Chapter 298

Megan

Chapter 10

Megan

Ella moves her hand into mine as we walk out of my room. Max runs out with us and bounces toward the living room. I stroke Ella’s hand with my thumb as we turn towards the living room. Logan is sitting on the light grey sofa, stroking Max. He’s changed out of his designer suit, and he’s wearing a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a white t-shirt. He looks up from stroking Max towards Ella and me. Courtney and Yasmin both sneak off towards their room as Ella and I walk towards Logan. I feel Ella grip my leg and move to stand behind me.

“Hey,” he says and stands up. He glances down at Ella. “Hello Ella,” he says and crouches to her level. She grabs my leg tighter. He looks up at me, and I smile a little at him.

“She was excited to meet you. I think she’s gone shy,” I say to him and bend down to pick Ella up. “C’mon, let's sit down,” I say to her, and she nods. We sit on the couch, and I notice he has a glass of water in front of him. I know he’d prefer something else but probably doesn’t trust Courtney or Yasmin to make him a cup of tea correctly.

“My name is Logan Peters,” he tells Ella.

“Hello, Mr Peters, you made my mommy cry,” she says, and I sigh and smack my head onto my hand. “You were mean,” Ella tells him. “You shouted at her and called her names and called me a naughty word,” and I can’t help but smile a little. That must mean she had listened to what was being said.

“I, I know, and I’m sorry for that,” Logan stutters. “I was ignorant, and you’re right. I was mean,” he pauses and looks at me, then back at Ella. “I’m sorry, and I promise from today I’ll be nice to both of you, and you can call me Logan.”

“Do you like mommy now?” she asks.

“I’ll always like your mommy. I was angry and upset that day,” he tells her.

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t keep the promise I made to your mommy,” he states, making me frown at him. “I’d promised her I’d never leave her and that she wouldn’t be a single mom. I broke that promise, and I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for it,” he tells her. Ella moves off my lap to stand between my legs. She pushes my hands around her stomach and looks at him.

“Why did you leave? Mommy says you were ill, but why were you gone for so long?” she asks. “I’m four now,”

“I was ill, and I think I was too ashamed to come back,” he admits.

“That’s stupid,” Ella says and tighten my grip on her.

“Ella, don’t be rude,”

“Sorry,” she mumbles.

“Why don’t you tell me about you?” he says to her.

“I’m four, and my name is Ella-Louise Elizabeth Wright. I’m really smart, and I’m 89.2 centimetres. My favourite food is chocolate fudge cake, and I love chocolate milkshakes,” she tells him.

“Chocolate fudge cake, that’s mine too,” he tells her.

“Really?” she asks excitedly, making Logan smile a little.

“Yeah, it’s the best flavour cake,”

“Told you,” she says to me, and I smile.

“I never said it wasn’t nice; I just prefer lemon. I won’t say no to chocolate fudge cake,” I say to them.

“What’s England like?” she asks him.

“Depends on the part of England, it’s very similar to America, but the people are different,” he says to her, “and the food,” he adds.

“Can I show you the book I’m reading?” she asks.

“Sure,”

“I’ll go get it,” she then runs out of my arms to go get her book.

“How am I doing?” Logan quietly asks me. I can see just how nervous he is.

“I’d say she likes you,” I say.

“She’s scared of me,”

“No, I’d say she is more cautious. It’s going to take time; the first time she saw you wasn’t the best impression of you,”

“I know, and I’m sorry about that,”

“I know, and I know that isn’t you,” I say and stand up. “Do you want something other than water?” I ask. “I’ve got some iced tea that Ella and I made yesterday,” I say to him.

“Sure,”

“I got it,” Ella says, running back in with her book held to her chest. “Look, Harry Potter,”

“That’s a big book,” he says to her.

“Mommy helps me. We read it on a night before bed,” she says. “Do you want to read it with me?” she asks, and I can hear the smile in her voice.

“Sure,” he says and takes the book from her. “Shall we read it before you go to bed?” he asks.

“We can read it now,” she says and then looks at me. “Can’t we, mommy?” she asks as I put Logan’s drink on the table.

“Yeah, I need to sort out your laundry anyway,” I say. I don’t need to do that right now, but I think it’ll be better to give them some alone time. Maybe she’ll be more comfortable without me sat here watching them.

\---

I walk into the living room to see Logan picking Ella up. He turns once he has hold of her. My heart nearly lurches out of my chest at seeing him holding her. For years I’ve been imagining seeing him with her and wondering just what kind of father he’d be with her, but now right in front of me, I can see. He’d be amazing. Stomping the lost feelings I had for him down to the bottom of my heart, I give him a small smile.

“She fell asleep,” he says as he looks down at her—the adoration for her evident in his blue eyes.

“Yeah, It’s past her bedtime,” I say.

“Where’s her bedroom?” he asks.

“In here,” I motion for him to follow me. I open the white door with ‘Ella’ stuck on it in pink. He follows me inside. I pull her bed covers back and watch him lay her on her bed.

“She’s amazing,” he says as he moves her hair behind her ear. He then looks at me, “that’s down to you,” he adds. I shake my head and look away from him.

“I had help,” I admit.

“Doesn’t matter, you’re doing an amazing job, and she’s evidence of that,” he says and moves the blanket over her. “Night night Ella,” he says to her before kissing the top of her head.

“Night, Logan,” she says sleepily back. I smile and shake my head. A sneaky little devil is what she is. Logan chuckles a little and tucks her in before standing up, “Wait,” Ella says, sitting up a little. “Will you come to see me again?” she asks.

“Yes, whenever you want,” he tells her.

“Tomorrow?” she asks.

“Urm,” he looks at me.

“Leave it with us,” I say to Ella. “I’ll let you know in the morning,” I tell her. She nods and lays back down.

“Bye, Logan,” she says to him. I turn her night light on and close her door, leaving it open the slightest bit for one of the pets. Normally, Max or one of the cats sleeps in her room with her.