Loving my fake Husband

Secrets and Sidewalks

❀ Amy ❀

I was super happy that it was Friday. After a whole week of work and school, I was ready to just relax and have some fun with Eva. As I drove toward the school, ideas started to fill my head with fun activities. I considered a movie night with sweet treats and pizza. I thought about building a fort in the living room and reading stories. All I wanted was for us to have a relaxing weekend. I was beat. Each morning had been filled with tantrums, tears, and stubborn pouting. While I was proud of her for pushing through, I was exhausted. Each day had gotten a little bit better as she adjusted and started to make friends. And while all of that was going on, I was barely surviving. Work at the law firm was hectic and fast-paced. My co-workers were great, but balancing a job, a five-year-old, and the constant pretense that I had it all together was driving me insane. I finally pulled into the parking lot and parked the car. I could see plenty of parents waiting around for their kids, so I got out and walked closer to the white picket fence.

“Amy, right?” a woman called out. I glanced over at her and plastered on a smile. I vaguely remembered her, but I couldn’t remember her name. I slowly made my way over to them as I silently hoped Eva would come bursting out of those doors before, I had to actually talk to these people. “Karen, remember?”

“Right, hi,” I said as I stood before them. Karen was tall, lean, and perfect.

“This is Jessica,” Karen said as she pointed at a small blonde-haired woman. “And this is Tina,”

“I’m Amy,” I said rather awkwardly.

“You don’t have to stand over there all alone while you wait for your daughter,” Karen pointed out with a big smile. “We don’t bite,” she added, and I was tempted to roll my eyes, laugh in her face and run away.

“How is your daughter adjusting?” Jessica asked curiously, and I shrugged as I tried to play it off as casually as I could.

“She is getting there. The whole move has been a bit tough on her,”

“And what about you?” Tina asked, and I could hear the sympathy in her tone of voice.

“I’m doing the best that I can,” I admitted.

“Where did you say you were from again?” Karen asked, and there was something about the way she looked at me that put me on high alert.

“Harridale,”

“Right, the big bad city,” she remarked with a dry laugh.

“Oh? What made you choose Willow Creek? Did your husband grow up here or something?” Jessica questioned. I froze because there it was. The question. My heart skipped a beat, and I knew that how I answered would set the pace. I wasn’t married. I didn’t have a husband and Eva’s father didn’t care. We had come to Willow Creek for a fresh start. To get away from so many things. I couldn’t say that to them though. The way all three of them stared at me as they waited impatiently. I wasn’t even sure why, but despite the fact that it was none of their business, I had a feeling that if I told them even a bit of the truth, I would be judged. And not in a good way. So, I lied.

“Henry…my husband…is a pilot,” I said as casually as I could. “He is away a lot since he does overseas routes mostly…and the city can be overwhelming, so that’s why we decided to move here,” Karen’s eyes went wide, and I could literally see her eating up the information.

“A pilot? That must be so exciting,” she gushed. Jessica nodded in agreement while Tina studied me closely. Did she know I was lying? Probably. For one, I didn’t even have a ring on my finger. I quickly shoved my hands in my jacket pockets and forced a smile.

“So, you moved here for Eva, not Henry?” Jessica pushed and I nodded.

“Exactly,” I said. “We both want her to have a good childhood, and it’s not easy in the city,”

“How thoughtful,” Karen remarked. “You are so lucky…not everyone gets that kind of support,” suddenly, the three of them moved in closer and Karen lowered her voice. “Some of these poor women are raising their kids all by themselves,” she subtly gestured toward another group.

“I heard one of them has three kids and no husband…can you imagine?” Jessica whispered. My stomach twisted. Shame spread through me like wildfire. I hated myself for lying. For pretending. For letting them believe I was something I wasn’t. But I also hated how quickly their judgment turned cruel. How fast their smiles sharpened into something venomous.

“I don’t understand how the school can allow it,” Karen then said, and I frowned. “Those kids are so behind…how could they not be with only one parent?”

“Kids are kids, they deserve support no matter what,” I said. Tina shot me a soft smile as she nodded.

“I agree,”

“Of course, but that is exactly why they should be given special attention. They need it,” Karen said, and I could tell that she didn’t mean it the way it came out. I stepped back as I tried to physically distance myself from them. Thankfully, the doors finally opened, and the flood of children poured out. I spotted Eva immediately. Her face it up with joy when she saw me.

“Mommy! Mommy! Look what I made!” she held up a picture that I couldn’t quite make out. I crouched down when she got close and admired the picture as I kissed her cheek.

“That’s perfect,” I said. I stood up and took Eva’s backpack. “Nice to meet you,” I said to Karen, Jessica, and Tina. My gaze drifted to the single parents, and I was shocked by what I saw. It was clear to me that the parents weren’t the only ones being treated badly. The kids were too. I turned away and hurriedly led Eva to the car. I didn’t want to think about it, or I might just blurt out that everything I had said had been a lie. It was a lie, but I didn’t want Eva to be targeted just because she didn’t have an active father figure in her life.

“Can we have pizza?” Eva asked from her spot in the back seat.

“Actually, I have something even bigger planned,” I said as the excitement I had felt earlier returned. I decided to put Karen and Jessica out of my mind. I wasn’t sure about Tina yet, but Karen and Jessica were toxic.

“Double pizza?” Eva guessed, and I chuckled as I pulled out of the parking lot.

“I guess you will just have to wait and see,”

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