Echoes of the Past

Chapter 8

That afternoon, we made love, but I knew it wouldn't lead to a pregnancy—I was still on the pill. I decided to stop taking it the next day, ready to give James the family he longed for.

Later that evening, James had a business meeting, leaving me alone on a Saturday night. Mum was in town, so I met her for a coffee. She'd taken the boys to the zoo earlier, and with them now at a birthday party, I had some time to spare.

Seeing Mum always brought me a sense of comfort. She'd had a tough life, raising me alone after divorcing my dad when I was young. Dad remarried and started a new family, while Mum had a string of relationships that never quite worked out. As I sat across from her in the cozy café, she greeted me with a warm smile.

"Hey, honey, how are you?" she asked, pulling me into a hug.

"I'm good," I replied, though my mind was still swirling with everything that had happened.

We ordered coffee and shared a slice of cake, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was on her mind. She kept giving me these looks as if she was trying to figure out how to say something important.

"Mum, is everything okay?" I finally asked, unable to take the suspense any longer.

"Yeah, everything's fine," she said, though her tone was hesitant. "It's just... I heard Cole is back. The boys told me."

My heart skipped a beat. "Oh, yeah... he's here for the boys."

"Are you sure that's all it is?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Mum, what are you trying to say?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Ethan saw you kissing Cole."

The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and I felt like I was going to fall off my chair. "What?"

Mum nodded, her expression serious. "He seemed happy about it. He said that soon Cole would be their new dad. He likes James, but he and Eliah both prefer Cole."

My hands began to tremble as I absorbed her words. "Oh my God," I whispered.

"Ava, what's going on?" Mum asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Mum, I did nothing," I said, my voice shaky. "It was Cole who kissed me. It was completely unexpected, and I didn't stop it in time."

"Or maybe you didn't want to stop it," she suggested gently.

"Mum, please, you know me," I pleaded, desperate for her to understand.

She gave me a long, searching look. "Yes, I do know you, which is why I'm telling you this. Listen, I know how much you loved Eric..."

"Eric has nothing to do with Cole," I cut in, my voice firmer. "I can tell the difference. When we were younger, I could hardly tell Eric and Cole apart. They even played pranks on me because of it. But now, it's different. I know Eric is gone, and the one in front of me is Cole. I won't fall for him just because he looks like his brother."

Mum sighed, her eyes filled with a sadness that mirrored my own. "Of course not. You'll fall for him because he's Cole. Honey, I hate to tell you this, but Cole has always been in love with you. The only reason he held back was because of his brother."

I stared at her, my world crumbling around me. "No, Mum, you're wrong."

She shook her head gently. "I wish I were. But it's the truth. He only became a soldier to get away from you and Eric. He knew he wouldn't be able to resist his feelings if he stayed, and he loved his brother too much to hurt him."