Now he had the certainty. He was his son. Three years.
Three damned years that had been stolen from his life. He felt a fierce rage, a need to confront his mother instantly, but he knew he first had to resolve something more important. Amelia, she had kept telling him to hide him away.
Yes, but now he understood why, and although his anger was still there, he also knew he couldn’t afford to keep losing time with his son. He took out his phone and dialed. Mark, now what did you do? I have a son.
There was a long silence. Tell me it’s not a joke. It’s not.
His name is Leo. Amelia hid him from me, Mark let out an expletive. Damn it, Dan.
What are you going to do? Daniel looked at the dark sky over the town. I’m going to meet my son. When he returned to Amelia’s apartment, she was still sitting on the sofa, her hands clasped.
I thought you wouldn’t come back, she said without looking at him. I’m not that kind of person. She let out a dry laugh.
I didn’t know what kind of person you were when I left. He clenched his jaw. That doesn’t matter anymore.
What matters is Leo. Amelia nodded slowly. He’s asleep.
Daniel looked at the room where his son rested. His son. He still couldn’t believe it.
I want to see him. She hesitated for a moment, but finally stood up and opened the door carefully. The room was small, barely lit by a nightlight.
Leo slept with a relaxed face, like a warm teddy bear. Daniel approached slowly. He knelt beside the bed and watched him closely.
Every feature, every tiny gesture, was his. He felt a lump in his throat. Three years.
Three years of not seeing him grow, of not hearing his first word, of not knowing anything about him. And that wasn’t going to continue. He turned to Amelia, his voice barely a whisper.
She knew she wasn’t going to lose any more time with him. She looked at him with something that seemed like sadness in her eyes. I know.
Daniel stayed there, watching his son sleep. Nothing in the world would take him away from him again. I want to be in his life.
The slow dance of trust. Amelia closed Leo’s bedroom door carefully and stood with her back to Daniel. His voice still resonated he said it with the certainty of a man who had made an irrevocable decision.
She took a deep breath before turning around. I don’t know how to do this. Daniel looked at her sternly.
Me neither, but we’re going to find a way. The silence between them was long, uncomfortable. You can’t just show up and make decisions, Amelia finally said.
It’s not a decision. And what do you want to do, move in here, burst into his life and change everything? I don’t want to hurt him, he replied, controlling his anger. But I can’t act as if nothing happened.
She ran a hand over her face. I’m not ready for this, Daniel. Well, you’d better get ready, he blurted out, because I’m not disappearing.
Amelia fell silent, looking at him with a mixture of fear and resignation. She knew he meant it. Daniel stayed in the small town.
He rented an apartment in the center, small but comfortable. He didn’t want to pressure Amelia or Leo, but he also didn’t intend to stay away. The first few days were difficult.
Amelia set strict boundaries. She let him see Leo but always with her present. No impromptu visits, no sudden changes.
Daniel accepted the rules, at least for now. He knew he had to earn her trust. More importantly, he had to earn his son’s trust.
Who are you? Leo asked, looking at him curiously. It was the first time they were alone, even if only for a few minutes, while Amelia prepared coffee in the kitchen. Daniel smiled nervously.
I’m Daniel. Are you my mom’s friend? Daniel swallowed. What was that? Leo frowned, thoughtful.
You talk like me. Daniel let out a laugh. How so? Fast and serious, the boy said, shrugging.
Daniel felt a strange warmth in his chest. Maybe because we’re alike. Leo stared at him as if trying to find something in his face.
Are you going to come often? If your mom lets me, yes. The boy studied him a little longer and then nodded naturally. Okay.
Daniel smiled. He knew he still had a long way to go, but at least he had taken the first step. You can’t expect everything to be easy.
Amelia had her arms crossed as she looked at Daniel from the doorway. Leo must have just fallen asleep after spending the afternoon with his father, and the atmosphere between them was tense. Daniel took a deep breath.
I don’t expect it to be easy. But I’m not going to stand by and watch from the sidelines either. She shook her head, exhausted.
You don’t understand how complicated this is. Leo has only had BD. His world is small, safe, and now suddenly you appear because you were always supposed to be here.
He interrupted her firmly. And don’t tell me it wasn’t my decision because I already know that. But now it is.
Amelia lowered her gaze, biting her lip. Do you really think this is solved just by wanting to be here? Daniel crossed his arms. How do you want me to do it then? That I leave and wait for an invitation years from now? No, Amelia.
I’m not going to make that mistake. She pressed her lips together. Struggling with her thoughts, I don’t want Leo to suffer, she murmured.
Neither do I. There was a long silence between them. Finally, Amelia sighed. Alright, we’ll try, but at my pace.
The only thing I want is for you to let me be his father. Amelia’s eyes darkened for an instant. That’s something that will take time.
Daniel nodded. I’m in no hurry. She didn’t believe him.
She knew Daniel Brooks had never been a patient man. The following days were strange. Daniel spent more time with Leo, naturally gaining his trust.
Despite the years of distance, the boy seemed to accept him. But not everything was so simple. Every time Daniel held him, every time Leo sought him out with excitement, Amelia felt a mixture of relief and fear.
Relief, because her son deserved a father. Fear, because she didn’t know how much longer she could keep the chaos this brought into her life under control. A mother’s threat and a father’s stand.
And then, one afternoon, chaos found her. Amelia was at the market when she felt a chill. She knew that feeling, that pressure in her chest, that certainty that something was wrong.
She turned slowly, and there she was. Eleanor Brooks. The woman was impeccable as always, her hair perfectly styled and her elegant posture, even though the market was not the type of place where one would expect to find her.
Amelia felt her blood run cold. I can’t believe you’re here, Eleanor said with a calm voice but sharp as a knife. Amelia clenched her fists.