The weekend arrived quicker than Ella expected, and with it came the first visit to Ethan’s house with the boys. The morning passed in a blur of excitement and preparations as Leo and Liam buzzed around, eager to spend time with their dad and half-sister, Grace.
The drive to Ethan’s house was calm, with the boys chattering in the backseat about the games they wanted to play with Grace. Ella couldn’t help but smile at their enthusiasm, but the nagging feeling she had been suppressing all week began creeping back.
She glanced in her rearview mirror, scanning the road behind her. No cars seemed to be following, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Still, the sensation of being watched was persistent, like an itch she couldn’t scratch.
“Mom, are we there yet?” Leo’s voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to the present.
“Almost,” she replied, her tone cheerful despite the tension simmering beneath the surface.
When they arrived at Ethan’s house, Liam and Leo bolted from the car, their laughter echoing as they ran up the driveway. Ethan was already waiting at the door, and his face lit up when he saw them. He crouched down, arms open wide, as the twins crashed into him with gleeful hugs.
Grace appeared a moment later, her excitement evident as she joined the group hug. She quickly grabbed the twins’ hands and led them inside, chattering about the new toys she wanted to show them.
Ella stepped out of the car and closed the door, taking a deep breath. Ethan straightened and turned to her, his smile warm and inviting.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she replied, her lips curving into a smile of her own.
They exchanged a brief, slightly awkward hug before stepping inside. The house was cozy and inviting, with the sounds of the children’s laughter filling the space.
As the day went on, Ella and Ethan found themselves reminiscing about old times while the kids played. They sat in the living room, the afternoon sun streaming through the windows, as they shared stories from when they first met.
“Remember that camping trip?” Ethan asked, laughing. “The one where you insisted we didn’t need a map?”
Ella groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Don’t remind me! I still can’t believe we ended up hiking in circles for hours.”
“And then you tried to convince me the moss on the trees was pointing north,” Ethan added, grinning.
She laughed, shaking her head. “Well, it made sense at the time.”
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and for a while, it felt like old times. The tension that had existed between them for years seemed to dissolve, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, they moved outside to watch the kids play in the backyard. Grace had organized a game of tag, and the twins were darting around, their laughter ringing out as they tried to avoid being caught.
Ethan leaned against the railing of the porch, his arms crossed as he watched the children with a soft smile. “They’re happy,” he said quietly.
Ella nodded, her gaze fixed on the boys. “They are. And they love spending time with you and Grace.”
Ethan glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. “I want to be there for them, Ella. For all of you.”
She met his gaze, her heart tugging at the sincerity in his voice. “You are, Ethan. And I appreciate that.”
The moment was interrupted by a sudden shout from the yard as Leo tripped and fell, landing in a pile of leaves. He popped up a moment later, laughing as Liam and Grace piled leaves on top of him.
Ella chuckled, shaking her head. “Boys.”
Ethan laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “They’re something else, aren’t they?”
As the evening turned into night, the kids came inside, their faces flushed from running around. Ethan and Ella worked together to prepare dinner, the atmosphere in the house warm and lively.
After dinner, they all gathered in the living room, the children sprawled on the floor with their toys while Ella and Ethan sat on the couch.
It was then that the unease Ella had been feeling all day came rushing back. She glanced toward the window, her body tensing as her eyes scanned the darkened street outside.
“Ella?” Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts.
She turned to him, her brow furrowed. “I need to tell you something.”
His expression shifted to one of concern. “What is it?”
“I’ve been feeling… watched,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan frowned. “Watched? Since when?”
“Off and on for a while now,” she said. “But it’s been worse this past week. It’s like someone’s there, but when I look, there’s nothing.”
Ethan’s gaze softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “Ella, are you sure it’s not just stress? You’ve had a lot on your plate lately.”
She shook her head, her jaw tightening. “No, Ethan. This isn’t just in my head. I can feel it someone’s watching me.”
He studied her for a moment, his brows knitting together. “Have you seen anything unusual? Anyone hanging around?”
“No,” she admitted. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Okay. If you’re sure, then we need to take it seriously. Maybe I can come by and check things out at your place. Or we could call the police….”
“No,” Ella interrupted quickly. “Not yet. I don’t want to scare the boys. And I don’t have any proof, just… a feeling.”
He hesitated, then sighed. “Alright. But promise me you’ll be careful. Lock your doors, set up some cameras if you can. And if it happens again, call me.”
She nodded, her gaze drifting back to the children. They were playing happily, oblivious to the dark cloud hanging over her.
“Do you think I’m being paranoid?” she asked softly.
Ethan shook his head. “No. I think you’ve been through a lot, and it’s better to trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.”
Ella looked at him, her chest tightening. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For believing me,” she said, her voice wavering.
Ethan gave her a small smile. “Always.”
As the night wore on, the kids began to tire, their energy finally waning. Grace offered to show the boys her favorite bedtime story, leading them upstairs to her room.
Ella and Ethan remained in the living room, the house quiet except for the muffled sounds of the children settling down.
Ella leaned back against the couch, her mind racing despite the calm around her. She glanced at Ethan, who was watching her with a concerned expression.
“Everything’s going to be alright,” he said, his voice steady.
She nodded, but the unease in her chest didn’t fade. Somewhere out there, she knew someone was watching. And whoever it was, they weren’t going to stop.