Chapter 2 The man she left behind

Amelia barely slept that night.

Boxes remained unopened, dishes half-stacked, and Liam's toys scattered across the living room floor.

But no amount of busywork could drown out the memory of Noah's gaze - the way it cut through her like a blade.

Long after she tucked Liam into bed, she sat by the window, staring into the darkness, heart pounding against her ribs.

What were the odds that he would be here? In this town?

Building something? Living his life?

Just as she tried to rebuild hers?

Amelia told herself she wouldn't think about it. About him.

Not tonight.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever.

But when morning came, fate had other plans.

---

The next day dawned bright and humid, the kind of sticky summer heat that clung to the skin and made tempers short.

Amelia struggled with a stubborn box, trying to juggle it and keep Liam from darting into the street.

She didn't notice the truck until it pulled up alongside the curb with a low rumble.

She stiffened instantly.

Noah stepped out of the driver's seat, slamming the door harder than necessary.

He wore a simple gray T-shirt and worn jeans, his hair still messy from the heat, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead.

If anything, he looked better than he had five years ago - stronger, rougher, a man who had lived hard and survived.

And right now, he was staring at her like she was the last person he wanted to see.

Amelia bent, pretending to adjust Liam's shoelaces, heart hammering.

She heard the crunch of gravel under his boots as he crossed the street.

Each step sounded louder than it should have - like a drumbeat marching toward her.

She straightened slowly, lifting her chin.

There was no point pretending she hadn't seen him.

"Amelia," Noah said, voice rougher than she remembered.

Low. Controlled. Dangerous.

"Noah," she breathed, her throat dry.

For a second, they just stood there, words clawing at the thick space between them.

"I heard you were back," he said finally, his mouth a hard line. "Didn't think I'd run into you on my first day."

"Small town," she managed, wishing her voice sounded stronger.

He didn't smile.

Didn't even blink.

His gaze dropped - to the small boy clutching her hand, hiding half behind her leg.

Liam peeked out at him, wide-eyed.

Amelia felt Noah's entire body stiffen, like he had been struck.

His jaw ticked.

A muscle worked in his cheek.

And then - he looked at her, really looked - and the betrayal she feared washed over his face like a tidal wave.

"You've got a kid," he said, voice flat.

Amelia opened her mouth. Closed it.

Noah's eyes narrowed. "How old is he?"

Her mouth went dry. She knew what he was thinking. She knew what he already suspected.

"Five," she whispered.

Silence.

Heavy. Suffocating.

The air between them crackled with it.

Noah's hands curled into fists at his sides.

"And you weren't planning on telling me?" he asked, voice deadly soft.

"It's... complicated," Amelia said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "I- I didn't plan it this way, Noah."

"Didn't plan it?" His laugh was short, sharp, humorless. "You didn't even plan to tell me I had a son?"

Liam tugged on Amelia's shirt.

"Mommy, I'm thirsty," he mumbled, burying his face into her hip.

Amelia bent quickly, scooping him up, shielding him from the storm brewing between them.

"I'll get you some juice inside, baby," she murmured, kissing the top of his hair.

When she straightened, Noah was still staring - not at her this time, but at Liam.

At the way the little boy clung to her.

At the gray eyes he knew too well.

Noah took a shaky breath, dragging a hand through his hair.

"You left," he said, softer now, but no less broken. "You left without saying goodbye. Without letting me fight for you. And then you... you kept this from me?"

Tears stung Amelia's eyes.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," she whispered. "You had dreams, Noah. You were getting out. I didn't want to hold you back."

"You didn't even give me the choice," he shot back.

She flinched like he had slapped her.

Noah swore under his breath, stepping back, raking a hand through his hair again.

"This wasn't your decision to make alone," he said. "He's mine too."

Amelia bit her lip hard, fighting back the sob threatening to escape.

"I was scared," she admitted. "And by the time I realized... everything just felt too complicated. Too broken."

Noah's eyes softened for a fraction of a second - then hardened again.

"Yeah, well," he muttered, "welcome to the club."

He turned sharply, heading back toward his truck without another word.

Amelia watched him go, her heart splintering all over again.

Liam tucked his head under her chin, sensing his mother's pain.

She held him tighter.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into his hair. "For everything."

But the wind carried her words away.

---

Later that afternoon, after unpacking most of the kitchen, Amelia sat on the back porch, staring out at the wild, overgrown garden.

Liam played at her feet, building a dinosaur fortress out of sticks and rocks.

She sipped lukewarm coffee and tried to breathe through the ache inside her chest.

Noah had every right to be angry.

She had stolen five years from him - five years he could never get back.

Could he ever forgive her?

Could she even forgive herself?

"Mommy, look!" Liam crowed proudly, holding up his 'fort'.

Amelia smiled weakly.

"You're amazing, buddy."

His laughter was pure, bright, a balm against her guilt.

Whatever mistakes she had made, Liam was her greatest miracle.

She owed it to him to face her past - no matter how much it hurt.

And somehow, someway, she had to find a way to piece back together the life she had shattered.

Starting with Noah Bennett.

If he would even give her the chance.

---