Raymond paused, caught off guard. “And you are?”
“I’m Vivica’s fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” Raymond asked, surprised. “But didn’t she just get divorced?”
“That’s a private matter,” Joseph replied curtly, seeing no need to explain their lives to a stranger.
“My apologies,” Raymond said, quickly realizing he had overstepped. He cleared his throat and returned to the subject at hand. “As I was saying, my aunt and uncle are childless, and their health is failing. With each passing day, they think more and more about the daughter they lost.”
With every word, Vivica grew more certain that she was the “lost daughter,” and her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Joseph held her shoulder tightly, his expression grim as he continued to listen.
“We’ve been searching for the past couple of years, but we’ve had no luck. When I saw how much you resemble my aunt, Ms. Lynn, an idea came to me.”
Raymond didn't need to finish. Both Vivica and Joseph knew what his “idea” was. It was just like when Sheridan and Melanie, devastated by the loss of their young son, had tried to fill the void with Chaim. This Mr. Smith wanted Vivica to play the part of his aunt’s lost daughter, to offer some small comfort in their lonely and painful final years.
Vivica took a deep, steadying breath. “You want me to pretend to be your aunt’s daughter?” she asked directly.
Raymond let out a slightly embarrassed laugh. “You’re very perceptive, Ms. Lynn.”
Vivica pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
“So, Ms. Lynn… what do you think? If you agree, I can come to Riverdale to pick you up myself. I was hoping you could come to Sydville to meet them.”

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