Third Time's The Charm

Chapter 22

"Maya?" I asked, hearing my bedroom door slowly open.

"No mamma, is Ezra," he whispered as he made his way in. I looked over at the clock, it was 3:30 am. Maya still hadn't returned home. She had been avoiding all of my calls ever since she stormed out after our argument. I reached out to everyone at the station, Andy reassured me that my wife was okay but that she needed some space. I urged the lieutenant to try and convince Maya to reach out to me, I needed to apologize. I was angry. I didn't mean a single word that had come out of my mouth. I felt vulnerable. I tried to hurt her before getting hurt myself, but that's no excuse. What I had done to her was horrible.

"Oh, bambino. What are you doing up?" I responded, patting the empty space next to me. The child slowly climbed up as I pulled the blankets over him. He snuggled as close to me as he possibly could, letting out tiny sobs as soon as his head met my chest.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" I asked, gently rubbing his back. Ezra didn't respond, he just held onto me. He continued to sob. I tried to lift him off of me, hoping to get him to sit up a bit so we could talk, but he just clung to me tighter.

"Tesoro, talk to me. I want to help. Did you have a nightmare?" I prompted. Ezra shook his head, wiping at his face with the back of his hand.

"I want Maya. I want mommy" he mumbled.

"Who?" I asked, not really sure what he had just said.

"Mommy's gone," he sobbed.

"I'm right here bubs. I'm not going anywhere," Maya had watched the whole thing from the bedroom door. She smiled slightly at the word, taking off her coat and walking further into the room.

"You're back," I sighed, feeling a sudden relief at knowing she was now safe and at home. Maya simply nodded, kicking her shoes off before jumping in next to Ezra.

"But you did go. You leaved me and mamma," he cried.

"I'm sorry buddy. I just needed some space to think. I promise to try my best to come back every time, okay?" she bargained. Ezra nodded and climbed on top of the blonde, snuggling his face into her chest. There was still a palpable tension between us both. I watched as she ran her fingers through the boy's wavy hair as he slowly succumbed to his sleep, wanting desperately to clear things up between us.

"I'm sorry," I sighed once Ezra's breathing had become slow and steady.

"I know," responded Maya.

"Okay, um I'll be in Ezra's room if you need me," I responded, placing one last kiss on his forehead before moving to get out of bed. I wanted to give Maya space. She was obviously still hurt and I couldn't blame her.

"No, please. Stay," she said as she grabbed my hand with her free one. I sat back on the bed, facing the blonde as I waited for what she wanted to say.

"I'm sorry," she sighed.

"Bella, I-"

"I'm sorry I walked out on you again. After Jack, I swore that I would never ever do that again and well here we are," she added. My heart started to race, my mind immediately imagining the worst.

"What are you... did, um, did you," I struggled, tears beginning to pool around my eyes.

"Oh god, no! Carina, I swear. I was at Andy's I promise. I'm so stupid. I am so sorry. That was the worst way I could have worded that. I am so sorry," she quickly apologized, pulling me closer to her. I laid my head on her shoulder, relieved to hear the words that had just come out of her mouth.

"What I was trying to say was that I am sorry for breaking everything I had worked so hard for. I had promised you that I would never run from my feelings again. That I would always face difficult situations head on, and well I broke that promise today," she explained.