"Daddy, are we there yet?" the little brunette girl moaned as she pulled at her seatbelt which was clearly annoying her. She did this every time they went out of town. The poor girl had no patience for journeys which were longer than twenty minutes.
Jason laughed quietly as he looked back through his rearview mirror to the most precious five year old girl in his life who was staring out of the window, looking bored out of her mind.
"We'll be there soon sweetheart." he told her as he continued to drive along the highway. He looked to his right and saw a sign which let him know his destination was only 4 kilometers away.
"Is Mommy and Ezra going to take me to the zoo today? I really want to go." she asked as she watched the cars pass along beside her.
"I'm not sure baby. You'll have to ask them. I know they are going to take you to see Ezra's little brother on sunday for lunch." Jason told his daughter as he proceeded further to his destination. Signalling to the right he quickly manouvered his Audi A5 and drove off from the highway and into the town his ex wife and daughter's mother lived in.
Driving through the unusually empty streets, he kept his eye out for the newly bought townhouse he would be dropping his daughter off at. Looking into his rearview mirror again, he smiled when he saw her daydreaming. 'What could she possibly be thinking about?' he asked himself as he took a left turn onto another street. "Bella.." he said softly to get her attention. She looked up quickly and smiled. "What were you thinking about?" Jason laughed.
"I was thinking about when Ezra took me to get a big surprise for mommy. We got her lots and lots of flowers and she had a big smile on her face." Bella told Jason prodly.
"Oh yeah? How big was her smile?" he asked as he stopped his car to let another road user continue with his 3-point turn in the road.
"This big.." Bella motioned with her hands, spreading them a foot apart from one another. Jason wasn't looking as he was acknowledging the other driver thanking him. "Daddy, it was this big." she repeated.
"Oh wow, that is a big smile.." Jason replied, looking at her through his rearview mirror. He took his attention off Bella for a while and thought about the idea of Bella being so comfortable with Ezra. He'd never been fond of him and Ezra had never been fond of Jason but both had agreed to remain civil for Aria and Bella's sakes.
Jason and Aria had gotten together when she graduated from university, three years later on a holiday to Venice Jason proposed and Aria said yes, eighteen months later they got married with all of their friends and family in attendance and three years after that they were welcoming their little angel Isabella into the world. They'd stayed together until Bella was four years old but after Aria's ex-boyfriend and ex-teacher had come back into their lives, Jason became more controlling and jealous which ended up pushing Aria into Ezra's arms. He only became controlling and jealous because he loved Aria so much and was scared that she'd go running back to Ezra sooner or later, but Aria couldn't understand that up until recently. Even though they were not together anymore, both remained extremely close. Although they'd never admit it to each other, everyone knew they still loved each other. It might not have been the same love they had before and during their marriage but they did love each other. It was a kind of love that nobody could take away.
After a couple more minutes of driving through streets and avenues, Jason and Bella reached their desired destination. "Here's your mommy's new home baby."
"Wow! It's pretty daddy!" Bella exclaimed as she tried to take off her seatbelt after Jason parked in front of their driveway.
"Sure is.." he replied quietly as he stepped out of the car and opened Bella's door to help her get out. "Wait for one second we need to get your suitcase." Jason told Bella who was standing on the sidewalk excited to run to her mommy's house. Jason took Bella's Rapunzel suitcase from his trunk and locked his car.
"Bella!" Aria called out from her front door as she watched them back their way up the drive. Aria squatted down and Bella ran into her arms. "I've missed you sweetheart." Aria told Bella as they hugged each other tightly.
"I hope you missed me too.." Jason teased as he reached the front door.
"Oh yeah. So much.." Aria bantered back with a wink, before standing up to kiss Jason on the cheek. "Come in.." Aria took Bella's suitcase and lead them to the reception room on the ground floor.
"Where's Ezra?" Bella asked as she sat on the new cream couch.
"He is tidying up upstairs, he'll be down in a minute. Do you want something to eat or drink baby?" Aria asked as she combed her fingers through Bella's hair.
"Lucky charms please." Bella smiled sweetly at her mother.
"Lucky charms? Did daddy not give you breakfast?" Aria asked - knowing that Jason would never not give her breakfast.
"He made me waffles but I feel like lucky charms right now mommy." Bella told her as she removed her shoes.
"Alrighty then.. do you want anything?" Aria asked Jason as she turned around to look at him.
"No thank you." he replied as he stood at the entrance to the reception room.
Aria got off the couch and walked towards Jason. "When are you going home?" she asked as she placed her hand on Jason's arm.
"I'll go now if you want me to.." Jason told her. He knew she'd love to have time with Bella and Ezra alone.
"No, no! Stay as long as you like.. sit down if you want to." Aria smiled as she gave Jason's arm a gentle squeeze before passing by next to him.
"Daddy, did you pack my Tangled dvd?" Bella asked as she watched the daytime show which was on the tv in front of her.
"I think so sweetheart. I'll check for you." he told her as he bent down to open up Bella's suitcase. Digging his hand down to the very bottom her pulled out the dvd case for her. "Here you go baby." he handed her the case as he sat down next to her on the couch.
"Can you put it on for me daddy?"
"Let's wait for your mommy." Jason told her as he settled down comfortably onto the couch with Bella tucked beside him.
Aria entered the room with a small bowl of lucky charms for Bella. "Thank you!" Bella put the dvd on Jason's lap and took the bowl from Aria. "Mommy, can I watch Tangled?" she asked sweetly.
"Of course you can." Aria took the dvd from Jason's lap and walked to the tv to play her daughter's favourite movie.
Ezra came down a few minutes later and greeted Jason politely. He sat down next to Aria who had Bella seated on her lap. Jason sat uncomfortably as Ezra, Aria and Bella seemed to be in their own little world with the private jokes and little kisses and cuddles here and there. After being ignored for another good twenty minutes, Jason decided it was time for him to leave. He understood he and his daughter were in Ezra's home but Jason still felt left out that Ezra and Bella had grown so close and was slightly annoyed that he was currently being ignored by the most important girl in his life because of this man.
"I better go home now." he told them as he stood up slowly and adjusted his tshirt which had ridden up after being seated for half an hour.
"Okay, see you soon Jason." Ezra said quickly.
"No daddy. Stay with me." Bella begged.
"No baby, you have fun with your mommy and Ezra. I'll be back to pick you up next week." Jason bent down to kiss Bella's head. "I love you." he kissed her head again. "I'll see you next week." he told Aria as he bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Aria smiled and watched Jason let himself out of their home. She, like Bella, didn't want Jason to leave, but didn't contest his choice as she didn't want to make Ezra feel unsettled by having another man in his house. Especially someone with such a special relationship with his girlfriend and her daughter.
Jason walked back to his car and turned on the ignition. He understood it was his fault that they were in the predicament they were in at the moment. His daughter being driven between two towns every week because of Jason letting his emotions get to him. His daughter having another father figure in her life because of Jason not thinking rationally about his and Aria's marriage. If he could turn back time, he definitely would.