Stand back

Victoria stood in the kitchen, her hands running through the familiar motions of preparing dinner. Ethan’s laughter drifted in from the living room, his small voice muffled by the television. The house was quieter than it had been in a long while. She hadn’t expected life to be easy, but she was managing.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, the familiar ringtone for Zander. She hesitated, looking at the screen for a moment, before swiping it away.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ethan’s footsteps in the hall. He appeared at the kitchen door, still clutching his toy dinosaur.

“Mom, I’m hungry,” he said, eyes wide, expectant.

Victoria smiled, a tired but genuine smile. “Dinner’s almost ready. You can set the table if you want.”

Ethan grinned, running to grab the plates. She watched him for a moment, the warmth in her chest growing despite everything. Despite the uncertainty, the mess, the chaos that had become her life.

There was a knock on the door.

Victoria raised an eyebrow, setting the spoon down. “Who is it?” she called out, wiping her hands on a towel.

“Me,” came the reply, a voice she recognized all too well.

Sighing softly, Victoria opened the door to find Daniel standing on the other side, looking unsure, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets.

“I’m just checking in,” he said, voice tight but soft.

Victoria didn’t move. She didn’t know how to respond. “Ethan’s inside,” she said, avoiding his eyes.

Daniel nodded, stepping closer. “I’ve been thinking,” he began, then hesitated, as though unsure if he should continue. “About everything.”

“Don’t, Daniel,” Victoria said, her tone firm. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. I’m figuring things out on my own.”

He opened his mouth, but she raised a hand. “I said no. We’re not doing this again. I’ve got enough to worry about.”

Daniel stood there for a moment, still, then nodded slowly. “I get it.” He paused, glancing toward the door. “But… just know I’m here if you need anything.”

Victoria stepped aside to let him in, but her expression was unreadable. She didn’t need him for anything anymore. Not like before. She wasn’t the same woman who had leaned on him, hoping for answers, for stability.

Ethan ran into the hallway, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Daniel. “Daddy!” he called, rushing into his arms.

Victoria’s chest tightened, but she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. Not with Daniel standing there, acting as though he had a right to be part of Ethan’s life.

“How’s it going, champ?” Daniel asked, kneeling down to Ethan’s level.

“I’m doing great! Mom said I can have dinner with you after we’re done!” Ethan grinned, showing his missing tooth.

Victoria folded her arms, leaning against the door frame. “Ethan, dinner’s almost ready. Why don’t you go wash your hands?”

“Okay, Mom!” Ethan darted off, leaving her and Daniel alone in the hallway.

Daniel stood up slowly, his eyes meeting hers. “Victoria—”

“No,” she interrupted, voice quiet but sharp. “I’m not doing this again. You don’t get to just walk back in, Daniel. I’ve spent too much time letting you come and go as you pleased. I can’t do that anymore. Ethan doesn’t deserve that.”

“I’m not trying to take him from you,” Daniel said quickly, his hands raised in surrender.

“I know,” Victoria replied, a hint of sadness in her voice. “But we’re not going back to what we had. I’m not waiting around for you to figure things out.”

Daniel opened his mouth, but the words didn’t come. He didn’t know what to say to that.

Victoria stepped forward, brushing past him. “I’ve got a life now. It’s just me and Ethan.”

She didn’t need to look back to know that he was still standing there, watching her. She’d been doing this on her own for a while, and she didn’t need to explain it to him anymore.

She didn’t need his approval.

Victoria walked back into the kitchen, where Ethan had just returned from washing his hands. His small form was standing on the edge of the counter, eyes wide, waiting for her to serve the food.

“Mom, can I have extra mashed potatoes today?” Ethan asked, his face lighting up at the thought of extra servings.

Victoria smiled softly, her heart softening for a moment. She went to the stove, ladling some extra potatoes onto his plate. “Sure, but only if you promise to finish them,” she teased, trying to keep her voice light.

Ethan nodded enthusiastically. “I promise! Thanks, Mom!”

She placed his plate in front of him, then moved to sit down across from him at the small dining table. The clinking of silverware against plates filled the silence for a moment. Her mind was elsewhere, her thoughts drifting between the conversation with Daniel and the reality of her new life.

“You okay, Mom?” Ethan asked, looking up from his plate with concern in his eyes.

Victoria blinked, pulling herself back to the present. She smiled at him, a warm but tired smile. “Yeah, just thinking, that’s all.”

Ethan nodded, his attention returning to his meal. He seemed oblivious to the complexities of what had just happened. To him, life was simple—he loved his mom, and he loved spending time with her. Victoria envied that simplicity sometimes.

The doorbell rang again, breaking the stillness. Victoria glanced up. She didn’t expect anyone else, but the sound of the bell made her heart skip a beat.

“Who could that be?” she muttered under her breath, standing up slowly.

As she opened the door, she was met by Sophie, standing on her doorstep, a hesitant look in her eyes.

“Hey,” Sophie greeted, her voice softer than usual. “I wanted to check in on you. After everything that happened, I thought it might be good to talk.”

Victoria looked at her for a moment before stepping aside to let her in. “Come on in,” she said, trying to sound casual but feeling a slight unease.

Sophie stepped inside, glancing toward the kitchen where Ethan was finishing his dinner.

“Ethan’s doing better, I hope?” Sophie asked, her tone almost maternal.

Victoria nodded, her gaze shifting toward her son. “He’s tough. He’s adjusting, and so am I.”

Sophie leaned against the counter, her arms folded. “I’m sorry about all of this, you know? The mess Daniel left you in. You didn’t deserve that.”

Victoria forced a tight smile, shrugging it off. “Life happens, right? You just keep going.”

Sophie looked at her, her gaze softer now. “But it’s more than just keeping going, Victoria. You’re doing more than surviving. You’re finding yourself again.”

Victoria met her gaze, her heart swelling with emotion. She wanted to say something, wanted to acknowledge the support Sophie had been offering, but her words caught in her throat. Instead, she simply nodded, her eyes betraying the fatigue she’d been carrying.

“Thanks, Sophie. I’m trying.”

The silence between them lingered for a moment before Sophie broke it. “If you ever need anything—if you need help with Ethan or just someone to talk to—you know where to find me.”

Victoria met her gaze, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel the quiet comfort of friendship.

“Thanks,” Victoria said again, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just then, Ethan’s voice called out from the kitchen. “Mom, can we watch a movie after dinner?”

Victoria smiled, nodding. “Of course, buddy. Let’s finish up here first, okay?”

Ethan grinned, his innocence and simplicity a stark contrast to everything Victoria had been dealing with.

As Sophie stood up to leave, she placed a hand on Victoria’s shoulder. “You’re not alone in this, you know. Not anymore.”

Victoria gave a small nod, watching Sophie head for the door. As the door clicked shut, she stood there for a moment, her hand pressed to her chest. She had made it this far. She would keep going, not because she had to, but because she finally knew she could.

Her son needed her. And that was enough for her to keep moving forward, one day at a time.

With that resolve, she returned to the kitchen to finish dinner, and the evening continued on in its quiet simplicity.

Victoria sat down next to Ethan as they settled in front of the TV, the movie starting in a quiet hum. Ethan snuggled against her, his head resting against her shoulder, a warmth that filled the space between them. She could feel his small breath against her skin, the simplicity of his presence grounding her in the moment.

“Thanks, Mom,” Ethan whispered, his eyes barely open, already half-distracted by the beginning scenes of the movie.

“For what, baby?” Victoria asked, her voice soft, trying to keep her attention on him rather than her scattered thoughts.

“Just for being you. For always taking care of me.”

Victoria swallowed hard, her eyes stinging unexpectedly. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear those words. “I’m always going to take care of you,” she whispered back, her heart both full and fragile at the same time.

The movie played on in the background, but Victoria’s mind drifted. Thoughts of Daniel, of everything that had unraveled, and the truth about Ethan’s paternity swirled in her mind. She was still processing it all. She wasn’t sure how to feel or what was real anymore. She had been so sure for years that Daniel was Ethan’s father, and now, that certainty was shattered.

Zander’s face appeared in her thoughts—their past, the connection that still lingered. The more she thought about it, the more confused she felt. She didn’t know how to explain everything to Ethan, or even if she ever could.

“Mom?” Ethan’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

She turned to him, blinking away her quiet reflection. “Yeah?”

“Do you think I’m doing okay? I know I was in the hospital and all…”

Victoria’s heart tugged at the question, and she nodded, smiling reassuringly. “You’re doing great, Ethan. I’m so proud of you.”

Ethan smiled brightly, but then, after a pause, his face grew serious. “I know… I know Zander is my real dad. I’m happy he is. I think he’s better than Daniel.”

Victoria’s chest tightened. She hadn’t expected him to bring it up so directly, especially after everything that had happened.

“Sweetheart,” she began, her voice soft but firm, “Zander cares about you. He’s always going to be there for you. But you know that no matter what, I’m your mom, and I’m always here for you, too.”

Ethan nodded, but there was an uncertainty in his eyes. “But… you’re not upset with me for saying it, right?” he asked quietly.

Victoria took a deep breath, pushing aside her own fears and confusion. She held his gaze, offering him a gentle smile. “No, honey. I’m not upset. It’s okay to feel how you feel. You’re allowed to love the people who love you back.”

Ethan didn’t say anything more, but his small smile spoke volumes. It was a simple moment, but for Victoria, it felt like one of the most important conversations she had ever had with her son.

She leaned back, letting herself relax just for a moment. The movie played on, but all Victoria could focus on was Ethan beside her. The world outside felt distant for now, as if nothing else mattered.

Maybe, just maybe, she could navigate this new reality, one day at a time.