Chapter 5 5

Olivia's POV

Marcus kept his distance, but he made it clear he was there for Max, ready to prove himself. I could see him trying, and part of me wanted to believe it was sincere. But another part of me remained guarded, unwilling to let my emotions be swayed by promises alone. My trust wasn't something that could be handed back so easily.

Max had already taken a liking to Marcus. He spoke of their trips to the park and the things they had done with such excitement, as if nothing had changed. I watched Max, trying to understand what was going through his mind. Did he truly believe Marcus was back for good? Or was he just trying to fill a void that had been empty for so long?

I couldn't let myself fall into the trap of hope. Not yet. Not until I knew Marcus was truly committed to being part of our lives, and that he wasn't just passing through, trying to appease his guilt.

Max spent more time with Marcus in the days that followed. They went to baseball games, played board games at home, and spent hours talking. I could hear their laughter from across the house, and while I was happy Max was finally getting the father figure he deserved, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Why had Marcus chosen now to be present? Why not before? Why not when Max had needed him the most?

I walked into the living room one afternoon, finding Max and Marcus sprawled on the floor, building a Lego castle. The sight warmed me, but it also stirred up conflicting emotions.

"Hey, buddy," I said, leaning against the doorframe. Max looked up, his face lighting up at the sight of me.

"Mom! Look, Dad and I are building a castle! It's going to be huge!" Max's enthusiasm was contagious, and for a moment, I saw the boy he had been before the absence of his father had shaped his world. There was no bitterness in his voice, no lingering sadness in his eyes. He was happy. And that was all I could ever want for him.

I smiled, though the smile didn't quite reach my eyes. "That's great, Max," I said, walking into the room and sitting down beside them. I looked over at Marcus, who was carefully placing a block onto the growing structure. There was a tenderness in his touch, a deliberate effort to engage with Max in a way that felt... genuine.

"Looks like you two are making progress," I added, trying to keep my voice light.

Marcus glanced up at me, his expression softening. "Yeah, we're getting there. Max has some great ideas. He's got a real talent for building things."

Max grinned. "Mom, I'm going to be an architect when I grow up!"

I chuckled, though my heart felt tight in my chest. "Well, that's a big dream. You've got to start with more than Legos, though."

Max nodded seriously. "I know, Mom. But I'll get there."

There was something about the way he spoke that made me want to believe it. For a moment, I let my guard down, allowing myself to imagine a future where Marcus was a part of it-where he was a steady, constant presence in Max's life. But those thoughts were fleeting, and the reality quickly set in. I couldn't let myself be swept up in fantasies. I had to protect both Max and myself, no matter how much I wanted to see us as a family again.

Marcus's POV

Every day felt like a test. I spent hours with Max, trying to rebuild a relationship that I had thrown away years ago. His enthusiasm was overwhelming at times, but I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt. The way he looked at me, with that glimmer of hope in his eyes, made my heart ache. It was the same hope I had crushed all those years ago.

The more I spent time with him, the more I saw how much he had missed out on. There were moments when Max would look up at me expectantly, as if waiting for some affirmation or praise, and I felt a rush of love for him. He wasn't just a child; he was my son. A part of me, and I had missed so much of his life. There were no words that could erase the years I had lost, but I was determined to make up for them.

Olivia watched us from the sidelines, her gaze unreadable. There were times when I caught her looking at me with something that almost resembled trust, but it always seemed fleeting. She was cautious, and I understood why. She had been hurt. She had done everything on her own for so long, and here I was, trying to waltz back in and act like I could be the man Max needed. It wasn't that easy, and I knew that.

I had to prove to Olivia, and to Max, that I wasn't going anywhere this time. I wasn't going to be the man who disappeared. I had failed them both once, and I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

That night, after Max had gone to bed, Olivia and I found ourselves alone in the kitchen. She was washing dishes, and I stood by the counter, leaning against it as I watched her. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words.

Finally, Olivia spoke, her voice soft but steady. "He talks about you all the time."

I nodded, trying to gauge her tone. "Does he seem happy?"

She turned to face me, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of emotions. "He's happy when he's with you. But he's also confused. He doesn't understand why you weren't here before."

My heart twisted. "I can't change the past, Olivia. I wish I could. But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."

She looked at me, her expression hardening slightly. "You say that, but actions speak louder than words. I need to see that you're really here for him. For both of us. No more disappearing acts. No more excuses."

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "I understand. And I will show you. I don't expect you to trust me right away, but I will earn it. I'll earn Max's trust too."

She didn't respond immediately. She just looked at me, her eyes searching mine as though she could read every thought, every doubt. Finally, she nodded, though the wariness in her eyes didn't fully fade. "You better, Marcus. For both of our sakes."

I could feel the weight of her words, heavy and final. There was no turning back now. I had to prove that I was worthy of a second chance-not just for me, but for Max, and for Olivia.

Olivia's POV

The next few days were quiet but filled with moments that made me question my resolve. Max was thriving with Marcus's presence, and there were glimpses of the man I had once loved-the man I thought I would spend my life with. Marcus was there for Max in a way that was hard to ignore. He was patient, kind, and attentive. But could I trust him again? Was it possible to rebuild the life we had once dreamed of?

I couldn't afford to make the same mistake twice. My heart had been broken once, and I wasn't sure I could risk it again. Yet, every time I saw Marcus with Max, every time I heard Max talk about how much fun they had together, the walls around my heart seemed to soften just a little bit more.

It was hard to deny the bond they were building. But I knew that love wasn't just about showing up. It was about consistency. It was about staying when things got tough and proving that you wouldn't run when the going got hard.

I could see that Marcus was trying. But trying wasn't enough. It had to be more than that. And I needed to be sure that this time, when he said he was here for us, he meant it.

When I finally went to bed that night, I found myself lying awake, staring at the ceiling. The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and relentless. What if I was making the wrong choice? What if Marcus wasn't the man he said he was? Could I afford to risk my heart again, knowing how much I had to lose?

But then I thought of Max- how much he had already invested in this new relationship. He was eager for a family, eager for a father. And maybe, just maybe, Marcus could be the one to give him that.