Victoria
As Ethan mentioned his ex-wife, I noticed the subtle change in his demeanor. His relaxed posture stiffened, his eyes darkened slightly, and a shadow of something—confusion, hurt, or perhaps both—passed across his face. There was also something else… rage.
It was fleeting, but unmistakable. The mention of her name clearly still had an impact on him, and not a pleasant one.
I felt a surge of anger flare up inside me, completely unexpected and entirely uncharacteristic. What had this woman done to him? Ethan was… well, he was a gem of a man. Honest, kind, strong, and yet there was a vulnerability in him, a quiet, unspoken pain that lingered just beneath the surface.
I didn't know much about his ex—only what little I'd pieced together from brief mentions and the odd comment. But it was enough to make me feel protective of Ethan, a man who clearly didn't deserve whatever torment she had put him through. I wondered what their relationship had been like, what had caused it to unravel so completely. But more than that, I wondered how anyone could walk away from a man like him.
We continued our walk through Silver Ridge. I watched Ethan interact with Samantha and the girls, his easy smile returning as they took pictures and laughed together. Despite the brief glimpse of pain I'd seen earlier, Ethan was trying to stay in the moment, to enjoy this time with his daughters and our little group. He was strong, but it was clear that the effort it took for him to keep those old wounds at bay was monumental.
It took everything in my power to not run and throw my arms around him.
I kept my tone light as I leaned in slightly, keeping pace with Ethan as we walked. "You know, Ethan," I said softly, "it's clear that you're a wonderful father. The way those girls look at you, the way they care for you… it's something truly special."
He glanced over at me, his expression softening again. "Thanks, Victoria. I try my best, but I think they're the ones who take care of me more often than not."
I smiled. "It's not a bad thing to be cared for, Ethan. Sometimes, it's what we need most, even if we don't realize it."
He nodded, but he was uncomfortable with the conversation. The mention of his ex-wife had unsettled him, and I didn't want to push too hard. There was a part of me that desperately wanted to understand, to know more about what had happened between them, and to find some way to help him heal.
Time, Victoria. Give it time.