Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
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Chapter 3
EPOV
I woke up to the sound of my alarm buzzing. Usually this sound was the bane of my existence however today I welcomed it as today was the first of the three days that I got my son. I rolled out of bed by 9.00 and was dressed and ready by 9.30.
I wasn't meant to pick Max up till 10.30 but it took me half an hour to get to Bella's and I decided to get some coffee on the way.
I pulled up outside their house at about 10.20 and decided that she could live with me being 10 minutes early.
I knocked on the door, which was opened immediately by a very excited child.
I reached down and swiped him up in my arms at the same time that he yelled, "Daddy! I missed you."
I looked into to his eyes that were an exact copy of his mothers and smiled. "Aw, Max I missed you too."
Just as I walked into the living room with Max, Bella walked out of her bedroom, "Max you better put your shoes on before-"she stopped when she saw me. "Oh you're here early."
She looked as beautiful as ever. Her hair freshly washed fell loosely around her shoulders. She wore a tank top and athletic shorts, which in my opinion made her entirely indecent as it showed off her too perfect legs.
"Only by a few minutes," I replied.
"Right, Max why don't you go and put your socks and shoes on and decide what toys you want to take to daddy's with you." She said looking at our son.
"Ok mommy," said Max squirming out of my arms and running toward his room.
And then it got awkward.
I wondered for the millionth time how I got here with the women that used to know everything about me, and I knew everything about.
I smiled best I could, "how are you?"
"I'm good, I guess. How are you?" she asked walking into the kitchen. She tried to find something to do to break up the awkwardness. She settled for wiping the already spotless bench.
"I'm ok," I lied.
She stopped wiping and looked up at me, "look I wanted to talk to you. Um you know that Max's birthday is in a couple of weeks and I was thinking that we could have a birthday party here for him."
I took a seat opposite her on one of the stools, nodding. "Who did you want to invite?"
It wasn't as bad now, Max was the one thing we still had in common, we could talk about this subject easily.
"Well I was thinking, you and me and Rose and Em and Alice and Jasper and maybe some of his friends from play group."
"Max has a play group?" I asked, and I realised once again how much I was missing of my son's life.
"Yeah he started a few weeks ago. He really loves it."
I smiled, looking up at her, "good that's good. And the party sounds like a great idea."
At that moment Max walked back in his feet still bare but his arms full of toys.
Bella looked at Max with a bewildered expression, "Max, do you remember what I asked you to do in your room?"
Max nodded, "you asked me to get the toys I wanted to take to daddy's."
"And to put on your shoes remember?"
"Oh yeah," Max said looking guilty.
Bella walked over and took his hand, "come on I'll help you put them on." And with that they walked out of the room leaving me by myself in the kitchen.
I looked around the small living area, looking at the large bookcase that was filled with Bella's favourite books and then across to the mantel piece that held a few pictures of Max at various stages of his short life. Once I had finished my visual tour of the space my eyes rested on the bench where I sat. Next to where Bella's bag was sitting was a picture I never thought I'd see again, especially in this house. I didn't even remember it being taken until this moment.
It was a picture of me and Bella on her 21st birthday. I picked it up and stared at it remembering the night. Bella walked back into the room without Max. She looked at me before speaking, "Max decided he wanted to put his own shoes on, I just hope he can remember his left from-"
She stopped when she saw me holding the photo. I carefully put it down where I had found it, "this is my favourite picture of us you know."
She smiled and nodded, "yeah it was a good night."
"And good times," I muttered under my breath. I didn't mean for her to hear, but she did.
"Yes, they were."
I looked at her in surprise and then my expression saddened, "what happened to us Bells?"
She looked at me with the same expression I thought I had on my face. She opened her mouth to say something when a very proud two year old walked in the room wearing his shoes.
I looked at Bella one last time before standing up and clapping my hands together, "ready to go sport?"
Max nodded his head eagerly and ran toward me.
I bent down and whispered in his ear, "why don't you go and give your mommy a big hug? And don't forget to tell her you love her."
With that Max walked over to Bella and did what I told him.
How I wished I could have done the same.
