Echoes of the Past

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

After I dropped the boys off at school, I headed back home, looking forward to a rare day off. The house needed some attention, so I spent the morning tidying up and doing chores. By the time the afternoon sun was high in the sky, I decided it was time to tackle the garden. James loved his garden, but he rarely had the time to care for it, so I took it upon myself to keep it in shape.

I was kneeling on the ground, pulling out stubborn weeds, when I heard footsteps approaching. I glanced up, but the sun's glare made it hard to see who it was. All I could make out was a pair of black shoes, polished and familiar. My heart skipped a beat. Even though I couldn't see his face, I knew who it was.

As I tried to stand, my legs betrayed me, wobbling beneath me. The moment I finally rose myself and met his gaze, it felt as if the world tilted on its axis and I felt as if I was going to fall. Those eyes—so achingly familiar, so hauntingly blue—pulled me into a past I'd buried deep, yet never truly let go.

 "Ava," he whispered, his voice wrapping around my heart like a tender embrace, soothing wounds I had convinced myself were healed.

A shudder ran through me, my breath hitching as the reality of his presence washed over me. The world around me blurred, and before I knew it, darkness crept in at the edges of my vision. I felt myself slipping away, the rush of emotions too overwhelming to bear. But then, strong arms caught me, steadying me, holding me close."Ava, are you ok? Talk to me!"

When I opened my eyes again, it was Cole's face hovering above mine, his expression etched with worry. My mind struggled to reconcile the man before me with the ghost I had kept locked away in my memories. The warmth of his embrace was both a comfort and a torment, stirring feelings I had thought were long dead. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, it felt as though Eric had returned to me as if the universe had granted me a fleeting second chance.

But it wasn't Eric. It was Cole. And the realization of that hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for air. We stood there, lost in each other's gaze, time stretching into eternity. My heart raced, caught between the past and the present, torn between what was and what could never be.

I could see the concern in his eyes, the gentle way he held me, as if afraid I might shatter. And in that moment, I didn't know if I wanted to pull away or fall into his arms completely, to surrender to the memories his presence stirred within me. The intensity of it all was too much, too raw, too confusing. I had longed for this connection, yet now that it was here, it terrified me.

Finally, the crushing weight of reality settled back in, and I forced myself to pull away, though my heart protested with every inch of distance I created between us. My mind raced, searching desperately for something—anything—to say. "I...I'm sorry. Ahm you... you should come inside," I murmured, my voice trembling, barely holding back the storm of emotions threatening to spill over.

Cole followed me without saying anything. I led him into the kitchen, my thoughts racing. Cole had changed, but in ways that made him even more striking. He looked older and more rugged, but those blue eyes were still so much like Eric's. The sight of them stirred something deep within me, something I wasn't ready to confront.

"Can I get you some coffee?" I asked, more to fill the silence than anything else.

"Sure," Cole replied, his voice calm but with an undertone of something else—something I couldn't quite place.

I made myself busy with the coffee, trying to steady my hands, but they shook despite my efforts. I finally managed to prepare the cups and brought them to the table, sitting across from him.

The first few moments of conversation felt awkward, filled with memories and emotions that neither of us knew how to address. Cole was the first to break the tension. "Ava, I'm so sorry I couldn't be there when Eric... when he died. I couldn't even attend his funeral, and that's something I'll regret for the rest of my life."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, the pain of Eric's loss rushing back with full force. "You don't have to apologize, Cole. I know you were doing your duty. But it was hard... losing him, and not having you there made it even harder."

Cole nodded, his face solemn. "I wish I could've been there for you and the boys. I know how much Eric loved you all. Before he died, he and I... started an account together."

"An account?" 

"Yeah, a bank account. We started when he didn't even know you yet. We wanted to make sure our kids would have what we didn't—a chance at college, at a future. You know Eric and I could never go to college, our parents didn't have enough money. After he died, I kept putting money in it. It is for Eliah and Ethan, and I want them to have it."

His words stunned me. Eric had never mentioned anything about this account. I shook my head, my voice firm. "Cole, I appreciate what you've done, but I can't accept that money. You should keep it for your own children."

Cole's expression softened, but there was a determination in his eyes that told me he wasn't going to back down. "Ava, I'm not going to have children. I don't plan to get married. This money was for Eric's kids, and I made a promise to him that if anything happened to him, I'd take care of them. This is me keeping that promise."

I wanted to argue, to tell him that I was married to James now and that we didn't need the money—James was a millionaire, after all. "James would never allow me to take money from you, especially knowing some of it belonged to Eric."

"Then don't tell him," Cole said, his voice low and serious. "You don't have to lie, but maybe... just don't mention it. This is between you, me, and Eric. It's for the boys."

I hesitated, but Cole placed the bank statement on the table, signaling that the discussion was over. I stared at it, unsure of what to do. The gesture was so selfless, so typical of Cole, and it left me feeling conflicted.

"How are Eliah and Ethan?" Cole asked, changing the subject, his tone lighter now. "What are they into these days?"

"They're good," I replied, grateful for the shift. "They're growing up so fast. They love soccer, and they've both taken to reading, just like Eric did."

"I want to get to know them," Cole said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "I've missed so much, and I don't want to miss anymore."

"Are you planning to stay for long?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

He nodded. "I've rented a house nearby, not far from here. I'm going to look for a job and stick around. If you're okay with it, I'd like to be part of the boys' lives."

I swallowed hard, knowing this was the part I had dreaded. "I don't have any objections, Cole. But... I think it would be better if you spent time with them at your place instead of coming here."

He caught on immediately, the understanding in his eyes clear. "James isn't happy about me being here, is he?"

"No, he's not," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. "It's nothing personal, Cole. He just... he's worried, that's all."

"I don't want to cause any problems between you and James," Cole said sincerely. "I'm here for the boys, Ava, nothing more."

"I know," I said, though deep down, I couldn't ignore the butterflies in my stomach. It was foolish, really—Cole wasn't Eric, no matter how much he looked like him.

We talked a bit longer, catching up on the years we had missed. When it was time for him to go, I promised to bring the boys by his place in the afternoon. He thanked me and stood to leave.

As I walked him to the door, he turned to me unexpectedly and hugged me. "It's really good to see you, Ava," he whispered.

The simple gesture sent a shiver down my spine, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I forced a smile, though inside, I was trembling. "It's good to see you too, Cole."

When he left, I closed the door behind him, leaning against it as I tried to steady my breathing. How was I going to cope with seeing him so often? How was I going to keep my emotions in check when just being near him made my heart race?

One thing was certain—it was going to be harder than I had imagined.