worlds collide

emerson

i stood inside the doorway of our new home, holding a now calm finley in my arms. i was still trying to calm my racing heart and blushed cheeks from my small interaction with the man that lived next door. having such a nice neighbor made me even more happy about the fact that i decided to move.

we were living in a tiny apartment in a not so good part of new york city. rent was ridiculously expensive, especially with how hard it was for me to keep a job. not every employer understands that not every mom can call the kid's dad to watch them. and not everybody can afford daycare on a waitress' salary.

finley was born two and a half years ago into a really shitty marriage. i was young, dumb, and naive and was sure that everything was going to work out. so, when i got pregnant at twenty, i thought i had to get married. i thought everything would change when finley was born. i thought everything would change when he turned one. but nothing did.

so, i did what i had to do and moved into a crowded city. i thought it would be impossible to find me with so many people. i was right, he never found us. but living in that city was the wrong choice for us. i wanted a fresh start. i wanted my son to be able to run around in a backyard. i wanted him to live without fear.

and one day, i get an advertisement for a foreclosed house in australia. it was beautiful. it was furnished. and it was in my price range. so, for the last three months, i poured my heart into getting everything ready for us to move. and as i looked down at my son, laughing and smiling as he explored our new house, i knew i made the right choice.

i explored our new house alongside him, taking mental notes of things i still needed to buy. food, however, was at the top of the list. i knew i needed to go grocery shopping and i needed to go soon. so, i corralled finley and calmed him down before looking up the public transportation on my phone.

finley and i sat on the front porch together as i tried to figure out the whole transportation situation. it seemed like all public transportation came to and from the airport. i sighed, hearing laughter from next door. i smiled at the sight of ashton, calum, and two other men, all playing with a girl who looked to be finley's age.

i swallowed my pride, fear, and anxiety, pulling finley onto my hip, and walking across the cool grass to ashton's backyard. calum waved to me as i got closer, making me smile. all eyes turned to me and i couldn't help but blush again.

"sorry to bother you, but i am very new to this and i am so lost. why does the only public transport go to and from the airport?" i asked, pushing the stray hairs away from my face. ashton shrugged.

"i'm not sure why it's like that, to be honest. it just is. i guess because most people drive or live within walking distance? i have no clue," he answered. my face fell and i let out an annonyed groan.

"i'm from new york city. i only know public transportation," i whined, resting my head onto finley, laughing as he pat my head to comfort me. "thanks finn."

"well, since you can't go anywhere and you seem stressed, why don't you come hang out. let the children play, you know. relax or somethin," ashton smiled. i rolled my eyes but nodded, sitting in the chair farthest from everyone.

i set finley on the ground and he immediately started to whine, pulling on my shirt trying to get me to pick him up. i sighed, looking down into his sad blue eyes. tears made their way down his cheeks as he looked to the men around him, starting to stress himself out. i pulled him onto my lap, rubbing his back in hopes of slowing his breathing and calming him down. i hate myself everyday for allowing this to happen to my son. it kills me inside.

i looked up to the four men in front of me, throwing them a small smile, not sure how to respond to all of their eyes on me. i pressed me lips to finley's head, letting them linger. i looked to my left, to see a mess of honey colored curls and the brightest hazel eyes staring at me. i waved to her, smiling as she ran up to me.

"hi, princess," i smiled. she smiled back to ashton, before looking up to me again. she placed her hand on my leg, giggling up to me. her dimples showed, making me instantly know that ashton was her dad if it wasn't obvious before.

"hi. i'm everly," she smiled.

"well, everly. i'm emmy and this is finley. he's very shy but i bet you two will be very good friends," i told her. she nodded, grabbing my free hand and holding it lightly.

"that's my uncle calum, and uncle luke, and uncle mikey, and my daddy," she told me, pointing to every one of the men in front of me. i smiled down to her, loving how personable and happy she was.

"well, hello uncle calum, and uncle luke, and uncle mikey, and daddy. it's very nice to meet you," i replied, smiling softly at each of the boys.

i looked to ashton who was bright red and i instantly turned red. i can't believe i did that. i wasn't even thinking. i have known him for less than an hour and i just called him daddy. i didn't even mean it in a sexual way, but i know that is how everyone took it. especially with the way mikey was smirking at me. i rubbed my hands over my eyes, turning finley around to take some of the heat off of me.

"we are going to be the best of friends, i already know it," mikey chuckled. i rolled my eyes, smiling lightly to him.

"yeah, yeah, whatever," i joked.

i could tell that moving was going to end up being one of the best decisions i had ever made.

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