Chapter 2 - Vivian
Two days later, Vivian showed up at my house.
"So," she said, setting her bag down on my kitchen table, "tell me about the ex-wife."
"What's her full name?" she asked, pen ready.
"Danielle Marsh."
Her pen paused mid-air. She looked up. "Marsh? Is that her maiden name?"
"Yeah. Why?"
She tapped the pen against the paper once. "I think I've heard that name somewhere before."
Then Owen walked in. He stopped short when he saw her.
Vivian stood and held out her hand. "I'm Vivian."
He studied her hand, then looked over at me. "Is she the fake wife?"
Vivian didn't even blink. "Temporary role. Low budget. Emotionally demanding."
Owen stared at her a moment longer, then shook her hand anyway. "Okay."
Vivian sat back down. "Anything you want to ask me?"
He shrugged. "Can you act like you actually like my dad?"
She smiled. "I don't think that part's going to be hard."
Ten years earlier, Danielle had told me I could never fix being myself. Somehow Vivian made it sound like there had never been anything broken to begin with.
She watched Owen walk out of the room. "He's protective of you."
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"He shouldn't have to be."
"But he is," she said gently.
