Page 5 of A Return For Ren

The last thing Zara thought she’d be doing was seeing Ren Whitney again. Let alone in her place of business.

Last week, she’d been told by one of her staff that they were taking on a six-month-old to fill the last spot they had. She’d expanded her business to include an infant room recently and had one opening left. It was working out since she had the extra staff and was leaving money on the table having the position open.

She didn’t care it was only for three months. Money was money and someone else would call she was sure and she’d put them on the waitlist.

What she didn’t expect though was when she looked at the information for Max Wilson that she’d see the father was Ren Whitney, no mother listed.

She hadn’t known he was back in the area. She hadn’t seen nor talked to him since he broke her heart and said they were done the week before she returned for her sophomore year of college.

Had she known his father passed away last month? She had. It was hard not to in this small town. She assumed he came for the services, but she wasn’t going to go and pay her respects to the man that drove Ren away.

She’d gotten to work early this morning like always. Since her daycare was in a building in the backyard of her home, it was easy enough to come and go and do what she needed to.

She liked to greet as many of the parents and kids as she could when they were dropped off and always did when it was someone new.

Most times she met with them before they started to show the parents around, but that didn’t happen this time.

“Zara. Ren Whitney is here with his son. He needs to sign a bunch of papers,” Caroline said.

She was wondering if he got cold feet or not. She didn’t know when he planned on dropping Max off this morning. He had to know she owned this business. It was on her website clear as day along with her picture.

“On my way,” she said once she made sure the kids in the PreK room that she spent most of her time in were all working on their projects and being watched over.

She moved to the front of the building. She could see people as they came in and out in the PreK room on the camera if she was behind the wall. The infant room was in the back where it was quieter.

“Hi, Ren,” she said. If her heart was racing she had to tell herself to calm the heck down. She’d like to think it was from frustration and hurt feelings but realized it was still from attraction.

He was six foot, brown hair that was a little longer than it was years ago. His dark eyes were so soul searching to her.

He had a five o’clock shadow working and it made him more mysterious than he was when he was younger.

He’d always felt no one understood him, but she had. He was a smart guy that got along with most people, but it took time for him to warm up to them. Most kids didn’t always feel like they wanted to give someone the time.

“Zara,” he said. “This is Max.”

She smiled. There was so much she wanted to say but wouldn’t. It wasn’t the right place or the time. Not in front of the kids either. She’d never do that.

She reached her hand out slowly to touch his chubby fingers and see if he was a shy baby or not. He turned his head and laid it on his father’s strong shoulders.

“I see he’s a little shy.”

“He takes a bit to warm up to someone.”

“Like his father,” she said. There was no emotion in her voice this time. She had to remind herself to be strong. It was the only way she was going to get through this.

“Yeah,” he said. “Did you know I was coming?”

“Not until yesterday when I looked at the forms. Speaking of which, we’ve got things to go over and sign if you want to go to my office. Max can go with Caroline if you want or stay with us if you prefer.”

“Stay with us,” he said. “I took a chance coming later hoping that it wouldn’t be too busy so that we could go over things. His schedule and all.”

She smiled this time. “It’s great to know his schedule, but he’s going to have to adhere to ours. I can’t have all the kids doing their own thing at all times. We need structure here.”

He sighed. “I know. So much is changing for him. So much has already. But I need the help while I’m here.”

She nodded and turned to her office knowing he was following. She needed to take a few deep breaths and didn’t want him to see her doing it.

She shut the door when they got to her office. “Will he let me hold him?”