Chapter 13
OWEN
Over four years later…
I walked the familiar hospital corridors, aiming for my office when a toddler barrelled around the corner at high speed, directly hitting my legs.
“Sorry,” the young fella rushed. He was distracted, constantly peeping over his shoulder as if someone was chasing him. There was no one nearby that I could determine.
I crouched in front of him, and as I reached his level, I was immediately arrested by his vibrant grey eyes—which were crinkled in amusement.
“You know, there’s a rule that you’re not supposed to run in the hallways,” I admonished, ruffling his silky black hair. “You could get hurt.”
“I know. That’s how I got this,” he said before thrusting up his leg for me to inspect, a healing graze tracking down his shin. If anything, he looked proud.
I smirked. “What’s your name?”
“Austin, and I’m three years old.” He finished by raising four fingers to reiterate his age.
“Well, Austin, do you know where your parents are?”
Austin pressed a finger to his lips to shush me. “I’m playing hide and seek. You know a place?”
My lips tried stretching into a grin. Nope, don’t laugh. “Austin… Does your mother know you’re playing hide and seek?”
His brow furrowed, thinking hard when a worried voice carried from afar. “Austin, where are you? Austin?!”
The young boy turned and sprinted towards the strained call that sounded almost familiar. Then Austin tackled someone who rounded the corner. She immediately dropped to pick him up, attention solely focused on him—whilst mine was focused on her .
My chest abruptly tightened, causing my nervous system to spasm from shock. Struck frozen as a statue, I couldn't move, even if I tried.
Alexis. God, she was beautiful.
Over the years, I had fawned over her memory, coveted every detail of the past life we shared. She was my favourite dream—one I simultaneously adored and loathed. Because of her, I could never move on —would never move on.
Even then. Seeing her in the flesh for the first time in four and a half years had me losing all my faculties, all my damn senses.
Alexis is here. That’s when stark realisation whipped me across the face. After being in her presence again, I knew nothing would ever compare to the real her.
Awareness slowly filtered back into my arrested state as Austin giggled.
“You found me, Mama! I didn’t get to hide yet.”
Mama?
“Austin, I told you, you can’t run off like that. You can’t play hide and seek without the other person knowing. It’s dangerous, baby. What if you got lost? What if someone stole you?”
“Mister, were you going to steal me?” Austin pitched my way.
Shit! Abort, abort.
That’s when Alexis noticed she had company. Almost in slow motion, I could see the colour drain from her face as her eyes meticulously tracked up and down my frame.
I wasn’t even breathing. How could I?
My ex-wife I still loved above all others was standing in front of me… with her son.
I had come a long way in the past four and a half years, working hard on myself, trying to find fulfilment after drowning in my depression for so long.
Soon after Everly left town with her picture-perfect family, I went thermonuclear. I channelled all my pain and suffering into destroying her and everyone connected to her lies.
Why did she deserve to move on with her life when she had so thoroughly decimated mine? A strong sense of injustice took hold, and I turned ugly, harsh and utterly cruel.
I stalked her, obsessed over her, fully consumed in exposing her lies and broadcasting her sins to anyone who’d listen. I didn’t care about the collateral damage, willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to inflict the same hurt that she caused me.
Nothing I did was enough. Would never be enough. However, after six months of that toxic behaviour, my family decided to step in as I was so mentally and physically unwell. At that point, I was regularly drinking myself into a stupor, barely getting my shit together enough to go to work.
My parents practically wrestled me in the car every time they drove me to the therapist located a couple of towns over. I’m ashamed to say I fought like a toddler in the beginning… Until I got so tired of fighting, I just gave in.
For a while, my dad drove me to and from my sessions, sitting sentinel right outside the door to ensure I didn’t run my ass out of there. Liam, my younger brother, took it upon himself to drag me out of the house whenever possible. Hiking, biking or even for a quick bite to eat alongside his son—my nephew—who was the bright star who dragged me out of that miserable, dark place.
They never let up, relentless in their delivery.
My family weren’t big on communication, however, their actions always showed their care, their love.
It was a slow progression, but I finally got to a place where I could actually look myself in the mirror without feeling disgust. And so, my healing journey began.
Over the years, I had been promoted to the head of the physiotherapy department, pouring all my energy into my passion, the work I loved. I was closer than ever with my family, especially my nephew. That spoilt shit was the spitting image of Liam, and took advantage of that wattage smile every chance he got.
I was… content. Reconciled to the modicum of happiness I was able to steal for myself.
Recently, though, my family had been on my back about moving on, to accept my actions and maybe be open to finding someone. What they didn’t understand was my inability to commit to another.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t let her go. Never.
Now, with Alexis abruptly thrust back into my world, old, dangerous feelings began to stir just at the sight of her, and I knew I was fucked.
She had a son . Probably a husband.
And yet, I didn’t seem to care. I wanted her—still. After all those years.
The alarming revelation jolted me back to the present, and my mouth was moving before I could stop it.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. Shit! That sounded way to brash.
“We came in overnight. My dad, he—he had a stroke.”
“Phil? Oh, Lex, I’m sorry,” the old nickname flowing out without my knowledge.
Then, she sniffled, holding back emotion. Above anything, I wanted to pull her into my arms, protect her from it all. But that wasn’t my role anymore.
Austin stared at me. “Do you know my papa?”
I winked. “Sure do. Your papa is one of the strongest men I know. He will get through this.”
And like all kids, the questions kept going. “How do you know him?”
I rubbed the back of my neck as Alexis took it on the chin. “This is— umm —a friend of the family.”
I had no right to feel some type of way about that description. Hell, I should have been glad to even be placed in that category instead of cheating, lying ex-husband . But I couldn’t help the spike of regret that filtered through.
Austin contemplated before saying, “Is he your friend, mama?”
“ Ahh , yes, from a long time ago.” It was so awkward. And I still couldn’t bring myself to care. I was in her presence. That was enough for me.
Then, Austin dropped the ultimate bomb, levelling us both to the ground. “You said my daddy used to be your friend. Is this my daddy?”
Alexis winced in mortification as her pallor turned a nasty pale.
“ Oh my god ,” she exclaimed. “I am so sorry. Austin, stop. We’re going to see Papa now. Say goodbye.”
“Bye.” Austin held out his hand like a grown up. I took hold, giving a firm shake, amusement sparking from his actions. “Hey, I gave you my name, so you have to give me yours. If you don’t, you’re a rude boy with no manners. Right, Mama?”
Alexis looked like she was having an aneurysm. This time, I couldn’t help the smile that stretched across my face. “Pleased to meet you, Austin. My name’s Owen.” His head tilted at that, thinking hard.
“Hey, I know that name. Aunty Ali said that—”
“Okayyyyy,” Alexis said, slapping a palm over Austin’s mouth. “Let’s leave Owen alone. I’m sure he’s very busy.”
“Not really,” I blurted.
Her brow furrowed with a beat of confusion before clearing. “Well, I’ll see you.”
I hope so.
The whole interaction had anticipation, and dare I say— hope— bubbling within me.
There was no daddy. And I also clocked that she wasn’t wearing a ring. Was it some sort of sign from a higher power? ’Cause I would readily bow down to whoever gave me the opportunity.