Page 3 of Perfect for Her

I knew he was the father the second I saw those two little lines. There was no one else, and there hasn’t been anyone since. How do you give yourself to someone when all you think about is the man you met on a whim at a bar in the Caribbean and haven’t stopped thinking about him since?

“I gots it!” Ethan giggles, carrying the broom that is at least three times his size, causing a laugh to bubble up inside my chest.

This little boy is my entire life and in my bones, I know coming here was the right thing to do.

“Give that to me, sweetie. Why don’t you sit at the table, and I’ll get you some oatmeal.”

He makes a face like he hates the idea, but I tilt my head to the side, my eyes narrowing and his back straightens, that little head nodding before he goes and does exactly as I ask. It doesn’t take long before we’re both sitting at the table eating breakfast.

“Can I stay home with you today, Mommy?”

I smirk to myself, my heart growing three sizes but I shake my head, preparing myself for the waterworks I know will come.

“It’s school day today, bud. You’re going to see Mrs. Samson and see all your school friends.”

Ethan’s face falls, and I take a deep breath. I know he likes his teacher and all the kids at school, but he’s not used to being away from me. When I was in Paris, I did it all myself, too afraid something would happen to him if I let him out of my sight. Now that I’m thousands of miles away, I know this is what’s best for him, even if he turns on the tears.

“But I wanna stay with you and Luna today!” His bottom lip wobbles and I lean forward onto the table, making sure his eyes meet mine.

“Hey, you know the rules.”

His mouth shuts, his chest still heaving but the temper falters just a bit.

“There is no yelling at Mommy, remember?”

He nods, that sad expression still burning a hole in my conscience.

“I know you love Luna, and she loves seeing you too, but she’ll be here when you get home from school, okay?”

He takes a moment to think about it and then rests his little elbows on the table, his father’s eyes staring back at me. “Promise?” His small voice is barely above a whisper and I smile, nodding as he breaks out into a smile and begins to eat the rest of his breakfast.

* * *

I close the front door after making sure Ethan gets on the school bus and go about setting up the house for the kids. The second I left modeling and had it set in my mind that I was moving back to the States, I knew I wanted to make my second dream come true, the one only one other person knew about, and so I went about making that dream come true. It wasn’t an overnight thing, it wasn’t even done within a few months, but eventually, I got my licensing, all my branding, and my financials set up for End of the Rainbow Child Care to become a reality. It wasn’t until Ethan and I moved into this house that I finally felt like my life was back in my own hands and not a constant juggling match of my career and motherhood.

Just as I’m setting up the gates and mats, a knock sounds on the door and I wipe my hands on my jeans as I open the door only to see Addison with little Luna. I met Addison through Billie, the photographer I hired to take pictures of Ethan and me when we first moved here. I wanted to commemorate our fresh start and loved her from the start, and when she gave my info to Addison it was only days before Luna was coming over a few times a week.

“Look at you!” I say as Luna bounces in her mother’s arms, her chubby arms outstretched as they reach for me. I chuckle softly, taking her and placing her on my hip.

Her blonde hair matches her mother’s but her hazel eyes are drastically different than Addison’s. I’ve never met Max, but from what I hear from Addison, Luna looks nothing like him. I know there’s a story there, but I make it a point not to pry since their family dynamic is none of my business.

“This girl has been going nonstop for the last hour,” Addison mutters as I look at my watch and see that it’s only eight in the morning. “If I hurry, I might actually be able to get some sleep before I have to start work.”

I chuckle, knowing how that feels. “Are you ready to have fun, Luna?”

Her small head falls to my shoulder and her mouth opens on a yawn causing Addison to make an exasperated sound.

“Of course, you’re tired now, you little hellion,” she teases, tickling her daughter into a fit of giggles. “For your sake, I hope she naps, or else you’ll be exhausted by the time Ethan gets home.”

I smile at her, shaking my head. “Don’t even worry about her. She’s the sweetest and Ethan adores her. He actually didn’t even want to go to school today because he wanted to see her.”

Addison’s hand rests on her heart as her eyes soften. “Well, isn’t he the sweetest?”

I nod, knowing my son and agreeing wholeheartedly.

“I actually had a question for you.”

“Shoot,” I say, hoisting Luna up my hip, feeling her weight begin to weigh on my elbow.

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