~ SEASONS OF HER~

HI, STRANGER

CHAPTER 3

"Thank you for the compliment, mister," I said, rolling my eyes, my voice steadier than I felt.

Xavier smiled that knowing smile.

"You still find it hard to accept compliments, huh?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

I scoffed. "Only when they come from an Adonis."

He laughed, loud and unrestrained, and I found myself laughing with him.

"You know I meant it," he said, steady and unguarded, his eyes holding mine a second too long. I looked away first.

"When did you get back?" I asked.

"A few weeks ago," he replied, gesturing toward the pavement. We moved to sit.

"And you didn't reach out?" Disbelief slipped through.

"Cathy, it's not like that. I've just been really busy. I'm sorry." He paused. "I did run into Mark, though. A few days ago."

Of course he did.

"Same gym," he added. "Some things don't change."

I nodded faintly, feeling the odd tug of memory and something else I couldn't quite name, hovering at the edge of my chest.

Something passed behind his eyes, quiet and careful, but he let it go without pulling at it. I was grateful for that.

"He mentioned catching up properly," Xavier continued. "With the family."

Family. The word settled deeper than it should have.

"That sounds like Mark," I said lightly. "Always scheduling life."

"How long are you in town for?" I asked.

"For now. Company expansion, I'm setting up a branch here, so I'll be around for a while."

Something warm lifted in my chest. "That's huge. I'm really proud of you."

He grinned. "I humbly accept your praises, ma'am."

I laughed. The laughter faded into a comfortable silence, easy, unhurried, the kind that doesn't need filling.

"How is everyone?" he asked. "Leo must be so big now."

I scoffed dramatically. "You almost missed his college graduation."

He laughed, the lines around his eyes deepening in a way they never used to.

"And the three musketeers?" The diner flashed through my mind, and a warm smile spread across my face.

"They're amazing. Actually, we just came from dinner. Big news tonight."

"Good news?"

"The best kind," I said softly.

"And your brothers?" I asked. "How are Ethan and the rest of the family?"

Xavier's expression softened. "Everyone's good. Ethan's married now with two kids, if you can believe it."

I blinked. "No."

"Yes," he said, laughing. "He settled down before I did. Mom still hasn't let me forget it."

"How is she?"

"She asked about you, actually," he said warmly. "A while back."

Something about that landed quietly in my chest. I didn't press it.

"Tell her I said hello," I said simply.

He nodded. "She'll want more than that."

A pause settled between us.

"I've missed you," he said quietly.

"Yeah… me too," I replied, holding his gaze.

For a moment, everything stilled.

Then my phone rang. Elise's name flashed across the screen.

"Sorry to disturb you, ma'am. Leo seems to be running a slight fever," she said quickly.

Every part of me snapped to attention. "I'm on my way."

I turned back to Xavier, concern already etched on his face.

"I have to go. Leo isn't feeling well."

He nodded. "Of course. Do you need anything?"

"No, but it was really good seeing you."

Before I moved, he gently took my phone, typed something quickly, and handed it back. "We have a lot to catch up on."

"A lot's changed," I said.

There was a weight to those words, something that whispered of unfinished stories, unresolved moments. I let them sit.

"I'll see you," I said.

"Drive safe," he replied.

I got home in record time. Elise was beside Leo, eyes alert as I approached.

"He's burning up a little, ma'am. Nothing serious yet."

"Has he had medication?"

"Yes, ma'am. Soup too."

I knelt beside his small bed and scooped him into my arms. "I'll take it from here. Thank you, Elise," I whispered.

She gave a small smile and quietly left the room.

"Hey, baby," I murmured, brushing damp hair from his forehead.

He murmured something incoherent, eyes droopy, curling closer. My heart ached.

Mark entered quietly. "Elise texted," he said.

He crouched beside us. "I'll take over while you shower."

I didn't argue. Warm water cascaded over me, and for the first time in hours, I breathed.

Returning, I found Mark pressing a cool cloth to Leo's forehead, Leo leaning against him, comforted and sleepy.

Mark caught my eye, and for a moment, it was just us. No obligations, no expectations, no weight of everything we hadn't said.

"Looks like he's calming down," I murmured.

"Yeah… he's got his mom's stubbornness," Mark said softly.

I laughed quietly.

We fell into a quiet rhythm, sips of water, wordless glances. Ordinary. Real. For a moment, the cracks in our marriage seemed to fade.

Then Mark's phone buzzed on the nightstand.

His expression shifted just slightly, just enough.

"Cathy…" he muttered, voice low. "We need to talk."

And just like that, the fragile peace we'd built around our sleeping son dissolved, leaving me staring at Leo's face, and the sharp, familiar weight of everything I'd been pretending wasn't there.