We Meet Again

Chapter 4

Zara was up, ready and out the door with Maya in tow. "Mummy, it's sooo early," Maya complained, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Zara ran to the car and yanked open Maya's door. She lifted her up into her seat, "I know baby, I'm sorry but Mummy's got to go to work" Zara kissed her head and pushed her seat belt in. After checking it was secure, Zara got into the driver's seat and turned the radio on . The drive wasn't too long and despite Maya being so tired, she definitely kept the conversation going.

"We're here!" Zara exclaimed. She parked up next to a very luxurious German car and rolled her eyes. 'I wonder which pretentious parent owned this car,' she thought to herself before stepping out of hers and running to Maya's door.

As she struggled with Maya's seat belt clip, she heard a voice she would recognise anywhere.

"Come on, buddy", Ethan said, as he lifted a small boy out his car.

Zara, still bent over Maya's car seat, furrowed her eyebrows. Ethan was here? At the nursery? With his son?! Zara couldn't make sense of what was happening.

"Mummy, hurry up! I'm missing bweaksfast" Maya startled Zara out of her train of thought and she hastily nodded.

"Yeah, sorry baby, let's go", Zara unbuckled Maya and lifted her out. Zara shut the car door with her hip carrying Maya in one hand and Maya's backpack in the other.

Ethan was still stood outside his car door and Zara had to pass him in order to get to the nursery. Does she wait for him to go in? Does she avoid his gaze at all costs? Does she hold her head high and pray he does not call her name? Zara decided that she was just going to beeline for the nursery, however, Maya had different plans.

"RHETT! RHETTTTT" Maya called out and Rhett began to laugh and wave. Ah damn, she couldn't avoid him now. Ethan looked up to see who Rhett was looking at and was stunned.

"Zara?" He questioned and she nodded.

"Hi Ethan," Zara said, focusing her attention on Maya.

He nodded and looked at Maya, "and who do we have here?" Ethan asked in a childish voice.

Maya beamed, "I'm Maya and this is my mummy, Mummy!"

Ethan laughed, "hi Maya and Mummy," he glanced at Zara before concentrating on Maya. "I'm Ethan and this is Rhett"

Zara looked away, unable to face Ethan. The existence of Maya was revealed to him much sooner than she hoped.

"Eefan, can I please play with Rhett?" Maya asked politely.

Ethan looked over at Zara and sensed her discomfort. He turned his attention back onto Maya, "why don't we go inside and you can play with Rhett there?" he suggested. Maya enthusiastically nodded and Zara let out a small smile before carrying her in.

He followed her in with Rhett in his arms as they walked towards Maya's classroom. Zara bent down to Maya's level and gave her kiss on the cheek, "Have a good day, okay? Mummy will see you after nursery!" Zara said before letting go of Maya, who walked happily into her classroom.

Rhett ran after her and Ethan laughed, "they don't even look back now, do they?" He said aloud and Zara nodded. She walked away from him, back towards the car.

"Zara, wait!" Ethan called after her as he tried to keep up with her.

She shook her head, "I'm sorry, I really have to go. Have a nice day." She carried on walking towards her car. As she was about to pull the door open, he stood in front and blocked her.

"Zara, please, I feel as if I owe you an explanation," Ethan pleaded.

She shook her head, "nope. You don't owe me anything and neither do I so please, just go about your day."