2

I stared at him for a moment seeing mild irritation and dominance in his eyes as well as the base of his tone.

"Hello Philip." I replied with a small force of attitude. I figured that's what you should say to someone when you haven't seen them in five years. He moved closer onto the step to where he was towering over me.

"Cut the crap, Kaia. Is he here?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No." I replied. Now he looked genuinely stunned.

"You moved back here without bringing my son?" he asked.

"My son." I corrected. He shook his head.

"No you made that decision for the both of us." he snapped. Even after five years I was still use to his attitude, I guess it was one thing I couldn't forget. And P.J. gets little attitudes with me as well.

"We could not handle a child at that time." I replied.

"We could have tried." he stated. I shook my head.

"Would we have been good parents five years ago?" I asked and now he just looked away knowing the answer to that.

"So where is he?" he asked with more emphasis.

"With my aunt in Tennessee. He will be here in about a day or two." I replied. "Anything else?"

He just looked me over and I could see his nostril flaring mildly and he looked away for a second.

"Do you plan to introduce me as your 'friend'?" he asked. Who said I planned to introduce him to you at all? But that would be lying to myself. I would never stop my baby from seeing his father. I shook my head.

"No. He will know who you are." I replied. He seemed relieved for his eyes seemed somewhat calmer. "Want to come in?" I opened the door a bit more as my invitation. He nodded and took big steps inside. He looked around for a moment.

"Wow nothing's changed." he said, and I nodded closing the door.

"I know. It's odd." I replied. He nodded and looked down at me.

"So you're here to stay then?" he asked. I shrugged.

"It's the plan if I can get a decent job to make enough money for P.J. and I-"

"P.J.?" he asked a small smirk playing on his lips. I nodded giving a small smile.

"Yes. Although he responds better to Gabriel, his middle name, but I always had plans to name him after you." I replied. I was unsure of what was between us if there was anything at all really, well except for Gabriel. I watched a smile play on his lips, his beard curved up with his smile.

"Gabriel." he said trying the name out. I nodded.

"He's very smart yet loves to get into trouble." I replied. He smirked.

"Just like his parents." he said. I nodded. "What does he like to do? Does he like to read or something like that?" I was not expecting him to be so curious about Gabriel.

"I can hardly keep him in one place. He likes to be outside mostly, so when we can, my aunt and I take him out to parks and stuff. He loves animals." I replied. He nodded taking in every word.

"I… can't wait to meet him." he replied before looking me over his face more sympathetic. "I'm sorry you had to drop everything and move back here. I know when I got out of prison it was very hard to adjust." So he was out of prison. I knew it. I smiled.

"Thanks. I'm actually going to your mother's for dinner. Will you be there?" I asked. He shook his head which disappointed me some.

"Nah I got business to take care of." he answered. I chuckled softly and looked down shaking my head. "What?" I looked back up him.

"I remember when we were in high school and you would say that, I knew it couldn't be good." I replied and he smiled some before reaching into his back pocket.

"Well some things haven't changed around here." he said. I nodded.

"I believe it." I replied and he pulled out his wallet and I arched a brow and he pulled out a money clip with a thick stack of cash in it. He began to pull a bunch of money from it and hand it to me.

"Here's two grand for you and Gabriel. It should keep you on your feet until you find a job." he explained. I was already shaking his head placing my hand over his hand.

"Oh Philip. You don't need to do any of this. I don't want you to feel pressured- like you have to do any of this. Gabriel and I will be just fine." I explained. Which was true. When my father died, he left my mom and I a large amount of money, and my mom already explained to me that when she died, all her money was passed down to me and I have seen the bank accounts. I knew we would be fine. Philip shook his head and placed his other hand over mine now.

"I am not going to be like my father, Kaia. I am not going to let you do this on your own." he stated. "So please take the money." I could argue with him some more, but I was still very tired and not in the mood for it. I sighed and nodded and took the money.

"Thank you. Where did you get this money anyways?" I asked curiously.

"Don't worry about it. If you ever need help just let me know. I gotta go." he said and moved to the door. So there was nothing, but our child between us. That was okay though. I didn't want to do anything to stress anyone out. I followed him to the door and he opened it and stopped and looked down at me.

"I haven't told my mother about the baby. It's your choice if you want to tell her…welcome back." he told before heading out the door. I watched him leave before closing it and sighing now. I needed groceries and this two grand would help with that. I grabbed my purse and left the house. While in the car I gave my aunt a quick call.

"Hey I am so glad you made it there safely. P.J. is right here. One second." she replied. There was mild ruffling on the phone and I just smiled as I was driving back down the road.

"Hi Mommy." I heard his small voice say.

"Hey baby. How are you doing?" I asked.

"Fine. Aunt Leilani says we get to come see you." he said. I nodded knowing he couldn't see me.

"Yes you will be living with me here. I am going to the store and I am going to pick up some brownies." I said excitingly. I heard him gasp.

"Yay!" he giggled and I smiled.

"You going to help me make them?" I asked.

"Yes yes yes!" I heard him reply.

"Okay good. I love you baby. Put your auntie back on the phone." I replied.

"Love you, too Mommy." I heard him reply. After a few seconds my aunt was back on the phone.

"He's very excited, Kaia. You should see him now. He's already packing his toys into his suit case." she replied and I smiled remembering all too well of where everything was. I had driven off the reservation because the store in town was even bigger.

"Good. I am very glad. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me and for Gabriel." I replied.

"It was no trouble. Besides you straightened up and left your troubling ways behind. You took on this baby head on and you are doing so well. Now a question, have you spoken to the baby's father any?" she asked. I pulled into the store parking lot.

"Yeah I saw him and his mother today." I replied.

"Does the grandmother know?" she asked.

"I plan to tell her for dinner, she invited me. I gotta go I am at the store." I replied.

"Okay hon. I'll call you in two days." she answered.

"Okay. Give Gabriel a kiss for me." I replied.

"Will do. Bye hon." she replied and I hung up. I stepped out of the car and noticed a large police truck was two spots to the right of my truck. Wow never really saw a police truck that big. I disregarded it and moved inside. I should probably bake a dessert for Marie. She does love a good peach cobbler and I have mother's recipes. I was hoping after Gabriel came and a month had past that this emptiness I was feeling passed and I could finally find some happiness.