Saturday morning came far too quickly. Janine barely had time to drink her coffee before the living room turned into a war zone.
Zack’s friends hadn’t gone home—they’d stayed over and were now apparently moving in for the entire day. She’d made the rookie mistake of letting them pour their own sugar on their cereal. Now the three boys were tearing through the house like they were powered by jet fuel.
They wrestled, they hollered, they sprinted from room to room, ricocheting off the walls like pinballs. By mid-morning, Janine was convinced the neighbors could hear every slam and shriek.
And then the doorbell rang.
She opened it, and froze.
Standing there, awkward in a too-big hoodie, was a teenage boy with familiar green eyes, short red hair, and a grin that wavered into something uncertain when he saw her. Sixteen, maybe. Tall, gangly.
But Janine knew him instantly. Karyn.
Her heart skipped. No—it was Ken now. And apparently, in this world, he was Zack’s babysitter.
“Uh… hi, Miss Carmichael,” he said, shifting uncomfortably. “So… you want me to watch Zack today? Or… Zack and his two friends?” He jerked a thumb toward the living room, where another crash echoed, followed by peals of laughter.
Janine’s stomach twisted. God, it was him. Her best friend—except he wasn’t. He’d never known her. He only knew her as someone’s mom.
“That’ll be extra, you know,” Ken added, half-grinning, trying to sound professional. “Babysitting three kids isn’t the same as one. Bonus pay.”
Another crash behind them. Janine glanced back to see Zack perched on top of the armrest, shouting: “I’m gonna flip off the couch!" looking now like he is FALL OF SUGAR!
His two friends were lying flat on the carpet, egging him on, clearly hoping he’d land on them.
Janine winced. “Fine. Bonus. Worth it,” she muttered, already digging in her purse for cash.
Ken raised an eyebrow. “Good call.” And then, as Zack launched himself off the couch, Ken darted forward and caught him mid-air like a sack of flour.
“I got this,” Ken said calmly, hefting Zack over his shoulder while the boy kicked and laughed hysterically.
“Bye, Mommy!” Zack giggled, waving from upside down like being slung around was the best thing in the world.
Janine’s chest tightened. She hated how natural the word sounded now—Mommy. How her heart ached hearing it, like it was really hers.
“Thanks, Ken. I’ll be back by one,” she said quickly, shoving bills into his free hand before she could think too hard.
Then she stepped out, shutting the door behind her.
She leaned against it for a moment, breathing out slowly, hating how scared she suddenly felt. Not of Ken, not of Zack, but of herself—of how easily she was becoming this woman, this mother.
“God,” she whispered. “I’m really starting to act like her.”
She walked out to the driveway, and for the first time, noticed the car waiting for her. Sleek. Modern. Definitely not the beat-up junker she’d driven before. Sliding into the leather seat, she caught herself smiling.
At least in this new life, they were rich.
And with the laughter of three wild, sugar-drunk boys echoing faintly behind her, she drove off to work.
