The CEO's Runaway Baby Mama

Mommy? Ava froze with one hand inside the kitchen cabinet. She already knew that tone. It was a tone her seven year old son used when he had decided to ask a question that would not disappear simply because she pretended not to hear. She slowly closed the cabinet door. Ethan stood at the kitchen island in his blue school uniform, his backpack hanging from one shoulder. His dark eyes were fixed on her with unsettling seriousness. Beside him his twin sister, Lily was swinging her legs beneath the chair watching Ava with the same curiosity . Yes sweetheart? Where does our daddy live? Ava forced herself to smile. Somewhere far away. How far? Like another city? Something like that. Lily stopped swinging her legs. What city? Ava's finger tightened around the coffee mug. Lily asked , what's his name? There it was, the question Ava had dreaded. For seven years she had survived by keeping the past locked behind a door she refused to open, but her children were growing noticing things. Like every child at school has stories about fathers who pick them up , fathers who attended birthdays, fathers whose names appeared on school forms and noticed whenever they asked about theirs, mommy gave the same answer. He's far away and can't come. Lily leaned forward, what does daddy look like? Ava knew exactly what he looked like. The broad shoulders, the dark hair that never seemed to stay neatly combed, the sharp line of his jaw . Even thinking his name Daniel felt dangerous. He has brown hair, Ava said . Before she could stop herself. The twins stared at her, you said you don't know, Ethan pointed out. Ava stumbled I - I meant...... what color are his eyes? Lily asked. Ava looked away. Mommy? brown, and does he know about us? Silence, she was twenty one years again standing in a room she had once believed was home. His father's voice thundered through the walls . Pregnant? The word had sounded like an accusation,, then came the question. Who was the man? where was he? How could she bring such a shame to their family? Ava remembered clutching her stomach while tears blurred her father's furious face, she remembered begging, she remembered the suitcase thrown onto the floor and his final words. If you insist on keeping that child, you will leave this house tonight. She had left. Ava blinked rapidly. Mommy? Lily's small voice pulled her into the present. No Ava said softly. Her daughter tilted her head. No what? No more questions. But ...... breakfast first. Ava clapped her hands together, forcing brightness into her voice. The person who doesn't eat breakfast before school is officially banned from the desert tonight. . Ethan gasped, that's not fair. Life isn't fair. You always say that when you are trying to change the subject. Ava stared at him . She nearly laughed, instead, she turned toward the stone. . This was her life now, not Rosewood, not Daniel, nor the girl who had walked away from everything with a broken heart and two lives growing inside her. Seven years ago, Ava had owned nothing. But a suitcase, a handful of savings and enough determination to survive. Now she owns a successful interior design company, she had clients who paid her to transform empty houses into homes, she had employees,, a beautiful apartment, savings, security, and most importantly she had Ethan and Lily. She had built all of it without anyone's help. By the time breakfast was on the table, the twins had forgotten the argument . Ava watched them eat pancakes while arguing over who had received the larger strawberry. Then Lily suddenly said,Mommy? Ava sighed. . Emma said something yesterday. Ava's smile faded slightly. What did Emma say? She said it's strange that we don't have a daddy Ethan's fork stopped halfway to his mouth. Ava felt something inside her c***k. She had expected questions and curiosity. She had not expected her children to hear that their family is incomplete. Lily's face had fallen. She said everybody needs a daddy. Ava reached across the table and took both hands. Listen to me. The twins looked up. You are not strange . But don't have a daddy, Ethan whispered. Ava's heart tightened. I know, why? Because your father never knew you. She could not say that. Instead she squeezed their hands. Families don't all look the same, some children have a mommy and a daddy, some have two daddies, some live their grandparents, and some families have a mommy who loves her children enough to fill an entire house . Lily smiled, that's us? That's us . Ethan nodded thoughtfully. Then we are not strange. Never. Ava kissed both their forehead. She only wished she believed her own words as easily as they did. Three hours later, Ava sat at her desk staring at an invitation she wished she never received.. Rosewood Charity Foundation Annual Benefit. Her first instinct was to throw it away, but she didn't. Her fingers remained on the thick cream colored envelope. Rosewood , the city she had spent seven years avoiding. She leaned back in her chair. There were countless reasons to decline. She had no desire to return. Her phone rang. Ms Wilson? It was her assistant. Nina , yes? The foundation called again. I already said no. I know , but they are asking you to reconsider. Why? . They have selected your company to design the Charity's new children center. That changed things.. The entire project? Yes. It's one of the biggest contracts they have awarded this year. Ava stared at the invitation. The project would mean more jobs, more exposure to her company and most importantly the children's center was being funded for families who could not afford private care.. She had built her career around creating spaces for children. Walking away simply because Rosewood frightened her felt like surrender. When is the event? Friday evening. This Friday? . Yes. She looked toward the framed photograph on her desk. Ethan and Lily stood on either side of her both missing their front teeth and smiling like they owned the world.. She had promised them a safe life, perhaps that meant facing the one place she had spent years running from. I will go , she said. Nina sounded relieved. Are you sure? Yes I will go. After the call ended, Ava remained still. Rosewood, her father's house, the cold night air and Daniel. She remembered his face, then she remembered why she had left without telling him. No , she whispered to an empty office. Whatever happened seven years ago belonged to the past . She would return to Rosewood, attend the charity event, secure the contract and then leave. Ava tucked Lily into bed before checking on Ethan. When she returned to the bedroom both children were asleep. She stood in the doorway watching them. Her entire world. I can do this, she whispered. She could survive Rosewood. She didn't know that the man she had spent seven years trying to forget was no longer a memory. He was waiting