Next chapter is finally here xx

please review xx

Katie x


The next morning Max had had time to process his thoughts. He had questions so many questions. Who was Toby? Was he really his brother? Why choose now to get in contact?

Max lay in bed next to Zoe, a sleeping Eliza snuggled between them, her feet against her dad and her head lay on her mum snoring softly. Zoe was still fast asleep as she had been up for part of the night tending to the needs of her little one. Max too had been awake but he had been so deep in thought he paid very little attention to what was going on around him. Yesterday's revelation could turn his life upside down. Was he prepared to do that to his new family? He had a decision to make one that would affect all of them.

Eliz began to stir so max got out of bed scooped her up in his arms and carried her down stairs. He sat down on the sofa and cradled Eliza in his arms singing softy to her and she drifted back off to sleep. He lay her down carefully next to him and surrounded her with a wall of cushions in case she decided to roll over. And then he made his way to the other sofa and lay down finally falling asleep.

Zoe came down an hour later to find them both asleep. She bent down in front of max and kissed his lips genteelly, making him stir. He opened his eyes and saw Zoe. She smiled and then made her way into the kitchen to make coffee.

Max sat up, glancing over at Eliza before going to join Zoe. He stood up standing still for a few seconds to gather his bearings.

"Zoe, about the whole Toby situation, I need your opinion."

"Yes of course." They moved to the kitchen table and sat down.

"Do you think I should ring him?"

"Well it really is up to you but he obviously left you his number for a reason."

"Yeah you're right, I just don't want it to back fire. "

"Well if he is your brother you surely want to know more, he might be able to shed some light on your family as well."

"Okay I'll ring him, I have questions so many questions and I need answers. Do you still have his number?"

"Yes it's on top of the microwave."

"Thank you. What would I do without you?"

"Umm well…"

"It was a rhetorical question."

"I know, now go ring him."

Zoe heard her daughter wake up and followed max out of the kitchen. Eliza looked up at her, her hair was dark and laid thick on her head and her eyes were light brown. She smiled at her mum as she lifted her up. Zoe smiled back, kissing the tip of her nose. She was perfect. Zoe and Eliza sat on the floor and Zoe began to build a tower that Eliza soon had the pleasure of destroying. And then giggling about it causing Zoe to tickle her and then begin to rebuild the tower.

Max was stood by the window. His phone resting in the palm of his hand. He looked from the paper to his hone as he began to type in the number. He pressed call and held it to his ear, this was it no going back.

"Hello"

"Hello, is that Toby?"

"Yes."

"Hello, its max you came by yesterday."

"Ah yes, how are you. Sorry if it was all a bit of a shock I didn't know if you would ring or not but I'm glad you have. I'm sure you have plenty of questions as have I."

"Yes I do have loads of questions so I was thinking maybe we could meet up some time next week"

"Yes okay, well any day is good for me."

"Well it will have to be Thursday as I have the afternoon off."

"Okay then that's fine by me."

"Shall we say meet at the tea shop in town at 2pm?"

"Sounds good to me, I'll see you then."

Max ended the call and then fell onto the sofa, this was a big deal. Zoe smiled at him and he smiled back before getting down onto the floor and playing with Eliza as well.