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Nervously, I looked at the parking lot and then back to led as they flowed back and forth on the swings, blissfully unaware that their biological father was on his way

Earlier in the week, he’d asked me if he could see them I wasn’t ready to have a conversation and explain everything to the them to the park, and he could meet us there and watch from afar The trust issues I had for Zach still occupied ive hirown

The slalanced toward the parking lot nonchalantly, thankful ot out of his car and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets as he sloalked toward the bench I was sitting on His eyes were darting around the playground, looking through the sea of kids for Lucy and Piper When he finally spotted the and stared Lucy and Piper held hands and giggled as they slid next to each other down the slide Once they got to the bottom, they hopped up, ran back around, and flew up the ladder Zach shook his head and sat down next to round

"Hey"

"Wow"

"Wow?"

"The"

"Well, it’s been five years" I laughed aardly

His head lowered in shauess inthat once I left, tie, you wouldn’tfor me to come back one day, and we could just pick back up where we left off" Finally, his head swept up and looked atout at the girls "A little"

"So… there’s so I want to ask, but I don’t want to make youthe past or having a deep discussion while sitting on a park bench, watching the girls play "Okay?" I asked nervously

He sighed and looked up at the park, narrowing his eyes "What happened… after I left?"

I frowned at him "Um--"

"I know it’s a weird request, but I need it I need to knohat happened I ainst the bench and crossed his ankle over his knee, still watching the girls play "I drove by teeks later The house was closed up and a For Rent sign was in the living roo

He continued, "I sat in the driveway that night and got plastered If I remember correctly, I think I even slept in my car"

"What if I had still been there?" I asked quietly, surprising myself

His head snapped in my direction and I saw him s "I have no idea, Kacie I like to think I would’ve wised up, coiveness You would have wrapped your ariven the girls dinner, bathed theether After they fell asleep ould’ve talked for hours about how to one into our roo asleep curled around each other"

My lungs seized up and I had to remind myself to breathe in and out "That’s a lot of ‘would’ves,’ Zach"

"It is It’s also so we’ll never know the answer to, because the truth is, I was a pussy I was too scared to face s to you I was also weaker than the bottle It controlled ht it every single day and I alill"

"Moht red leaf the size of her head

"Wow! Look at that!" I said to her, though I was staring at Zach

His eyes danced all around her face like he was trying to ain and started breathing heavy