“Are you okay, Sweetheart?” Nora asked Ella when she came to collect Max the next day after work. “You’re awfully quiet.”

“Yeah,” Ella said and she gave her mother a reassuring smile. “I just didn’t sleep too well last night.”

“You’re still getting used to your new environment,” Nora replied as she busied herself in the kitchen. “You will get past that. At least the bruise on your forehead has faded a little.”

“How was he today?” Ella asked as she stood and watched Max out in the back yard with her father. Henry had him watering the flowers, and Max was doing a wonderful job of watering himself as much as the flowers, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“He was as good as gold,” Nora replied happily. “Just like he always is.”

“Mom,” Ella said as she turned to her mother and walked slowly back towards her. “Do you think Max misses out because he doesn’t have his father in his life?”

“No,” Nora replied as she looked up at her daughter. “He has your dad and your brothers. I don’t think Max cares who they are, as long as they love him.”

“But do you think, knowing his real father,” Ella continued nervously. “Would that be the right thing for Max?”

“Why are you asking this now?” Nora asked, reading Ella like a book. “Has something happened?”

“No,” Ella quickly replied. “I was just curious is all, nothing more.”

“This is about that man,” Nora said as she set down her chopping knife. “The one in your house the other day. He’s Max’s father, isn’t he?”

Ella was floored. She couldn’t believe her mother had figured it out straight away. She could feel her face burn as she struggled to respond to her question.

“How did you know?” Ella said the only thing that came to her mind.

“Well, apart from the fact you looked like you were going to vomit when Max and I walked in on you both,” Nora said with a smile. “There is a great resemblance between Max and him. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out. Max has your fair hair, but everything else it would seem is his father.”

“Oh God,” Ella sighed as she sat down on a stool in front of her mother. “It’s such a mess. He lives next door for Christ sakes. I just don’t know what to think. He figured out the truth about Max. I guess he saw the resemblance too. He wants to get to know Max, but I’m scared.”

“Does he want to be Max’s father?” Nora asked.

“Oh, he does, very much so,” Ella replied. “But it’s so complicated.”

“Because he’s married,” Nora said, and Ella gave her a surprised look. It seemed she knew everything. “He was wearing a ring.”

“I didn’t know he was,” Ella quickly replied, feeling she needed to make that clear straight away. “The night I met him, we just seemed to click. Which was strange for me, because I’m normally so guarded. Then I found out he was married, and I just left without giving him a chance to explain. He said that when we met, he and his wife were separated, that as far as he was concerned, it was over.”

“And now?” Nora asked, and Ella knew her mother could see right through her.

“He is back with his wife,” Ella shrugged. “And that’s the end of that, but he wants a chance to get to know Max.”

“And is that what you want?” Nora asked.

“I don’t know, I guess so,” Ella shrugged again. “I just wish he didn’t have to live right next door.”

“I suppose some might say it was faith,” Nora replied as she reached over and took her daughter’s hand. “But I just want you to be careful. Nathan seemed like a nice man, and I am sure he has the best of intentions when it comes to Max, I just don’t want to see you hurt or disappointed.”

“As long as he keeps to his word about Max,” Ella insisted. “That’s all I care about. Max is all that matters.”

“What’s all you care about?” Henry said from the doorway. Ella froze and gave her mother a pleading look. She wanted to tell her father about Nate, but not just yet. She needed to figure things out for herself and didn’t need her father or her brothers making this more difficult than it already was.

She knew they all thought of Max as theirs, and she wasn’t sure how they would take to having another man in his life, even if he were his real father.

“Ruby is trying to set her up on another blind date,” Nora replied without missing a beat. “Ella was just saying that she wasn’t that keen and all she cares about is Max being happy.”

“He is happy,” Henry replied and as if on cue, Max walked in through the door behind Henry and walked straight over to Ella.

“Hey, little man,” Ella said as she leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “How was your day?”

“I’m hungry,” Max replied as he leaned his head against Ella’s stomach.

“There’s a surprise,” Ella laughed as she kissed him again.

“Are you going to stay for dinner?” Nora asked. “Ben and Jules said they would be here.”

“You have enough to be doing, Mom,” Ella smiled.

“Two more won’t make a difference,” Nora replied as she gave Ella a smile. “Besides, I don’t get to spend enough girl time with you; maybe we can have a proper chat later.”

“You’re kidding me, right,” Henry laughed as he picked Max up. “How about we go get cleaned up for dinner, Max? Give these ladies a chance to bond a bit more.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ella said once she and her mother were alone once again. “I will tell Dad about Nate, I promise; I just need to know what is happening first.”

“You will figure it out, Sweetheart,” Nora replied, as she gave Ella a broad smile. “I know my daughter, and I know that you have a good head on your shoulders, and you’ll do the right thing.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ella replied.

“How are you settling into your new house?” Jules asked as she ate her dinner. She and Ben arrived at the house, just as dinner was ready, and they were happy to see Ella and Max were still there.

“Good,” Ella beamed. Despite everything, she still loved her house. It was what she had always dreamed of her for her and Max. “I still can’t believe it’s mine. You should come by with Ben to see it.”

“I would love that,” Jules replied with a smile. Despite a shaky start, Ella and Jules actually got on really well. Ella found her a great source of information when it came to Max and what to look for in a school. Plus, she liked having another girl in the family. It helped balance the sides a little.

“What are the neighbours like?” Ben asked, and Nora almost choked on her dinner.

“Are you okay,” Henry asked, giving her a strange look as he patted her back.

“Yeah,” she coughed again as she reached for her glass of water and gave Ella an apologetic look. “It just went against my breath.” She glanced at Ella again, but this time Ella didn’t look at her.

Instead, she focused on her dinner, hoping her brother would forget he had asked her a question; but she wasn’t so lucky.

“So,” Ben said as he looked up at Ella. “Your neighbours?”

“Yeah,” Ella said and forced a smile. “They seemed nice enough.”

“Mom said that one of them is a doctor,” Ben continued, completely oblivious to Ella’s sudden discomfort. “She said he took care of you when you bumped your head.”

“Yes he did,” Ella replied as she quickly glanced at her mother, and smiled nervously.

“Was it his wife that called to the house the other day,” Ben laughed. “She was pretty. Bran had his eye on her until he heard she was married. Guess he draws the line at home wrecker. Who would have thought he actually has some standards.”

“He was raised to know better,” Henry said as he continued to eat his dinner. “You never come between a husband and wife.”

Ella froze. She couldn’t believe he said that. She worried what he would think of her when the truth came out about Nate being Max’s father.

Suddenly her appetite vanished, and she felt her stomach heave.

“I think I need some fresh air,” she said as she suddenly stood up and surprised everyone. “Please excuse me.”

Ella turned and hurried to the back door, then headed out onto the back porch. She sat down on the swing, closed her eyes and took several steadying breaths.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Henry said as he appeared at the back-door moments later.

“Yeah,” Ella replied with a smile. “It’s just been a long few days and I’m feeling tired.”

“Are you sure?” Henry asked as he sat down next to her on the back-porch swing. “You seem a little upset.”

“Yeah,” she smiled, trying her best not to show her true feelings. “That’s all it is.”

“Well,” he sighed as he took her hand and squeezed it before he stood up. “If you’re sure, I will leave you alone.”

He turned and walked towards the door, then stopped before he walked inside and turned back to Ella.

“I know I’m not your mom,” Henry said as he gave Ella a smile. “And I know I have not always handled things well in the past. But I am here if you need to talk. About anything.”

“I know, Daddy,” Ella replied as she stood up and walked towards her father. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

“I love you, Sweetheart,” he whispered as he hugged her back.

“Love you, too, Dad,” Ella replied before she released him from her embrace. “I promise I’m okay. I’m just tired; that’s all.”

“Are you coming back in?” He asked as he stepped back toward the door.

“I will in a few minutes,” Ella replied. “I just need a bit of air.”

“Okay,” he said as he gave her a worried look before he turned and disappeared back inside the house. Ella sighed as she walked back to the swing and sat down once again. She stared out into the garden, which was now cloaked in shadows, as the summer sun began to set in the sky. A cool breeze washed over her face, and she closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander.

She thought of Nate, and she smiled as she remembered the happiness in his voice as the realization hit him that he had a son.

She wondered if he had told Nina about Max yet. Ella was worried about how Nina would take the news. She doubted it would be something that she would be happy about, but if what Nate had said about them being separated was true, surely she couldn’t be angry. Ella knew she would be upset at the very least.

They were a family, and now Max was part of that. That thought made Ella feel uncomfortable and a little sick. Regardless of how Nate felt, Max was her son. She had been the one that had been there for him since day one.  Every therapy, every meltdown, she had been the one who was there, and the thought of someone else coming into the picture scared her.

She had no idea how introducing new people to him would sit with Max. He had his routine and change could be hard on him. Ella was afraid.

She rubbed the tiredness from her eyes and stood up. She needed to go back into her family before they started to worry about her. Also, she needed to get Max home as his bedtime was fast approaching.

“There you are,” Nora said the moment she saw Ella walk back into the house. “I was just going to come get you.”

“Is everything alright?” Ella asked as she gave her mother a worried look.

“Yeah,” Nora smiled. “But your dad was just saying; you might need a night off, and maybe a good night’s sleep. He suggested you leave Max here tonight. You aren’t working tomorrow, maybe you could have a lie in tomorrow, and then do something fun for you. You never take any time for just you.”

“But you had him today,” Ella said worried she was asking too much of her mother. “I know how tiring he can be.”

“And?” Nora asked as she walked to her daughter and kissed her forehead. “Sweetheart, I know you have a lot going on in your mind. I think a little you time will do you a world of good. Besides, you know we love having Max here.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ella said as she hugged her mother tight, grateful for the offer. Ella knew she was right, she needed some down time, to try and figure things out in her own mind.

About an hour later, she pulled into her driveway, glad to be home. She had a hot bath and a bottle of Merlot with her name on it. As she climbed out of the car and made her way to the house, she decided she was going to ring Ruby and see how she was doing. Her due date was getting closer, and Ella knew that her friend was nervous.

“Ella,” Nina called from behind her just as Ella slipped her key into the lock on the front door.

“Hi,” Ella said as she turned and gave Nina a nervous smile. She wondered if Nina had come to tell her just what she thought of her, and have it out with her about Nate and Max.

“I thought I heard you pulling in,” she said as she gave her a broad smile. “I see you’re alone. Perfect.”

Ella looked at her, confused by her reaction, then it hit her, Nate hadn’t told her about Max yet, and if she was honest, that bothered her a little.

“I was thinking,” Nina continued. “Well hoping really, if you would like to come over for a few glasses of wine. Nathan is at work, and I have no idea when he will be home. The girls are having a sleepover at their friend’s house, so I’m all alone. I was hoping we could finish our night.”

“Actually,” Ella said as she desperately tried to think of a way to let her down gently. It didn’t feel right going to her home and acting like they were best friends, knowing she was keeping a huge secret from her. “I was just going to have an early night…”

“Please,” Nina pleaded. “It’s been a shitty few days, and I really could use someone to talk to.”

Ella knew she should have said no, that it was wrong that she would let Nina confide in her, giving the secret she was keeping from her, but something in her eyes looked sad, and Ella couldn’t refuse her request.

“Just let me go freshen up,” Ella smiled, knowing that this was beyond madness. “And I will follow you over.”

“Great,” Nina beamed before she turned and headed back down the pathway.

What the hell did you just agree to? Ella screamed in her head as she stepped through the door and closed it behind her. This is an unholy mess!