My Ex- Husband Wants A Second Chance

I entered my friend’s crowded restaurant, the smells of spices and freshly prepared food filling the air.

Maya, her long dark hair tied up in a bun, spotted me from across the room and waved, a smile on her face.

She was busy with her staff, the laughter and talk of customers filling the area around them.

As I took a seat, Maya waved to me, mouthing "I'll be right there" as she ran back to her cooking station.

As I waited for Maya, I let myself to soak in the spirit of the place.

The hum of discussion, the clinking of glasses, the quiet music in the background.. It was a wonderful break from the seclusion of my flat.

When Maya eventually joined me, she put a hand on my shoulder and then hastily sat down.

“Hey Soph, what were you saying over the phone? You actually meant it??.. you met… He is back in New York??”

I nodded, my guts twisting into knots. "Yeah, he's back. I bumped into him at the Art Exhibition last night."

Maya's eyes widened in surprise. "Liam? The Liam? I can’t believe it! If he was at the Art exhibition, that indicates he must have purposefully come for you, since there's no way he'd visit the Greenwoods’ Art Gallery display and wouldn't expect to see you.. so after everything that happened, he simply comes up like that?"

"Exactly," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "And the worst thing is, he appeared different. Like he wanted to communicate, like he wasn’t the same guy who delivered me those divorce papers."

Maya’s countenance softened, her palm extending out to cover mine.

"Soph, you’ve gone through hell because of him. You can’t allow him interfere with your brain again."

I sighed, staring down at our hands, feeling the warmth of her support. "I know, but it’s not that simple. Seeing him brought everything back. All the hurt, the humiliation, everything."

Maya clasped my hand softly. "You’re stronger than you think, Soph. You don’t owe him anything, not even your attention. He made his decision."

"But what if he’s changed? What if…"

Maya cut me off, her tone strong.

"No. Don’t even go there. People like him don’t simply change overnight. You need to concentrate on yourself, on going ahead, not on what-ifs."

I nodded, knowing she was correct, but a part of me still hurt with the unresolved sentiments that seeing Liam had brought up.

Maya reclined back in her chair, observing me for a time before speaking again.

"Listen, why don’t we take your mind off things? Come assist me in the kitchen. We’re overwhelmed today, and I could use an additional set of hands."

I smiled at her offer, happy for the diversion. "Sure, why not? It’s better than sitting here and overthinking everything."

Maya giggled and pulled me up from the chair. "That’s the spirit! Let’s go to work."

As we proceeded to the kitchen, I felt a bit lighter.

Maybe Maya was correct. Maybe what I needed was to focus on the present, on the people who were truly there for me.

Liam was part of my past, and that’s where he deserved to remain.

As Maya and I worked side-by-side in the busy kitchen, our actions settling into a familiar pattern, the quiet hung heavily between us.

Finally, when she took a pot of noodles off the counter, Maya broke the stillness.

"So," she continued, her voice low, "how are things with Ethan? Last time we talked, you were contemplating giving him a chance."

I stopped, the heat from the fire burning my cheeks as I weighed my response.

"He was at my place last night," I continued, my voice low.

At Maya's joyful shriek, my cheeks flamed with shame, and I attempted to ignore the inquisitive eyes of the other cooks.

"Eiiiiiiiiii! Things are beginning up then?" she remarked, her smile growing. "He’s going to your house now? Wow!"

I chuckled, attempting to shrug off her mocking. "It was simply a brief visit. I don’t believe it signifies anything.”

After screaming and joking at my confession, Maya went serious.

"Sophie, I think this guy genuinely likes you," she said, her voice low and sincere. "You know I don’t simply say that about everyone. But Ethan, he seems different. He appears to truly care about you.”

I paused, uncertain of how to answer. I wanted to believe Maya, to trust in Ethan's sincerity, but the scars Liam had left were still fresh, constantly bleeding.

Finally, I spoke. "Maya, I...I finally spoke out to Ethan about Liam.”

Maya nodded, understanding, and then her eyes brightened up. "Oh, you did? That must have been terrible for you."

I sighed, nodding. "It was, but it also felt like a weight off my chest. Ethan was really sweet about it. He genuinely listened."

Maya's grin grew. "That’s wonderful! Ethan seems like such a lovely person. And he's very persistent, which is a wonderful thing."

I smiled back, but a sense of uncertainty swept over me. "I just...I don’t want to be injured again.”

Maya's face relaxed. She was about to speak when the sound of my phone buzzing in my purse broke through the hum of the kitchen.

She raised an eyebrow, a grin flickering at the corners of her lips. "Ooh, Ethan already checking in on you?" she joked, before adding, "Go ahead, check it."

I took out my phone, my pulse beating as I unlocked the screen.

It was an unknown number.

I was cautious about selecting it in the kitchen.

"I'll be right back," I murmured to Maya, the grin on my face seeming forced. "It's the gallery, I have to take this call."

She nodded, giving me a comforting grin as I swiftly made my way out of the kitchen and into the relative stillness of the restaurant's main dining room.

With my pulse still hammering, I answered the phone, speaking gently.

"Hello?”

I held my breath, hoping for a reaction.

"Sophie, it's your dad. Is this a good time to talk?"

My shoulders dropped with relief, my fingers pushing against my chest as if to slow my beating heart.

"Oh, hey dad. Yes, indeed, I'm at Maya's restaurant but I have a minute."

There was a pause, then his voice was softer as he spoke once again.

"Sweetheart, I have to say something.”

“Of course, what’s up?” I questioned, knowing the weight underlying his words.