You look like my dad

Zephyr's bright eyes sparkled as she dragged her small travel bag through the bustling airport. Her gaze flitted between the unfamiliar faces and the chaotic hum of voices around her. She and her mom, Emily, had just returned from a magical birthday trip to Disneyland, a whirlwind adventure that left Zephyr brimming with stories and memories.

Emily walked a few steps behind, her expression a blend of exhaustion and quiet contentment. Meanwhile, Zephyr’s attention drifted. Staring at the floor as she walked, she found herself pondering an important question: were her second toes really longer than her big toes? Her thoughts were interrupted when she bumped into someone, jolting her back to the present.

“Sorry!” Zephyr exclaimed, looking up at the man she had run into. He was tall, with a sharp, unreadable expression that made her hesitate. His dark eyes seemed to hold hers in place, and an odd chill swept over her, but she stood firm. “Excuse me, my mom says it’s rude to ignore people,” she said with a polite but pointed tone.

The man’s gaze softened just a fraction as he focused on her. “Your mom said that, did she?” His voice was low and even, carrying a strange familiarity that made Zephyr’s curiosity flare.

She tilted her head, studying him with an intensity only a child could muster. “You look like my dad,” she said suddenly, her eyes widening with surprise.

The man stiffened. A flicker of something—shock? Confusion?—crossed his face before he masked it. “Your... dad?” he said, the words almost inaudible. Before Zephyr could say anything more, Emily’s voice cut through the noise. “Zephyr!” Her tone was sharp, edged with alarm. Zephyr whipped her head around and ran to her mom.

“Mummy! I thought I lost you!” Zephyr cried, throwing her arms around Emily’s waist.

Emily knelt and hugged her tightly, her protective instincts kicking in. Then her eyes lifted, locking onto the man Zephyr had been speaking to. Her expression froze, turning cold and guarded. He met her gaze without flinching, his face unreadable.

“Look, Mummy! It’s Daddy!” Zephyr said excitedly, tugging at Emily’s sleeve.

Emily’s jaw tightened. “We’re leaving,” she said firmly, taking Zephyr’s hand and turning away.

As they walked briskly toward the exit, a small voice called out from behind them. “Daddy!” A little boy with tousled hair came bounding toward the man. Behind him, a woman with flowing golden hair hurried to catch up, her expression one of amused exasperation.

Emily glanced back, her face hardening at the sight. Her grip on Zephyr’s hand tightened as she quickened her pace. Whatever reunion fate had tried to orchestrate here, Emily had no intention of playing along.

The drive home was heavy with silence, the kind that made Emily’s thoughts grow louder. Seeing him—Aiden—after all these years had left her shaken in ways she hadn’t expected. Six years had passed since that night. A one-night stand during her university days had led to Zephyr’s arrival, a surprise Emily had embraced even as Aiden turned his back on them. He hadn’t wanted to be a father, hadn’t wanted anything to do with them, and had made it painfully clear by offering her a generous sum of money to raise their child alone. She had taken the money but never forgiven him for the rejection.

Now, out of nowhere, he had reappeared, as if summoned by some cruel twist of fate. What could he possibly want after all this time? “Mummy,” Zephyr said, breaking the silence. “Why did Daddy look so surprised to see me? Does he not know about me?” Emily’s heart ached at the innocence in her daughter’s voice. How could she possibly explain the tangled mess of adult relationships to a five-year-old?

“He didn’t expect to see us, sweetheart,” Emily said carefully, forcing a smile. “Sometimes grown-ups get caught off guard, just like kids do.”

Zephyr seemed to accept that explanation for now, but Emily knew the questions wouldn’t stop there. She also knew her answers would only grow more complicated as the days went on.

By the time they pulled into their driveway, Emily was emotionally drained. She just wanted to get Zephyr inside, make dinner, and put the entire day behind them. But as she turned off the engine, her phone buzzed on the dashboard. Glancing at the screen, her breath hitched when she saw the name.

Aiden.

Her jaw clenched as she read the message. 'We need to talk.'

Talk? About what? What could he possibly have to say now, after vanishing for six years? Emily’s mind raced, her anger rising to the surface. Whatever he wanted, she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear it.