The Sweet Spot

18

The days that followed were a strange mix of clarity and chaos. After the kiss, after Oliver's quiet promise, everything felt more real-more grounded. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a direction, like I wasn't spinning in circles trying to keep everything together by myself. But that didn't make things easier. If anything, it complicated them.

I couldn't deny my feelings for Oliver anymore, and he had made it clear that he wasn't going anywhere. But Sam's presence in my life was still a looming question mark, one I couldn't ignore no matter how much I wished things were simpler.

Elliot, oblivious to the complexities of the adults around him, continued to spend his days bouncing between playing with his toys in the bakery and eagerly learning new "cool chef stuff" from Oliver. Watching them together brought a smile to my face and a twinge of fear in my heart. I could see how attached Elliot was becoming to Oliver, and I couldn't help but worry about what might happen if things fell apart. After all, I was still trying to navigate the mess that Sam had left behind.

Sam had texted a few times since our last conversation, always polite, always asking about Elliot. I hadn't responded yet, and I knew I couldn't keep avoiding him. I needed to make a decision-about Sam, about whether or not to let him back into Elliot's life, and about how that would impact the growing connection between Oliver and me.

But right now, I needed a break. A moment to breathe.

The bakery had just closed for the day, and the lingering warmth of freshly baked bread and pastries still filled the air. Oliver was in the back, cleaning up, while Elliot had gone upstairs to watch a movie before bed. I leaned against the counter, staring out the front windows, the quiet of the evening settling around me like a blanket.

It was peaceful. Calm. And yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was on the verge of changing.

Oliver stepped into the front of the bakery, wiping his hands on a towel as he glanced over at me. His eyes softened when he saw me, and he walked over, his presence grounding me in a way I hadn't realized I needed.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his voice low and comforting.

I smiled faintly, nodding. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

"About Sam?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "About everything. Sam, Elliot, us. It feels like there are so many decisions I have to make, and I don't know how to make any of them."

Oliver set the towel down on the counter and leaned against it beside me, his shoulder brushing against mine. "You don't have to have all the answers right now, Charlotte. You've been through a lot. It's okay to take your time."

I turned to look at him, my heart tightening in my chest. "I'm just scared of making the wrong choice. Of letting Sam back in and having him hurt Elliot again. Or of choosing to move forward with you and..."

I trailed off, the fear of what might happen if I let myself trust Oliver fully still lingering in the back of my mind. But Oliver didn't flinch. He held my gaze, steady and unwavering.

"I'm not Sam," he said quietly, but there was a firmness to his words. "I'm not going to leave. I'm not going to hurt you or Elliot."

I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill over. "I want to believe that."

"You can," Oliver said, his voice soft but sure. "I'm here, Charlotte. For as long as you'll have me."

The weight of his words settled over me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. Like maybe, just maybe, things didn't have to be as complicated as I was making them. Maybe it was okay to trust-to let myself believe that someone could care about me and Elliot without it falling apart.

"I don't know what's going to happen with Sam," I admitted, my voice shaky. "But I know that I want you in my life, Oliver. And in Elliot's life. I just... I need time to figure everything else out."

Oliver smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. "I'm not going anywhere. Take all the time you need."

We stood there for a long moment, the quiet of the bakery wrapping around us, and for the first time, the tension between us felt... easy. Natural. It wasn't about what-ifs or unresolved feelings anymore. It was about what was real, what was right in front of us.

Over the next few days, things seemed to fall into a new rhythm. Oliver was still there, steady and constant, but he gave me the space I needed to figure out my next steps with Sam. We didn't talk much about what had happened between us-the kiss, the confession of feelings-but it was there, a quiet understanding between us that we were moving forward together, slowly and carefully.

Elliot, meanwhile, was as bright and bubbly as ever, seemingly oblivious to the changes happening around him. His laughter filled the bakery, his boundless energy a reminder of why I needed to get things right-for him.

It wasn't until the end of the week that I finally texted Sam, asking him to meet me at the park again. I couldn't keep avoiding the conversation, and I knew that I needed to lay down some boundaries, for both my sake and Elliot's.

When I arrived at the park, Sam was already there, sitting on the same bench as before, looking just as conflicted as he had the last time we spoke. I sat down beside him, my heart pounding, but this time, I felt more in control-more certain of what I needed to say.

"I've been thinking a lot about what you told me," I began, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside me.

Sam nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"I understand why you left," I said, though the words still felt strange in my mouth. "And I believe that you thought you were doing what was best for us. But you can't just come back and expect things to go back to the way they were."

Sam's shoulders sagged slightly, as if he had expected this but still hoped for something different. "I know that, Charlotte. I'm not asking for things to go back to the way they were. I just want a chance to be in Elliot's life."

I took a deep breath, my chest tight. "I want Elliot to know his father. But it's going to take time, Sam. I need to protect him. He's still so young, and I can't let him get hurt again."

Sam nodded, his expression pained but understanding. "I'll take whatever time I need to earn your trust again, Charlotte. I'm not going anywhere."

For a moment, I looked at him-the man who had once been my everything, the man who had broken my heart-and I realized that I didn't feel the same pain I once had. There was still hurt, still fear, but there was also closure.

"I'm willing to let you see him," I said finally, my voice quiet but firm. "But it's going to be on my terms. Slowly. And if I feel like it's too much for him, we'll stop."

Sam nodded quickly, relief flooding his face. "Of course. I'll do whatever you need me to. I just want to be there for him."

I stood, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. This wasn't going to be easy. There were still so many questions, so many hurdles to overcome. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was in control of my own life again.

As I left the park, heading back toward the bakery and toward Oliver, I realized that I had made my choice. Sam would always be a part of Elliot's life, but Oliver... Oliver was my future.

And I was ready to start that new beginning.