"He wants me to meet him, Ashley…with Anne." Vanessa sighed, taking a sip of water.
Ashley, who had just read Anne a bedtime story, put a hand reassuringly on Vanessa's shoulder.
"Don't worry 'Ness, Perhaps it'll be good for you and Annie to meet him again, don't tell him until you're completely ready. At least do it for Anne."
"Yeah, I'm doing this for Anne, She should have the right to meet her father…" said Vanessa, half smiling thinking about Anne.
Ring Ring
Ashley's phone.
"Hey Ash, its Corbin, Is Vanessa there, I just heard about Zac…"
"Yeah sure, I'll put her on…"
"Hi Corbin, how are you? No how is Tanya? You're going to parents any day soon!"
"Yeah, she's fine, we've decorated the nursery now, I heard about Zac…"
"Hmm, I'll be meeting him tomorrow afternoon, he's told me to bring Anne with me…."
"Don't worry ness, don't feel any pressure about telling him, I bet Annie's grown, she looks exactly like you and Zac…"
"Yep, yes she does, anyways thank you so much for calling, give my love to Tanya, bye…"
"See you ness, good luck tomorrow…"
Vanessa hung up and gave the phone to Ashley.
The Next Day
"Annie, Sweetheart, wake up!" Vanessa tugged at her daughter's duvet.
"Ok mommy, I'm getting up!" said Anne, her brown locks all messy.
"Come and eat, once you've freshened up, I've left your white cotton dress, your white wedge shoes & and your favourite straw sun hat out in my room…and I've made your favourite waffles & strawberries…" Vanessa smiled, remembering it was Zac's favourite breakfast dish. Vanessa was already changed, wearing a long summer dress of many colours, with her summer straw hat matching with Anne's. They ate their breakfast, took the car to the shopping mall, bought some toys for Annie, then they walked to the lakeside café together.
They arrived at the café, there was a guy sitting there already, with dirty blonde hair & sunglasses…it was Zac.
Zac POV
Well here she is. She hasn't changed a bit…the same smile, the same walk, her daughter looks exactly like her, except those eyes, they're different…That's life you know...
Vanessa POV
There he is, Zac…The same old Zac…The same toothy grin, the hair. I wonder if he'll notice how similar Annie looks…
Vanessa walked up confidently to Zac, holding Annie at the same.
"Hi Zac, long times no see..." Vanessa said putting Annie in a seat before sitting down and ordering.
"Hey…V," Zac smiled at Annie, "What's your name, little madam?" Zac asked.
"My names Anne, but you can call me Annie, because you're mommy's friend…and Corbin uncle calls me Annie-apple. But everyone else calls me Annie…I go to Orange-tree Kindergarten…and, and I have loads of friends, plus I star in all of the end of term parent shows…" Annie beamed.
"Yep V, like mother like daughter," Zac looked at Vanessa, grinning, "So we needed to talk, how have you been?"
"Well Zac, ok…me and Annie, we make a great team together, along with Ashley sometimes."
Zac took a sip of his coffee, took a deep breath, "Annie's dad isn't around, your husband?"
"No, he kinda left me before she was born, he didn't know about her, he was absolutely wonderful though. That's where Annie got her eyes from…"Vanessa smiled yet again, wondering if it was the right thing to say.
"How could he have just left you? I mean it looks like he would have had the picture perfect life, you know the family, and the perfect wife and best friend…" Zac was slightly angry, that a guy would do something like that to Vanessa.
"Well, he did say, that he wanted to you know, live his life more, like boost his career, I mean he had quite a few good offers and opportunities, He left quickly, in fact 4 years ago, we said goodbye in this park, we're still friends though, I hope we still are… I just didn't have the chance to tell him…"
There was a silence. Zac broke it.
"You mean that beautiful girl, the one playing in the sandpit over there…..is my daughter?"
"I did say she had her father's eyes…she has his habits too, she loves singing and acting. I also said her father was absolutely wonderful…" Vanessa watched Zac's expression…he looked as if he was going to cry with happiness.
"You mean to say that I'm a dad? Something I've always wanted to be…"Zac got up from his seat and walked up to where Anne was playing…he smiled as he watched her play...
"She's my little V..." He laughed and turned back to Vanessa.
"Vanessa, I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you...I want to make it up, nothing in the world will make up for those 4 years, can I spend some time with my daughter?"
"I don't know Zac, maybe...come to my apartment, we'll talk it over some how," Vanessa said, putting a her hand on his, gripping tightly, "You didn't know, it's not your fault, it's no-one's, but still, we have sort something out, Anne should have the right to know who her father is, and spend time with you..."
They both smiled and looked at Anne.
"By the way her name is actually Anne Efron Hudgens, I couldn't bear to take that bit of her life out..." Zac smiled in response.