When Ella got back to her parent’s house that evening, she was surprised to see Ben and Brandon both there. They were at the table with their father as if they were waiting for something. Ella knew that something was her.

“How is Ruby?” Nora asked as Ella walked into the kitchen. “And how is the baby?”

“She is great,” Ella replied with a smile and tried her best not to react to her dad and her brothers, who were now all watching her. “The baby is gorgeous. She is calling him Lucas. He is perfect, the image of Brady. You should see Brady with him. He is on cloud nine.”

“I can’t wait to see him,” Nora replied and gave Ella a warm smile. “I’m so happy for them.”

“Where is Max?” Ella asked as she looked around but not seeing him anywhere.

“Jules took him to get ice-cream,” Nora said as she nervously glanced at her husband.

“Why?” Ella asked as she too turned to look at her father. “What’s going on?”

“We just wanted to talk,” Henry replied, and Ella instantly felt uncomfortable. She walked towards the table, but she didn’t sit down. “We thought it was better he wasn’t here.”

“Okay,” she said and tried her hardest not to show the annoyance she was feeling at being ambushed by her family. She knew this was about Nate and Max, so she braced herself.

“Will you sit down,” Henry asked her as he pointed at the chair across from him.

“I would rather stand, thanks,” she replied more abruptly than she meant to.

“No one is here to argue with you, Ella,” Brandon said as he picked up on the edge in her voice as Nora took a seat at the table too.

“No, you’re just here to tell me that I don’t know what is best for my son,” she retorted impatiently. “So, let’s get it over with. What is it you have to say?”

“We just want to talk about this Nathan guy,” Henry cut in quickly.

“Max’s father,” Ella corrected him. “Because that’s who he is.”

“Just because he got you pregnant, doesn’t make him his father,” Henry replied as he pinned her with an angry look.

“And what does, Dad?” Ella asked. “Because I clearly have been misinformed.”

“I’m not going to argue with you, Ella,” Henry sighed. “That is not why we are here…”

“Then why are we here, exactly?” she quickly cut in. “Because I don’t remember asking anyone for their advice or their input on whether Max should get to know his father…”

“We are just worried,” Brandon said before she could finish her sentence.

“What are you worried about?” Ella asked angrily. “Don’t you think that if I thought for one second, Nate would do anything to hurt or upset Max, that I wouldn’t let him anywhere near him?”

“You don’t know him…” Brandon shot back, but Ella cut him off.

“No!” she exclaimed. “You don’t know him! He’s a good man, and he loves Max. All he wants is a chance to know his son. Because that is exactly what Max is, his son. Not yours!”

“How good can he be if he cheated on his wife?” Brandon replied sarcastically. “I think that tells us everything we need to know about Nathan.”

“You don’t even know what happened, Bran,” Ella snapped back. “So, don’t sit there and pretend like you do. Maybe you should have started with asking me to explain.”

“I know if I was married, I wouldn’t get some other girl pregnant,” Brandon replied with a cruel laugh. “I know how to treat women properly.”

“Well you should,” Ella retorted sarcastically. “You’ve had enough practise with all the girls you have dated!”

“ENOUGH!” Ben said as he stood up and spoke for the first time since Ella came in. “Are you listening to yourselves. This is about Max.”

Everyone went quiet and looked up at Ben, surprised by his outburst. He took a deep, steadying breath before his eyes met Ella’s and he gave her a smile before he continued.

“I came here because I thought we were going to have a proper conversation,” Ben said as he turned back towards Henry and Brandon. “I didn’t come here to ambush Ella.”

“That’s not what this is,” Henry replied, clearly surprised by his son’s remark.

“Isn’t it, Dad?” Ben asked. “Because it’s what it sounds like from where I am sitting. You didn’t even ask her to tell us about this guy; you just ran him down from the start. This is Ella, she is Max’s mother, and she is an amazing mother at that. You know how hard the last four years have been for her, but she never complained or never quit. She has only ever done what was best for Max. You know this yet you’re still questioning her like she is some stupid school girl.”

Ella stood there and listened to her brother as tears stung her eyes.

“Do you really believe she would let anyone into Max’s life if she wasn't sure it was the best thing for him?” Ben asked.

Henry and Brandon didn’t reply. Brandon couldn’t even bring himself to look up from his hands that were folded in front of him.

“I know you both love Max,” Ben continued. “I love him too, and yes I am not thrilled at the idea of some stranger coming in and taking my place in Max’s life. Because I see myself as a father figure to him, and I know you guys do too. But he is Max’s dad. His real dad, and if he wants to step up and be there for him, then shouldn’t we let him at least try?”

“I just don’t want to see him hurt,” Henry replied, this time there was no trace of anger in his voice.

“None of us want that,” Ben sighed. “But how can someone else loving him, be a bad thing?”

“I agree with Ben,” Nora finally spoke. “I have met Nathan, and he seems like a good man. I trust Ella’s opinion. I know you’re worried, but Max is Ella’s son, and if this is what she wants, then we have to respect that, and more than that, we need to support her. This isn’t an easy thing for her either.”

A silence fell over them, and Ella wasn’t sure what she should do. What she wanted to do was just leave, but she had to wait for Max, so instead, she excused herself and went out to the back porch. She needed a moment to gather her thoughts.

“Are you okay?” Ben asked when he appeared at the doorway a few moments later.

“Not really,” Ella sighed but offered him a smile. “I knew that Dad wouldn’t be happy, but I didn’t expect this.”

“I know, and I get why you’re upset,” Ben replied as he sat down beside her. “I would be too.”

“But,” Ella said as she looked up at her brother sensing there was a but coming.

“But, I think that maybe he just went about it wrong,” Ben continued. “He loves you and Max so much, Ella. We all do. I think he is just worried you will be hurt.”

“I would never let that happen to Max,” Ella replied. “I have thought about this a lot Ben, I know I’m doing the right thing for my son, and if it all goes wrong I will have to deal with that. But I don’t believe that it will.”

“What about you?” Ben asked, and Ella could see the concern in his eyes. “What about you getting hurt.”

“Nate means nothing to me,” Ella replied, as she tried her hardest to sound convincing. “He was a mistake, a long time ago.”

“Ella, this is me you’re talking to,” Ben sighed and gave her a smile. “You forget I know you better than I know anyone else. I know you have never let anyone close since you got pregnant with Max. I know you have been waiting for someone, and I think he is that someone.”

“He’s married, Ben,” Ella replied sadly. “How I feel doesn’t matter. He has a wife and two daughters. I know things aren’t good for him at home, but I am not going to be the one that destroys what is left. If Nate and Nina fall apart, it won’t be because of me, so it doesn’t matter how I feel.”

“I just don’t want you hurt,” Ben said.

“I won’t be,” Ella reassured him. “I promise.”

“Good,” Ben smiled, but before he could say another word, Jules appeared at the back door followed closely by Max.

“Hey, Sweetheart,” Ella said as she stood up and walked to her little boy. “Did you have fun with Aunty Jules?”

“I got ice-cream,” Max replied as he hurried down the back steps to where he had left his animals in the backyard.

“Are you okay?” Jules asked as Ella turned back towards her.

“Yeah,” Ella replied with a grateful smile. “Thanks for taking him out.”

“It was Ben’s idea,” Jules replied. “He didn’t think he should be here. He would have just been upset.”

“Well, thank you both,” she said as she turned from Jules to her brother. “For everything.”

Ella gave them both a kiss before she hurried down the steps to help Max gather up his toys before they all headed back into the house. She was surprised to see Brandon had already left, but her dad was still sitting at the table.

“We should be going,” Ella said as she walked to her mother and gave her a kiss. “It’s late enough, and Max should be in bed.”

“You could stay here,” Nora asked, and Ella knew her mother was upset and didn’t want her to leave on an argument.

“I think it's best if I don’t,” Ella replied.

“Ella,” Henry said as he stood up from the table, but Ella stopped him.

“I know, Dad,” Ella quickly said. “You don’t have to say anything. But I just need to go home right now. I think I need a little space.”

“You know I love you,” Henry said as Ella was surprised to hear his voice crack with emotion.

“I love you, too,” She replied, as she fought back the tears. “But right now, I just need to go home.”

“Okay,” Henry nodded before he excused himself and walked out of the room.

“I should be going,” Ella said as she turned to her mother.

“Okay, Sweetheart,” Nora nodded and kissed her before she followed her husband.

Ben helped Ella out to the car with Max and all his belongings.

“Make sure they are both okay before you leave,” Ella pleaded with Ben once Max was in the car.

“Of course,” Ben replied before he hugged his sister. “And if you need to talk, you know I am only ever a call away.

“Thanks, Ben,” Ella said, as she returned his hug tightly. She then turned and quickly climbed into the car. She knew if she didn’t, she would have cried. She reversed out of the garden and waved once more before she set off for home.

By the time Ella reached her house, Max was fast asleep. She pulled into her driveway and turned off the engine. She just sat there in the darkness for a few minutes and tried to clear her thoughts. She felt tired, but it wasn’t a tiredness that sleep would have helped. Her soul was tired. Like she had been strong for too long, and now, she just wanted to fall apart. She wanted someone to come and tell her that everything was going to be okay.

Ella sighed and pushed open the door. As much as she wanted to fall apart, she knew that wasn’t an option.

As she stepped out of the car, Nate appeared from the walkway between their two houses. The minute Ella saw him, she could hold the tears back no longer.

Nate hurried to her and wrapped his arms around her as Ella buried her face in his chest and cried.

“It’s okay,” he whispered as he held her tightly. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Ella didn’t reply. Instead, she just let go of her sadness and sobbed harder.

“Please don’t cry,” he breathed against her ear. “It hurts my heart to see you so sad.”

“I’m okay,” Ella sniffed as she pulled back from Nate. “It’s just been a long day. I should get Max into bed. He is fast asleep in the car.”

“Let me take him in for you,” Nate said as he walked to the car and opened the back door. He carefully opened the straps on his car seat, then scooped him up in his arms and held him close to his chest. Max stirred but didn’t wake, but Nate whispered to him to reassure him. “It’s okay, Buddy, I’ve got you.”

Ella watched Nate as he walked up the front steps to the house with Max asleep in his arms and she wished her father could see this side of him, not the screwed-up image he had in his mind. When Ella opened the front door, Nate made his way to the stairs and up towards Max’s room. Ella followed them and watched from the doorway of Max’s room as Nate carefully lay him down on the bed, slipped off his shoes and socks, then pulled the covers over him.

Ella’s heart melted as Nate leaned down and softly kissed Max’s head. It was like he had been Max’s father since day one. He was so at ease and natural with Max. How could he being a part of Max’s life, be a bad thing?

When he turned and saw Ella standing there, Nate gave her a warm smile.

“He is still fast asleep,” Nate whispered as he slowly walked towards the door, being careful not to wake Max.

“He will sleep all night now,” Ella replied as she stepped back from the doorway. Nate stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door behind him.

“Thank you for letting me do that,” Nate said as he stepped in front of Ella. He was so close to her; she could feel his breath wash over her face. Ella didn’t look up at him. Instead she just stared at his chest.

He lifted up his hand and softly took hold of her chin, tilting her face up to meet his.

“Talk to me,” he whispered as his eyes locked with hers.

“There’s nothing to say,” she breathed. She wanted to tell him that she loved him. That there has never been anyone but him, but she couldn’t. He didn’t belong to her, he belonged to Nina, and she could never be the other woman.

“I think there is a lot to say,” he said as he moved closer to her. He raised his other hand ran his fingers down her cheek, wiping away the tears that trickled down her face once again.

“I can’t, Nate,” Ella whispered. “You’re married.”

“Nina and I are over,” he protested. “We have been for a long time.”

“But you still live there,” Ella reasoned. “You might think it’s over, but you are living with Nina, and she still considers you her husband.”

“But I don’t’ love her,” Nate insisted. “I love you. I have since the very first time I saw you.”

“I…I can’t,” Ella cried as she pulled back from him. “Please, this is hard enough, don’t make it harder. I will never come between you and Max again, but that’s all I can give.”

“I should go,” Nate said, and Ella could hear the disappointment in his voice. “Maybe I could drop by tomorrow. I am collecting the girls from Nina’s parent’s house. She has decided she needed some time away to think.”

“Okay,” Ella replied without letting her eyes meet his.

“I will let myself out,” Nate sighed and hesitated for a moment before he turned and hurried down the stairs.

When Ella heard the front door close, she turned and walked to her bedroom. Without even getting stripped she climbed onto her bed and curled herself into a tiny ball. As she lay there in the darkness, the only sound she could hear was her breathing.

Suddenly, a wave of grief washed over her. She buried her face into her pillow and cried until exhaustion came, and she fell asleep.