Ella slowly opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself lying on her sofa. Her head felt like a grenade had gone off inside it.

“You’re going to be okay,” Nate said, and Ella could hear the relief in his voice, but it didn’t make her feel any calmer. She quickly sat up and gave him a questioning look. “You hit your head when you passed out. I’m afraid you are going to have a bit of a bump on your forehead. I think it might be a good idea to take you to the emergency room.”

“I’m fine,” Ella said sharply as she pulled herself up on the sofa and pushed his hands away from her. “What are you doing here?”

“Ella,” Nina said as she moved to where Ella could see her clearer. “This is my husband, Nathan, remember? You gave us quite a scare. You just hit the floor.”

“Ye…yeah, I remember, sorry,” Ella said as she forced a smile. “I guess I should have known better than to drink wine on an empty stomach.”

“I still think you should get checked out properly,” Nate insisted, as he gave Ella a strange look.

“Maybe you should,” Nina added. “Nathan is a Trauma Surgeon; he would know what was best.”

“I’m fine,” Ella insisted as she turned her feet to the floor and went to stand up. As soon as she did, she wobbled a bit, and Nate caught her before she fell. He guided her back down onto the sofa and stared into her eyes.

“I think you may have a mild concussion,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. Ella’s mind was racing. She had no idea what to think, much less what to say.

“I’ll be okay,” she insisted and dropped her eyes away from his. “I just need two painkillers and a good night’s sleep.”

“I will go get my bag,” Nate said as he stood up. “At least let me check you over properly if you won’t let me take you to the emergency room.”

“Okay,” she replied with a nod that made her head ache, but it was nothing compared to the pain she was feeling in her heart.

Nate hurried towards the door, and Ella rested her head back against the sofa and closed her eyes.

This can’t be happening, Ella screamed in her head. This was beyond anything that resembled fairness. She had finally got herself to a place in her life where she was happy again. This was supposed to be the start of better things for her and Max, not a step back into the past.

“Are you okay?” Nina asked as she sat down next to Ella. Ella jumped at the sound of her voice, as she had almost forgotten she was even there.

“Just have a headache,” Ella replied as she slowly opened her eyes. “I am sorry for ruining our night.”

“Don’t be silly,” Nina said then laughed. “Though you probably made Nathan’s night.”

“How would I have done that?” Ella said as she looked over at the woman sitting next to her, as a sickening feeling gripped the pit of her stomach.

“He just loves to play the knight in shining armour,” Nina said, and Ella couldn’t help but notice the hint of irritation in her voice. She didn’t know how she was supposed to reply to her remark, so she didn’t. She just remained silent.

“Sorry,” Nina said as she turned her gaze from Ella and stared at the ceiling. “Maybe I have had too much wine too.”

They both sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they waited for Nate to return.

Ella was just beginning to relax when she heard him coming through the front door and once again her stomach knotted with tension.

This would be funny if it wasn’t such a complete nightmare, she thought to herself miserably.

“Now,” Nate said as he made his way across the living room and knelt down in front of Ella. “Let’s start by letting me have a look at that bump.”

He leaned in closer to Ella and softly pressed around the bump that was now like a golf ball, sitting on her forehead. As he leaned in, she could smell his aftershave, and instantly mental images of their bodies tangled together filled her mind. She quickly pushed that thought back down inside.

“I don’t think you fractured your skull,” Nate said as he looked down into her eyes. “But I would still be happier if you were to have it x-rayed.”

“I’m okay,” Ella insisted. “It’s just a bump.”

“Okay,” he said as he returned his attention to his bag and pulled out a tiny light.

“I need to check your eyes,” he said, as once more he leaned close to her and shone the light into her eyes, and once more Ella could smell his glorious scent, and her heart raced.

“You have a mild concussion,” he said as he switched off the light and looked directly at Ella. “Do you feel nauseous?”

“No,” she lied, but she knew that her feeling sick had nothing to do with banging her head. It was because of the nightmare situation she was in, and the man that was kneeling in front of her.

“Are you sure?” Nate said as if he knew she was lying.

“I’m fine,” she replied staring him in the eye.

Okay,” he said and gave her a smile. “Well I will give you some painkillers, but I would suggest no more wine tonight.”

“Okay,” Ella replied and forced a smile. “I think I will just call it a night.”

“We will go and let you get some rest,” Nina said as she stood up from the sofa. “Nathan can call by tomorrow and check on you to make sure you’re okay.”

“Honestly,” Ella said. “There is no need.”

“I really don’t like leaving you here alone,” Nathan said as they walked to the door. “Isn’t there someone who could come and stay with you?”

“No,” Ella replied quickly. “There is just me.”

It was at that moment; reality hit Ella. Nate was going to meet Max at some point. Suddenly the only thought she had was getting Nina and Nate out of her house as fast as she could.

“If you need us through the night,” Nina said as she stepped out onto the front porch. “You know where we are.”

Nina said goodnight before she turned and walked down the pathway, towards the gap in the bushes. Nathan stood there for a moment and just stared at Ella. He looked like there was so much he wanted to say, but he was afraid to say a single word.

Ella stared at him for a moment and that attraction that had been there that night, all those years before was still there and that scared her. She needed to close this straight down.

“Good night, Nathan,” she said and even she was surprised at how cold she sounded. Before he could respond, she stepped back into the house and closed the front door.

When she was behind the safety of her door, she released the breath she was holding. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the door.

“OUCH!” She cried out and lifted her head up immediately and touched the bump on her head. “You idiot.”

She knocked off the light and made her way up the stairs to her bedroom.

It was still cluttered with boxes, but her bed was made. She stripped off her clothes and pulled on a t-shirt before she climbed into bed. She just felt exhausted. She closed her eyes, and before she had time to process what had happened that night, she drifted into a restless sleep.

Ella stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. The bump on her head had gone down a bit but was now bruised, and her head hurt like hell. None of that compared to how she was feeling inside.

“What are you going to do now?” She asked her reflection in the mirror, but she had no idea what the answer was. She had no clue what her next move should be.

Of all the houses in the world she could have chosen from, she had to buy the one next door to the last person she wanted to live next to.

Ella laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of the situation. It would have been hilarious if it wasn’t so bloody awful.

She looked down at her watch and saw the time.

“Damn!” She cried as she hurried from the bathroom and down the stairs. Her mom was bringing Max home soon, and she needed to make sure that she had cleared away as many boxes as she could.

She had just finished cleaning up the mess in the kitchen from the night before when the door bell sounded. Ella smiled and hurried towards the door. She missed Max already.

“You can use your key, Mom,” Ella said as she reached the door and opened it, but when she saw Nate standing there, she froze, and her stomach flipped.

“Hey,” he said with a cautious smile. “How’s the head?”

“It hurts like hell,” Ella replied coldly, as she began to close the door once again. “But I’m okay, so you can go…”

“Ella, please,” Nate said as he slammed his hand against the door. “Just hear me out.”

“You have nothing to say that I want to hear,” Ella replied as a wave of anger washed over her.

“I need to explain,” Nate said as he gave Ella a pleading look, but that just pissed her off more.

“What’s there to say, Nate?” Ella snapped back. “You lied to me to get what you wanted…”

“I never lied,” Nate cut in quickly.

“But you didn’t tell me the truth either, so it’s the same thing,” Ella sighed impatiently before she finally opened the door wider to let him in, knowing he wasn’t going to leave until he had said what he came to say. She turned and stormed off towards the kitchen leaving him standing there at her door, but he quickly followed her. “And if you came here to make sure I would keep your dirty little secret from your wife, you can relax. Making this clusterfuck of a mistake worse than what it already is, is not high on my to-do list.”

“That’s not why I’m here,” Nate said as he stood and watched Ella. “You know that’s not why. I came to make sure you were alright, and I don’t just mean your head.”

“As you can see, I’m fine,” Ella replied as she continued to pack away the last bits in the kitchen. “So you can go back to your perfect life and leave me the hell alone.”

“My life is far from perfect,” Nate sighed as he walked closer to Ella. “And that night we spent together was not a mistake.”

He grabbed Ella by the arms and turned her so that she was facing him. Ella was stunned by his behaviour.

“That night was one of the best of my life,” Nate continued as he looked down into her eyes. “Well, it was until you left without saying goodbye. I tried to find you, for the longest time. I tried everything I could think of, but it was like you just vanished. I thought I was never going to see you again. Why didn’t you let me explain that morning? You just left without hearing my side of things. You found a ring, and you made your mind up about me.”

“What was there to explain?” Ella whispered as she looked up into his eyes. “You were married, sorry, are married. There is nothing more to say.”

“There is so much more to say,” he said as he took her face in his hands and softly brushed his lips against hers. For a moment, Ella didn’t react. She was stunned this was actually happening. The moment his lips met hers, every feeling she had that night almost five years before came flooding back to her. Slowly she melted into his kiss as her heart overruled her head.

Suddenly, reality kicked in, and Ella quickly pushed Nate away from her.

“What are you doing?” She demanded as she stepped back away from him. “You’re married.”

“It’s not that simple,” Nate quickly replied.

“Yes, it is,” Ella replied. “What happened that night was a mistake, and not one I am going to repeat. Now, please, just go.”

“Ella,” Nate sighed but before he could say another word the sound of the front door opening, echoed through the house.

“Ella,” Nora’s voice came from the hallway. “It’s only us.”

“Oh crap,” Ella sighed miserably, as she wondered if this nightmare could possibly get any worse. Nate just stared at her, and she realised this was happening now, whether she liked it or not.

“I’m in here, Mom,” Ella said as her heart hammered in her chest. Before she had time to think, Nora appeared at the kitchen door, holding Max’s hand.

“Oh,” Nora said as she looked a little surprised to see a man standing in the kitchen with her daughter. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”

“Mom, this is Nathan Regan,” Ella said knowing she needed to say something. “He lives next door.”

“Nice to meet you,” Nora said as she offered Nate her hand. “I’m Nora, Ella’s mom.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Nate replied before his eyes dropped to Max. “And who is this little man?”

Max instantly stepped behind Nora, and Ella could feel her stomach clench with so many different emotions. Nate was his dad, and Max deserved to know that, but how could she even begin to explain this mess to him. He would never understand, and she knew she needed to protect him.

“Max,” Nora said as she turned to her grandson. “Aren’t you going to say hello to Nathan?”

“Hi,” Max said quickly without looking at Nate.

“Hello, Max,” Nate said and smiled at him. “You’re a big boy.”

“I’m four,” Max said, still hiding behind his grandma. Nate’s face instantly changed and Ella could feel her heart race in her chest. He turned to her and gave her a questioning look but said nothing.

“Why don’t you go give your mom a kiss?” Nora said as she guided Max around towards Ella. Nate’s eyes widened, and Ella knew exactly what he was thinking. She gave him a pleading look and prayed he wouldn’t say anything. Not now.

“Hey, baby,” Ella said as she pulled herself together and wrapped her arms around her son. “Did you have fun at grandma’s?”

“New house,” Max blurted out as Ella released him from her embrace.

“Yes, sweetheart,” Ella replied as she leaned down to face her little boy. “We have a new house, and you will have a new bedroom. What do you think of that?”

“I’m hungry,” Max said as he walked to the stool and climbed up on to it.

“I will fix you something now, sweetie,” Ella replied as she glanced over at Nate once again. His face was pale but unreadable. Ella had no idea what he was thinking, but she knew he was not happy.

“Ella, sweetheart,” Nora said as she suddenly noticed the bump on Ella’s forehead. “What in God’s name have you done to your head?”

“I had a bit of an accident last night,” Ella sighed. “That’s why Nathan is here. He’s a doctor, and he just stopped by to make sure I was okay. He checked my head last night, but I’m okay.”

“You should have called me,” Nora said before she turned to Nate. “Thank you so much for looking after her. Sometimes I wonder where I got her from. She is always bumping into things.”

“It was my pleasure,” Nate replied and managed to force a smile. “But I should probably be going now. It was lovely to meet you, Nora. And you too, Max.”

“Bye,” Max replied absentmindedly.

Nate turned and walked towards the door, as Ella followed him out.

“Thank you for taking care of me last night,” Ella said, realising she needed to say something.

“I think we need to talk,” Nate replied in a hushed voice when he reached the door. He turned back to Ella and gave her a pleading look.

“There is nothing left to say,” Ella sighed.

“Oh, I think there is,” Nate replied. “Next time I’m not leaving till I get some answers.”

Without saying another word, he turned and walked out the front door, leaving Ella just standing there. She closed the front door and rested her head against the hardwood.

What a freaking mess! She thought to herself. You have really done it this time.