Chapter Four: A Door to the Past

The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the muffled giggles of Leo and Liam from their room. Mia sat at the small kitchen table, a cup of tea in her hands, staring blankly at the steam rising from it. The events of the day played on a loop in her mind: Adrian's sudden reappearance, his piercing blue eyes filled with questions, and the overwhelming truth she could no longer hide.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was late, but sleep felt impossible. Every time she closed her eyes, memories of the life she'd left behind came rushing back. Memories of Adrian's laughter, his warmth, and the shared dreams that had unraveled so quickly after tragedy struck.

Her phone buzzed on the table, jolting her from her thoughts. She hesitated before picking it up.

Adrian: Can we talk tomorrow? Please?

Mia stared at the message, her heart warring with itself. She knew this conversation wasn't over, not by a long shot, but part of her wanted to retreat, to run from the mess she had tried so hard to escape.

Before she could overthink it, she typed a reply.

Mia: Meet me at the park at 10 a.m. The boys and I usually go there in the mornings.

She hit send and immediately regretted it. Giving Adrian access to their morning routine felt too intimate, too vulnerable. But it was too late now.

---

The next morning, the sun was bright, casting golden rays over the park as Mia set up a small picnic blanket near the playground. Leo and Liam ran ahead, their laughter ringing out as they raced toward the swings.

Mia watched them with a bittersweet smile. They were growing so fast, their personalities blooming in ways that reminded her of Adrian, Leo's quiet determination, Liam's mischievous charm. It was impossible to deny how much of their father they carried with them.

"Mia."

She turned to see Adrian approaching, dressed casually in jeans and a fitted sweater that did nothing to diminish his commanding presence. For a moment, she was struck by how natural he looked, as if he belonged here, in this little corner of her life.

"Adrian," she said, standing up. She gestured to the blanket. "I figured it would be easier to talk here."

Adrian nodded, his gaze drifting to the playground where the twins were laughing on the swings. His expression softened, a mixture of wonder and pain crossing his features.

"They're incredible," he said, his voice low.

Mia followed his gaze, her chest tightening. "They are," she agreed quietly.

Adrian sat down on the blanket, his movements deliberate. He looked at Mia, his blue eyes filled with questions. "Tell me about them," he said.

Mia hesitated, unsure of where to start. But then she saw the genuine curiosity in his expression, the longing to know the sons he had missed out on.

"Leo's the older one," she began. "By about two minutes. He's the serious one, always focused, always trying to figure things out. Liam is... well, he's Liam. He's full of energy, always making jokes. He's the one who keeps us all laughing."

Adrian's lips curved into a small smile. "Sounds like they balance each other out."

"They do," Mia said, her voice softening. "They're everything to me."

Adrian nodded, his gaze still fixed on the playground. "I wish I'd been there," he said quietly. "For all of it, their first steps, their first words. I missed so much."

Mia felt a pang of guilt but forced herself to meet his eyes. "I know, Adrian. And I'm sorry. I thought I was doing what was best for them, but now I see how much they've missed out on, too."

Adrian's expression was unreadable for a moment before he spoke again. "I don't want to disrupt their lives, Mia. I just want to be a part of them now. Whatever that looks like, I'll take it."

Mia's throat tightened. She had spent so long protecting the boys, shielding them from the complexities of her past. But now, she realized that keeping Adrian away wasn't the solution, it was only creating more distance, more questions.

"They don't know about you," she admitted, her voice trembling. "They've never asked about their father. I think... I think they just assumed it's always been the three of us."

Adrian's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I understand. I won't push them. I'll go at their pace, whatever you think is best."

Mia was taken aback by his willingness to compromise. The Adrian she had known three years ago was proud, unyielding. But now, he seemed different, humbled, perhaps, by time and loss.

"I want to tell them," she said, surprising even herself. "But I need time, Adrian. I need to figure out how to explain everything to them."

Adrian's eyes softened. "Take all the time you need," he said. "I'm not going anywhere."

Mia looked at him, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Trust would not come easily, but for the sake of her boys, for the sake of the family they might one day become, she knew she had to try.