Chapter 1: Ice Cream and Strangers
The first time Maren Fielding met Kieran Mercer was on a train heading south to Nice. ◆ 98aeb8a6 He wore a khaki trench coat — too polished to be just another traveler passing through. ed.f2b7c00f
Running into a familiar American face abroad made Maren feel a warmth she hadn't expected. [ms.6f917050] She couldn't help stealing a few extra glances. plate-303f339a Handsome men — even the backs of their heads looked perfect. ©68b83244/May 21, 2026
The train's final stop was the countryside of southern France. [ed.729e8e5e] She'd heard the scenery was gorgeous, and she planned to squeeze in one last trip before her break ended. (2a339fbc/Thu)
She arrived around dusk. no.cd108fbd The sunset had spilled its palette across the sky. ··8b08766d Maren followed her map to the inn she'd booked ahead of time — a little place on a street corner, its entrance crawling with clusters of tiny pink flowers in every shade. ‹def6f37b›
She loved it. ·bca0cc13· A quaint French loft, the kind where you could push the window open and watch the sun sink. #a952d5d5 There was even a cafe right next door. ref·cee7c186
Brunch the next day happened at that cafe. (1f928bb9) After a quick meal, Maren grabbed her half-finished coffee and wandered the streets. [d15b7a8e] No deadlines hanging over her head, no emails from her advisor to answer. imp.2d1634bb Just completely, blissfully empty. plate-aa88a56e
The sun was warm and generous, the air smelled like freedom. [ms.ed040ddf]
Under a red-and-white striped umbrella, a Frenchman in a full suit lazily flipped through a book.·f6738494 At the next table over, an old man had his sunglasses propped on top of his head, a cigarette tucked behind one ear — the kind of face that looked like it had seen everything twice. (1fb8173a)
The shop owner's kid spotted Maren and ran over to hand her a flower, fumbling through a few words of English with a thick accent. ref·224ba8dc "Pretty lady." ref·0a2ab922
Maren was wearing a dusty rose spaghetti-strap maxi dress that hugged her figure just right. ©7f700b3e/May 21, 2026 Fair skin, a woven straw hat on her head, a ribbon trailing from the side. 60c7cd6d·· She leaned down to take the flower. (4423d210) "Thank you. [ed.6893c40e] You're pretty too." ref·2be3fa0d
The little girl covered her mouth and skipped back inside. sub:d039b9db Maren held the flower up to the sunlight and snapped a photo. ¶6f9f6061 She'd barely set her phone down when she felt a tiny tug on her skirt. §1aa224a8
The delicate fabric crinkled under small fingers. (9457903a)
She turned, following the pull, and found another kid. imp.c1c87d4a She'd fallen right into a nest of them today, apparently. sub:a8ccd37d Big watery eyes, lashes long enough to swing from, and a shy little finger pointing at the ice cream on her table. ‹8ad66b23› "It's melting."·2e88054c
A tiny voice, speaking English with an unmistakable American lilt. §3deae7e0 A little mixed kid. ·17f1752e·
The matcha, chocolate, and strawberry scoops were blurring together into a puddle. [v.0cbed601] Maren looked at the kid, who was practically drooling. no.0d91d8f3 "I can't share with you, buddy. §1000a247 But if your mom or dad were here, I'd totally buy you one." ed.8141dc4f
The kid pouted but nodded. plate-60ea97a4 "My dad says I'm not supposed to take food from strangers either." ◆ 2debef35
"That's right." — 218a745e Maren ruffled his hair. — galley 32a47340 — "Where are your parents?" sig.9c5f5db3
"Can't find them." ed.8bf3808f
Maren's heart jumped. ¶52edd384 She looked around — no one who looked like they could be his mom or dad. no.fc134c7d "Do you know your dad's phone number? ·e3f5debd· I can call for you." ⟨2b165cb5⟩
The kid took her phone and dialed. plate-d774535d Busy signal on the other end. ◆ 0a3e4a90 "Tell you what — I'll take you to get your own ice cream. [v.9ec827e9] You pick whatever flavor you want, and then we'll try calling again." ed.11d9cc0b
She watched him sit in the chair, clutching his ice cream cone, his chubby little legs swinging back and forth. [be2fcfc2] "Next time, no taking food from strangers, okay?" ⟨55b218b7⟩
Her phone rang. ⁰2b3d6a3a Unknown number — probably his parents. * 9bf3fb52 Maren picked up, gave them her location, and hung up.·629b9d83
"Hang tight. * 61751a5b Your dad's on his way." — 7a890b05
The two of them sat side by side at the window, eating ice cream. (f04afded) A cool breeze stirred the wildflowers on the sill, and Maren grabbed a napkin to wipe a drip that was about to reach his shirt. ed.df65a5d0
Long beams of light stretched the moment out. imp.f6ea9d5e
When Kieran Mercer turned the corner, this was what he saw — the two of them bathed in cinematic light, looking like they belonged in the same frame. #1126afdf
The little rascal from home, the one with the temper, leaning back in his chair without a care in the world, ice cream everywhere. — galley eac6b5d8 —
Max spotted Kieran first. ‹aaeb9640› He jumped down from the chair, arms wide open, and ran toward him. [05f6cffe] "Daddy!"·c9dfeb23
Maren followed the voice and — oh. [2a651986] The man from the train. ‹4a4aabce› No wonder she'd kept looking. plate-0532b7e9 A fellow American. plate-7d368fc1
He'd swapped the trench coat for a button-down, casual, collar undone by two buttons, sleeves rolled to his elbows. ◆ 2058bca8 His skin was tan — not quite golden, a shade lighter than that. ⁰7fcbf42a
Kieran scooped Max up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and carried him over to Maren. (a0855dc8)
"Sorry about the trouble. [ed.3c202ddc] Let me get the bill — thank you for watching him." — galley 48832831 —
"Don't worry about it. [ms.a6a88c83] It was nothing — he's a sweet kid. ◆ ce658068 Running into a fellow American out here? §cdf48429 That's something." ··4143e045
Maren waved it off easily. bff32693·· Kieran didn't push. §2aa23c63 He thanked her and headed out with Max in his arms. [proof:cfa7bdec]
Max looped his arms around Kieran's neck, chin resting on his shoulder, waving a chubby little hand at her. ◆ d58cd7dd Bye-bye. (d78ee153/Thu)
She was the kind of beautiful that stopped you in your tracks. [ed.b7466afb] That was Kieran's first impression of Maren from a distance. ⟨513305d1⟩ Effortlessly stunning. plate-e3e396a8
Talking to her only confirmed it — genuine and warm, the kind of person who made you feel at ease. [ed.73bff2c5] No wonder the kid had latched onto her. [fa99a30e]
A little ways down the road, Max tried to squirm out of Kieran's arms. ref·0f2e6e40 "Trying to sneak off again?" (a36cd23f)
"I don't wanna go home." (cb586956/Thu) Dad was definitely going to make him stand in the corner. ©ea51ae4b/May 21, 2026
Kieran saw right through him. ⁰36ab5bd5 "Your dad's too busy to deal with you right now. «5df5baed» Why else do you think he sent me?" [v.b5294826]
"Really? ⟨068504c4⟩ So I don't have to do my homework?"·e4ea5262
"Nice try. ©eecd77e3/May 21, 2026 You just called me Daddy, remember?" no.f2c38cb2