Chapter 3

Aurora's POV

Present day

There were so many things weighing down on me as I stared at the screen of my phone, or more specifically the name on the screen of my phone.

I really didn't want to call Jake Dankworth, not even a tiny bit. At least, I was going to keep telling myself that.

I had gone through hoops to get Jake's phone number, since he was now a high profile person, only to realize he never changed his number in the first place.

It did help that as a lawyer, a lot of the people I know are also lawyers and some of them had celebrities as clients.

Despite the dread gathering at the pit of my stomach, I hit the dial button and let the phone ring.

When he finally picks up, I can't find it in myself to speak. But fear that he might end the call made me find my voice.

"Jake, this is Aurora." I say for lack of better words.

"I know that." He responds coldly and I am hurt. I am tempted to do him a favor and retreat away from my plan, but I don't. Noah needs him.

"Jake, you have a son." I state. It was always better to rip the band aid off.

Silence fills the space between us, even if it's over the phone. Tension is so palpable I feel it against my skin. It makes me grateful I did not actually tell him in person like I wanted to.

I half expect him to doubt whether I am telling the truth or not. But Jake had never doubted anything I said.

"And you're just telling me this now?"

I laugh tensely, "Yeah, it is seven years too late. I was going to tell you when I found out, but..." I pause mid sentence, not entirely sure what to say

Jake sighs deeply at the other end of the phone. "You still live in New Jersey?"

"Yeah."

"I'd be there in an hour." None of them attempt to end the phone call. "And Aurora?"

"Hmm."

"What's his name?"

"Noah. Your son's name is Noah."

He ends the call so abruptly I almost begin to doubt the conversation ever happened in the first place.

"I should have called on a weekday when he couldn't just have run here from work." I

I mutter under my breath.

In a louder tone I yell, as I set the table. "Noah, you have to come here if you want finner today, I am not bringing a tray to the living room for you."

"Okay mum."

He drops his play station and settles on his chair. "Thank you." He says before digging in.

I watch my baby eat for a while and wonder how he will take having a father in his life.

"Noah."

"Hmmm." His eyes drifted away from his plate and settles on me.

"You remember how I told you your dad will be back soon?"

He nods and swallows. "Is he finally coming?"

My heart brakes from the hope I hear in his voice, I should never have denied him his father.

"Of course, he'd be here today."

He smiles widely before the looks on his face changes to one he always has when he's deep in thought before asking, "Mum, can I change into a nicer shirt?"

"You look wonderful in the one you're wearing, Noah, your father will love you anyways."

"Then why was he never here?"

"You know how Damien's dad is never around because he's fighting wars?"

He nods. "It's like that with your dad too. He was serving his country."

"But Damien's dad visits him."

"And when your dad comes back he'd never have to leave again." I say and place a kiss on his forehead.

Noah's brows furrow in concentration and like always, the expression reminds me of Jake.

"I think it's better I will always have dad from now on. Damien is still going to have to say goodbye to his dad and I'd never have to."

Damien, his friend and classmate, hated those goodbyes. Even Noah cried sometimes on goodbye days.

Then my attention drifts to my own state of dress or rather undress. I am wearing a short and a tank top. That was definitely not appropriate clothes for a visit from my son's father.

"I should change."

"Why? You said I look wonderful in what I am wearing and so do you."

"I want to wear something a bit longer."

"But it's not cold." Noah hops down from his seat and attempts to block my path to the room.

I don't know why I argue with my own child sometimes.

But I want to take his mind off things so we end up chasing each other around the house.

He's tickling me while I lay on the floor when the doorbell rings. We both dash for it. I attempt to stop breathing heavily but the doorbell rings again so instead I swing the door open.

Seven years did nothing but enhance Jake's features as far as my eye could see.

"Mum, it's rude to keep people waiting at the door." I only have myself to blame for that. I always say that to him when he decides to hound guests at the doorstep.

"Come on in Jake."

Jake steps inside the house, his eyes drifting between me and Noah like he is trying to decide who he should focus on.

"I look a lot like my dad." Noah declares.

Jake kneels down in front of Noah and spreads out his arms for a hug and Noah latches on to him determined to never let go.

"I have missed you so much, Noah." Jake says. I wonder what must have been going through his mind on his way here.

Jake lifts Noah up and holds him before turning to face me. Guilt prickles at me as I watch them together.

"Dad, why didn't you hug mum too?"

His eyes returns back to me and I start to approach him. I didn't want Noah to wonder why his parents weren't getting along.

"Hey, Princess." God I had missed him.

He puts Noah down and I wrap my arms around him somehow forgetting that I was only doing this because of Noah.

"Hi." I respond.

"I want to join too." Jake picks Noah up and hugs us at the same time. "See it's always better if we are complete."

My heart shatters when Noah says that. There was nothing more incomplete about this. And even if for any reason we were complete, it was going to be a matter of time before everything came crashing down.