I was feeling a bit worn out from my family’s constant inquiries about my love life, so I came up with a fun idea.
I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by my family’s constant inquiries about my love life, so I came up with a fun idea. I discovered a homeless man and invited him to be my pretend fiancé for the holiday dinner. Everything felt just right until my mother’s reaction uncovered a surprising link between them.
I sat in my car, looking at the park entrance, feeling a bit anxious about the weekend ahead with my family. Each holiday visit felt familiar: my mom’s knowing glances, my dad’s cheerful smiles, and the constant stream of questions.
When’s the big day for your wedding? Have you met anyone new?
It was quite tiring, and just thinking about going through it again felt like too much for me.
Out of nowhere, I noticed a man sitting by himself on a bench, wrapped up in a worn-out coat. He looked a bit tired, as if life had given him a few extra challenges to handle. His sad eyes and the deep lines on his face still gave him a charming look. That’s when it dawned on me. What a fun idea!
“Would it be possible for him to be my fiancé for the weekend?” I quietly spoke to myself.
It was wild, but it just might work! Anything to keep my family happy. I hopped out of the car and strolled over to him. He looked up, and we exchanged glances.
“Hey there,” I began, feeling a bit uneasy. “I know this might sound a bit unusual, but… would you be open to pretending to be my fiancé?” Only for a weekend! I’m happy to provide you with a cozy place to stay, some fresh clothes, and a delicious meal!
He paused for a moment, saying nothing. His gaze stayed on mine, as if he were curious about why someone like me would make such an offer. Then, to my delight, he nodded slowly.
“Alright,” he said softly.
I was really surprised at how quickly he agreed. All good, no questions here! Absolutely no hesitation! That made me feel a bit uneasy. At that moment, I just didn’t mind.
“Awesome,” I said. “Let’s prepare for the weekend together!”
***
Once we returned home, I gave the stranger some clothes that were my ex’s. His things were still in my closet, and to be honest, I couldn’t think of a better use for them.
“Hey, I think these will work for you,” I said, handing over a clean shirt and jeans. Feel free to take a shower if you want! <text”i’ll whip=”” up=”” some=”” dinner=”” for=”” us!”=”” <br=””>
“Oh, thank you!” he said with a little smile. “A shower sounds wonderful!”
As he walked into the bathroom, I busied myself with chopping vegetables, doing my best to push aside the nervousness bubbling up inside me.
Opening my home to someone new… Hey Mia, what are you up to? Oh, you still haven’t found out his name!
As the stranger stepped out of the bathroom, I heard the door creak and turned to see who it was. He stood there with a towel draped over his shoulder, his hair still a bit wet, and to my surprise, he looked totally different.
“Wow, that was the best shower I’ve had in years!” he playfully remarked.
The awkwardness I had felt earlier just seemed to disappear in a flash.
That’s wonderful to hear! <text”i’m looking=”” forward=”” to=”” the=”” dinner=”” being=”” just=”” as=”” delightful!”=”” <br=””>
He took a quick look at the table, checking out the plates I had arranged. It has such an amazing scent! Hi there! I’m Christopher, just so you know. He gave me a smile as he took a seat at the table.
I felt a little shy, so I just said, “Mia.”
As we gathered around the table to enjoy our meal, he took the first bite and gave a nod of approval. It’s just wonderful! It’s been quite a while since I enjoyed a home-cooked meal!
We enjoyed a cozy silence for a while, and then the conversation began to flow effortlessly.
“Well,” I said, gently interrupting the silence. “Do you have any favorite movies or books?”
He took a moment to think before responding. I have always had a fondness for old westerns. What about books? Maybe The Old Man and the Sea. It’s simple, yet there’s something special about it.
Oh, really? Hemingway! “Oh, I wouldn’t have guessed that!” I said, feeling a bit surprised. “I was thinking you might choose something a bit darker!”
He let out a little laugh. “You’re not wrong, but sometimes, simple stories hit the hardest.”
We enjoyed the rest of the evening chatting about all sorts of random topics that brought us lots of laughs. He had a dry sense of humor that took me by surprise, and by the end of dinner, I felt really at ease around him.
Later in the evening, I headed back into the kitchen to get a glass of water before settling down for the night. I saw that the dishes were already washed and stacked nicely by the sink.
“Hey there! Did you happen to do the dishes?” I called out to Christopher, peeking around the corner.
“It felt like the simplest thing I could do.”
I smiled, truly moved by the gesture. “Thanks a bunch!”
“Sure thing!”
“Sweet dreams, Christopher!”
***
The following day, things happened in a flash. We had just one day left before the weekend with my family, and there was still so much to get done!
First, we headed to the hair salon. While the stylist worked, Christopher sat quietly, enjoying the transformation process. I watched with delight as his shaggy hair was transformed into something neat and polished.
“This feels a bit strange,” he said softly, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.
“Is it good weird or bad weird?” I playfully teased.
“Definitely good,” he said with a smirk.
By the time we got to the shops to choose some new clothes, he was beginning to look like a totally different person.
***
The holiday dinner kicked off on a positive note. My parents were so happy to see Christopher, and I could almost sense my mother’s pride as she looked at me, finally putting a pause on her usual questions about my personal life.
Christopher played his role wonderfully—he was polite, attentive, and even charming in his conversations. I started to feel at ease, wondering if perhaps my wild idea had actually succeeded.
“Hey there, Christopher!” My mother asked with a bright smile. “You seem really familiar.” Hey, have we crossed paths before? How about on TV, perhaps?
She chuckled softly, as if she had just shared a light-hearted joke.
Christopher gave a friendly shake of his head. “I don’t think that’s the case.” Perhaps I just have one of those faces!
My father laughed, clearly enjoying my mother’s playful teasing. “Oh, if you’re on TV, I guess I’ll need to pay more attention!”
“So, Christopher,” Mom continued, “what were you up to before you met Mia?” Business, huh?
Christopher took a moment, looking at my mother for just a bit longer than necessary before he replied.
“Yes, business,” he said quietly, but there was a hint of something in his tone that felt different. “But everything shifted for me around five years back.”
My heart did a little leap.
Hold on a second… This isn’t what we had in mind.
I gave him a quick glance, hoping he’d pick up on it, but he just kept going. “There was a little mishap.” A car accident. It really transformed my life in every way.
This isn’t really what we discussed, is it?
My mother’s face turned pale, her fingers gripped the tablecloth tightly, knuckles becoming white. Her expression shifted, as if she had just connected some dots.
“A car accident?” she repeated, a hint of surprise in her voice. Her words had taken the warmth out of the room. “Oh no, that’s a bummer.”
My father took a quick look at her. “Hey Olivia, how are you doing?”
But she just wasn’t paying attention to him. “Not everyone comes out of accidents without a scratch, right?”
Christopher calmly enjoyed his wine, not showing any reaction.
“He’s not the kind of man you need,” Mom said, her voice shaking a bit with concern.
I was really surprised. My father’s eyes grew wide in surprise, his fork stopping midway to his mouth.
My heart sank. “Huh?”
“Your Christopher,” she said with a hint of frustration, “was under the influence that night.” I kindly asked him to get tested, but he wasn’t open to it. Since no one witnessed what happened, I decided against taking him to court. But Mia, you really need to understand… He’s a bit of a risk! He’s not someone you can rely on.
Hey there, Christopher! Feeling a bit swayed?
At last, I spoke up. “I’d like to have a chat with him.”
***
Christopher was casually leaning against the fence, gazing off into the night. He looked calm, but I could sense the sadness in his eyes.
“Christopher,” I called gently.
He took his time speaking, picking his words with care. My last name is Hartman. Yes, I was involved in that accident. I was on sedatives that night—prescribed for my anxiety after my wife passed away. I was driving with care.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, charming ring.
“You’re the first woman I’ve met since my wife’s passing that I’ve felt a desire to share something with.” This belonged to her. Thanks a bunch for dinner, Mia! It was… beyond what I could have hoped for.
He gave me the ring with a little nod before he walked away.
“Hold on,” I softly said, but my voice faded away into the chilly night breeze.
I stood there for a moment, gazing at the ring in my hand. As I stepped back inside, my mother was there, waiting for me.
“It seems like you might have left out some details, huh?” I kindly requested.
She let out a little sigh. Nope! I didn’t do that. I was going a bit too quickly that night. <text”i was=”” really=”” scared,=”” mia.”=”” <br=””>
The expression in her eyes conveyed everything. Absolutely! Unfortunately, it was already too late.
***
I just kept thinking about Christopher. His story, the accident, the burden he bore. It stayed with me.
I put together a straightforward ad for the local paper, keeping it simple and to the point:
Hey Christopher Hartman! If you happen to see this, could you please meet me at the restaurant where we enjoyed dinner last time? Looking forward to it! I enjoy eating there every evening. Mia!
I felt a bit silly, not sure if he’d ever read it or if he even wanted to meet up again. But I really wanted to give it a shot. So much was left unspoken.
***
The day after I placed the ad, I got to the restaurant a bit early. As the minutes went on, a little doubt began to sneak in.
Perhaps he just missed it. Perhaps he just wasn’t interested.
Just when I thought about giving up, the door swung open. Christopher walked in, looking around the room until his gaze found me. A smile played at the corner of his mouth as he strolled over.
“I saw your ad,” he said with a smile, sitting down across from me.
We shared a brief glance before I said something. I’ve got so much to share with you! I learned about your past… regarding the accident… My mother finally acknowledged that she was at fault, too. <text”and… she=”” took=”” your=”” money!”=”” <br=””>
“I really didn’t want to point fingers at anyone.” After my wife passed away… everything felt meaningless.
We shared a quiet moment, allowing the significance of his words to linger in the air around us.
“I’m really sorry,” I whispered.
“You really don’t have to be,” he said, his voice gentle. “It wasn’t your fault!”
“I understand, but still…” I’m here to lend a hand! My mom wants to make things right. She’s bringing back what she borrowed from you.
We enjoyed the rest of the evening chatting away. It was no longer about pretending. It was truly real. As the night came to a close, I had a little revelation. I had fallen in love with Christopher! What’s the most exciting part? He shared those feelings too.
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