Chapter 4

I've been at Mom's for 4 days now and Caia has been cooped up inside pretty much the whole time so I'm taking her to town today, it will do us both good to get some fresh air.

I decide to walk down to Rosewood rather than take the car, it is boiling outside so there is no reason not to.

It takes 20 minutes to get there, I had to stop every few minutes to get Caia various things like a drink or her toy but we got here eventually.

I haven't seen or spoken to the other girls since Charlotte's appeal. Things between us haven't been the same since I moved away, I guess its my own fault for putting so much space between us but I would of thought that they would make more effort.

We end up at a park so I let Caia out of her buggy and watch her run around playing on the slide and roundabout for a while. After playing on the slide she gets me to push her on the swings, I'm so preoccupied in pushing her that I don't see anyone approaching us.

"Aria?" I hear making me jump out of my skin.

I turn around and see Ezra standing there. My heart almost stops and I am overwhelmed with nausea.

I had meant to go and talk to him, to tell him about Caia but I have been so busy catching up with my parents and brother that I haven't had the chance.

"Uh, hey Ezra" I blurt out, feeling stupid.

"How are you? I saw you at the courthouse but you left before I had the chance to talk to you".

"I'm okay thanks, how are you? Yeah I just wanted to get out of there".

Ezra nods but doesn't say anything as he notices the little person sitting in the swing in front of me. I see his eyes widen as he catches on.

"Is she yours?" he says nodding towards Caia.

I nod, silently. I don't know what I am meant to say.

"How old is she?".

"Mommy, Mommy I want to get out" Caia pipes up before I can answer Ezra, giving me a few seconds before I have to tell him.

"She's 2".

Ezra doesn't say anything, I can see him struggling to find the words.

"You moved away nearly 3 years ago" he finally says.

I nod, waiting for the explosion.

"You were pregnant when you left?" he asks dumbfounded.

I nod again.

"So...she's mine?".

"Yes, she is your daughter".

"Why didn't you tell me Aria?" Ezra asks furiously but I can tell he is trying to keep his temper in check, maybe because Caia is here.

"The way things were when I left made me not want to talk to you, I told myself I would call you when I was settled but the longer I left it the harder it was" I say feebly. I know its not a good enough reason.

Ezra's nose flares as he tries to calm himself, I know he is trying to calm himself down. I know everything about this man, I know when he's angry, hurting, confused and happy. I know him better than he knows himself.

"I am sorry Ezra but you know how things were left, I know that isn't a excuse but I didn't know whether you would even want to be involved".

"No Aria, you didn't know that because you didn't bother to ask or to even let me know I had a daughter" Ezra shouts.

I'm thankful that Caia doesn't hear him, she is playing in the grass with a little girl that just arrived at the park.

"I'm sorry. I should of told you" I say trying to defuse the situation.

Neither of us say anything for a long time.

"Are...are you staying round here?" Ezra asks eventually, sounding a lot less sure of himself than he has ever been.

I sigh. "I'm not sure Ezra, I have been thinking of it but I have a job back in New York, Caia is in nursery and we both have friends there".

"Caia? That's her name?".

I nod once more.

Ezra and I chat about Caia for a few more minutes before she runs over complaining that she's hungry.

"I'll treat you both to something to eat if you want" Ezra says, looking at me.

"Sure".

"Mommy?" Caia says shyly once she's back in her buggy.

I kneel down bedside her.

"What is it baby?".

"Who's that man?" she says quietly but not quietly enough for Ezra not to hear and I catch a small smile on his face.

"His name is Ezra, he's my friend".

"Oh" Caia says.

We make our way into town with no one saying much. I am surprised that Caia is so quiet, she usually babbles away constantly. I guess she can feel the tension between Ezra and myself.

We end up at The Brew and Ezra orders chips for Caia and a coffee for me and him.

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