The view from the Willow Creek

The sign at the entrance read:

Welcome to Willow Creek.
Population: 1327
Please drive slowly. We like our squirrels.

Miles Bennett smiled for the first time in weeks. He had driven nearly eight hours to reach the tiny mountain town after finally cashing in six months of unused vacation days. His boss thought that he was having an early life crisis.

Mile thought that he was just tired. Tired of conference calls. Tired of mails marked URGENT. Tired of pretending that "circling back" was a normal phrase people used.

Willow creek looked like the complete opposite of everything he had left behind. Wooden cottages lined flower filled Street, bicycles leaned against white picket fences and people actually waved at strangers. It felt less like a town and more like someone had accidentally built a postcard.

Half an hour later Miles wondered into Noah's pub, the only place that is still lively after sunset. He barely sat down before someone slif into the stool beside him.

You look like you have argued with spreadsheets for a living.

Miles looked sideways. Copper red curls. Gree eyes. A denim jacket. A grim that suggested she enjoyed cuadeing harmless trouble.

Corporate law he replied.

She nodded thoughtfully. Worse.

He chuckled. "You?"

"Marketing".

He winced.

"My condolences".

"Likewise"

No introduction. No awkward small talk. Just two exhausted strangers silently agreeing they have escaped the same kind of prison. Noah, the oub owner apparantly, placed two local beets in front of them.

"On the house" he said.

"Why?" Miles asked. "You both have the same expression"

"What expression?"

"Please don't ask me what I do for work expression"

Sadie raised her glass. "To unemployment".

"Temporary Unemployment". He too raised and clinkled his against hers.

As the evening went on, the conversation begins surprisingly easy. They gave them their names. They both discovered they live old bookstore, hiking trails, terrible horror movies, and making fun of corporate buzzwords.

"Let's circle back"

"Synergy"

"Low hanging fruit"

By the fifth phrase they were laughing so hard Noah threatened to charge them for disturbing the bar. Noad is a charming young fella though. Laughing and threatening. They managed to have a banter when he came to collect the glass and give them a next round.

Later the conversation somehow drifted towards politics.

I think that the biggest problem is that people stopped listening and started picking teams. She said in between her sips. Miles nodded.
"Exactly...If your entire personality is supporting one politician, they that shoulds... problematic"

"So are we politically homeless?"

"I prefer politically unemployed"

"That sounds healthier"

They spent the next 15 minsbroasting the politics from all sides equally. An elderly man who who came a little before they stared talking about politics leaned over. "I have been listening to you two". Miles looked worried.

"Sorry?"

"You would make an excellent married couple". Both answered quickly at the same time the same thing.

"We are not dating".

"I didn't say that you were", said that old man and payed for his beer and walked out of the bar. He was not that old. In his early 50s. The way he dressed and talked suggested that he must be a local farmer.

After a lot of awkward silence that was lingering since the old man left, they stepped outside. Neither seemed ready to hear to the hotel. They apparently booked the same and only hotel of the town.

"There should be a low against a view like this", Sadie said as they reached the overlay above the valley. Miles folded his arms. "It is illegal" he said.
"Only if you get caught" she said with that mischievous smile.
'That is not how the law works"
"Sounds like a skill issue she replied with a smirk .

Miles hadn't checked his phone in years. For the first time in years, the didn't want to.



"

If someone told Miles six month ago that after arriving at Willow Creek, he would willingly wake up at six in the morning to halp bake bread he would have laughed at their face or else would have been running not finding the time to give a response.

But now, he does 5 jobs every week. Apparently in this town we can work anywhere for any amount of time. And he got a schedule or a plan on what to do when. And they are even getting paid for that.

And that is why he is convered in flour. Holding a tray of cinnoman rolls while Grandma Rosa loudly declared "Don't look so frightened dear. They can't smell fear"

"They are bread"

"They are sensitive".
Miles looked at Sadie who was trying and failing at not to laugh.

"I think that lady over there is threatening me"
"She is threatening the bread...you are just collateral Damage", Saide corrected.

Rosa pointed a wooden spoon at them.
"Less talking and more kneading".

Life in willow has become quite and predictable. Monday evening meant trivia at Noah's lub for both. Wednesday afternoon means hiking the Pine Ridge trail for Miles. Friday's and the weekend belonged to Grandma Rosa bakery for both. At Tuesday's Miles taught Spanish and French to whomever was intrested. Sadie helped Emily from the flower shop at her shop on Tuesday and Thursday. Monday and Wednesday are for helping Mr. Benjamin in the library record works.

It was not exhausting for both even though they are doing something everytime. It was not exhausting because they are doing the things they live in a way that they like. The Town has became their family without even realising.

Emily always gave an extra sunflower to Sadie. Mr. Benjamin allows Miles and Sadie to borrow books from his secret collection. Noad sometimes never let them pay for dessert when they are having a debate that is entertaining the whole pub.

One evening, Noad leavined over the cover.
"So...."

Miles signed. "What?"

"When are you two finnaly admitting that yoh two are together?"

"We are not"

Noad nodded seriously "of course".

"Why does nobody beleive us?" She asked after blinking.

Grandma Rosa walked past carrying lemon cake. Why is there a lemon cake at a pub? And most importantly why am I not having it? Taught Miles and he took a cake from the plate."Bacuse normal people don't finish each other's lines", she said.

"We don't --"
"--do that".

They stopped. The lunch erupted in laughter. A week later whole helping Niad stack chanires after closing time, Miels recieved a notification form the phone. It was an invitation.

Olivia and Daniel request the presence of your company.....

He stared at the phone. Sadie noticed immediately. "Bad news?"

"My ex is getting married".

She waited.

"And?"

"And I apparently have to decide whether ignoring the invitation makes me look bitter".

"What if you go?"

He laughed.

"Alone? Absolutely not."

"Fair"

And then the gang came to the bar for the late night talk tradition and Noah too came after cleaning up. They asked why the long face and Sadie explained. They all thought for a second. You can literally see the moment the bulb is Noah's head go bright

"You need a fake girlfriend", Noah said. Miles blinked.

"What?"

Emily gasped. "Oh! I have a lot of new dresses....It have worked for centuries...You can even ask to Mr. Benjamin....He was around since the dinosours" said Emily

Mr. Benjamin did not even look up from his newspaper.(Is he reading at midnight?)" I can vouch for that"

"Every single person looked at Sadie"

"Is there someone behind me?" She asked after looking back.

"No...because you are sitting right here".

Miles rubbed his temples." This is ridiculous"

"It is" she agrees.

She asked for the details. Miles explained that it is in three weeks. Open bar. Beach resort.

Sadie looked like she had made her mind " Free food?"

Miles raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Then it is a yes" she said.

"So you will do it?" He asked outside. Inside he was cursing his mouth for working cause what the hell is he thinking? Agreeing th their stupid little plan of fake dating.

"Sure" she smiled. She smiled. He calmed down.

"I KNEW IT" Noah slammed both the hands on counter.

Rosa clapped at once. Emily was already looking for dresses according to the theme. Miles looked around in disbelief.

"We have given them a hobby haven't we?" He sighed.

"I think we made a mistake"

"That is how it all starts" Mr. Benjamin comments

She grinned. "Oh definitely"

None of the notices the matching grins that have.

Three weeks later, Miles and Sadie stood in the department lounge if the airport. Noad had insisted on driving them there. Emily had an emergency "couple kit" containing sunscreen , matching sunglasses and a tiny bottle labelled For dramatic Confessions

Rosa hugged them both before whispering "Remeber... pretend convincingly". Miles sighed.

"We are going to wedding not to a undercover mission".

"No difference" said Noah.

The beachside resort was exactly as extravagant as expected. The Groom's Father family is apparently a second cousin for Miles. So a lot of his family is expected to be at the wedding. Since they are pretending to be a couple, they only got a single room with a single bed. They went it the given room. The walking from the reception to the room was awkward no less. They agreed that she will take the bed and he will take the couch for one day and would switch everyday.

The wedding festivities began that evening. Within minutes, Miles had introduced Sadie to what felt like half of his extended family.

"This is my Girlfriend Sadie". His aunt smiled.
"You are the one who laughs at his jokes"

"They are still under review" Saidie replied. The table laughed.

Miles looks offended. "Traitor" me murmers.

"I never said that they were bad" she murmured back

"You heavily implied that". She just smirked.

Then Olivia appeared. She looked exactly as Miles Remebered... Confident and graceful and genuinely happy.

"Miles"

"Heyy Oliviya"

Her attention turned to Sadie. "And you must be Sadie".She she her hand warmly.

"It is lovely to meet the women who convinced him to finally take a vacation"

Miles blinked. "What?"

Olivia smiled. "You look happier"

Before he could answer, someone called her away. Sadie glanced at him. "I expected Fireworks". "We got sparklers instead".

Pretending quickly became second nature. Miles reached for Sadie's hand in crowded spaces without thinking. She leaned against his shoulders suting long speeches because it was comfortable. When relatives asked how they met, they came up with each story for each time they were asked the question. By the end of the evening they could not remember which version was said to whom.

The reception ended with dancing. "I don't dance" he said.

"You do now" she said dragging him into the dance floor. He stepped on her feet almost immediately. "Ow"

"My apology"

"I will send you the hospital bill"

"I have a lawyer money."

" I have girlfriend discount"

"A fake one that too". Neither of them stopped laughing the whole time.

Later they escaped to the beach. The moon reflected across the waves as they walked barefoot though the sand. "I think we deserve an award".

"For what?"

"Outstanding performance by Two idiots"

"I would attend that ceremony"

"You know what's strange?"

"What?"

"I keep forgetting that we are pretending"

He smiled. "Me too".

The silence felt easy. As always. After sometime Sadie nudged his shoulder gently. "Come on. We still have another day if being the perfect couple. "

He grinned. "Together?"

She bumped him again." Yes Miles Bennett. Together."

As they walked towards the resort their hands found each other naturally. Neither of them noticed. Neither of them let go.

The returned to the Willow. The place has no changed. The bakery still smelled of cinnoman ever morning. Noah still complained that no one appreciated his playlist. Emily still left fresh flowers outside Rosa door every Sunday. Everything was exactly as they had left it.

Except...it wasn't. The fake dating ended in the airport. But the feeling hadn't. Miles noticed the difference more than anyone.

Sadie no longer stole fries from his plate with the excuse " Sharing is Caring Bennett". She stopped showing up at his cottage room every morning with two coffees claiming she accidentally made an extra. She still smiled at him. Still laughed at his jokes. But there was an invisible wall between them.

It was not rejection. It was restraint. And somehow, that hurt even more.

"You two fought?" Noah asked while wiping down the bar. "No"
"Then why are you acting like divorced parents who agreed to split Custody of the bakery?" Miles sighed. "We are not"
"Exactly"

Miles kept replaying the wedding in his head. The way the hand holding felt natural. The was introduction as her girl friend hadn't felt like acting. They way she rested her head against his shoulder. He realized something that terrified him. He realise that he was not missing pretending. He was missing her.
He missed her.
He dint know what to do with that realisation though. After a few days, Olivia called. Last the formalities, "I have been thinking " she admitted.

"About what?"

"Us. I always thought we enrde because we wanted different things."

"And?"

"I don't think athat true anymore ".
Mile frowned.

"I watched you with Sadie all weekend ". His heart skipped.

"You smiled more in these two days than you did for the whole lot of our relationship "

"Oliviya..." He began.

"I wasn't jealous of her. I was jealous of how peaceful you looked."

He blinked. After the call ended, Miles sat on his porch for a long time.

It was peaceful. That is exactly how Saide made his feel. Not excited or nervous. Just...Home.

The following morning, he found Sadie paiting beside the lake. She smiled as he approached. But it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You have been avoiding me" he started.

She kept brushing blue cross the canvas. "I have been giving you space", she said.

"I was not asking for space " he said gently. She finnaly looked at him.

"You needed closure Miles."

"I got it."

"And I was happy to help" Something about those words stung." As your fake girlfriend...nothing more" she continued quietly.

Miles stared at her.

"Is that how you honestly think?"
She looked away.

" I don't want to become the girl you accidentally fell for just because your relationship ended."

The sentence lindered between them. Miles suddenly understood why she had been distant all week.

She beleived she had just a chapter in his healing and not the person he wanted to stay at the end of the story. Before he could explain, Rida appeared with a basket if warm bread. Without asking she sat inbetween them.

"The biggest mistake people make is deciding what someone else feels instead of letting them tell you".

She handed them each a loaf of bread before standing and walking away.

"I will leave you two alone to stop being spectacularly stubborn "

As she walked away, silence settled over the lake. And for the first time the silence between them was not comforting. It was full of everything that they don't have the courage to tell.

The harvest festival was Willow Creek's favourite tradition. By sunset the little town glowed beneath the string of fairy lightsm the streets smelled of cinnoman, roasted corn and fresh bread while laughter drifted between market stalls and live music echoed through the square. It was impossible to stand there and not feel like you belonged.

Miles stood beside Noah's pub, watching people greet one other like family. Six months ago he had arrived carrying nothing but a suitcase and a camera convinced he only needed a break from he city. Somewhere along the way, the town became his home.

The problem is now...home included Sadie.

She appeared across the square, her copper curls catching the warm glow of the lights and she wondered between the stalls with Emily. She looked completely at ease...laughing at something Emily said. Miles smiled before he even realised he was doing it.

"You have that got again" Noah muttered again. Miles ignored him again.

Inside Rosa's Bakery later that evening, everyone gathered for dessert. Between slices of apple pie and cups of hot chocolate, Mr. Benjamin quietly folded his newspaper.

"I suppose it's time we admitted something".

The room felt silent.

" For some time after you came from the wedding you did not pretend to be dating...and it was the most glowing phase you ever had since you came to this town"...

Sensing the discomfort and refused to acknowledge that, the topics changed. The room emptied moments later leaving Miles and Sadie alone.

For the first time in days neither felt the need to fill the silence. Miles looked around the bakery remembering every morning coffee and every loaf of bread and every laugh they shared here together. He spent weeks convincing himself that what he misses was the fake relationship. It was not.

It was her who he missed. Always her.

"I wasn't pretending for the most of trip" he started admitting quietly.

She smiled sadly. "I know"

She confessed she had pulled away because she thought she was only a part of his healing...a temporary chapter after Oliviya. And that if she stayed too close she feared that he would mistake comfort for love.

Miles shook his head. She was never a rebound. She had become the safest place for him after the wedding. He reached for her hand. This time with no excuse behind the gesture. She didn't hesitate before intertwining her fingers with his. Walking out of the bakery the passes the old sign leading towards the abondoned overlook.

"That is illegal" Miles said.

Sadie smiled that mischievous smile of her. "Only if you get caught"

"That is still not how the law works"

She shrugged. "Sounds like a skill issue"

They laughed. And suddenly he realised that it was the easiest thing to do with her beside him.

The mountains gad not changed. The lights had not changes. Neither the town. Only they had. Miles finally found that he hadn't came to Willow Creek to escape the old life. He came to find one person who make every new one worth living.