Page 109 of A Return For Ren

“When I went through her things I found a few baby items. A picture of Rachelle with a baby and I knew right away it was her son. I don’t have the resources to hire an attorney or private investigator. I had to do a lot of legwork on my own. I was finally able to locate Max’s birth certificate and realized it was amended with your name on it.”

This explained why it’d taken so long for Michele to reach out to him. “What is it you are looking for?” he asked.

“I wrote that letter without looking into you more. I wasn’t even sure if you were the right person, but I hoped so. Your name isn’t that common.”

“No,” he said.

“I was worried you were some drug user or deadbeat and if that was the case, I’d find a way to get my grandson. I realize now, that isn’t the case.”

“I’ve got a good job and can provide a wonderful life for my son,” he said firmly.

“I saw where you work and what you do. I can’t say I understand it, but you’re educated and not like someone that my daughter normally associated with. I can only hope you met when it was at a good time in her life. I won’t fight you for custody. I can’t afford it. But if it’s not too much to ask to be kept updated on Max. Maybe someday I can meet him and I’d like to appeal to you to be a part of his life.”

He heard the emotion in Michele’s voice. He couldn’t promise anything. This woman could be playing him.

“I’ve got your contact information,” he said.

“Thank you,” Michele said. “I suppose this is a shock to you to hear from me. And I know we started off on the wrong foot. Again, I apologize. Maybe in time, things can be different.”

He’d hung up the phone shortly after and had that conversation rewinding in his mind all night long.

He needed to talk to Zara and see what her thoughts were on it. He’d have to talk with Thomas too.

For now, he was going to make the two-hour trip to see his girlfriend and figure out his future.

* * *

“Ren,”Zara said when Max was napping after lunch. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this last night.”

She was shocked to hear that he’d gotten a second letter and hadn’t told her and then talked to Michele and didn’t tell her that either.

“I wanted to tell you in person. I needed to sit on it and let it work out in my mind.”

She was trying not to be hurt that he wanted them to have a future but didn’t feel he could tell her what was going on when it was.

“I understand,” she said. “It’s not my business.”

“No,” he said, reaching for her hand. “It is your business. I don’t want you to think that. That because I didn’t come to you right away, I’m hiding it from you. I’m not. Don’t mix up the past with the present on me.”

“I’m trying not to,” she said.

“But you are. I’ve said it before, you are a forgiving person, but that doesn’t mean anything if you say the words but don’t feel it deep down. What do I have to say to you to get you to understand?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

“I think you do,” he said. “Why can’t you tell me what is going on in your head?”

Zara inhaled. She didn’t want to say this, but after her spa day with the girls last week, she realized that Rose was right. She should be pissed. It wasn’t in her nature to be that way and she knew it. But the one thing she did get from Rose was she wouldn’t know the truth if she couldn’t be upfront and ask Ren right away.

“Are you looking for a mother for Max or a girlfriend for you?”

“Whoa,” he said. “Where is that coming from? Is that what you are thinking? Have you been carrying this around for a long time?”

He was pacing and running his hands through his hair.

That reaction alone was enough for her to realize that she’d been wrong and was living with this in her heart for no reason.

“Not the whole time, but some of it. I know you love me. I love you too. I love Max and I see him and say to myself, I wish he were my son. I’ve had to ask myself for months if I loved you because of him or for you alone.”