long-standing tradition-every Saturday, she would bake something special, filling the house with the warm, sweet scent of cinnamon and apples. Today was no different. Kaida

ce of normalcy despite the lingering absence of his father. Now, as she rolled the dough and sprinkled sugar on top, her mind wandered to her son. He was gr

helter Kaidan from the pain of his father's abandonment, she couldn't shield him forever. He was eig

out. She was about to turn her attention back to preparing the

earlier than I thought,* she mused, wiping her

roached, expecting to see her son sta

e door, her breath c

as no o

ruffled her hair, and the faint sound of children playing in the distance rea

d. Her initial thought was that perhaps some neighborhood children had played a prank-

she murmured, shaking her head

ut to close the door, s

lay on th

wn to pick it up. The envelope was plain, with no return add

ala, my

t the words in disbelief. She hadn't seen that handwriting

it can'

asps as she unfolded the letter inside. Her eyes darted across the w

ife. Now I'm back to fill the void I left. I've heard our son wants to know his father. Plea

ely, yo

mala pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. Tears welled in

r all these year

return one day. She had prayed, begged for a sign, but as time passed, her hope

loved so deeply, the father of her child, was reaching out to he

ntense love affair she had shared with him all those years ago. She had been young, naive, swept away by his charm and mystery.

at his emerald green eyes and the striking features that so closely resembled his father

d she fo

ese years. But more than that, she wanted to protect Kaidan. Her son had grown up without a father, and she had done everything in her power to shield him

ldn't let t

. She would meet him under the oak tree tonight, as the letter had instructed, but she wouldn't tell Kaidan. Not yet. She needed

It was late afternoon now. Kaidan would be home soon, and she needed to act

ie was nearly done, and the savory scent filled the air, but Kamala barely noticed. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of

long, the sound of the front door

d, his voice cheerful as

s he walked into the kitchen. "Welcome back, sweet

pple cinnamon pie. "You always know how to make my day, Mom," h

head. They ate together, Kaidan chattering about his walk and the people he had seen, but Kamala's mind was elsewhere. She respon

self standing at the kitchen window, staring out into the darkening sky. The oak t

s ti

ed against her skin as she approached the oak tree, her heart pounding in her chest with every step. She didn't k

he tree, her breath

the ancient oak, was the man who had ha

The Dem

cked onto hers. And in that moment, Kamala knew-h

-