Chapter 4
Series 1 Chapter 4
At eight-fifty on Friday morning, Mia and I sat in the front row of the classroom.
The seat to my left was empty.
Mia wore her favorite pale purple dress, a small daisy hairpin I had hand-made for her tucked into her hair.
“Mom,” she whispered softly, “is Kane coming?”
I glanced at the clock.
Eight-fifty-seven.
“He promised me he would,” I said.
Only this time, I didn’t add that usual reassuring line: He’ll definitely be here.
At nine sharp, the showcase began.
One by one, the kids walked up to the front to present their parents.
Some pointed at their dads laughing in the audience, some threw themselves into their mothers’ arms, and others held up family vacation photos.
When it was Mia’s turn, she stepped up holding her drawing.
“This is my Mom, Ellie,” she said, pointing at me with a forced little smile.
Then, her eyes drifted to the empty seat beside me.
She went dead silent.
The teacher gently prompted her, “Mia, sweetheart, what about the rest of your family?”
Mia’s fingers tightened on the paper. “And my...”
The door suddenly swung open.
Kane stood at the entrance, a bouquet of white tulips in hand.
“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a nightmare.”
As he walked in, several parents around us cast appreciative glances his way.
Mia’s eyes lit up instantly.
“...and my Dad!” she announced loudly.
Kane walked down the aisle to the front row and took the seat beside me.
He offered Mia a warm, encouraging smile. “How could I miss your big day, kiddo?”
Mia beamed.
After she finished her presentation, the teacher invited the family onstage for a photo.
Kane stood behind Mia, resting one hand on her shoulder while wrapping his other arm around my waist.
The second the camera flashed, Mia tugged gently on his sleeve.
“Dad, can we all go get ice cream together?”
Kane glanced down at his phone.
Uncle Kane, I messed up my piano rehearsal! Please come fast, I’m scared!
His thumb hovered over the screen.
Mia looked up, waiting for his answer.
“Just for a little bit,” she added hastily. “Mom can come too.”
Kane pocketed his phone and crouched down, keeping his tone impossibly sweet.
“Sweetheart, Dad has to handle something today. Next time, okay?”
The light in Mia’s eyes dimmed, bit by bit.
“Is it Lexi again?”
Kane frowned. “Don’t be like that, Mia. She made a mistake during rehearsal and needs some encouragement.”
“I need you too.”
“But I came, didn’t I?” his voice dropped, carrying a sharp edge. “Don’t push your luck, Mia.”
I instantly pulled Mia behind me.
“Kane, you didn’t promise to just pop in for a quick photo op.”
He stood up, staring at me as his eyes turned ice-cold.
“Ellie, you forced me to come, and I’m here. What more do you want?”
“I want you to tell her the truth for once,” I said. “Do you actually want to be a father to her, or do you just want to look like a good father in front of everyone else?”
Kane’s jaw tightened into a rigid line.
Just then, Mia pulled the small box from her backpack.
Inside lay the three matching bracelets.
She held out the brown one to Kane.
“If you can stay with me tomorrow too,” she whispered, “I’ll give this to you.”
Mia pointed to the bulletin board at the back of the classroom.
Kane glanced at the poster pinned there—a flyer for the upcoming Lakeside Parent-Child Challenge.
He paused for a long second. “Fine. I’ll go with you guys tomorrow.”
Mia blinked in disbelief. She hadn’t expected him to agree so fast; usually, it took endless nagging or outright rejections.
Kane locked eyes with me, as if answering my accusation.
“You wanted us to be a family, right?” he said evenly. “Then let’s go be a real family for once.”
Mia clutched the box to her chest, the spark returning to her eyes.
“Can I give you the bracelet tomorrow then?”
Kane let out a small smile.
“Of course you can, Mia.”
As he turned to leave, I saw his phone screen flash once more:
You’re going to help me take first place at the Lakeside race tomorrow, right?
I didn’t expose him right then and there. I couldn't bring myself to ruin Mia’s happiness just yet.