The day at the lake turned out to be much better than Will had anticipated. After the initial awkwardness of stepping out in Stacy’s swimsuit, he quickly found himself swept up in the carefree energy of their kids. He even agreed to stay past noon, to enjoy the lake longer. Ben was eager to show off his growing swimming skills, and Lily squealed with delight every time Will or Stacy tossed her into the water.
For most of the day, Will barely thought about his transformation. The other families at the lake didn’t seem to pay them any special attention. If anyone noticed that the two women with the kids looked identical, they likely assumed they were twins. The realization was oddly liberating, allowing Will to relax and enjoy the sunshine, the cool water, and the laughter of his family.
As the sun dipped low and they packed up to head home, Will caught himself smiling. For the first time since the medallion mishap, he felt a little less out of place.
Later that night, after the kids were tucked into bed and the house was quiet, Will and Stacy settled on the couch with mugs of tea. Stacy had thrown on a comfy robe, while Will was back in one of her oversized T-shirts and a pair of shorts, still getting used to the fit.
“Well,” Stacy said, breaking the silence, “I’d say that was a pretty good day.”
Will chuckled, leaning back against the cushions. “It was. I mean, I almost forgot about… you know, this.” He gestured vaguely at himself.
Stacy smirked. “See? I told you it wouldn’t be so bad.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Yeah, but let’s be honest. It could have been bad.”
“How?” Stacy asked, raising an eyebrow. “You were me. And let me tell you, I’ve been me my whole life, and I think I’ve done just fine.”
Will laughed, shaking his head. “Exactly. You’ve been you. You’ve had a lifetime to get used to this body. It’s yours. For me…” He paused, gesturing at himself again. “This isn’t really me.”
Stacy tilted her head, her expression softening. “I get it. It’s a lot to adjust to.”
“Yeah,” Will admitted. “But… I have to admit, it wasn’t as awful as I thought it’d be. The kids were great, and no one batted an eye at us. Just two moms and their kids.”
“Or two identical twins,” Stacy added with a grin. “That’s what I heard one lady say on the beach.”
Will laughed. “I guess that’s better than the truth.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their tea. Then Stacy nudged him playfully. “So… what’s the verdict? Being me for a day—total nightmare, or kind of amazing?”
Will pretended to think it over, stroking his chin theatrically. “Let’s call it a solid not as bad as I thought it would be. But I still wouldn’t sign up for it again.”
Stacy grinned. “Fair enough.”
