Chapter 4 4

Olivia's POV

The weight of Marcus's return lingered over me like a storm cloud that refused to dissipate. His words, his promises to be there for Max, echoed in my mind. I couldn't deny that part of me wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that he could be the man he claimed to be now. But another part of me was still angry, still bitter about the years I had spent without him, raising our son alone.

Max was oblivious to the storm brewing in my mind. To him, Marcus was just another man who had shown up, offering a hand and words that didn't feel entirely real. He was cautious, as any child his age should be, but there was a curiosity in his eyes whenever Marcus was near. It hurt me to see that, to realize how much Max wanted a father figure, and to know that I had tried so hard to be everything to him on my own.

Today, Marcus had asked if he could take Max to the park. I had hesitated, my protective instincts rising up. The last thing I wanted was for him to disappoint our son, to leave Max with nothing but more questions and hurt. But I had to let go, even if it was just for an afternoon.

"I'll be fine, Mom," Max had assured me, holding his small backpack in his hands, ready to go. His excitement was obvious, and for the first time in weeks, I saw a spark of hope in his eyes.

"You have everything you need?" I asked, my voice soft but insistent. I wasn't going to let him go unprepared.

Max rolled his eyes, exasperated by my constant need to check. "Yes, Mom. I'm not a baby."

I smiled despite myself, ruffling his hair. "Just be safe. I'll see you when you get back, okay?"

Max nodded enthusiastically and turned to Marcus. "Let's go, Dad!"

The word hit me like a physical blow. Dad. How could Max call him that so easily? I had never imagined this moment would come, not after everything. But here it was, and I had to let it happen. Marcus smiled at Max, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't name.

"Come on, buddy. We'll have a great time," Marcus said, his voice warm, but there was an edge to it. It was the sound of someone trying to be everything they hadn't been before.

I watched them leave, feeling a mix of dread and hope. It was hard to reconcile the person Marcus had been with the person he wanted to be now. But for Max, I had to try. I had to give him this chance.

Marcus's POV

The moment we stepped out the door, Max took off running, eager to reach the park. His small feet hit the pavement in quick succession, and I found myself chasing after him, the weight of the past still hanging in the air between us.

"You're fast, buddy," I called out, trying to keep up.

Max glanced over his shoulder and grinned. "I've got more energy than you, Dad!"

The word felt foreign on my tongue. Dad. How could I have ever left this little boy? The shame hit me again, sharp and unforgiving. I had missed so much of his life, and now here I was, trying to make up for lost time. I wasn't sure if I could, but I was going to try. I owed him that much, at least.

When we reached the park, Max immediately ran to the swings, his excitement almost contagious. I followed him, sitting down on the bench nearby as I watched him settle in. There was something so innocent about him, something that made my heart ache with regret. He was happy, at least, and that gave me a sense of relief.

"You wanna push me?" Max called out, looking at me with wide eyes.

I stood up, moving to the swing. The way he looked at me-expecting, hoping-was a reminder of everything I had taken for granted. Everything I had left behind. "Of course, buddy," I said, taking hold of the swing's chains. "Let's get you flying."

I pushed him gently, and he laughed, his small body soaring higher with each push. His laughter filled the air, and for a moment, it felt like the world had slowed down. The guilt and shame didn't disappear, but they were drowned out by the sound of Max's joy.

I found myself smiling, something I hadn't done in years. Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe I could make this work.

Olivia's POV

I spent the afternoon pacing the house, unable to sit still. The quiet in the air was unnerving, and I found myself anxiously checking the clock every few minutes. It wasn't just the time that was bothering me-it was the unknown. What if Max didn't come back the same? What if Marcus disappointed him? Could I really allow myself to trust him again?

Max's absence left a hole in the house. His energy, his questions, his need for reassurance-everything was suddenly missing. It felt unnatural.

At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder how things were going. How was Max reacting to Marcus? How was Marcus holding up? He had promised to be different, but promises didn't fix the past. They didn't erase the hurt or the years lost. I needed to see for myself if this was something worth pursuing or just another cycle of disappointment.

By the time I heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door, I was on edge, my mind racing with questions. The door swung open, and I stood up before I even realized it.

"Mom!" Max's voice rang out as he entered, his face lit up with excitement.

I felt a sense of relief wash over me, but it was quickly replaced by a lingering uncertainty. "How was the park? Did you have fun?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual, though I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

Max practically bounced into the room, grinning from ear to ear. "It was awesome, Mom! We played basketball, and Dad even let me win at one-on-one. He's really good!"

I raised an eyebrow, trying to mask the emotions swirling inside me. "He let you win?" I asked, teasing but also unsure how to process it all.

Max nodded vigorously. "Yeah! He said I needed to practice, but he let me get a few points in. And then we went to the swings, and he pushed me so high, I felt like I was flying!"

The words were innocent enough, but they hit me like a punch to the gut. Max had no idea how much those little moments meant. To him, Marcus was just his dad. But to me, it was everything I had spent years fighting to protect him from-the man who had left us without a second thought.

"Did you talk to him about anything... important?" I asked, carefully choosing my words.

Max paused, looking thoughtful. "We talked about stuff, like what school's like and what he does at work. But mostly, we just had fun. He's pretty cool, Mom."

His innocence was both a blessing and a curse. It made me see how much Max wanted this to be real, how much he wanted a father in his life. But it also made me feel like I was standing in the middle of a storm, uncertain of which direction to go. Could I really let him in, even knowing how much he had hurt me? Was it possible for us to move forward, to create something new?

"I'm glad you had fun, sweetheart," I said softly, forcing a smile. "Maybe we can all go together next time."

Max beamed, nodding eagerly. "Yeah! That would be awesome."

I wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that this was a fresh start for us. But the reality was harder to ignore. Marcus had hurt me in ways I couldn't easily forget. I wasn't sure I could trust him again, but if I was going to do this-if I was going to give him a chance-it had to be for Max.

Marcus's POV

When I came home later that evening, I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Max was in his room, already getting ready for bed, but Olivia was waiting for me. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a softness to her gaze that I hadn't seen in a long time.

"How did it go?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my thoughts. "It went well. He had a great time. I think... I think we're on the right track."

Olivia nodded slowly, her eyes watching me intently. "I hope so," she said quietly. "Max deserves a father who's there for him. Not someone who walks away when things get tough."

I swallowed hard, the guilt rising in my chest once again. "I know. And I'm not going anywhere, Olivia. I'm here now. For both of you."

She studied me for a long moment, her face unreadable. Then, finally, she spoke again. "I'm not asking you to fix everything overnight. But if you're serious about this... about being part of Max's life, you need to show us. Actions, Marcus. They speak louder than words."

Her words cut through me like a blade, but I knew she was right. I had to prove myself-not just to her, but to Max as well. "I'll do whatever it takes," I said, my voice firm. "I'm not going to mess this up again."

Olivia's eyes softened, but there was still caution there. I couldn't blame her for that. I had to earn back her trust, step by step. But I was ready for it.