Eclipsed Hearts

Chapter 1

Return to Lilygrove

The scent of home hit me the moment we

stepped off the plane. There was something familiar in the mix of pine, salt from the nearby bay, and the faintest whiff of gasoline from the idling taxis. It had been six years, but Lilygrove still had that small-town charm that I remembered, a charm I once longed to escape.

I glanced down at Frankie, my son—my entire world—who was bouncing beside me, his eyes wide with curiosity. He looked up at me with that same playful grin I saw in the mirror every morning. His thick, dark curls bobbed as he tugged at my sleeve.

“Mommy, is this it? Is this where we’re gonna live now?” His voice was filled with the kind of wonder only a child could muster.

“Yeah, buddy,” I said, squeezing his hand. “This is home now.”

Lilygrove hadn’t changed much since I left. Sure, there were a few new shops and a larger shopping center, but the heart of the town was still the same. The people were still the same too, some of them watching as we walked through the airport. I could feel their stares—some curious, some surprised—and I knew that within hours, the news of my return would be all over town.

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was Frankie and making a life for us here. I hadn’t come back to rekindle old flames or rehash old wounds. I was here to take on my new role at my father’s company, to build something meaningful for my son.

As we left the airport and climbed into the car waiting for us, I couldn’t help but think back to those six years ago, when I’d left this place behind. I’d left with my head held high, determined to move on from the heartbreak, the betrayal, and the humiliation. I’d left Mark, Ryan, and everything that had come crashing down around me. Now, I was back, and I wasn’t that same girl anymore. I had Frankie, and he was my world.

* * *

The drive through town was surreal. It was like stepping into a memory, everything familiar but distant, like seeing an old photograph through a foggy lens. Frankie pressed his face against the car window, his eyes wide as he took in the sights.

“Look at all the trees, Mommy!” he exclaimed. “They’re so tall!”

I chuckled, feeling a warmth in my chest. “Yeah, they are. Wait until you see the beach. It’s just a little drive from our house.”

Frankie’s excitement was contagious. I found myself smiling more than I had in a long time, and for the first time since deciding to come back, I felt a small sense of peace. Maybe this was going to work out after all.

When we arrived at the house, I couldn’t help but pause for a moment. It was the same house I’d grown up in, nestled on the edge of town, surrounded by tall oak trees and the familiar scent of the bay. My parents had moved further north for their retirement, but they’d left the house for me and Frankie, a generous gesture I hadn’t expected.

I turned to Frankie and opened the car door, helping him out. “Welcome home, kiddo.”

His eyes grew even wider as he looked up at the house. “This is where you grew up?”

“Yep,” I said, smiling down at him. “And now it’s where you’re going to grow up.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking, settling into the house, and exploring the backyard. Frankie quickly found his favorite spot—a small patch of grass under the biggest oak tree, where he could sit and play with his toys.

Watching him made my heart swell with pride and love. He was everything I’d ever wanted, and more than I’d ever expected. Being his mother had given me a strength I hadn’t known I possessed.

Later, as evening approached, we decided to head into town. I needed to pick up a few things from the store, and Frankie needed a distraction before bedtime. We drove down the familiar streets, the setting sun casting long shadows over the town. I tried not to think about the past, about all the memories lurking in every corner of Lilygrove, but it was hard not to.

Frankie held my hand as we wandered through the aisles of the small grocery store. He chatted away, asking questions about everything we passed, his energy never fading. I answered him absentmindedly, my mind drifting as we made our way through the store.

As we stepped out of the mall, bags in hand, a sudden chill ran down my spine. It was the kind of sensation that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, the kind that told you someone was watching. I glanced around, and that’s when I saw him.

Mark.

He was standing near the parking lot, talking to someone I didn’t recognize. He hadn’t seen me yet, but the sight of him was enough to make my heart skip a beat. I hated that he still had that effect on me, even after all these years. I hated that seeing him, even from a distance, still stirred something inside me that I didn’t want to feel.

He hadn’t changed much. His hair was shorter, and he looked a little older, a little more worn, but he was still undeniably Mark. The same Mark who had broken my heart in front of the entire school. The same Mark who had made me feel worthless and ugly.

I felt a surge of anger rise up in me, but I quickly pushed it down. I wasn’t that girl anymore. I wasn’t the insecure teenager who let Mark’s words define her. I was a mother now, a professional. I had moved on. I wasn’t going to let him have any more power over me.

I grabbed Frankie’s hand a little tighter and turned to head toward the car. But just as I reached for the door handle, I felt a presence behind me. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew who it was before I even turned around.

“Mattie.”

His voice sent a shiver down my spine. Slowly, I turned to face him, my heart hammering in my chest.

It was him. Mark.

Up close, he looked even more familiar, like a ghost from my past brought to life. His eyes searched my face, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in them—something that almost looked like regret.

“Hey,” he said softly, as if he wasn’t sure how to approach me.

“Mark,” I said, my voice colder than I intended.

There was a brief, awkward silence as we stood there, staring at each other. I didn’t know what to say, and it seemed like he didn’t either. Part of me wanted to tell him to go to hell, to remind him of everything he had done to me. But another part of me just wanted to get out of there, to protect Frankie from whatever this encounter might turn into.

I felt Frankie tug on my hand, breaking the silence. “Mommy, who’s that?” he asked, looking up at Mark with wide eyes.

Mark’s gaze shifted to Frankie, and something changed in his expression. He looked back at me, a question in his eyes, but he didn’t ask it. Instead, he smiled—a small, almost hesitant smile.

“I didn’t know you were back in town,” Mark said, his voice careful.

“Just moved back,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

“That’s… good to hear,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

There was another silence, and I could feel the tension in the air. I didn’t want to be standing here, talking to him. Not with Frankie right next to me. Not with all the memories swirling around in my head.

“Well,” I said, trying to wrap up the conversation, “it was nice seeing you, Mark. But we need to get going.”

Mark nodded, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer. “Yeah… yeah, of course. Take care, Mattie.”

With that, I turned and opened the car door, helping Frankie into his seat. My hands trembled slightly as I buckled him in, but I didn’t let it show. I could feel Mark’s eyes on me the entire time, and it took everything in me not to look back at him.

As I slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, I glanced over at Frankie, who was already playing with one of his toy cars.

“Mommy, was that man your friend?” he asked innocently.

I forced a smile. “No, sweetie. Just someone I used to know.”

As I drove away, I felt a strange mix of emotions bubbling up inside me. Seeing Mark had stirred up memories I thought I had buried a long time ago. But I wasn’t going to let them drag me down. Not this time.

This time, I had Frankie. And that was all that mattered.