ridiculous,” the manager snapped. “Kate, seriously? What if your schedule says no food for a week? You gonna do that?”
“Kate, as a doctor, I’m telling you, this is dangerous,” Liam said, shaking his head. “You’re already thin, pale—probably anemic—and you’re starving yourself. What if you’d hit your head? Want to spend a month in the hospital on IVs?”
“No,” she said, her eyes wide with fear. “Not the hospital.”
“Alright,” Liam relented. “But get your blood checked for hemoglobin.”
Only then did he get a good look at her. Pretty, maybe twenty or twenty-five, slender, with big gray eyes and dark hair pulled into a bun. Probably a student working nights, he thought, exhausted like he’d been in med school, pulling night shifts as an orderly and dragging himself to classes.
“Kate, I’ll let you go home,” the manager said, looking her in the eye. “I’ll pay you for the shift, but don’t do this again. I’m personally checking you eat before every shift—bread with butter and sweet tea, got it?”
“Yes,” she nodded meekly. “I’m feeling better. I’ll go.”
“I’ll walk you,” Liam said, not asking but stating. “In case you faint again.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Thank you.”
The manager promised Liam a couple of free beers next time, and Liam set off to escort Kate. They chatted along the way. She was, as he’d guessed, a student at a community college studying fashion design, working nights to afford rent with a roommate.
“My roommate’s gone for a month to visit her boyfriend,” Kate explained. “I’m stuck covering rent alone, so I’m picking up extra shifts.”
“Why the diet?” Liam asked.
“Well, duh,” she said, surprised. “Everyone wants to lose weight. Me too.”
“Women,” Liam sighed. “I’ll never get it.”
They reached her apartment. Liam glanced at his watch and cursed. “What’s wrong?” Kate asked, alarmed.
“I’m just passing through town, and my hotel locks up at this hour,” he said, scratching his head. “Know any place I can crash?”
“You can stay here,” Kate offered. “My roommate’s gone, and the couch is comfy.”
For reasons he couldn’t explain, Liam agreed. No ill intentions, just a place to sleep. He’d get up early, shower at the hotel, and make it to another dull lecture. Kate made up the couch and went to her room. He was drifting off when she knocked, wearing a thin robe that clung to her slight frame.
He couldn’t recall what they talked about or how she ended up next to him, pressed close, arms around his neck. Later, Liam cursed himself, hated himself. Why hadn’t he sent her away? Maybe he missed physical affection. Jessica’s pregnancy had been tough, and they hadn’t been intimate for nearly seven months. He was a healthy guy with needs, and Kate was attractive. Plus, he’d had a few beers. His self-control just failed.
In the morning, he woke in her arms, horrified. It was almost ten—he’d missed his lecture. Worse, he’d cheated on his wife with a woman he’d known for hours.
“God!” he groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Kate stirred, confused. “Did I do something?”
“No, I did everything wrong,” he said, clutching his head. “I’m an idiot. This is awful.”
“I liked it,” she said, pressing against his back. “Nothing bad happened. I wanted it. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“I’m married,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have done this.”
“Too bad,” she sighed, genuinely disappointed. “It happens. She won’t find out, and we’ll forget it. It was good for me, and for you too, right?”
“What about… consequences?” Liam asked.
“Won’t happen,” she assured him. “I’m on the pill.”
They ate breakfast in awkward silence. Liam couldn’t meet her eyes. She tried to chat, but he barely responded. He left for the hotel, spending the day there, calling Jessica and drowning in guilt. She was carrying his child, and he’d betrayed her. What kind of monster was he?
Eventually, he calmed himself. He’d messed up, but Jessica wouldn’t find out. Not now, not while she was pregnant. He skipped the bar’s free beers, avoiding Kate, and returned home, vowing to forget it. They say every guy cheats once, right? He’d used his one time and wouldn’t do it again.
But two years ago, Liam ran into Kate on the street in their hometown, holding a boy of about five or six. She recognized him instantly.
“Liam?” she said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” he smiled. “You?”
“Let’s drop the formalities,” she said. “I moved here for a job offer. Crazy, right? Both of us here.”
“Is this your son?” Liam ruffled the boy’s blond hair. “Cute kid. Married?”
“No,” Kate blushed. “He’s six.”
Liam didn’t get it at first. He smiled at the boy, then froze. Ethan looked eerily like Lily, his daughter. Everyone said Lily was his spitting image.
“Kate?” he said quietly. “What’s this mean?”
She nodded. “Yeah, Liam. I didn’t want you to know, but I guess it’s fate.”
Ethan was picking his nose. Kate yanked his hand away. “Stop that.”
“Okay, Mom,” Ethan shrugged. “You’re Liam, right? My dad’s name was Liam too.”
Liam swallowed hard, handed Kate his card, and said, “Call me if you need anything. Let’s meet up and talk.” He rushed home to Jessica, unable to sleep that night, haunted by Ethan’s face, so like his own. What now? What was the right thing to do? He looked at Jessica, sleeping, the mother of his daughter. What would happen if she found out? He decided to forget Kate and Ethan.
But Kate called the next day, and he met her. She’d gotten a job at a local clothing factory. Her only family was her mother, now living in a rural area. After getting pregnant, her relationship with her mom had soured. She’d raised Ethan alone, too shy to contact Liam, not wanting to ruin his life.
“I found you on social media,” she admitted. “Saw your wife, your daughter. I was jealous, but what could I do?”
“I’ll help,” Liam promised. “He’s my son. I’ll send money. If he needs doctors, I’ve got connections.”
“Thanks,” she smiled. “I’ll try not to bother you.”
She kept her word. Liam sent her money monthly, small amounts Jessica wouldn’t notice. He visited Ethan after work, bought him medicine when he was sick. Kate didn’t ask for more, and the arrangement seemed to work. But guilt gnawed at him—he was betraying Jessica and Lily. Yet he couldn’t abandon Ethan. Nor could he confess to Jessica.
Two years passed. Liam thought he could keep it secret, living between two families—or one and a half. He and Kate weren’t intimate. She hinted at rekindling things a couple of times, but he shut it down.
Then Kate’s mother had a stroke. She needed to go to her rural hometown to care for her. Taking Ethan was impossible—no conditions for a kid, and he needed to stay in school. Kate asked Liam to help.
Jessica stared at her husband, stunned. “So you want Ethan to live with us?”
Liam nodded grimly. “What else can I do? I’m not sending him to foster care. He’s sensitive, Jess. He knows me. I don’t know how he’ll handle being away from his mom.”
“So that’s it?” Jessica said icily. “Should we tell Lily, ‘Meet your brother’? Explain why he’s only six months younger than her?”
“We don’t have to tell her,” Liam sighed. “We can say he’s the son of a friend. Why upset her?”
“You’re a great dad,” Jessica said sarcastically. “Thinking of Lily, sparing her feelings. Liam, are you out of your mind?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I thought I was this morning, but now I’m not sure. Jess, what do I do? Ethan exists. I can’t make him disappear. He’s not to blame.”
“Too late for precautions now,” Jessica snapped. “Sorry, but I’m not having your kid in our house.”
“Jess, I can’t let him go to a shelter. Kate can’t take him—her mom’s bedridden in a one-room place. Ethan saw a dead pigeon once and didn’t sleep for two days. How’s Kate supposed to bring him there?” Liam frowned.
“How touching!” Jessica slammed her hand on the table, wincing in pain. “Ow, damn it! Liam, you’re insane. Do what you want. I’m leaving.”
She stood, glaring. “Take your Ethan, bring Kate too. Perfect little family. You can raise your son together. Lily and I will manage.”
“Jess!” Liam stood, reaching for her shoulder.
“Don’t touch me,” she snapped. “I don’t want to see you. Tomorrow, I’m taking Lily to my mom’s, and then we’re done.”
“Jess, give me a chance,” Liam pleaded, but her look stopped him cold. “At least meet Ethan. It was one time with Kate. I screwed up, I’m an idiot, a jerk—”
“No ‘buts,’” Jessica cut him off, her eyes blazing. “You’re a cheater. I’m leaving. Don’t try to stop me. Live with your Kate.”
Holding back tears, Jessica stormed to the bedroom. She hoped Liam wouldn’t follow, or she might hurl the heavy perfume bottle from her dresser at him—or a stool. She wasn’t sure he’d survive, and she didn’t want to end up in jail, leaving Lily alone. But he didn’t follow. Jessica collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.
Ethan, his son. Liam, so honorable, couldn’t abandon him. Such a saint, just missing the halo. What next? Maybe another kid would show up, some Tommy, whose mom needed a babysitter for a couple of weeks. Would Jessica have to swallow that too? No, she couldn’t live with a traitor.
She felt a sudden numbness, a desperate wish for Liam to vanish from her life. Gone. Done. Tomorrow, she’d call work, say she was sick, pack her bags, take Lily, and go to her mom’s in the countryside. Start fresh. Liam could deal with his kids and his women.
A soft knock came at the door. “Don’t you dare,” Jessica growled.
“Sweetie, it’s me,” Patricia, Liam’s mother, said softly. “I put Lily to bed and was about to make tea. Liam told me everything. Can I come in?”
“Come in,” Jessica sighed.
Patricia entered, wearing a bright flannel robe, her hair in colorful plastic curlers—she swore by them. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Jess, what’s your plan?”
“What do you think?” Jessica said. “I’m going to my mom’s. What else can I do?”
Patricia patted her knee. “Sweetie, don’t do this. You’re a family.”
“You knew?” Jessica realized, stunned. “How long?”
“He told me two years ago,” Patricia said, looking down. “What was I supposed to do, tell you? What would that have done? Yeah, Liam messed up, but he’s a good man.”
“A good, fertile man,” Jessica said bitterly. “You’ve seen Ethan, haven’t you?”
“Once,” Patricia admitted, avoiding her gaze. Jessica knew she was lying. “Nice boy.”
“And you’re going to tell me he’s not to blame?” Jessica rolled her eyes. “I know that. Liam’s the one at fault. That’s why I’m done with him.”
“Sweetie,” Patricia started, but stopped at Jessica’s furious expression.
“I’m leaving Liam,” Jessica said, holding back tears. “You can’t stop me. I feel bad for Lily.”
“I know,” Patricia said softly. “But it’s not my fault, or yours. It’s Liam’s.”
Patricia shrugged and stood. “Close the door behind you,” Jessica said sharply. “Thanks in advance.”
When the door shut, Jessica collapsed again, sobbing. Everything was a lie—her life, her family. All because Liam couldn’t keep it in his pants. He didn’t even seem like a player. Everyone called him refined, an old-school doctor. He didn’t swear, treated even drunk patients with courtesy. That’s what had drawn Jessica to him—his politeness, his awkward charm.
They’d met in a funny way. Jessica was in her final year of law school, stressing over her thesis, aiming for a perfect GPA. What if she failed her defense or choked on her exams? She lived in the library, barely sleeping. One day, during a presentation, she stood to speak and fainted.
Her best friend, Emily, was alarmed. “Jess, you’re going to burn out,” she said. “You need a break, or you’ll end up in a psych ward.”
“I rest,” Jessica protested. “I sleep, take walks.”
“Yeah, from campus to the library and back,” Emily laughed. “Switch it up, girl. Try a sport.”
“Me and sports don’t mix,” Jessica said. “Remember when I got hit in the head with a dodgeball freshman year? Or when I fell off a bench during gym?”
“You just need the right activity,” Emily said, patting her shoulder. “Come to dance class with me.”
Emily did pole dancing, a new trend. She’d tried to get Jessica to join before, but Jessica couldn’t imagine herself in tiny shorts and heels, twirling around a pole. “No way,” she said.
“Come on,” Emily insisted. “It’s great for flexibility, core strength, and cardio. Plus, it’s fun. You’ll surprise some guy someday.”
Jessica relented. At the class, she felt awkward but enjoyed it. The instructor said not to expect miracles as a beginner. “Everyone starts somewhere,” she said. “Simple moves first, then we’ll build. Who knows, maybe you’ll compete internationally.”
Jessica kept going. She improved, feeling less tired despite adding workouts to her schedule. Emily was right—changing activities was refreshing. One day, she stayed late to practice a tricky move. Emily, waiting by the pole, groaned, “Jess, let’s go already.”
“One more try,” Jessica said, wiping sweat from her brow. She climbed the pole, reached for the move, and fell, screaming, “My leg!”
Emily rushed over. “Think it’s broken?”
“I don’t know,” Jessica said, tears streaming. “It hurts like hell.”
“Danced too hard,” Emily muttered. “I told you to stop.”
“Thanks for the ‘I told you so,’” Jessica snapped, clutching her swelling ankle. “What now?”
“I’ll call an ambulance,” Emily said.
“No way,” Jessica begged. “I’ve got a presentation tomorrow.”
“You’re nuts,” Emily said. “If you cracked your skull, would you just slap a Band-Aid on it and go to class?”
“My head’s fine,” Jessica said, touching it to be sure. “No ambulance.”
“Fine, you lunatic,” Emily said, helping her up. “There’s an urgent care nearby. Can you make it?”
Jessica hobbled, leaning on Emily. She was terrified—a fracture could mean missing classes, delaying her degree. “This is your fault,” she whispered to Emily. “Dragging me to that class.”
“Yeah, I greased the pole,” Emily quipped. “Move it, hop-along.”
Passersby stared at the pair—Emily in jeans and a tee, Jessica in tiny shorts and a cropped top. Hardly the look of a straight-A law student. At urgent care, there was no wait. The receptionist sent them to a room.
“I’ll wait here,” Emily said, plopping onto a chair. “Hop on in.”
Jessica knocked and entered. A young doctor, probably fresh out of residency, looked up. His hair was messy, glasses perched on his nose. “Sit,” he said sternly. “Name and what happened?”
“I’m Jessica. I fell,” she said, sitting on the exam table. “Not at work. At a workout.”
“You work out?” he said, surprised.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jessica frowned.
“Nothing,” he shrugged. “Just… people do all sorts of things. None of my business. Is Jessica your real name?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” she snapped.
“Could be a stage name,” he said, standing. “Lie down. Tell me if it hurts.”
“It already hurts. Morally,” she said, crossing her arms. “What do you think I am?”
The doctor blushed. “I didn’t mean anything. I don’t judge. We get all types—Jessicas, Angelas. Work injuries, you know.”
Jessica wanted to slap him. He thought she was a stripper because of her outfit. “Doctor, your name?” she demanded.
“Liam Ponomarev,” he said, hesitating. “Look, I’m on my second shift. I’m talking nonsense. Sorry.”
“I’m a fifth-year law student and I do pole fitness,” she said icily. “Not a streetwalker.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, red as a tomato. “Can I check your leg?”
“Fine,” she said. “But I’m still mad.”
It was just a sprained ankle. Liam prescribed a cream, a tight bandage, and minimal walking. Jessica shot him a final glare before leaving. “Nice meeting you, Doctor,” she said through gritted teeth.
“What’d he say?” Emily asked.
“He thought I was a hooker,” Jessica said, fuming.
“Well, you do look the part,” Emily teased, dodging a playful swat.
The next evening, an unknown number called. “If this is about a credit card, I’m not interested,” Jessica said.
“No, it’s not that,” the caller said. “It’s Liam, the doctor. I wanted to apologize again and see how I can make it up to you.”
“How’d you get my number?” Jessica asked, suspicious.
“From the front desk,” he admitted. “After you left, I felt awful.”
“How do you plan to make it up?” she asked.
“Dinner, maybe? Or a movie? Or I can get you an X-ray, no wait,” he offered.
“I’m not exactly mobile right now,” she said.
“I’ll get a cab to your place,” he promised.
Jessica hesitated. She’d been furious, but there was something about him—his awkwardness, maybe his hands. Big palms, long fingers, just her type. “Fine,” she said. “What about my outfit? Liked it last time?”
“Loved it,” he said earnestly. “I was stunned.”
She laughed. He had a sense of humor. They went out, and after the movie, Jessica didn’t want to leave him. He was fun, not the bore she’d first thought. Three dates later, she was in love. Liam wasn’t her dream guy—too work-obsessed, always talking about patients’ bizarre injuries—but his passion for helping people made him irresistible. He was kind, generous, lived with his mom in a two-bedroom apartment, and didn’t earn much, but Jessica felt at home with him. His kisses made her dizzy, and in bed, she knew she’d never let him go—not even for Brad Pitt.
Liam proposed right after she graduated. They married, moved into his apartment, and got along well with Patricia. Then Lily was born, Liam’s spitting image. Jessica was happy—family, a job at a small law firm, plans for a house in the suburbs with a dog and a swing set for Lily. Maybe a second child, a boy. Liam didn’t care, as long as the baby was healthy.
But now, Liam already had two kids. Just as Jessica had dreamed—except the boy’s mother was Kate, not her. She tossed in bed until dawn, hating herself, Liam, even Patricia for keeping his secret. She couldn’t stay in this family.
In the morning, exhausted, Jessica showered. Liam was already at work. Patricia was feeding Lily breakfast.
“Morning, Mom!” Lily shouted. “Grandma says I’m not going to school today because we have stuff to do.”
“Yeah, stuff,” Jessica mumbled, longing for coffee. “Not terrible, but not great either, kiddo. We’re going to your grandma’s in the country.”
“You decided?” Patricia asked. “Jess, think about it. Talk to him.”
“Yay, we’re going to Grandma’s!” Lily cheered. “No school?”
“Not for now,” Jessica said, glaring at Patricia. “Liam’s bringing Ethan today, right?”
Patricia swallowed, tucking a stray hair. “Yeah, today. Wait a bit, Jess.”
“You don’t get it,” Jessica said, barely containing herself in front of Lily. “They’re out of their minds. Liam’s bringing his kid from another woman, and I’m supposed to be okay with it?”
“What about work?” Patricia asked timidly.
“I’ll call in sick,” Jessica said, sipping her too-strong coffee. “Then I’ll figure it out.”
“You’re rushing,” Patricia said, patting Lily’s head as she ate. “Life happens. You have to forgive.”
“What happens?” Lily asked.
“Everything, sweetie,” Jessica said vaguely. “Finish eating and go pack. We don’t know when we’re coming back.”
Lily ran off. Patricia washed dishes, clattering loudly, as if to signal her distress. Jessica didn’t care. She needed to leave before Liam brought Ethan. What would she tell Lily? He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a cheater.
Jessica packed, fighting memories triggered by every item. The dress from their theater date last summer, when they kissed in the hallway like teenagers. The jeans they picked out together, Liam loving every pair she tried on. It was all a lie—Ethan existed even then. She stuffed clothes into her suitcase, trying to erase the past.
“Sweetie, think it over,” Patricia said from the doorway. “Leaving’s easy. Fixing things isn’t.”
“Making a kid’s easy too,” Jessica snapped. “Liam managed. And I’m supposed to forgive? Awesome.”
“I know you’re upset,” Patricia said. “But don’t burn bridges.”
“I’ll burn them all,” Jessica vowed. “Liam’s got a backup family. Someone’ll iron his shirts.”
Patricia sighed dramatically and left to pack Lily’s things. An hour later, they were at the train station.
“Mom, is Dad coming?” Lily asked, scared. “I don’t like it without him.”
“It’s scarier with him,” Jessica muttered. “You never know what he’ll pull next. I don’t know about Dad, honey. He’s busy.”
Lily’s face crumpled. Jessica braced for tears. “Want ice cream?” she offered. “Train’s in twenty minutes.”
“Chocolate!” Lily’s tears vanished.
The train ride was five hours, plus an hour by bus. Jessica hadn’t seen her mom, Ellen, in nearly a year. Ellen loved her but had been distant since meeting Matthew, a man recovering from a rough divorce. They’d started as friends, then fell in love. They lived together but weren’t married. Jessica had met Matthew—reliable, ex-military, good for Ellen. She hoped he wouldn’t mind her and Lily’s arrival.
Ellen was thrilled but surprised when Jessica called from the station. “What happened? Fight with Liam?”
“I’ll explain later, Mom,” Jessica said, fighting tears. “It’s just… necessary.”
“Oh, honey,” Ellen sighed. “He’s a good guy. Think it over.”
Jessica frowned. Were they conspiring with Patricia to make her forgive Liam? Her mom’s own marriage hadn’t survived similar advice. “Mom, we’re coming. That’s it,” she said, hanging up.
On the train, Jessica thought of her father. Daughters often echoed their mothers’ fates, not exactly, but close. Her childhood was idyllic—loving parents, a carefree world. Her dad was soft, always rescuing stray animals, despite Ellen’s protests. Then he changed—distant, moody. Jessica overheard her mom crying, her dad’s guilty murmurs. He stopped smiling at her, a stark change. Things worsened. He’d disappear for days, Ellen wept, brushing off Jessica’s questions. Then he left for another woman who was pregnant. Jessica was ten. Two years later, he died, hit by a drunk driver. She never learned if she had a sibling. Ellen refused to discuss it, and Jessica tried to forget him.
Now Liam had done the same. Was their family cursed? Jessica hugged Lily, praying she’d escape this pattern.
“Mom, you’re messing up my cartoon,” Lily grumbled.
“Sorry, sweetie,” Jessica said, kissing her head.
The autumn scenery flashed by. Jessica loved September, a fresh start after summer’s heat. Now, it was literal.
Her phone rang. “Yes, Mom?”
“Honey, someone can pick you up so you don’t have to take the bus,” Ellen said. “Matthew’s son, Brian, is visiting.”
“Who?” Jessica asked. “Matthew doesn’t have a car.”
“Brian’s got a black Jeep. I’ll text you the plate number,” Ellen said. “Did you and Liam really split?”
“Yeah, Mom,” Jessica said. “Don’t ask now, please.”
Ellen didn’t push. At the station, Lily whined for a milkshake. Jessica spotted the Jeep and a tall, dark-haired man who looked like a ‘90s movie thug.
“Jessica?” he asked. “I’m Brian, Matthew’s son. Nice to meet you.”
Jessica smiled. “Hi. This is Lily, my daughter.”
Brian crouched, shaking Lily’s hand. She blushed. “Tired? Let’s go,” he said, grabbing their suitcase.
Jessica stole glances at him. Handsome, unlike his short, bald dad. No wedding ring. She scolded herself for noticing—why did it matter? But she wanted to look good, despite her disheveled state.
“My dad’s planning to marry your mom,” Brian said. “Guess we’ll be family. I don’t have kids, so Lily’s like a niece.”
Jessica’s heart sank slightly. He saw her as a sister? “I’m happy for them,” she said.
“My parents split three years ago,” Brian shared. “Mom ran off with some guy she met online. Dad was wrecked until he met your mom. I told him to come out here, and he found love.”
“Sorry about your parents,” Jessica said.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I just split with someone too. Fishing and hiking with Dad helps.”
Ellen greeted them at the house. “My girl!” she cried, hugging Jessica, then Lily. “You’re so big! A schoolgirl!”
“Not for long,” Lily said, showing her fingers. “This many years left.”
Everyone laughed. Brian carried their bags inside. Ellen winked at Jessica. “Quite a guy, huh? Too bad you’re married.”
“Mom!” Jessica hissed. “I haven’t even told you what happened, and you’re matchmaking?”
“I know why you’re here,” Ellen said. “Liam messed up, didn’t he?”
Jessica clenched her jaw. Her mom’s intuition was uncanny. “Let’s eat,” Ellen said. “Then a sauna.”
“A sauna?” Lily asked.
“You’ll see,” Jessica said, taking her hand.
After Ellen’s famous apple and meat pies, Jessica felt content. Lily was thrilled to skip school, and Liam, Kate, and Ethan seemed distant. She caught herself glancing at Brian. His hands were stronger than Liam’s, broad and firm. She imagined them touching her face, then shook off the thought. Was she plotting revenge? Why not?
Ellen shared she was quitting her job as a dairy worker, tired of 5 a.m. shifts. Matthew earned enough for her to relax. “Won’t you get bored?” Jessica asked.
“No way,” Ellen said. “I’ll garden, bake, maybe cross-stitch. Anything but that dairy barn.”
“Good call,” Brian said. “Dad’ll be thrilled.”
“Where’s Matthew?” Jessica asked, eyeing the pies.
“At the farm, fixing machinery,” Ellen said proudly. “Your dad could never fix a thing.”
Jessica was surprised—Ellen hadn’t mentioned her dad in years. Matthew was healing her wounds. “So, what’s your plan?” Ellen asked. “Back home soon?”
“I took sick leave,” Jessica lied. She’d faked a cough to her boss. “I’ll figure it out.”
Ellen smirked, reading her. Jessica retreated to her old room, unchanged since childhood. Time had frozen here. She lay on the creaky mattress, checking her phone. Three messages from Liam. She deleted them, imagining Kate in their apartment, redecorating Lily’s room for Ethan. She dozed off, dreaming of kissing a man in a hallway, thinking it was Liam until she saw Brian’s face. She woke, shaken. This was wrong.
The next morning, the quiet—no traffic, just birds—stirred childhood memories. Lily woke, asking, “When are we going home? Is Dad coming?”
“Not sure, sweetie,” Jessica said, forcing a smile. “Want to go to the river?”
“Yes!” Lily bounced excitedly. “Beach, Mom!”
Brian offered to join them. Jessica felt shy, haunted by her dream. He was striking, like a model. He worked in construction, buying materials—a dull job, he said, far from his childhood dreams of being an astronaut or detective.
“You’re a lawyer, right?” he said. “But family first?”
“Yeah,” Jessica nodded. “I chose a job close to home.”
“Good choice,” he smiled. “Family matters most.”
At the river, Lily splashed in her pink swimsuit. Jessica stayed dressed, self-conscious about her figure. Brian, shirtless, had no such qualms. She thought of Patricia making pancakes for Ethan. “You okay?” Brian asked. “You look sad.”
“Just thinking,” she said, brushing it off. “I went through a breakup too.”
He took her hand gently. “I get it, Jessica.”
His touch was electric. She pulled away, scolding herself. She couldn’t judge Liam while swooning over Brian. They swam, watched Lily hunt for pebbles, and talked. “I want kids,” Brian said. “They’re such a joy.”
“Why haven’t you?” Jessica asked.
“Never found the right woman,” he said, looking at her. “Thought I did, but she was seeing two other guys. I’m not into that race.”
Jessica nodded, understanding. Let Kate have Liam. They returned home, and Jessica told Ellen about Ethan. “Men,” Ellen said. “Your dad was the same. Made a kid and left. God punished him, and Liam’ll get his too.”
“Mom, I don’t wish him dead,” Jessica said.
Ellen shrugged. “God sees all.”
Jessica laughed, then realized she missed Liam. He’d been a good husband and father. She pushed the thought away—Kate would replace her. Ellen advised her to rest and reconsider. “Liam never liked me,” she said.
“No one’s good enough for you in your eyes,” Jessica teased.
Life felt like a return to her teens—river trips with Lily, Ellen’s cooking, reading old novels. Matthew kept his distance, likely annoyed by her presence. But she grew close to Brian, talking for hours about life and hobbies. He was into sports, planning to compete. Liam called daily, but she rarely answered. Patricia sent a photo of Ethan playing in Lily’s room, calling him sweet. Jessica wanted to smash her phone.
Brian was leaving soon. She was sad—they’d likely drift apart. That last night, Ellen and Matthew took Lily to meet a neighbor’s granddaughter, leaving Jessica and Brian alone. They drank tea, then moved to his room to pack. She knew what might happen, and it did. He pulled her close, his body strong and warm.
“Maybe we shouldn’t,” she whispered.
“Maybe not,” he agreed, then kissed her.
She forgot Liam, Ethan, everything. Revenge felt sweet. Afterward, lying in his arms, she felt no better than Liam. “You liked me from the start, huh?” Brian teased.
“I need to lose ten pounds,” she joked.
“You’re perfect,” he said. “Come live with me.”
“I’m still married,” she reminded him.
“I’ll wait,” he promised.
They dressed quickly before Ellen returned. Jessica felt no mark of shame, just flushed cheeks. Brian urged her to consider moving in, but she hesitated. Rushing was dangerous.
The next morning, Brian left, kissing her quickly. Ellen noticed. “What’s that? You’re married.”
“It’s nothing, Mom,” Jessica said, blushing.
“What’s your plan?” Matthew asked. “Job hunting?”
“I’ll quit and look for something nearby,” Jessica said. “Then buy a house.”
“Houses are pricey,” Matthew grumbled.
Jessica felt unwelcome. She and Lily picnicked, picking flowers. She thought of Brian and Liam, regretting her actions. Liam wasn’t handsome, but his kindness had won her. Kate saw it too.
Jessica got a job as an assistant HR manager at a local farm. It wasn’t law, but it was a start. Divorce loomed, a painful word. She imagined torn photos and broken toys. How would she tell Lily?
One day, Patricia called, sobbing. “Liam’s in the hospital. Hit by a car.”
Jessica’s heart stopped. “What?”
“He was crossing the street,” Patricia cried. “Come back, Jess. I can’t manage with Ethan too.”
Jessica returned the next day. Patricia was a wreck. “Both legs broken, ribs too,” she wailed. “Stay with Ethan. I’ll care for Liam.”
Jessica agreed, visiting Liam the next day despite Patricia’s protests. Ethan was shy but warmed to her. They drew together, and she grew fond of him. A week later, Liam came home, looking fine, smiling.
“What’s going on?” Jessica demanded. “Miracle recovery?”
“I lied,” Liam admitted. “I needed you back. Ethan’s just a kid, Jess. I couldn’t abandon him.”
“You’re insane,” she said, furious. “You think ‘sorry’ fixes this?”
They talked for hours. Liam begged forgiveness. Jessica relented, feeling for Lily and Ethan. “I’ll come back,” she said.
Liam beamed. “I love you, Jess.”
She didn’t respond, thinking of Brian. Should she confess? No, they were even—both had cheated once.
Jessica returned home. Lily was ecstatic, clinging to Liam. They told her Ethan was a friend’s son, which she accepted. Jessica hoped Kate would take Ethan soon. She cut contact with Brian, despite his pleas. Liam was attentive, but dodged questions about Kate.
A month later, life seemed normal, except Ethan lived with them. Liam worked longer hours, saving to move out from Patricia’s place. Jessica tried to forget Brian.
One Saturday, alone, she heard a knock. Thinking it was Patricia, she opened the door to a thin woman with short dark hair and big brown eyes.
“I’m not buying anything,” Jessica said.
“It’s not that,” the woman said. “I’m Kate. We need to talk.”
“About what?” Jessica said, stunned. “Taking Ethan?”
“Maybe,” Kate said. “Can I come in?”
Jessica let her in, noticing Kate’s familiarity with the apartment. Kate sat, clutching a cheap snakeskin purse. “I’ll tell you everything, and you decide what to do. I can’t live like this.”
“What?” Jessica asked.
“Liam and I are together,” Kate said. “He’s been living two lives.”
“He said it was just once,” Jessica whispered.
“We didn’t see each other for five years,” Kate said. “Then I found him. It wasn’t an accident. It started again. He said he couldn’t leave you because of Lily. When you left, I thought it was my chance, but Patricia made him bring you back.”
Kate handed Jessica photos—her and Liam on a beach, in a café, holding hands. “I’m pregnant again,” Kate said. “I want a chance. For me, and for you.”
Jessica returned the photos, tears streaming. “Take him,” she said. “You need him more.”
A week later, Jessica and Lily moved to a rental. Liam agreed to help financially, but with two kids soon, it wouldn’t be much. Ellen urged her to fight, but Jessica refused. Lily took the divorce calmly, allowed to see Liam whenever she wanted.
Two months later, the divorce was final. Jessica felt relief, not pain. Walking home from work, she saw a car pull up. Brian stepped out.
“You don’t answer my calls,” he said, hugging her. “Dad told me you’re divorced and said to find you.”
“Matthew?” Jessica laughed. “He wanted you to marry his friend’s daughter.”
“He changed his mind,” Brian said. “Let me drive you to pick up Lily. Then we’ll hit a café, and tomorrow, a movie.”
“Big plans,” Jessica teased.
“If you say no, I’ll keep asking,” he said, opening the car door.
Jessica smiled. A new chapter was beginning, and it promised to be better than the last.