ia's

r Max, echoed in my mind. I couldn't deny that part of me wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that he could be the man he clai

n't feel entirely real. He was cautious, as any child his age should be, but there was a curiosity in his eyes whenever Marcus was near. It

ncts rising up. The last thing I wanted was for him to disappoint our son, to leave Max with n

pack in his hands, ready to go. His excitement was obvious, and

ked, my voice soft but insistent. I

ed by my constant need to chec

g his hair. "Just be safe. I'll

cally and turned to Ma

never imagined this moment would come, not after everything. But here it was, and I had

voice warm, but there was an edge to it. It was the sound

to reconcile the person Marcus had been with the person he wanted t

us's

park. His small feet hit the pavement in quick succession, and I found myself

y," I called out,

der and grinned. "I've got

e again, sharp and unforgiving. I had missed so much of his life, and now here I was, trying to make

im, sitting down on the bench nearby as I watched him settle in. There was something so innocent about him,

ax called out, looking

reminder of everything I had taken for granted. Everything I had left behind. "Of

laughter filled the air, and for a moment, it felt like the world had slowed down. Th

adn't done in years. Maybe it wasn't

ia's

anxiously checking the clock every few minutes. It wasn't just the time that was bothering me-it was the unknown. Wh

rgy, his questions, his need for reassurance-ev

holding up? He had promised to be different, but promises didn't fix the past. They didn't erase the hurt or the

e door, I was on edge, my mind racing with questions. The

ut as he entered, his fac

ngering uncertainty. "How was the park? Did you have fun?" I asked, trying

r to ear. "It was awesome, Mom! We played basketball, a

s swirling inside me. "He let you win?" I asked

but he let me get a few points in. And then we went to the

uch those little moments meant. To him, Marcus was just his dad. But to me, it was everything

ything... important?" I asked

ff, like what school's like and what he does at work

r in his life. But it also made me feel like I was standing in the middle of a storm, uncertain of which direction to go. Cou

I said softly, forcing a smile. "May

eagerly. "Yeah! Th

harder to ignore. Marcus had hurt me in ways I couldn't easily forget. I wasn't sure I could trus

us's

e. Max was in his room, already getting ready for bed, but Olivia was waiting for me. Her exp

he asked, her voic

my thoughts. "It went well. He had a great time

e so," she said quietly. "Max deserves a father who's there

t once again. "I know. And I'm not going anyw

m not asking you to fix everything overnight. But if you're serious about this... about be

to prove myself-not just to her, but to Max as well. "I'll do whatever

there. I couldn't blame her for that. I had to earn