SHADOWS OF THE PAST

CHAPTER TWO: AN UNEXPECTED REUNION

Logan sat at the edge of the park bench, his eyes scanning the playground nervously. He hadn’t felt this anxious in years. Today was the day he would meet his son for the first time. Maya had agreed to bring Ethan to the park, allowing them a chance to connect. The idea of seeing the boy who had his eyes, his blood, made Logan's heart race.

Maya had asked for patience. “Ethan doesn’t know anything about you yet,” she had told him on the phone. “We need to take things slow. He thinks Richard is his father.”

Logan had gritted his teeth at that. He respected Richard for stepping in, but it didn’t change the fact that Ethan was his son. He was the boy’s real father. And now it was time to build that bond.

Finally, Logan saw them Maya and a small boy with messy brown hair, running toward the swings. His heart stopped as he watched Ethan laugh, his tiny face lighting up with joy.

Maya caught Logan’s eye and gave a small wave, leading Ethan toward him. “Ethan, this is my friend, Logan,” she said gently.

Ethan looked up at Logan with curious eyes. “Hi,” the boy said, his voice shy but friendly.

Logan knelt down to his level, smiling softly. “Hi, Ethan. It’s nice to meet you.”

Ethan gave a small smile back but stayed close to his mother’s side. “Are you friends with my mom?”

Logan glanced at Maya, then nodded. “Yeah, you could say that. We go way back.”

Maya cleared her throat. “Why don’t you go play for a bit, Ethan? I need to talk to Logan.”

Ethan looked between the two of them, then nodded and ran off toward the jungle gym. Logan watched him go, feeling the ache of lost time deep in his chest.

“How is he?” Logan asked, his voice low.

Maya sighed, sitting down on the bench beside him. “He’s a good kid. He’s smart, funny, full of energy. He loves dinosaurs and can tell you the names of every single one.”

Logan smiled faintly. “Sounds like a great kid.”

“He is,” Maya agreed, watching Ethan fondly. “He’s my whole world, Logan.”

Logan nodded, his eyes never leaving Ethan. “I want to be part of that world, Maya.”

Maya turned to him, her expression serious. “I know. But we have to be careful. Richard… he’s been Ethan’s father in every way that matters. This is going to change everything for him.”

Logan clenched his fists, trying to keep his frustration in check. “I’m not trying to take Ethan away from Richard. But I deserve to know my son. And he deserves to know me.”

Maya sighed, rubbing her temples. “I understand that, Logan. But Ethan is just a kid. He’s not going to understand this easily.”

“Then help me,” Logan said softly. “Help me be part of his life. I don’t want to confuse him or hurt him. I just want to know him.”

Maya bit her lip, her mind racing with worry. “I don’t know how to do this, Logan. I’ve kept this secret for so long. I never thought this moment would come.”

Logan reached out, gently taking her hand. “We’ll figure it out. Together. For Ethan.”

Maya stared at their hands for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Okay. But we need to go slow. Let Ethan get used to you first, before we explain everything.”

Logan smiled, relief flooding him. “That’s all I ask.”

Just then, Ethan came running back, his face flushed from playing. “Mom, can we get ice cream now?”

Maya laughed softly. “Okay, okay. But you have to ask Logan if he wants to come too.”

Ethan turned to Logan, his eyes bright. “Do you like ice cream, Logan?”

Logan chuckled, standing up. “I love ice cream. Let’s go.”

They walked down the path toward the ice cream stand, Ethan chatting excitedly about all the different flavors he liked. Logan listened, his heart swelling with each word. This was his son his flesh and blood. And for the first time, he was hearing his voice, learning the little things that made Ethan who he was.

When they reached the ice cream stand, Ethan ordered a chocolate cone with rainbow sprinkles, and Maya got vanilla. Logan ordered the same as Ethan, earning a bright grin from the boy.

“You like chocolate too?” Ethan asked, licking his cone.

Logan smiled. “It’s my favorite.”

Ethan giggled. “Mine too! We’re the same!”

Logan’s heart clenched at those words. “Yeah, buddy. We are.”

Maya watched them quietly, her heart torn between happiness and fear. She had never seen Ethan connect with anyone so quickly, and it was clear Logan was making an effort. But the looming question of how to tell Ethan the truth still hung over her.

As they sat on a bench eating their ice cream, Ethan turned to Logan and asked, “Do you have any kids?”

Logan glanced at Maya, then shook his head. “No, I don’t. But I’m really happy I get to hang out with you today.”

Ethan grinned. “Me too! Can we play more after this?”

Logan chuckled. “Absolutely. What do you want to play?”

Ethan thought for a moment. “How about tag?”

“Tag it is,” Logan agreed, finishing his ice cream.

Maya smiled softly, watching them. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.

After a few rounds of tag, with Ethan laughing and running around the park, the sun began to dip in the sky. Maya checked her watch and sighed. “We should probably head home soon, Ethan.”

Ethan pouted, but he didn’t argue. “Okay. Can Logan come again?”

Maya hesitated, then looked at Logan. “Maybe. We’ll see.”

Logan crouched down to Ethan’s level, giving him a soft smile. “I’d like that, buddy. Maybe next time we can do something even more fun.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up. “Like the zoo? I love the zoo!”

Logan laughed. “The zoo sounds like a great idea.”

Maya stood up, gathering her things. “Alright, let’s get going.”

As they walked back toward the parking lot, Logan felt a sense of peace settle over him. This was just the beginning, but it felt right. Ethan was his son, and now, they had started something real.

Before they parted ways, Maya turned to Logan. “Thank you for today. I think… I think this could work.”

Logan nodded, his voice steady. “We’ll make it work, Maya. For Ethan.”

Maya smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. “Yeah. For Ethan.”

As they drove away, Logan stood there, watching them go. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in years, Logan felt like he had something worth fighting for. And he wasn’t going to give up on it.