Page 33 of A Return For Ren

Who knows, she might not even get that chance and if that was the case, she was better off moving on with her life.

She’d done it before and could again. She was positive.

But at the end of the day, she still found herself a case of nerves.

It was only a few minutes before five and about five kids left, their parents here waiting while the children gathered their things.

All but Ren to get Max. Last week when he was running late, he’d called. This time he didn’t. Though he had a few minutes left.

At five on the dot, she was sending her staff home as they’d finished cleaning up for the day. They tried to do it as soon as the kids were being picked up. Sometimes one room was empty and that staff would move to another to help out.

“I’ve got Max, Caroline,” she said. “You can leave.”

“Are you sure?” Caroline asked.

“Positive. Ren will be here soon. I asked to speak to him when he came for Max so my guess is he was going to come a little later for that.”

“Oh,” Caroline said with a grin on her face. Caroline was only twenty-two. There was no way she knew about the history she had with Ren. Not unless someone told her and none of her staff knew Ren or her when they were in school.

The last parent walked out and Ren walked in. Max was in her arms, his legs kicking, his arms out for his father.

“Someone is happy to see me,” Ren said, lifting his son. “And you are in outfit number three today. I see I need to buy more clothes not only because you are outgrowing them but because you can’t keep them clean.”

“Had another blowout this afternoon. What did you feed him?”

Ren grimaced. “Sorry. He’s been struggling to go. My mother told me to give him some pears on Friday. He’s had them every day. It’s his new favorite thing to eat. Maybe I overdid it?”

She laughed. “Just a touch. But now you know what works. Prunes will too, but I wouldn’t do much more than a half a jar once a day and not even every day unless you feel the need to.”

He gagged when she’d said that. “No. I can’t stand the smell of them. Dee gave them to him once and sent the jar home with me. I couldn’t go through feeding it to him.”

Zara couldn’t stop the laughter. She was almost roaring with it. “The joys of parenting. Pears are more pleasant and obviously have the same results. I’d cut back on them now though.”

“He had some for breakfast and I think I put carrots in his lunch? I don’t remember. He only gets fruit in the morning. I don’t want to rot his teeth out before they even come in.”

She shook her head. “It’s not likely to happen, but it’s good that you are aware. A lot of kids won’t eat vegetables and only fruit. That’s not good either.”

“You wanted to talk to me?” he asked.

“The way we left things on Thursday,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be awkward. I felt it went from one stage of awkward to another. And though we are talking now, we aren’t saying what we both might need to.”

“I think you said everything you wanted to on Thursday,” he said. He looked hurt, but she wasn’t going to stop.

“No. You pushed me. And I said something that I shouldn’t have. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“See, that’s the problem. You finally say what is on your mind and you’re more concerned you hurt me.”

She fought back grinding her teeth. “There are things I need to say to you. Maybe you need to say them back. I could make a fool out of myself and this could be twenty times worse than it is, but I’ve got to say it.”

“Okay,” he said.

“If you don’t have plans tonight, how about you come to dinner? You’re already here. I checked in Max’s bag and he’s got another bottle and more food for dinner. I could cook something fast and we could talk. Or we can make plans for another day.”

“Tonight works,” he said.

“Good. Let me lock up and we can walk to my house.”

She hit the last few lights, set the alarms and then locked the doors and walked the path to her house, Ren following with Max in his arms.