Chapter Six

"Damn it." Chloe said as the doorbell rang.

"You swore." Emma said.

"Sorry." She said as she tried to get Emma’s t-shirt over her head.

The bell rang again.

"I’m coming." She shouted as she hoisted Emma on her hip and ran to the front door.

"Hello…" Lance said with a look of confusion.

This is it. It’s over. There’s no way Lance could look at Emma and not see himself in her. They had the exact same eyes.

"I thought I told you not to come back." Chloe said.

Emma tugged on the end of Chloe’s hair.

"Mommy, who is that?"

"Mommy?" Lance asked, shocked.

"He’s an old friend of Mommy’s." she said setting Emma down on the floor. "Why don’t you go watch TV?"

"But…" Emma protested.

"Emma." Chloe warned.

"Okay, bye Mommy’s old friend." She said scampering off into the living room.

Chloe slowly turned back around to face Lance.

"Mommy?" Lance asked again.

She nodded. "Yep."

"When, how…well obviously I know how. But when?" he asked.

"Four years ago." Chloe said.

"Right after you left." Lance said.

"I got pregnant right after I moved out here." She told him.

"Where is he?" Lance asked.

"Her father? I have no idea." Chloe said.

"Does he even know?"

"No, he doesn’t know about her."

Lance shook his head. "I’m sorry. This is all just a really big shock."

Chloe looked down at her hands, not exactly sure what to say.

Emma came running back into the room. "Mommy…is it time yet?"

With Lance’s surprise visit Chloe had forgotten she promised Emma she’d take her to the park.

"Yes, go get your jacket." Chloe said.

"Is old friend coming to the park with us?" she asked.

"I don’t think…" Chloe started.

Lance bent down so he was eye-level with Emma.

"My name is Lance and I would love to go to the park with you."

Emma grinned. "Okay, you can push me on the swing."

"You’ve got a deal." He said.

Emma ran off to get her jacket and Lance stood up.

"You don’t listen very well do you?" Chloe asked.

"Excuse me?"

"The other night I told you not to come back here."

"Selective hearing." He said with a grin.

"Ready." Emma said walking back into the room.

"Let’s go then." Lance said.

She put her tiny hand in his and the pair made their way out the door.