The morning was unusually quiet.
No rain tapping on windows. No Eli chatter echoing through the hallways just yet. Aria stood in the kitchen, pouring milk into a small cereal bowl, listening to the hum of the refrigerator. Her eyes flicked to the clock—9:12 AM. It was Saturday again. The day he usually came.
She wasn't waiting. At least, that's what she told herself.
Eli padded in, his hair messy from sleep, dragging his dinosaur plush behind him.
"Did Daddy say he's coming today?" he asked between yawns.
Aria hesitated. "Not yet. But maybe."
Eli nodded and climbed onto the stool, not pressing. That was something new—he used to ask three or four times in a row as if her answer might change with repetition.
She placed the bowl in front of him. "Eat up. We've got piano class later."
"But it's Saturday."
"You signed up for it. Remember?"
Eli scrunched his nose. "I only signed up 'cause the piano teacher gave me a cookie."
Aria laughed softly. "That sounds about right."
He started spooning cereal into his mouth, his legs swinging gently beneath the counter.
Aria's phone buzzed.
She didn't pick it up immediately, but her eyes darted toward the screen. When she finally flipped it over, a simple message lit up the screen:
Elias: Running late. Still coming. Save me a spot next to the tiger.
She didn't smile. Not quite. But something in her chest shifted like she'd been holding her breath without realizing it.
She texted back: The tiger already claimed it, but I'll negotiate.
A minute later:
Elias: I'll bring backup muffins. Diplomatic leverage.
She shook her head, placing her phone down again.
"You're smiling," Eli said through a mouthful.
Aria looked up, startled. "I am?"
Eli grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. "Must be the muffin text."
She squinted at him. "You're getting too smart for your good."
"I'm five," he said proudly.
"That's not a defense, young man."
By noon, the doorbell rang.
Eli was already halfway to the door before she could even stand.
Elias stood there, slightly breathless, a paper bag in one hand, a folded umbrella in the other.
"It's not raining," Aria noted, raising an eyebrow.
"Habit," he said. "Also, Eli once said I looked cooler holding one."
"Did not!" Eli yelled from behind her.
"Did too!"
"Okay, enough," Aria said, smiling despite herself. "Get inside before someone sees you arguing with a five-year-old about street fashion."
Elias stepped in, brushing past her just close enough to feel warm. The space between them always buzzed lately—something almost like familiarity, but not quite comfort.
"I brought muffins and a new book," he said, handing the bag to Eli. "This one's about a tiger who solves mysteries."
Eli's face lit up. "Does he wear a hat?"
"A detective hat. And glasses."
"Best. Book. Ever."
Aria turned to hide her grin.
Eli scampered off to the living room with the loot.
Elias remained by the door for a second longer. "He said I looked cooler?"
Aria crossed her arms. "Don't let it get to your head."
"It already has."
Later, the three of them sat in the living room, the book open on Eli's lap, though he mostly flipped pages looking at illustrations while Elias read aloud in silly voices. Aria watched from the armchair, occasionally interjecting with sound effects that made Eli laugh uncontrollably.
When the book ended, Eli jumped to his feet. "I'm going to draw Thunder as a detective!"
He disappeared to fetch crayons and paper, leaving the room quiet again.
Elias leaned back against the couch. "He's getting comfortable around me."
"He always was," Aria said, her voice soft. "He just needed time to remember."
Elias looked at her, something tender in his expression. "And you?"
She didn't look at him. "I'm still remembering."
A beat passed. Then he asked, "Can I ask something... maybe a little personal?"
"You can try."
"Back then, before you left… what did you need from me that I didn't give?" Elias asked, his voice quiet, careful.
Aria blinked, caught off guard. She stared at the edge of the coffee table, at the place where Eli's crayons had rolled earlier.
"I needed presence," she said after a long moment. "Not just showing up. Being there."
"I thought I was."
"I know." She turned her head to finally look at him. "You thought work was your way of providing. And maybe it was. But I didn't need a provider. I needed a partner."
Elias rubbed his hands together, almost nervously. "You think I can't be that now?"
"I think… I'm still figuring out if I want to try again," she said. "Not because I don't care. But because trying means risking everything again. And I don't know if I'm ready to lose twice."
He didn't respond right away. Then he said, "What if we start smaller? No risks. Just… honesty."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's already a risk."
"I know. But I'd rather risk being honest with you than spend another year pretending I don't miss you."
Aria's breath caught slightly.
"I miss this," he continued, gesturing vaguely at the living room, at the sounds of crayons scratching against paper in the next room. "I miss the quiet moments. Even the awkward ones."
"You weren't always good at quiet moments," she said, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm learning," he said. "And I still talk too much when I'm nervous."
She nodded slowly, taking another sip of the tea she had forgotten was getting cold.
From the living room, Eli's voice echoed.
"Mom! How do you spell 'detective'?"
Aria called back, "D-E-T-E-C-T-I-V-E!"
Elias smiled. "He's got your spelling brain."
"He's got your curiosity," she countered.
They both laughed softly.
"Hey," he said after a pause. "Can I stay a little longer today? Maybe help make dinner?"
She looked at him, considering. "You want to cook?"
"Let me rephrase. Can I stay and assist while you cook?"
"Better."
"I can chop things. I'm good with knives."
She gave him a look. "You make it sound like a threat."
He grinned. "It's a multi-purpose skill."
Aria stood, collecting their empty mugs. "You can peel the carrots. That's your level for now."
"Peeling is still heroic," he said, standing to follow her into the kitchen.
They worked in tandem. It was strangely comfortable—Elias peeling carrots with dramatic commentary about their "orange destiny," Aria seasoning chicken while trying not to laugh. Occasionally Eli wandered in, asking for opinions on his drawings or requesting very specific tiger facts.
"Do tigers have middle names?" he asked at one point.
Elias leaned against the counter. "Only the very classy ones."
"What would Thunder's be?" Eli asked seriously.
Aria paused. "Thunder... Maximilian?"
Eli clapped. "Perfect!"
The evening stretched slowly, beautifully. They ate together again, the conversation light but natural, filled with Eli's laughter and Elias's animated retellings of the detective tiger's next mystery.
After dinner, Aria brought out ice cream. It wasn't planned, but the mood called for it.
Eli nearly exploded with excitement.
"You're the best mom ever!"
"And don't you forget it," she said, ruffling his hair.
As they finished dessert, Elias glanced at the clock. "I should go soon."
"You don't have to rush," Aria said before she could stop herself.
He looked surprised. "You sure?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Stay a little. Let Eli show you the rest of his drawings."
Eli perked up. "I made a whole comic. Thunder finds a secret cave!"
"That's Pulitzer material," Elias said seriously.
Eli ran off to fetch it, leaving them alone again.
Elias leaned in slightly, voice low. "That meant something. You inviting me to stay."
"I didn't mean it like—"
"I know," he said gently. "But it still means something."
She exhaled. "It means… I'm trying."
"That's all I need right now."
Eli returned and proceeded to act out every page of his comic with dramatic flair. Aria watched them—father and son, faces animated, voices rising and falling like an old duet rediscovered.
When it was finally time for Elias to leave, Eli clung to his waist.
"Tomorrow too?" he asked.
Elias looked to Aria, waiting for the answer from her.
She met his gaze and nodded once. "Tomorrow too."
Eli cheered and ran off to start planning Thunder's next adventure.
Elias stepped toward the door, glancing back. "Thanks for today."
Aria followed him out onto the porch. "You earned it."
He paused. "Same time tomorrow?"
"Same time."
He smiled. "I'll bring more muffins. For leverage."
"You're going to raise his sugar tolerance."
"I'm raising morale," he said with mock importance.
She shook her head, amused. "Goodnight, Elias."
"Goodnight, Aria."
As he walked down the path, the silence felt different. Not hollow. Just... waiting.
When she closed the door, she lingered a moment, resting her back against it.
From the living room, Eli called, "Thunder says goodnight too!"
Aria smiled.
"Tell him his mom says sweet dreams."