Over the next few days, Ella and Nate spent all their time with the kids. Every morning they would take them off somewhere fun, stop somewhere for some lunch and then spend the afternoons on the beach with Karen. Ella was surprised by how much Max loved the beach. He screamed with excitement each time Nate took his hand and ran into the waves, as they crashed gently into the sand.

Ella also knew that Karen had completely fallen in love with Max, and he seemed to be comfortable with her too. He liked to climb onto her lap as they sat on the back deck of the house, and look out at the sea. There seemed to be something about the sea he found calming.

Seeing Max in this different environment, and seeing how happy he was made Ella wonder if she had been too protective of Max in the past. Since Nate and the girls came into their lives, Max seemed happier and a little more mature. Also, he was talking more. Still only in short sentences, but he was definitely trying to communicate more.

One afternoon, about three days after they arrived at Karen’s house. Nate let the two girls and Max bury him in the sand. Max thought this was the funniest thing in the world, and squealed with excitement each time he dumped a bucket of sand on top of Nate.

When he was covered completely, except for his head, the girls laughed and sat in the sand as Nate pleaded with them to help him. Max stood over him, with a confused look on his face.

“Max, Buddy,” Nate laughed as he looked up and Max. “Save me. Help your dad out of the sand.”

Max didn’t reply for a moment. Instead, he just leaned down and looked closer at Nate.

“Come on, Son,” Nate continued with a big grin. “Help your old dad out. I know you want to because you love your old man.”

Max leaned forward and kissed Nate on the cheek.

“Love you, Daddy,” Max said, completely stunning both Nate and Ella.

Ella knew that more than likely he was copying what he had seen the girls doing so many times, but it made it none the less emotional.

Nate pushed through the sand and quickly pulled Max onto his lap.

“I love you, too, Max,” Nate said as tears danced in his eyes, as Ella’s heart melted. She never doubted that Max loved her, as much as he could; but to hear him articulate his feelings was something Ella never believed she would ever witness.

“Yuck, dirty!” Max exclaimed angrily as he pushed away from Nate, and quickly brushed the sand from his hands, and Ella couldn’t help but laugh.

Nate climbed from the sand and grabbed Max, then ran towards the water, followed closely by the two girls.

“He really loves that boy,” Karen said as she sat down on the sand next to Ella. “All he has ever wanted was a son.”

“I think he loves all his kids,” Ella smiled as she watched Nate and the kids play in the water.

“And he will love the new baby, too,” Karen said, surprising Ella with her comment.

“He told you?” Ella asked, unsure of how she felt about this.

“No,” Karen said with a smile. “He didn’t have to; I know my son better than he thinks I do. Every time he looks at you, his eyes drift down to your tummy, and a happy, contented look settles on his face.”

“I see,” Ella said as she turned back towards the shore, and watched Nate and the kids.

“You’re scared,” Karen said, once more surprising Ella. “I understand that. Max is an amazing child, but I know it can be hard too.”

“Nate doesn’t see Max’s disability,” Ella replied without looking at the woman. “He just sees his son.”

“But you’re his mother, and you see past the little boy in front of you,” Karen continued. “You see into the future, and you’re scared of what future he will have. And now you have the baby to worry about too.”

“Does that make me a bad mother?” Ella asked finally letting her eyes meet Karen’s. “Am I wrong for being so afraid that the baby could have special needs too?”

“Of course you’re not,” Karen said as she reached over and took Ella’s hand. “Every mother wants the best for their children. Feeling like you do doesn’t mean you wish Max were different, far from it. You worry because you love him and you just want him to have the best life possible.”

“It’s not that I would change Max,” Ella replied. “I don’t know that I would if I could. I just wish his whole life didn’t have to be a battle.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Karen replied and smiled. “I think that little boy is going to surprise the hell out of everyone. You wait and see.”

Ella gave Karen a grateful smile, before she turned back to the shoreline, and watched her little family laughing and playing in the water.

“I really wish you didn’t have to leave,” Karen said as she hugged Nate and then Ella once more. “These last few days have been amazing. I just don’t want them to end.”

“I promise we will come back real soon,” Ella promised Karen, as she hugged her tightly. Over the last few days, the two ladies had grown very close, and Ella was determined to make sure Karen was a bigger part of Max and the girl’s life.

“Are you sure it’s safe to go home?” She asked as she gave her son a worried look.

“The detective called to say that Stevenson has been arrested,” Nate assured her. “And Nina has gone to rehab. It’s over, Mom.”

“Just promise me you will be careful and look after all my grandbabies,” Karen pleaded as she hugged him again.

“I will, Mom,” Nate said before he turned and pulled open the door for Ella.

Once she was in the car, Nate ran around and climbed into the driver’s side of the car. Ella lifted her hand and waved to Karen as Nate pulled away from the front of the house, and eased the car back down the driveway before they were on the road and finally headed back home.

“We’re home!” Nate cheered as he pulled into Ella’s driveway, and he was rewarded with a cheer from the three kids in the back of the car.

“Aren’t we going to go see Grandpa Henry?” Shelby asked as Nate turned off the engine and he and Ella, both opened the car doors.

“Maybe we can drop by later,” Nate replied as he pulled open the back door and unfastened Shelby’s car seat. “But first we need to take all our things into the house.”

“Alright,” Shelby replied with a sad face, and Ella couldn’t help but smile. She knew her dad would be thrilled to know that the kids had missed him so much.

“I’m hungry,” Max said as Ella lifted him from the car.

“Tell me something I don’t know, Sweetie,” Ella laughed, as she followed Max up the steps of the house, and slipped her keys into the lock on the door.

As she opened the front door and stepped back to let the girls follow Max into the house; she got an uneasy feeling that someone was watching her. She turned around and looked out at the street; not that she could see that much from the porch, but from what she could see, there was no one there.

“Are you okay?” Nate said as he joined Ella on the front porch with a bag in each hand.

“Yeah,” she shrugged, then gave him a smile. “Just feels weird to be home, I suppose.”

“You know that no one is going to hurt you,” Nate assured her, as he slipped his arms around her and drew her closer to him. “Stevenson is locked up, and Nina is in rehab.”

“I know,” Ella said as she forced a smile on her face and leaned up to kiss Nate softly on the lips.

“Daddy, swing!” Max said as he suddenly came running out the door and wrapped his arms around Nates legs. Nate gave Ella a smile as he dropped the bags just inside the door before he bent down and scooped Max up into his arms and headed into the house.

“Hey,” Ella said as she followed Nate through the house, and out into the back garden to where Cassie and Shelby were waiting for them. “I was thinking.”

“Should I be worried?” Nate laughed as he set Max down onto the swing.

“Funny,” Ella said as she stuck her tongue out at Nate. “I was thinking that maybe tomorrow we should get some painting charts, and maybe some wallpaper samples too. I think if the girls are going to live here, then they should have their own room. We can get new beds and stuff; they can pick them out themselves.”

“OH MY GOD!” Cassie squealed excitedly as she ran to Ella and hugged her tightly. “Can we really?”

“I don’t see why not,” Ella replied as she smiled down at the girl. “This is your home now, so you should have your own room.”

“This is so awesome!” Cassie exclaimed as she hugged Ella once more.

“I’m going to start dinner,” she said as Cassie ran back down the garden to where Nate was with Shelby and Max. “Then maybe we can drop by and visit my mom and dad.”

Ella turned and headed back into the house and opened the freezer to see what there was to eat. She sighed as she thought that they really should have stopped and got some groceries on the way home. She was about to head back out the back and suggest they went out for some food when her phone began to ring. She picked it up from the counter and smiled when she saw her parent’s number flash on the screen.

“Hey, Mom,” Ella said as she brought the phone to her ear.

“How did you know it would be me,” Nora asked and Ella could hear the smile in her voice.

“Because dad uses his cell phone to call me,” Ella laughed. “What’s up?”

“I was calling to see if you made it home okay,” Nora replied, and Ella laughed again. “She had phoned her mom to say they were heading home that morning, and she had called every half hour since, to check up on how they were doing.

“We just got back to the house,” Ella said as Nate appeared in the doorway. “One second, Mom.”

“There is a loose screw on the swing set,” Nate informed Ella. “I’m just popping over to the house to get my tool belt.”

“Okay,” she replied and gave him a smile before she turned her attention back to her mother. “Sorry, Mom; I’m back.”

“I was just going to ask if you guys wanted to come over for dinner,” Nora said with a hopeful tone in her voice. “We have missed you guys, and we would love it if you would say yes. Brandon, Ben and Jules are coming.”

“You know what, Mom,” Ella replied with a big grin. “We would love to.”

“That’s great news, Sweetheart,” Nora beamed through the phone. “I know your dad is going to be delighted.”

“What time do you want us there?” Ella asked.

“Come over as soon as you’re ready,” Nora replied. “We are dying to see you all.”

“The kids have been missing you too,” Ella said as she sat down on the kitchen stool. “Shelby wants to see Grandpa Henry.”

“Oh bless her little heart,” Nora laughed. “Your father will be delighted to hear it.”

“Well, I should go and get them ready to go,” Ella said as she stood up. “We will be there in about thirty minutes.”

“Perfect,” Nora replied before she said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. Ella smiled as she slipped her phone into her pocket and headed for the back door.

She was surprised to find just the two girls in the garden.

“Hey Cass,” Ella said as she walked down the back steps. “Where’s Max? Did he go with your dad?”

“He was just here,” Cassie said as she looked around the garden. “Dad said we should wait here.”

“Then where is he?” Ella asked as she walked further down into the garden.

“Maybe he followed my dad,” Cassie said as a look of panic filled the girls face. “I’m sorry, Ella. Dad told me to watch him, but…”

“It’s okay,” Ella said as she tried to sound calmer than she was actually feeling. She turned and headed for the side gate, and a sickening feeling settled in her stomach when she saw the gate was ajar. She picked up her speed, as she hurried around the side of the house. “MAX!”

Ella reached the front of the house and spun around as she searched for her little boy.

“MAX!”

Her heart was hammering so fast in her chest; she thought it was going to explode. She turned as she headed for the gap in the bushes that led through to Nate’s house.

“MAX!”

Just as she reached the front steps of the house, Nate appeared out through the front door, and he gave Ella a questioning look.

“Is Max with you?” She asked as she hurried up the front steps.

“What? No!” Nate replied. “He’s out the back with the girls.”

“OH GOD!” Ella cried as she spun around and hurried back down the steps. “MAX! MAX!”

“What’s going on, Ella?” Nate said as the colour suddenly drained from his face.

“Cassie said she thinks he followed you,” Ella explained as she hurried down the side of Nate’s house. “MAX!”

When she found the side gate was still locked, she hurried back towards Nate, and then back down through the gap in the bushes.

MAX!” Ella screamed, as her search became more frantic, she ran back down the side of the house, and back out into the backyard. Cassie and Shelby were now standing in the middle of the back garden with a look of fear on both their faces.

“MAX!” Ella cried as she ran into the house, and searched for her little boy, room by room. She could hear Nate calling his name from outside the house, but he was nowhere to be found.

When she checked every room upstairs, she hurried back down the stairs, but she stopped dead halfway down when she saw Nate standing at the bottom, holding Max’s stuffed dog.

“Where did you find that?” Ella asked as her stomach heaved

“It was out on the front sidewalk,” Nate croaked as he too looked like he was going to throw up.

“He’s gone,” Ella breathed out as she slumped down onto the step she was standing on. “MAX!”