After the big blowout with Rhea I haven't seen or heard from Rio in 2 weeks and I was happy it gave me time to calm down and rethink a few things on my side. Was it worthwhile to let him step into my kids life once more and the answer to that question was still inconclusive.

The kids had settled into a nice routine with Kenny staying home most days to do online classes and one or both of the twins coming to work with me. Today it was Isa and me Alec was cranky and so far only his brother seemed to be able to get him calm so let Kenny stay home with him.

I walked to the park with Isabella skipping ahead of me her strawberry blond pigtails swinging as she went, I sat on the bench as she ran amuck on the park playground and of course she had to recruit kids to play her weird games.

I'm not sure how long I sat there just starting at her until I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked to my right and saw Rio. His face spoke volumes he was pissed off but at who I wouldn't know as well as he seemed resigned to something.

"Hey ma, how you need?" He seemed to whisper and as his words washed over me I felt myself crumbling tears gathering in my eyes I quickly wiped away.

"Rio." I heard him sigh and clear his throat

"Look I just wanna get to know my kids and hopefully we can be a family of some sort I've missed you Elizabeth. When I came round looking for you I was pissed you took off pregnant but I couldn't blame you, I knew you were a mama bear so me dismissing you like a did pushed you right."

I sat still letting him continue I learned anything important is that when he started expressing shit just shut up or he'll shut down again, I looked over at him and he was focused on Isabella watching her every move.

"You raises em well ma I just wish I could have seen it all." I swallowed understanding what he meant.

"Did you give Rhea the speech too about being a family when she was pregnant? I'm not sure I want you near us we don't work if our past has shown us anything I either try to kill you or you try to kill me."

He clenched his jaws I saw the way he tended up

"Rhea and me we're never a family we fucked and had an understanding she knew there was nothing more than that, she got pregnant and that's it I thank her for my son but we ain't been together ever in that way."

To say I was shocked was an understatement but I shook my head

"You and me mama that's all there is your mine and the faster you learn that the better. I'm not letting you walk away from me Elizabeth." I heard the echo of the promise in his voice.

I saw the pigtails running over to us with the squealing Isa stopped in-front of me and asked for a juice box and her orange slices. She was openly staring at Rio now and then she broke into a megawatt smile only reserved for family.

"Hi I'm Isa!" She stuck her orange sliced hand out to him, I heard Rio laugh and shake her little hands

"I'm Chris, you sure are pretty huh mija." I have never seen my daughter blush but here she was turning red in her cheeks well nice to know it happens to all women in her family.

"You look like my brother Alec!" She smiled and then ran off once more

Rio was smiling that smile fathers get when their daughter's become their world. How was I to keep him away now I barely like him now this shit is took complicated. I might as well give up at some point this shit was too much work.