Amara’s hand paused mid-air, the soft smile fading from her lips. She glanced at Vaughn, surprised by the question. For a moment, she was caught off guard, not knowing how to respond. How much did Vaughn see? How much did he understand? He was a smart boy, far too observant for his own good.
“Baby…” she began, choosing her words carefully, “why do you ask?”
Vaughn tilted his head slightly, his innocent eyes filled with curiosity. “I’m just asking, Mommy,” he said softly. His words carried a childlike innocence, but Amara knew better than to underestimate her son. Vaughn was perceptive, far beyond his years, and he seemed to always sense the things left unspoken.
Amara crouched down to Vaughn’s level, her hands resting gently on his small shoulders. She needed to find the right words, ones that would protect his innocence but also give him some sense of the truth. “Rowan is… he’s a good man, in his own way,” she said softly, looking into Vaughn’s eyes. Her words were chosen carefully, with the weight of all her conflicting emotions about Rowan.
She didn’t want Vaughn to hate his father, even though he didn’t know the truth about him yet. She wanted to preserve his innocence for as long as possible, to keep him from the harsh realities of their world.
Rowan was terrifying to the outside world, but to those he cared about, there was a different side to him… a side that was protective and loyal, even if it was shrouded in shadows.
Vaughn nodded thoughtfully, his little face serious. “Yes, Mommy. I had a dream last night,” he said suddenly, his tone shifting to something more wistful.
Amara’s heart clenched. “What did you dream, baby?” she asked, keeping her voice light, though her stomach twisted in anticipation.
Vaughn’s eyes lit up with the memory, and he spoke with the earnestness of a child. “I dreamed that Rowan uncle came here last night… he was here, in our room,” he said, almost in a whisper, as if sharing a secret.
Amara’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at Vaughn, her mind racing. She wanted to tell him that it wasn’t a dream, that Rowan had indeed been there last night.
He had come to check on them, to ensure their safety. She had felt his presence even before she saw him. But instead, she chose to keep the truth to herself. There was no need for Vaughn to know everything, not yet..
She forced a smile, her lips curling upwards despite the turmoil inside her. “That sounds like quite a dream,” she said gently. “Now… Come on, let’s get going. We’re getting late.”
Vaughn seemed satisfied with her answer, nodding again as he let her steer him towards the door. Today, Amara decided she would drive Vaughn herself to school.
As they stepped outside into the morning light, a chill ran down Amara’s spine.
The world felt different today, more menacing, more unpredictable. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, that danger lurked just beyond the edges of her perception. She glanced around, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble, but everything seemed normal. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and yet…
“Mommy?” Vaughn’s voice pulled her back to the present. He was looking up at her, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
Amara forced another smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Just thinking.” She squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him.. and herself.. that everything was okay.
She opened the car door for Vaughn, helping him into his seat and buckling him in.
As she slid into the driver’s seat, she took a deep breath, trying to calm the anxiety that had settled in her chest. She started the car, and the engine roared to life, a familiar sound that brought a small measure of comfort.
As they drove through the city streets, Amara couldn’t help but glance in the rearview mirror repeatedly, her eyes flicking from the road to the mirror and back again. She was on high alert, every sense heightened, every nerve on edge.
Vaughn, sitting in the back seat, watched her quietly. He could sense her unease, even if he didn’t fully understand it. “Mommy, are we going to see Rowan uncle again?” he asked suddenly, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
Amara’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. “I don’t know, baby,” she replied honestly. “Maybe. But for now, we’re just focusing on getting you to school, okay?”
Vaughn nodded, his face serious. “Okay, Mommy.” He seemed to accept her answer, but Amara could tell that he was still thinking about Rowan, still trying to make sense of the dream… or reality.. that had been weighing on his young mind.
They arrived at Vaughn’s school a few minutes later. Amara parked the car and unbuckled Vaughn, helping him out of his seat. She knelt down, adjusting his backpack and making sure his uniform was neat. “You be good today, okay?” she said, her voice softer now, filled with a mother’s love and worry.
Vaughn nodded, his face brightening with a smile. “I will, Mommy. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” Amara replied, hugging him tightly.
She watched him walk towards the school building, his little figure growing smaller with each step. As Vaughn disappeared into the school, Amara turned back to her car, her mind racing.
Amara slid into the driver’s seat, but instead of starting the engine, she pulled out her phone and dialed Lucas’s number.
The phone rang, the sound echoing in the silence of the car. Finally, he picked up, his voice calm and steady.
“Hello, Miss,” Lucas greeted, his tone polite..
“Lucas,” she said, her voice barely a whisper, strained with the weight of everything she was feeling.
Immediately sensing the tension in her voice, Lucas’s tone shifted, becoming more alert. “Is everything alright, Miss?” he asked, a note of urgency creeping into his words.