Kingsley

"Your dad had a heart attack."

The words should have warranted a reaction. They should have made my gut clench. They should have sent me running back to my hometown to be there for him.

Instead, the thought that ran through my head was I hope he died.

Son-of-the-year right here.

But he didn't die, and he needed me to keep his veterinarian practice afloat. I wouldn't go for him, but I would for my mom. She was the innocent one, the one I still cared about. And God love her, she stood by his side.

So I loaded up my four-year-old and returned to the small town I'd planned to make my home until lies and truths destroyed my happiness. I would give my father one summer. Then I was going back to my life. Without him in it.

Daisy

For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a home. Moving to the small town of MacKellar Cove was a gamble, but not a big one since it meant being roommates with my bestie. Years later, I found everything I'd been looking for. A home, a family of friends, and the perfect place to open my business.

We didn't need to talk about what was missing from my life. I didn't need a man. I was totally fine on my own.

But the new guy I was matched with on my favorite dating app was funny, interesting, a single dad, and...

His mother?

I was catfished. By his mother.