Chapter 10

Ten

Elena

The evening settled in faster than I’d expected, leaving me scrambling to collect myself after Jake’s visit. My heart still raced from the rush of emotions—the surprise of seeing him there. But now, the glow of those memories had to be set aside, overshadowed by the grounding presence of my son and the responsibilities that tethered me to reality. I promised myself I’d stay focused on Jake, no matter how much the thought of Cory pulled at me, threatening to unravel the fragile balance I was barely holding together.

As I pulled up to the school, I spotted Jake with his teammates, and his spirits were high as he laughed with his friends. They stood in a loose circle on the field, joking around, their voices carrying in the crisp afternoon air. I parked, watched him for a second longer, and realized how much he’d grown—both in height and confidence.

When he noticed me, he waved and jogged over, his face lighting up. “Hey, Mom! Guess what?”

“What’s up, kiddo?” I grinned as he slid into the passenger seat, dumping his gear in the back.

“I practiced today!” he announced, almost bouncing in his seat with excitement. “Coach said as long as I don’t push too hard, I can start in Saturday’s game.”

“That’s awesome, Jake!” I ruffled his hair, feeling a mix of pride and relief. “You’re going to have to be careful, though. No overdoing it, okay?”

He nodded earnestly. “Promise. But I’m starved.”

The drive-thru was a few blocks away, and as we pulled up, I realized that getting dinner this way would save us time and avoid me hovering over the stove, pretending my mind wasn’t elsewhere. We ordered, and as I reached for my purse to pay, Jake turned to me, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.

“You’re acting weird, Mom,” he said with a smirk. “Did something happen?”

I rolled my eyes, keeping my voice light. “Can’t I just be happy for my favorite baseball player?”

He narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. “Right… but you’re usually so… focused on cooking and eating together and all that. And now you’re… I don’t know. You’re smiling a lot.”

“What’s wrong with me smiling?” I teased, nudging him gently. “I’m allowed to be in a good mood, you know.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, his tone skeptical but playful. “Alright, Mom, whatever you say.”

He didn’t push it further, thankfully, instead diving into his burger with the enthusiasm only a growing kid could muster. I let out a quiet sigh, grateful for the distraction his chatter about practice provided.

I let him talk as we drove home, chiming in where he wanted me to. But my mind kept drifting, my heart fluttering as I thought of Cory’s late-night visit. I was nervous, no doubt about it. But there was an excitement under all that—a thrill I hadn’t felt in years.

Back home, I carried our bags of food inside as Jake followed, dropping his backpack by the door. He glanced at me, his brow furrowed with the kind of suspicion only a kid could muster.

“You sure everything’s okay, Mom?” he asked again, his voice soft, a hint of genuine concern slipping through his teasing.

I forced a reassuring smile, squeezing his shoulder. “Everything’s fine, Jake. I’m just… I’m just happy that you can play ball again.”

“Okay…” he said slowly, still not entirely convinced, but he shrugged it off. “I’ll finish up my homework so you can check it.”

“Thanks,” I said, patting his back as he headed to his room, the backpack in his hand.

As soon as he was out of sight, I took a deep breath, letting my shoulders relax. Cory would be here tonight, and I wanted everything to be just right. It wasn’t just about looking put together; it was about feeling ready to let him back into my life, even if only for a little while.

After Jake settled at this desk, I slipped into the shower, allowing the warm water to work its magic on the nerves buzzing under my skin. As I washed away the remnants of shampoo and the day’s chaos, my mind drifted to Cory. I closed my eyes as I fantasized about how his arms felt wrapped around me after so long. They were strong and steady as they had been all those years ago.

But reality nudged its way back in, bringing practical thoughts. Even with Luke, I hadn’t been in a sexual relationship in ages, which meant I hadn’t given any thought to birth control. My mind whirred, counting back to my last period, and a sense of relief washed over me as I realized I was in a safe zone. Taking a deep breath, I shook off the lingering tension, focusing on the excitement of the evening ahead.

After drying off, I pulled on a simple, soft dress with spaghetti straps. I quickly looked in the mirror, noticing the nervousness in my eyes and the slight tremor in my hands. It had been so long since anyone stirred this kind of anticipation in me, and I could feel every inch of it tonight.

I was finishing my makeup when I heard Jake call from his room, “Night, Mom! See you in the morning!”

“Goodnight, sweetheart!” I called back, poking my head into his room just to make sure he’d actually settled in for the night. He’d already flipped onto his side, eyes barely open, and gave me a sleepy smile before rolling over and pulling the covers tight. I watched him for a few moments, feeling the quiet pull of gratitude for him. Whatever else happened, Jake would always be my first priority.

Once he was sound asleep, I slipped back into the kitchen and reached for my phone. My fingers hovered over Cory’s name in my contacts, a flutter of nerves sparking in my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I pressed "call" and held the phone to my ear, the ringing tone feeling like an eternity. But then, he picked up, his voice friendly and unmistakably eager.

“Elena,” he said, my name wrapped in a smile that I could almost feel through the phone.

“Hey,” I replied softly, keeping my voice low so as not to wake Jake. “Jake’s asleep. Are you… still up for coming over?”

“Absolutely,” he replied, and I could hear the excitement in his tone. “I’ll be there in a few.”

I hung up, feeling a thrill shoot through me. I looked around the house, ensuring everything was in place, before heading to the back porch. The night air was warm, a light breeze rustling through the trees as I set up the candles on the little table by the porch swing. Their soft glow cast a gentle light, and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of nostalgia, remembering the countless summer nights we’d spent under the stars, dreaming about the future.

As I finished lighting the last candle, I caught a glimpse of headlights pulling up outside. My heart skipped as I watched Cory step out of his SUV. He looked effortlessly rugged in worn jeans and a fitted shirt that highlighted his broad shoulders and muscular torso. He held a bottle of wine in one hand and walked toward the porch with the easy confidence that had always drawn me to him.

“You look beautiful,” he said as he reached the steps, his voice low and intimate.

“Thanks,” I replied, feeling a little breathless. I reached out, my hand brushing against his chest as he stepped closer. Cory’s fresh scent caused a rush of old feelings through me—feelings I had kept hidden for so long. “You really do look… different,” I said, almost teasingly, as my fingers lingered on his shirt, feeling the solid muscles beneath.

He chuckled, leaning into my touch. “So do you.” His eyes traced over me, appreciation clear as he added, “But it’s a good kind of different.”

I blushed, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. He stepped closer, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face as he tilted my chin up, his gaze warm and intense as I took his hand and led him toward the swing. “It’s been a long time,” he said softly.

“Yeah,” I replied as I rushed to get wine glasses before we settled onto the porch swing, the soft glow of the candlelight flickering between us. I took a slow breath, trying to steady myself. I watched Cory beside me as he filled our glasses with Chardonnay. His gaze was distant but intense like he was gathering his thoughts, something important resting behind his eyes.

“Elena,” he said, turning to face me, his hand resting on the back of the swing. “I need to know something before we go any further.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”

He paused, his gaze searching mine as though he was reaching for something that wasn’t quite within his grasp. And then, finally, he spoke, his voice low and uncertain.

“Is Jake… my son?”

The question hit me like a wave, its weight sending a shiver through me. I felt my hands tremble as I set my wine glass down, and suddenly, the years of carefully guarded silence seemed to shatter. There it was, out in the open, raw and real.

“Yes,” I whispered, barely finding the strength to meet his gaze. “Jake is your son, Cory.”

A silence fell between us, thick and full of emotions I couldn’t even begin to sort through. Cory closed his eyes, and I watched as the truth settled over him, his shoulders tense, his jaw set. And in that moment, the full weight of all the years I’d carried alone—the decisions, the fear, the love I had poured into raising Jake by myself.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” he finally murmured, his voice thick. “I wish I’d known. I wish…”

I reached out, placing my hand gently on his, grounding us in the moment. “I wanted to tell you, Cory, but you were already gone by the time I realized I was pregnant. I was about three months along when I left for Houston to attend cosmetology school. Thankfully, Mom and Dad helped support me financially. And then, after Jake was born, I thought… maybe it would be simpler for him just to have a normal life without any questions. When I heard you were back in Texas, I assumed you’d moved on to bigger and better things.”

“Never thought I’d come back,” he said softly, almost to himself. Then he looked at me, his eyes filled with regret and resolve. “But when I saw Jake, Elena… something just felt right. I didn’t know what it was, but now, it all makes sense.”

I nodded, a tear slipping down my cheek as I thought about all the years I’d wondered how to answer Jake’s questions and what I would say when he brought it up. “He’s a good kid, Cory. You’d be proud. He’s smart, he’s kind… and he’s so much like you. It’s hard to believe, sometimes.”

A hint of a smile softened his face, a mix of pride and wonder in his expression. “I’d like to get to know him and do my part financially,” he said quietly, his hand tightening around mine. “If… if you’ll let me.”

I let out a shaky breath and nodded. “I always hoped, someday... I just didn’t know when or how. But now that you’re here…” I met his gaze, emotions swirling—hope, fear, relief—all tangled together. “Maybe it’s time. Just the other day, out of the blue, he asked me if you were his father.”

His eyes widened slightly. “What did you say?”

A wave of guilt washed over me. “I… I didn’t have the nerve to tell him the truth.”

He held my gaze, his expression soft and understanding. Without a word, he reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear and lingering his hand on my cheek. “I understand, Elena. Thank you. Thank you for not teaching him to hate me,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Thank you for raising him… for everything.”

My eyes closed as I leaned into his touch, allowing myself to hope. “It wasn’t easy, Cory. But it’s been worth it. And now… now we’ll see if things can be different.”

He nodded, and as his arms wrapped around me, I felt the years melt away, leaving just the two of us on that porch swing, ready to find out if we could make up for all the time we’d lost.

I looked up, meeting his warm brown eyes, feeling a stirring in my chest that I hadn’t felt in years. The weight of everything— our past, the years apart, Jake—seemed to fall away. It was just us like it used to be, but deeper somehow, touched by all that life had taught us.

Cory’s hand cradled my face, his thumb grazing my cheek, sending a shiver through me. “Elena,” he murmured, his voice soft, a whisper that held so much. I barely had time to respond before his lips met mine again. He was gentle at first, then tentative, as if we were savoring each other’s feelings after so long.

The kiss deepened and grew passionate. His hand slid to the small of my back, pressing me closer, and I felt myself melt into him, all my defenses crumbling in his embrace. My fingers trailed along his chest, feeling the heat rising beneath the fabric of his shirt, and I remembered every inch of him as if it were etched in my mind.

Finally, he broke away, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm against my lips. “Maybe… maybe we should go inside,” he whispered.

I nodded, still caught in the haze of his touch, my pulse racing. “But… let’s use the guest room,” I managed to say, my cheeks flushing. “Jake’s room is too close to mine.”

A grin tugged at the corner of Cory’s mouth. Without another word, he slipped his arms beneath me and lifted me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest. I laughed softly, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me inside, the night air fading behind us.