It’s early on Sunday morning. I was out late last night, catching up on work. I’m almost back up to speed and have had customers practically knocking down my door with orders. Apart from around Valentine’s Day, the weeks before Christmas are my busiest time of year.

I’m curled up in my blankets like a sushi roll. Downstairs, I can hear some music video on the television, and Jack’s mischievous laughter echoing at something or other. I smile. I love the sounds of a family home. All that’s missing is Laura.

I stretch, my toes poking out from the end of the covers, my hands reaching above my head. My whole body feels relaxed and rested. This is the best night’s sleep I’ve had since Laura was injured.

Maybe it’s the peace of mind of having heard Laura’s voice and seen her smile, knowing she’s on the mend. It could be from living in a house with other people, rather than alone. Maybe it’s knowing that Tom is downstairs.

I turn to my left, and my smile widens when I spot the wilted house plant, yellowed and half-dead, although it’s starting to grow a little stronger since I took over the watering. It’s the thought that counts.

I sit up, immediately hearing a knock at the door.

“Hello?”

Jack rushes in and bounces on my bed. “Aunt Zoe! Uncle Tom says we’re going out today.”

I bring my knees up to my chest and pull my covers over them. “He did, did he? And where did he say we’re going?”

“He said it’s a surprise! Get up! He’s making pancakes.”

I can smell them through the open door. “Mmm. I’ll be right there. Save me a plate.”

Jack grins and dashes back downstairs. I’m filled with a warm, happy feeling, picturing Tom playing Super-Uncle downstairs, making pancakes and planning a day out. Super-Uncle suits him.

I wrap my fluffy pink robe around me, slip on my polka-dot slippers, and head downstairs. Tom is standing at the stove with pancakes frying, a dishtowel thrown over his shoulder. He looks refreshed and content, and throws me a smile when I appear.

I slip into a seat at the table beside Megan, who’s texting someone. Even she’s smiling.

I grin at Tom. “Something smells good.”

“Just getting us fueled for our big adventure.”

“Which is?”

He winks at me. “Whatever you want it to be. Maybe we should put it to a vote. Whatever you guys want to do. I thought we could visit your mom this morning, then go have a fun day out somewhere. It’s been a stressful week. Let’s go let our hair down.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” I say. I give Megan a nudge. “Your mom will be thrilled if you spend some time with your Uncle Tom, and it’ll give us something to tell her all about when we get back. What do you say?”

“Fine,” she says at last. “I know it’s what Mom wants.”

I take her by the shoulders and kiss her on the top of the head. “It’ll be good for you to have the chance to take your mind off things for a while, sweetie. You’ve had a lot on your plate. I know your Mom’s really proud of how strong you’ve been.”

She smiles, gratitude in her eyes. She needs someone who understands.

“Now we just have to think of somewhere that’s fun for all of us,” Tom says, laying a plate piled high with pancakes on the table, plonking down a giant bottle of syrup beside it. “Eat up, guys.”

The pancakes are fantastic; warm and fluffy. I smile at Tom—this life suits him. We finish breakfast and discuss what we should do. We decide to go to a theme park in Saco.

Jack is barely able to contain his excitement. Megan smiles at him. I look over at Tom, and he grins at me. I’m ready to have a wonderful day.

We get ready and pile into Tom’s Mercedes. We swing by the hospital for a visit with Laura, and she’s thrilled when she hears our plans for the day. “That sounds wonderful, guys! Have a great time, and take lots of pictures for me.”

Less than an hour later, we’re at Splashtown. It’s too cold for the waterpark, so we head straight for the rides.

Tom buys tickets, and Megan and Jack stroll ahead of us, looking around and making a list of the rides they want to go on.

Grinning, Tom nudges me. “Do you remember when you, me, Mike and Laura came here?”

I have to search my memory back to my teenage years, but as I look around the sweeping rollercoasters and other rides, I remember. “Laura freaked out on the Thunderbolt and Mike took her to get some cotton candy and calm down.”

“But we both wanted to go on Excalibur. Laura wouldn’t go, and Mike wouldn’t come without her, so we went on together. Remember?”

I do remember—Tom flashing a grin before we fell over the edge of the tallest part of the ride, me screaming. Then hearing it turn to laughter as we came rushing down, us grinning at each other like crazy when we put our feet back on solid ground.

I smile. “That was a lifetime ago.”

“Yet here we are again.”

I keep my eyes on the kids. Megan and Jack are over at a map of the park, looking at all the rides and talking about the best route around the park. Jack says something that sends Megan into peals of laughter, wearing a half-toothed grin as he chats to her.

“They’re good kids. It’s great to see them smiling.”

Tom holds out his hand to me. I look up at him, wondering where my priorities should be. I glance from Tom’s earnest smile to the kids laughing ahead and take his hand. I’m filled with butterflies when his fingers close around mine.

This day is like a bittersweet fantasy. It’s wonderful to be with Tom, my hand in his, leading the kids around a theme park, taking pictures and watching them enjoy themselves, but none of it feels real.

I’ve stolen Laura’s life for a day. These aren’t my kids, and Tom isn’t my boyfriend. Soon, he’ll be going back to New York. I didn’t realize how much I’d been yearning for a romance and family of my own until I stepped into her shoes.

Tom is a dream. He goes with Jack on all the kid’s rides while Megan and I watch, waving and taking pictures.

The highlight of the day is when we all ride the Wild Mouse Roller Coaster together.

Jack wants to sit at the very front of the carriage. Megan sits behind him; I’m behind her, and Tom is in the back seat.

I’m on top of the world as we climb up the rails, and when we tumble over the top and drop through the air, I laugh with everything in me. I can hear Megan shrieking and Jack screaming with joy. Behind me, Tom laughs like he’s having the best day of his life.

Afterward, we crowd around the photo booth to see our picture at the top of the ride. Jack has his hands flying through the air with a massive grin on his face at the front of the log, Megan has her eyes squeezed shut, screaming; I have my head thrown back in a laugh, and Tom is grinning like I’ve never seen him smile before.

Anyone would think this was our family.

Tom buys three copies of the picture—one for him, one for Laura, and one for me. He hands me mine with a smile. “A day to remember, huh?”

Yes—when you’ve gone back to New York, and this happy day is only a memory.