𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘

It had been exactly one month since Chris showed up unannounced on my doorstep, his eyes desperate and filled with a longing I hadn't seen before, even when we were married. He wanted to know about our sons-Noah and Na'Jae, twin boys, three years old. I had stood there, gripping the doorframe for support, unsure of how to respond. For so long, I had told myself that keeping the boys away from him was the best thing, the right thing. But when he stood there, asking about them with sincerity in his voice, something shifted inside me.

After some time and much thinking, I realized that it wasn't fair-not to Chris, and especially not to Noah and Na'Jae. They deserved to meet their father, to know where they came from. So, with a deep breath, I sent a note to his office. I kept it simple: Dinner at my place. 7:00 PM. The boys will be there.

The next few days passed in a blur of preparation and nerves. The boys, of course, were oblivious to the gravity of the situation. I told them they were going to meet someone very special soon, and they asked about it nonstop. Every time Noah's small voice chirped, "Mommy, who's coming? Why are they special?" I felt my throat tighten. How could I explain to two three-year-olds that they were about to meet their father for the very first time? I wasn't even sure how to feel about that myself.

But my biggest concern was Lauren. I had made my peace with Chris seeing the boys, but I didn't want her anywhere near them. She was a part of the reason our marriage had fallen apart. The thought of my sons in her presence was enough to make me pack up our things and move back overseas. My boys were my life now, and there was no more living in Lauren's shadow. Those days were gone.

The morning of the dinner, I decided to take the boys with me to the grocery store. It was a good distraction, and I needed something to keep my mind busy. As we walked down the aisles, I told them again that someone special was coming to dinner.

"Who, Mommy?" Na'Jae asked, his eyes wide with curiosity as he trailed behind the cart. "Is it Grandma?"

"No, sweetie, not Grandma," I replied, reaching for a carton of milk. "It's someone very special, someone you'll want to meet."

Noah, who had been fidgeting with a bag of bread, looked up at me with those big, innocent eyes that reminded me so much of Chris. "Is it Santa?"

I laughed softly, ruffling his hair. "No, baby, it's not Santa. But I promise, you'll like this person a lot."

They were too young to fully grasp what was happening, and maybe that was a blessing. I wasn't ready for the barrage of questions that would come once they knew the truth. By the time we got home, they had stopped asking and were content with helping me set the table and pick out their matching outfits for dinner.

By the time 7:00 rolled around, I was a nervous wreck. I had changed my outfit three times, finally settling on something simple yet presentable-a soft, blue dress that was comfortable enough for dinner but still felt appropriate for the occasion. The boys were dressed in matching navy sweaters and jeans, looking absolutely adorable as they played with their toy trucks in the living room. Every time I glanced at them, my heart squeezed.

This is it, I thought as I stood by the window, watching the street for any sign of Chris's car. There's no turning back now.

Then, at exactly 7:02 PM, the doorbell rang. My breath caught in my throat. I wiped my hands on my dress and opened the door, and there he was-Chris, standing on my doorstep again, just like a month ago. But this time, he held a bouquet of flowers in one hand and two gift bags in the other.

"Hey, Maluena," he said softly, his eyes searching mine.

"Hi," I managed, taking in the sight of him. He looked different-more tired, more worn, but somehow softer. He handed me the flowers, and I took them, startled. He had never given me flowers when we were married.