The moment she'd dreaded had finally arrived.
"Cara?" His voice was deep, with a hint of surprise and something else she didn't quite understand. Her heart raced as she turned around to face Dave. Time stood still as their eyes locked, her mind wandering back to the nights she'd spent wondering what she would say to him if they ever crossed paths again. She'd imagined this moment, rehearsed it even. But now, her mind felt blank, her heart racing faster than her thoughts.
"Yes? Hi." She somehow managed.
"Were you here for the gala?"He said taking a step forward.
"Yeah," she replied, trying to put some distance between them."As a photographer." She managed with a polite smile. "It's… good to see you."
He returned her smile, but it was small, almost forced—his eyes seemed guarded, shadowed by something she didn't recognize. "Good, huh?"
He had matured in the years they had not seen each other.This version of him felt unfamiliar.
They stood in silence for a moment, the noise of the gala behind them fading to a distant hum.
"Dave, we need to leave." They heard a man's voice calling him from behind.
Dave looked at her one last time, a strange mix of regret and uncertainty in his expression. "All right… I guess I'll go, then."
"See you around," she replied softly, watching as he walked away.
Still stunned, Cara turned to the gate and pushed it open, making her way back to her car.
She kept thinking about him on her way home. Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound of a child's giggle as she reached home. Her four-year-old son, Alex, lay on the sofa cuddling with his grandmother, his little face lighting up as she entered the room.
"Mama! Did you have fun at the party?"
Cara felt her heart swell at the sight of him, her son's smile filling the empty space in her heart.She leaned down to kiss his forehead "Not as much fun as I have with you,baby."
"Guess what? Grandma let me stay extra late to wait for mama to come home." he said with a wide grin, obviously pleased with his little rebellion.
"Oh, really?" She raised an eyebrow, matching his smile and playfully glaring at her mother. "Well, you're lucky I'm in a good mood. Next time, though, no bribes for Grandma."
As she took him to bed, all thoughts of the night faded. She knew her past was behind her, and her present was right here, looking up at her with bright, trusting eyes.