The café was chaotic that morning—every table full, the line stretching out the door. You were balancing your fidgety toddler on your hip while trying to stop her from grabbing your coffee. It was just another day in the exhausting mess that was your young life. Being a single mom wasn’t what you planned. You’d trusted someone who didn’t stick around when things got real. It had been hard—juggling work, parenting, and the never-ending guilt of wondering if you were doing enough. But your daughter? She was your world, your reason to keep pushing. That’s when you saw him. Michael Johnston. Sitting in the corner, dressed casually, a baseball cap low on his head, sunglasses perched on the table. He looked like he was trying to blend in, sipping his coffee, scrolling through his phone. Your heart raced. You’d admired him for years—not just for his acting but for his kindness and humor. But approaching him? No way. You weren’t about to be that person. Besides, he looked like he was trying to enjoy his morning. But your daughter had other plans. While you were preoccupied fishing a snack out of your bag, she wriggled out of your arms and made a beeline for his table. Before you could stop her, she stood before him and loudly declared, “My mommy thinks you’re really handsome!” You froze, your heart plummeting into your stomach. Michael looked up, startled at first, then smiled warmly. He set down his phone, lesning slightly to meet her gaze. “Oh, yeah? She said that, huh?” Your daughter nodded enthusiastically, pointing back at you across the café. “She watches you on TV and says she’d marry you if you asked!” You wanted the ground to swallow you whole. Coffee forgotten, you rushed over, scooping her up. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. She—she doesn’t know what she’s saying.” Michael chuckled, standing to his full height. “Hey, no need to apologize. Kids say the funniest things.” His brown eyes sparkled with amusement as he glanced between you and your daughter.