Second to no one

Chapter 6 Unspoken truths

For a brief moment, Isa let herself relax. She wasn’t thinking about the past, or about the mistakes. She was just here—present, watching her son and Dominic engage in something simple yet meaningful.

"Well," Dominic said, standing up, "I should let you two get back to your day." He paused, looking at Chase once more, then back at Isa. "It was good to see you again."

Isa looked at him, taking in his words. She wasn’t ready to forgive him, but she could see the sincerity in his eyes. Maybe that was enough for now.

"Goodbye, Dominic," she said, her voice soft but firm.

As he walked away, something shifted in her heart. It wasn’t forgiveness, not yet. But it was a new beginning—a quiet understanding that maybe the past didn’t have to define the future. Maybe, just maybe, she and Dominic could coexist in this new world, without the weight of history dragging them down.Chase, oblivious to the complexity of the moment, looked up at her with a big grin. "I like him, mama. He’s nice."

Isa smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "He is, sweetie. He really is."

And for the first time in a long while, Isa felt a tiny flicker of hope. Maybe the future wasn’t as complicated as it seemed.

Dominic nodded. "I can see that."

......

Isa woke up early the next morning, the light of dawn peeking through the blinds of her small apartment. It was another typical Sunday—quiet, still, with only the sound of Chase’s soft breathing as he slept in his room. She had grown used to the calm of mornings, the time she had to herself before the day became filled with the rush of responsibilities. But today felt different. She could feel a weight in the air, an unease that had nothing to do with the usual Sunday morning quiet.

After the unexpected meeting with Dominic at the café, Isa had been torn. She’d tried to brush it off, telling herself that it meant nothing. That he was just a former part of her life, a person who had hurt her and walked away without looking back. But as she lay in bed that morning, it wasn’t his presence that haunted her thoughts—it was the look on his face when he’d talked to Chase. The way his eyes softened, the way he’d seemed to care, even for that brief moment.

Isa wasn’t sure what to make of it. Dominic hadn’t even tried to explain himself.

They hadn’t spoken about their past, about why he had left, why he had broken her heart. They had merely exchanged pleasantries, and then he’d walked away. She couldn’t deny the pang of longing she felt, the flicker of a hope she thought she had buried long ago. But no. She couldn’t afford to think that way. She had worked too hard to build a life for herself and Chase. She had built walls around her heart that Dominic couldn’t easily tear down again.

Chase stirred from his room, his little feet padding against the floor as he appeared in the doorway, his face bright with excitement. “Good morning, Mama!” he called, his voice full of joy.

Isa smiled, pushing her tangled hair back from her face. “Good morning, baby. Did you sleep well?”

He nodded enthusiastically, crawling into bed beside her. “I dreamed about flying, Mama! Like a superhero.”

Isa chuckled, pulling him close. “That sounds amazing. Maybe one day you’ll fly just like one of your superheroes.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with the kind of innocence only children had. "Yeah! And I’ll save the world, too."

Isa’s heart swelled with love for her son. He was everything to her. He was her reason for getting up every day, for working hard, for being strong. And as she gazed down at his eager face, the thoughts of Dominic began to fade. It was moments like this that reminded her of her purpose.

But as much as she tried to push Dominic out of her mind, there was something gnawing at her. Something she couldn’t ignore. She had never been one to hold onto the past. She was practical, focused on the future. But Dominic’s sudden reappearance had stirred something within her. She needed answers. She needed to understand why he had done what he did, why he had walked away without a word.

With a deep breath, Isa stood up from the bed, shaking off the lingering thoughts of Dominic. She had a life to live, and no matter what happened with him, that couldn’t change.

As she made breakfast for Chase, the doorbell rang. Isa frowned, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

When she opened the door, her heart skipped a beat. Standing there, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other, was Dominic.

“Isa,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “Can we talk?”

........

What do you think Dom wants to say to our Isa?