007-- A mother's intuition

Ethan's phone buzzed on the coffee table, its sharp vibration cutting through the silence. He picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, and frowned. It was Daniel's school principal.

"Hello?" Ethan answered, his voice steady but cautious.

"Mr. Carter," the principal's voice sounded shaken, "I wanted to inform you about a sudden incident at the school today."

Ethan's grip on the phone tightened. "What happened?"

"A fire broke out in one of the classrooms," the principal explained. "It spread quickly, but fortunately, no one was seriously injured. We managed to evacuate the students in time. I just… I thought you should know how lucky you are that your son wasn't in school today."

Ethan froze, his eyes flicking to Daniel and then to Sophia, who was watching him intently. "Thank you for letting me know," he said curtly, ending the call.

Sophia straightened, sensing the tension in his posture. "What is it, Ethan?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Ethan exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "That was the principal," he said. "There was a fire at Daniel's school. He said we should be grateful that Daniel didn't come today."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She could feel Ethan's gaze on her, searching, questioning.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do you… did you know something was going to happen?"

Her breath caught, but she quickly forced a smile, her hands tightening in her lap. "Of course not," she replied lightly. "It's just… mother's intuition, I guess. I had a bad feeling this morning, that's all."

Ethan didn't look convinced, but he let it go, his attention returning to their sleeping son. Sophia felt a wave of relief but knew she needed to tread carefully.

"I'll take Daniel to his room," she said softly, lifting the boy into her arms.

Ethan nodded, watching her as she carried Daniel upstairs.

---

Sophia tucked Daniel into bed, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Sweet dreams, baby," she whispered before slipping out of the room.

As she descended the stairs, she found Ethan coming out of their bedroom, a towel slung around his neck. His hair was damp from the shower, and he was buttoning up a clean shirt. His expression was unreadable as he looked up at her.

"Ethan," she called softly, moving toward him.

He didn't respond, turning back into the bedroom. Sophia followed, closing the door behind her.

"I…" she hesitated, unsure how to bridge the growing distance between them.

Ethan grabbed his watch from the nightstand, his movements brisk. "If you have something to say, say it," he said without looking at her.

Sophia bit her lip, her hands fidgeting nervously. Finally, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her cheek against his back.

"Ethan," she murmured, her voice trembling, "I… I need you tonight. Please stay with me."

Ethan stiffened under her touch. "Sophia," he said coldly, "don't do this. I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not falling for it."

Her heart sank, but she tightened her grip, pressing her forehead against his back. "I'm not playing any games," she said, her voice cracking. "I just… I need you. Please."

Ethan pulled away, turning to face her. His expression was hard, his eyes searching hers for any sign of deceit. "You've been distant for years, Sophia," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "And now, all of a sudden, you want to act like a loving wife and mother? What changed?"

Sophia's eyes filled with tears, but she quickly wiped them away. "I know I've been terrible, Ethan. I know I've hurt you and Daniel. But I'm trying to change. Please, just… give me a chance."

Ethan sighed, his gaze softening slightly. "Change doesn't happen overnight," he said. "You can't expect me to believe you just because you're acting differently for one day."

Sophia felt a lump form in her throat. Desperation clawed at her chest as she reached for him again. "Ethan, I'm not asking for your trust right away. Just… stay with me tonight. Help me fall asleep. Please."

He hesitated, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions. Finally, he stepped back, shaking his head. "I can't, Sophia. Not like this."

The rejection hit her like a punch to the gut. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she let out a soft, pitiful sob. "Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ethan paused, his resolve wavering as he saw the tears streaming down her face. Despite everything, seeing her cry tugged at his heart.

He stepped closer, his hand hovering near her shoulder before finally resting on it. "Sophia," he said gently, "you need to give me time. This… all of this is too sudden."

Sophia nodded, her tears falling faster. "I'll wait," she said, her voice breaking. "I'll wait as long as it takes. Just… don't give up on me."

Ethan sighed, pulling her into a loose hug. "I won't," he murmured.

---

Sophia lay in bed that night, her back pressed against Ethan's chest as his arm rested lightly around her waist. She could feel the tension in his body, the way he held himself at a distance even as they shared the same bed.

But it was a start.

As she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts were filled with determination. She would prove to Ethan and Daniel that she had changed. She would make up for her past mistakes, no matter how long it took.

Ethan, on the other hand, stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. He wanted to believe her, to trust that this new version of Sophia was real. But years of hurt and disappointment had built walls around his heart, and he wasn't ready to tear them down just yet.

Still, as he listened to her soft, even breathing, a part of him dared to hope.

For now, that was enough.