LOGINEvelyn opened the door slowly and Leon stood in the frame.His eyes were swollen, his face red and blotchy, and his eyes still wet.He looked at Evelyn and she instantly opened her arms, he walked straight into them. He pressed his face into her shoulder. She pressed hers into his hair and neither of them spoke for a long time.The party had emptied itself after everything that happened. Zara had cleared the house without being asked. Damien had carried the leftover food to the kitchen and Daniel had been the last to go.Now it was only them.After a while Leon pulled back and studied her face.“You were crying, too?” He asked her.“A little.”Leon wiped off the tears with his little hands. He looked down at his hands. “Why didn’t you tell me?”Evelyn waited a beat.“Which part, baby?” she asked.“That he was my daddy.”Evelyn drew in a slow breath. “I was waiting...for the right time.”Leon gave her the look he used when an answer wasn’t enough but he was trying to be polite about it
"Why would you say that?" Zara crouched down near Leon.Aidan walked back inside.His eyes immediately found Leon and Zara and Jane. His brows went up slowly. He knew the combo was too weird to be together."Hey, everything ok here?" he asked Zara.Leon looked up.For one second, their eyes met, then Leon quickly turned away. He moved behind the back of Zara and hid himself.Aidan paused briefly at the new behaviour."Leon?"The little boy said nothing.Aidan looked at Zara back at Jane. His expression hardened. Something had definitely happened."What happened?" he asked curiously. "Leon..is supposed to be happy.""Nothing." Jane quickly replied.Aidan stared at her."Nothing?""It's nothing, Aidan." She gave a small laugh.Zara shook her head."No."Jane looked at her."It's not nothing."Aidan's eyes moved to Zara. "What do you mean?""She told Leon something," Zara said. Her voice was flat. "And now he's crying."Jane turned to her."I didn't —"she gritted her teeth.Aidan turned
The house was still noisy and Evelyn's guest were still moving around, waiting for the suspense to settle.Nobody was paying attention to Leon, well, except Jane.She slowly stood from the chair.The woman that nursed the cut looked up. "Are you sure you want to walk?""I'm fine."Jane smiled.She took a few slow steps, visibly limping too. She made sure everyone could see it.Then she turned toward the birthday boy.Leon was sitting alone near the other side of the room, holding the small gift Aidan had given him. He had not opened it yet, since Aidan said not to, but he had kept wondering what is was.Jane walked toward him slowly.When she reached him, she lowered herself into the chair beside him.Leon looked at her."Sorry about your leg. It still hurts?" he asked softly.Jane smiled."A little."Leon looked down at the bandage."I'm sorry.""Don't be." She touched his shoulder gently. "Actually, I'm the one who should be sorry." she added.Leon frowned."For what?""For ruining y
The silence lasted approximately four seconds.Then —"MR. AIDAN." He shrieked it the name with his whole chest. "You made it to my birthday party!"The room exhaled. There had been this tension, and there still was, but Leon made it lighter.Hecrossed the room and grabbed Aidan's hand and then stopped and looked at Jane properly for the first time."Who is this?" he said.Jane looked down at him and smirked."I'm his wife, honey." she said, and turned to Evelyn's direction.Leon looked at her and then looked at Aidan. Aidan shifted uncomfortably."I'm glad you came,"Leon said simply, like Jane hadn't spoken. Like the information had been received and filed and was not particularly relevant to the current situation which was that Aidan was here and it was his birthday.Aidan crouched down."Happy birthday, buddy.""Thank you." Leon looked at him seriously. "Did you bring me something?""Leon —" Evelyn's voice came from across the room."I'm just asking," Leon said.Aidan reached into
Leon’s birthday had finally arrived. Balloons covered the walls. A large birthday banner hung above the living room. There were toys everywhere, and the smell of cake filled the entire house. Leon was running around with his school friends, laughing loudly. Evelyn thought inviting them would help, and it was also a kind gesture. “Slow down!” Evelyn called. Leon stopped for two seconds breathing hard, then he ran again. Evelyn sighed and laughed. It was impossible to keep him still today. Zara walked over carrying a tray of drinks. “He does have too much energy.” “He's been like this since he woke up, I presume.” Daniel joined in the conversation. Yes, he had arrived from New york just yesterday and Evelyn was glad he showed up. “He's six now. Maybe this is what six looks like.” Zara said “Maybe.” Evelyn shrygged lightly. She looked toward the door, only for a second, then she quickly looked away. Zara noticed, then smiled unapologetically. “You're waiting for someone?” “N
Evelyn had barely taken off her shoes when she got home, when her phone rang.She looked at the screen and paused.It was Aidan. Why was he calling her, she thought. For a few seconds, she simply stared at his name.Then she answered."Hello?"There was a brief pause."Hi."Evelyn leaned against the arm of the sofa."Hi.""Did I call at a bad time?" he asked.She looked around her quiet living room."No, not really." she said. She hated how soft she was being right now."How was your day?" Aidan added."Long." she sighed.Aidan breathed out softly. "Mine too."Something about that almost made her smile. She sat down."Is that why you called? To compare stressful days?" she asked him. She could feel him smile from the other end. "I was thinking of coming over." he said.Evelyn immediately straightened. "Aidan.""I- Im not coming inside or anything, not tryna disturb either."She paused."I just want to talk to someone..to you."Evelyn looked toward the window, she was visibly struggli







