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T he following morning I was awoken by a loud ping from my bedside table. Reaching for my phone, I saw her name flash up on my screen.

Cupcake.

The truth is, I never deleted this number. I could never bring myself to do it.

Hey, it’s Emily. Come by the house at 12. Liam will be home by then.

Morning, I’ll be there. Do you want me to bring anything?

No need, see you at 12.

I arrived at Emily’s at 11:55 a.m. My nerves were at a minimum. Surprisingly, I was more excited than anything else, despite not knowing how Liam would actually take to the idea of spending time with me. He already didn’t like it on the pitch.

Seconds after I knocked Emily answered the door. There was no denying how beautiful she was. Her natural auburn waves cascaded over her shoulders. She wore a dusting of makeup on her face and jeans that hugged her in all the right places.

“Come in.” She smiled, but it was clear there were nerves behind it. She was scared and worried about Liam. About how he would react.

I stepped inside and shrugged off my jacket. “Thanks for this.”

“There’s no need to thank me.” Em took my jacket and hung it on the hook in the entryway.. “I want this for the two of you.”

“I know he’s not a fan of me for whatever reason, but I plan to try, Em. I want to be the best father I can be to him,” I promised.

“I know.” She turned to the stairs. “Liam, can you come down, please?” she called, and within seconds, footsteps pitter-pattered on the floor above. “Follow my lead.”

“Planning on it.”

“Yes, Mum?” He came bounding down the stairs in what looked like his favourite premier league team shirt. Gutted it wasn’t a La Liga one but that could change. “Oh, you’re here.” He puffed out his cheeks, letting out the air he held inside them. Like he was disappointed.

“Liam, Beckett is an old friend of the family.” She pushed a stray hair from his forehead as he watched her intently.

“Okay, but why is he here?” He questioned.

“He’s been in Spain a while, but since he’s back, he would love to get to know the boy I’ve described to him. Not the one with an attitude.” I stood there, waiting for her to work whatever magic she had up her sleeve. “How does that sound? Can you do that for me?”

“Alright. I guess.” He shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile.

“Good boy. Now, do you want to help Beckett set the table for lunch?”

“How about I cook the three of us some food and you don’t worry about a thing?” I asked, Liam glancing over towards me with a softer expression.

“You don’t need to do that.” She protested but Liam stepped in.

“Let him,” he demanded in the cutest way possible.

“I doubt you have the ingredients for that chicken pasta I used to make, do you?” Her face lit up a little, but she fought to show it fully.

“Not all of them, no.” She blushed as if she were embarrassed. Maybe it was because I offered to cook for them or that she didn’t have everything needed.

“I’ll head down to the shop and grab what’s needed.” I nodded.

“On crutches? I can nip out and grab what’s needed.” She offered, but I shook my head with a smile, refusing her request.

“I’ll be fine. Do you want to come with me and help, Liam?” I asked, hopefully.

“Sure. Can I, Mum?”

“Of course. Just be careful with Beckett. He’s still on crutches. I’m trusting you to help him out, okay?” Her voice was soft, and it brought back memories of us years ago. How patient and calm she was with me.

“Okay, Mum, I’ll help.” He slipped on his shoes before stopping at my feet. “Can you pass my jacket, please?” I was taken aback by his politeness as it wasn’t something I was used to since meeting him.

“Sure thing.” I grabbed it and passed it to him as he thanked me. Em watched on, proud of how Liam was acting in front of her. “We won’t be long unless they moved the shop since I left?”

She chuckled as she opened her purse. “It’s still in the same place. It’s just a little bigger now.”

“Don’t even think about it,” I told her. “Put that away.” I hurried Liam out the door before she could protest.

We made our way down the hill towards the closest shop. Liam kept quiet as we walked, but he remained by my side regardless, especially since his mum had given him orders.

“Thanks for coming along. It’s nice to have some company.”

“Listen, I don’t hate you, but I don’t like you yet either…” He paused.

“I sense a but coming?”

“But…thanks for wanting to cook today. I love my mum, and her cakes are the best, but she’s no chef.” When he giggled, the sound made me chuckle.

“She seems like a wonderful mum, though.”

“She’s the best. She does everything for me since my dad didn’t want me, you know?” Liam’s voice wavered, but he tried to cover it with a small shrug, like it didn’t matter.

But it did. You could see it in the way his eyes dropped to the floor, avoiding contact, searching for somewhere safer to rest.

“How do you know he didn’t want you?” I questioned.

“If he wanted me, why isn’t he here with us?” He glanced up at me unexpectedly. It took all I had not to tell him the truth right then and there, but I wouldn’t do that to Em. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Alright, we don’t need to. Do you want to help me cook when we get back?”

“You’d let me?” His face lit up before he remembered who he was with, then his expression hardened a little.

“Of course. Now, let’s grab the ingredients or else we can’t cook anything.” I laughed as we walked the rest of the way and made small talk.

Once we reached the mini supermarket, Liam grabbed the basket.

“How long until you’re off those crutches? You’re very slow.”

“Should be coming off next week.” I chuckled.

“Cool… Okay, since you need all the help you can get, tell me what ingredients we need and I’ll get them, but…” he turned to face me with a competitive look on his face, “you need to time me to see how long it takes.”

“Deal. Plus, you get extra points if you remember everything we need.”

“What do the points get me?” His eyes shone with excitement.

“Sweets, ice cream, whatever you want.” I paused for a second. “On the condition that you eat them after lunch.”

He laughed mischievously. “Done. Prepare to be bankrupt.”

“Haven’t you been here before? That gives you an advantage.” I questioned.

“Nope. I don’t come here with Mum. I usually find it boring.” He smiled, his lips pursed as he handed me the basket.

“You hold the basket. It’ll just slow me down.” He handed it over as I juggled it with my crutches. “What do we need?”

“Peppers, onions, chicken, pasta, tomato paste, and chilli powder.”

“Got it!” He beamed, his competitive side shining through as he readied himself to race off down the aisles.

“Alright. Ready, set, go!” I smiled as Liam darted off in the direction of the vegetables.

I watched him as he grabbed everything in record time, dumping the vegetables in the basket. He hurried towards the other items. Within thirty seconds, he was back, his arms bundled with the rest of the ingredients.

“That was a record speed. I thought you said you had never been to this one with your mum?”

“Is that what I said? I meant I come here all the time.” He glanced over at the confectionary aisle. “So, can I spend my points now?”

“I mean, I should deduct a few points but go for it.” I couldn’t help myself. It was the first time I got to treat him.

“Thanks!” And with that, he ran off to enjoy himself.

After we paid, Liam was over the moon with his sweets and ice cream. He insisted on carrying that bag home.

“So, you seem like you had fun with someone you don’t really like?”

“Yeah, well, Mum asked me to behave,” he teased. “Besides, I’m surprised she let me out with you alone. You must be a pretty good friend.”

“Yeah, something like that.” Knowing Emily trusted me with her pride and joy warmed my heart, and I appreciated her for that.

“I’d race you up the hill, but we know I’d win.”

“For now, little man, but we’ll see after I get this cast off and get back to full fitness.” He smiled at me, and it was as if we just shook on it.

Emily was waiting at the door when we got back. She hurried towards me, taking the bag of ingredients from me without hesitation.

She eyed Liam’s bag. “What on earth did you get?”

“Beckett got me some snacks, but I can’t have them until after lunch. That was the deal.”

“That sounds like a pretty good deal.” She reached out and squeezed Liam’s shoulder in reassurance before following him inside.

I made my way to the kitchen where Liam was eagerly waiting for me.

“Let’s get on with lunch then. You still want to help?” I asked Liam who was already pulling out his apron from the bottom drawer under the oven. “I take that as a yes.”

“Mum, will you set the table, please?”

“How about we do that after we’ve got the sauce on? Your mum can take a break or do some sketching." Her eyes widened the moment our gazes locked, a flash of recognition mingled with disbelief. She was clearly taken aback that I remembered what she enjoyed. What she probably didn’t know was that I remembered everything about her. From the spot of every freckle, no matter how small, to every scar from baking.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

“We’re sure, we’re good. Aren’t we?” I looked to Liam, hoping he would back me up.

“Yeah, we’re good, Mum.”

“Alright then. I do have a wedding cake to work on.”

“For Kayla and Johnathon?” Liam asked.

“Yes, darling, for them.” I nodded.

“Can I see when it’s done? Ashton is so excited for them to get married.” Liam beamed.

“I’m lost,” I interrupted.

“I’ll explain,” Liam reassured me as Emily left us alone.

We started to add everything into the pan, Liam helping with whatever he could. At times, I questioned if he remembered how he wasn’t fond of me. The aroma of simmering sauce filled the air as he stood on the stool, stirring carefully, his little brow furrowed in concentration.

“Do you want to add the spices?” I asked him.

He nodded eagerly, his small hands gripping the spoon tighter. “I think I can do that.”

“Perfect! Just sprinkle it in,” I encouraged, watching as he carefully measured out the chilli powder.

As we cooked, Liam spoke about his favourite cartoons and school projects, almost forgetting that it was me he was talking to. I hung on every word, drawn in by the fun twists of his stories and the way his eyes lit up with each detail. His hands flailed for emphasis, his grin wide and unfiltered, and I laughed like I hadn't in years. At that moment, something cracked open in me. A quiet warmth spread through my chest, unfamiliar yet deeply right. It was more than joy, it was recognition. This was my son, and I was seeing him, hearing him, knowing him for the first time. And God, it felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.

“Do you have any favourite recipes?” he asked, tilting his head curiously. “Except this one?”

“Well, this is one of your mum’s favourites, but I do have one I really love too. It’s a secret family recipe. Maybe I’ll let you in on it someday.”

His eyes widened with excitement. “A secret recipe? Cool! But you can’t tell me because it’s a family secret.” He huffed.

“Right, but your mum is a family friend, so technically, it would be okay to share it with you.” I smiled, helping him down from the stool.

“That might make me like you more, you know?”

“I was counting on that.” I put the lid on the sauce, letting it simmer while we headed off to set the table.

Liam might’ve still been skeptical of me, and he might’ve still had an attitude occasionally—and that was fine—but I cherished the time I spent with him. I hoped it would only get better from here on out.