World Apart

The woman Adrian beheld wasn't Nadine. It was Clara.

"Liam, why did you leave my side?" Clara asked, her voice laced with worry.

She rushed to Adrian and gently took Liam from him.

"I saw him wandering, and wanted to help him in looking for his mother," Adrian muttered, a bit disappointed. "I'm glad you're here."

"I'm not his mother," Clara replied with a weary smile. "I'm his mother's friend—Clara."

"Clara," Adrian repeated, fighting the urge to ask if her friend was Nadine.

"Liam, you had me worried," Clara said, turning her attention to the boy. "Where is your drawing?"

Liam's face fell, realizing his drawing was lost. He glanced around, warily gripping Clara's sleeves. Adrian instinctively lowered his gaze to the floor, searching for the drawing.

After a few moments of glancing around, he spotted a paper a few feet away, lying on a cobblestone. As he walked over there and grabbed the paper, his eyes fell on the drawing of a boy labeled Liam, his mother and a blurry father.

"That's his drawing," Clara chimed, walking to him.

She collected the drawing from Adrian, handing it to Liam. Liam smiled happily at the sight of it.

"Thank you for helping us, Sir," Clara said gratefully before walking away

"Liam..." Adrian trailed off, watching as they disappeared into the crowd.

___

The streets of Seabrook Haven stretched before Adrian, tranquil and picturesque. Cobblestone paths wound their way through a town that seemed untouched by time, with quaint storefronts and flower boxes bursting with vibrant blooms. Yet the serenity around him only made the storm inside his mind more unbearable.

He couldn't take his mind off Liam. The image of the drawing, flashing in his mind, was a stack reminder of the boy.

The sharpness in Liam's eyes, his thick, adorable brows, and his cute little smile–all of it haunted Adrian. But most of all, the uncanny resemblance to Adrian had him shaken.

Adrian tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he drove through the heart of the town. The idyllic charm of Seabrook Haven seemed to mock him with its peacefulness. For everyone else, life here appeared simple—no secrets, no complications. But for him , this place was rapidly becoming a labyrinth of unanswered questions.

When he reached the Grand Harbor Hotel, its elegant facade glowing warmly in the fading daylight, he pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine. His mind was a battlefield of doubts and determination.

Inside, Marcus waited for him in the lounge, casually leaning against the bar with a drink in hand. His easy demeanor only made his tension more pronounced.

Marcus was his friend, and he had picked him up from the airport, earlier.

As Marcus approached, he raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Finally decided to join me , huh? he was starting to think you got lost in this postcard-perfect town.”

"Cut the small talk,” Adrian muttered, sliding onto the stool beside him. his tone must have given away mood because his smirk faded, replaced by a look of concern.

“What’s going on?” Marcus asked, setting his drink down.

Adrian hesitated, swirling the amber liquid in the glass he’d poured for him. How could he even begin to explain what he was feeling?

“I saw a boy today,” He said finally, his voice low. “He looked just like me, Marcus. Same eyes, same damn smile.”

Marcus blinked, leaning forward. “You think he’s yours?”

“I don’t know,” He admitted, shaking his head. “But I saw his drawing, Marcus. It had three stick figures—a mother, a child, and a shadowy ‘daddy.’ If that doesn’t scream ‘secrets,’ I don’t know what does.”

Marcus frowned, processing his words. “And you think Nadine is here? That she’s been hiding him from you?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” He replied, downing the whiskey in one gulp. “I can’t explain it, but I feel it in my gut. That boy is mine.”

Marcus leaned back, crossing his arms. “Well, if she’s here, we’ll find her. But you need to keep your head straight. Tomorrow, we’ve got that meeting at some local café. Maybe it’ll give you a chance to clear your thoughts—or get more clues.”

He nodded, though his mind was already elsewhere.

__

The next day, Marcus and Adrian pulled over in front of a cafe. Adrian instantly recognized it to be Harbor Cafe.

"Harbor Café" Adrian gasped, his face flushed.

"Have you been here before?" Marcus inquired, glancing at the café.

"Nadine..." Adrian whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Adrian, please get your head out of the clouds," Marcus implored, taking his phone from the cup holder. "We have Important people waiting for us."

"Yeah, I'm sorry," Adrian apologized, taking a deep breath.

They both stepped out of the car, and walked into the café. The smell of coffee waffled through the air, it's warmth making Adrian more uneasy.

He glanced around, his eyes searching for someone—the woman he yearned for.

"Gosh!" Someone whimpered, bumping suddenly into him.

Adrian lowered his gaze, and saw Clara. This instantly confirmed his suspicions. If Clara was here, then Nadine was truly the woman in the photo and Liam was his son. There had to be no doubt about it.

"You..." Clara mouthed, recalling his face. "You're the one who helped Liam, right?"

"Yes, I am," Adrian admitted. "Is your friend here?"

"Yes, she is," Clara nodded with a smile. "I'm sure she would like to thank you. She almost killed me yesterday for being careless with Liam."

Adrian's heart pounded at her words. He was going to see Nadine. How would she react at the sight of him? Would she kick him out of the cafe? Slap him? Call the cops?

"Just give me a second, I'll be back," Clara beamed, rushing away from his sight.

As she got into the kitchen, she found Nadine making some pastries.

"Nadine, someone wants to see you," Clara announced.

"Who is it?" Nadine asked, her voice tense. "I'm quite busy right now. Can you tell them to wait?"

"It's actually the man that helped Liam yesterday," Clara revealed, a smile forming on her lips.

"Oh," Nadine gasped. "I am so grateful for what he did. I have to see him. Just give me a second."

Nadine wiped her hands and walked to Clara.

"Let's go," Clara smiled, taking her out of the kitchen.

The moment Nadine stepped out of the kitchen, she felt a sudden tension within her. But she quickly waved it off and proceeded with Clara.