“That’s great to hear,” Paul said, glancing at Oscar. “And how about you, buddy? What do you like most about school?”
Oscar frowned. “I like everything. Guess what’s tonight? The school play! I’m an elf and my friends are reindeer. Mrs. Thompson said we have to sing in big voices so everyone can hear us.”
Paul smiled. “It’s exciting that you’re an elf. Am I still allowed to come?”
Chloe felt her chest tighten. If she was being mean, she’d say no. But this weekend was for Oscar, not for her. She looked at Paul, trying to see whether he really wanted to be there.
Oscar beamed. “You can come. Mom has a ticket for you, don’t you, Mom?”
She nodded, hoping it was enthusiastic enough for Oscar. Because, with the way she was feeling right now, she could easily burst into tears.
Paul hesitated briefly. “I’d love to come.”
Oscar was practically bouncing on the spot. “Yeah! Mom made my costume and everything.”
“She’s always been good at sewing,” Paul acknowledged, meeting Chloe’s eyes briefly before looking away.
Chloe forced a small smile. “It’s been fun helping the other teachers and parents.”
An awkward silence settled over them. Chloe knew she couldn’t let this opportunity pass without addressing the questions that had been gnawing at her.
“Paul,” she began carefully, “can we talk for a moment?”
He glanced at Oscar, who was now engrossed in flipping through his dinosaur book. “Sure.”
She stood and took him through to the kitchen. After closing the door, she leaned against the counter. “I’m surprised you wanted to see Oscar. You could have spent time with him while we were still in Washington, but you didn’t.”
Paul looked down at his mug, tracing the rim with his thumb. “I know, but I wasn’t in a good place back then.”
Chloe studied his face, searching for sincerity. “And now?”
He met her gaze. “I’ve been working on myself. I’m going to therapy and I’ve joined a support group. It might not seem like it, but I’m trying to get my life back on track.”
She nodded slowly. “I appreciate that you’re making changes, but it’s been over a year. Oscar has grown so much in that time.”
“I realize that,” he admitted. “And I regret not being there for him. That’s part of why I’m here now. I want to be part of his life again.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why you want to change our custody arrangement?”
He hesitated. “Partly. I miss him, Chloe. I want to make up for lost time.”
She almost felt sorry for him. But then she remembered the way he could manipulate any situation to his advantage. “You can’t just walk back into his life and expect everything to be the same. He’s adjusted to a new routine, a new home.”
“I understand that,” he said quietly. “But I’m his father. I have a right to be involved in his life.”
Taking a deep breath, Chloe tried to keep her emotions in check. “Rights come with responsibilities. You can’t expect to see him all the time when you’ve been absent for so long.”
“People change,” he insisted. “I’m trying to do better.”
She shook her head. “This isn’t just about you, Paul. It’s about what’s best for Oscar. Uprooting him or causing confusion isn’t fair to him.”
He leaned forward, his expression earnest. “I’m not trying to cause problems. I just want a chance to prove that I can be a good father.”
Before she could respond, Oscar opened the kitchen door. “Look at this picture! It’s a Tyrannosaurus rex chasing a Triceratops!”
Chloe mustered a smile. “That’s impressive, honey.”
Paul nodded. “Very cool, buddy.”
