Want You Back - River Laurent Page 0,79

I had to tell my family when I went back home. I had to update my wills and such and include Kayden. I’d never removed Charlotte as she was still my legal wife. I wondered how she would take that news, but it wasn’t the time to talk about that.

I covered Charlotte’s hand with mine in a moment of complete understanding between us. I didn’t know how the future would unfold, but I was at peace. The relief of having my questions answered was indescribable.

Charlotte hadn’t stopped loving me. I couldn’t imagine how much it had taken for her to walk away from the man she loved. From her husband and the father of the child she was carrying in her belly.

I ached to hold her in my arms. To shower her with my love all night. “Let’s go to bed.”

“Mine or yours?” she asked, her tone playful.

“I don’t care where, as long as you’re with me.” And that there was the bottom line.

The past didn’t matter. I wanted to be with Charlotte and Kayden. I wanted us to be a family. But I wasn’t naïve enough to imagine that we could bridge the gap of two years in a single night, week or even a month.

Despite knowing and understanding the reasons that had led Charlotte to leave, it still hurt and it would take a while for me to trust her wholly again. What if she ran into another setback, would she flee?

It was the same for her as well. She needed to know that she could depend on me at all times. That I would be there. That her happiness and Kayden’s meant everything to me.

Alex

We turned off the lights and went to Chaz’s room hand in hand. We shut the door and took off our clothes while soaking in each other’s presence. All the walls between us had crumbled and we could see each other clearly for the first time in over two years.

When we were both naked, we slipped into bed and she moved naturally into my arms. Our lovemaking that night was filled with a tenderness that had been missing before. A sweetness, tinged with the knowledge that we shared something precious. A son.

Charlotte had to go into work the following day. She was a little shy with me in the morning and it was a little awkward for me too. We were learning how to be a family.

She fed Kayden his breakfast while I cleaned up the kitchen and then made us some coffee. We went out to play in the grass with the ball while Chaz showered and got ready for work.

Kayden’s favorite outdoor game was soccer. He grinned and laughed when he managed to kick the ball and then run after it.

“You boys have yourselves a good day,” Chaz said, coming outside with her bag.

“We will,” I said.

We kissed and then she lifted a resisting Kayden into her arms. “Traitor,” she said and I laughed.

“Say bye to mommy,” I said to Kayden.

I had so many decisions to make but first I had to play soccer with my son. There would be time to figure out the next step. After half an hour, Kayden was ready to go back to the house for a drink and his morning nap.

In the afternoon, I decided to take Kayden to the nearby park, seeing how much he loved going places. I fastened him into the car seat and double checked his bag again. A blanket to relax on, more diapers than I thought he would need, two cups of milk, snacks and water.

“Daddy and son’s day out,” I said to him as I jammed the key into the ignition.

It was a beautiful afternoon to be out. Not too hot with a breeze that kept the air cool. The park was only a five-minute drive away and, on the way, Kayden made happy noises and kept his gaze focused on the passing landscape.

We reached the park and I got the bag out and shoved it under Kayden’s stroller. I lifted him from the back seat and fastened him into the stroller. After locking the car, we entered the park and strolled along the walking path that meandered through the trees and grass and a small manmade lake.

“Daddy!” Kayden said, pointing at ducks floating gracefully on the lake.

Time lost meaning as we strolled in the park and finally stopped in the play area. I unfastened Kayden from his stroller and walked with him to the slides. He wasn’t