CIARA
Herzl seemed short of words at the revelation he just received, everywhere was tense for a moment, and I could see the disappointment vividly flash in my son's eyes. He has always held this man in high regard and yet he could not bring himself to believe what I just said.
"Is it true Daddy, did you reject my mommy when she still had me in her womb?".
Ryan froze there for a moment unable to make out a word, then he shrugged and forced his feet out of the house.
"Daddy, wait! Talk to me, did you abandon us, was it because you didn't want mummy and me, talk to me and tell me why you had to make her raise me alone". His tiny voice could be heard from a mile away broken and shattered and yet Ryan did not halt even for a minute to look at his son, I could take that the guilt had consumed him.
The tears rolled down her eyes as he watched the door swing open and then shut as soon as Ryan stepped away, he always believed this man loved him more than anyone else in this world, but right now it felt like this information was too much for his tiny brain to hold up.
I spent the entire night trying to console him, I read through all of his favorite bedtime stories but none seemed to be effective, he was so heartbroken.
"Mummy! Why doesn't Daddy want us, why doesn't he love us, am I too difficult to love?"
"Not at all dear, you are a sweet and loving boy, there is no one on this entire planet that wouldn't love you".
"Then why doesn't he love me?".
"He is dear, your father, he made mistakes but I do believe that deep down in his heart he loves you" I stroked the strains of his hair, my words seemed to have a little effect on him, and not long after, he dozed off to dreamland.
RYAN'S POV
I could see the disappointment that filled my son's eyes when Ciara blurted out those words to him, and I could tell that it had shattered that tiny heart of his and I could not bring myself to look at those eyes of his filled with unanswered questions.
The drive back home was exhausting and I managed to shower before stumbling down the bed like nothing else mattered in this world, but deep down, all that mattered to me was Ciara and my son.
My thoughts were running far and wild throughout the night that I did not realize when I dozed off.
I was woken the next day by a loud banging at the door that I had to jerk off from the bed and hurried to the door, but to my amusement, two policemen were standing there, blank expressions spread on theirfaces.
"Good day Sir, Are you Mr Ryan Lerman?"
"Yes and what is this about by this ungodly hour of the day?"
"I am sorry sir but you will have to come with us to the station"
"Why would I do that?"
"A restraining order has been filed against you by Ms. Ciara Fellers for assault and withholding her against her wish from expressing herconstitutional rights"
"What!!" My eyes were wide open and my jaws almost dropped to the ground, every trace of sleep had slipped away from my eyes as I wondered why Ciara would even think of making such a rash decision.
"I am sorry Sir, but you need to come with us right now"
"Fine! I will but I need to get dressed first"
They nodded their head and quickly, I rushed out of their presence and scurried upstairs where I picked up the first casual white shirt and plain trousers my hands caught while off in the dresser, I slipped on the black leather loafers and hurried out of my room to the men waiting for me outside.
Ciara was already at the precinct when I arrived there, she wore a strapless jumpsuit that hung around her curved figure firmly, her hair brushed back down her shoulders, and although she had no makeup on, her skin was still radiating as she pressed her lips into thin line staring intensely at me.
"Ciara, what the hell is going on? Why would you file a restraining order against me?"
"Because you won't stay away no matter how many times I say it, things have been over between us for far too long and I think that it is high time you get that into your thick skull".
"And you had to go this far, Herzl is also my son, you can't keep him away from me"
Ciara scoffs sarcastically at the words that just slide out of my lips.
"Your son you say, the same one you abandoned when he needed you the most, I am sorry Ryan but I do not need you anywhere close to me my son, ever again!!"
Her words were blazing fire, she was so furious and it only left me baffled as to why she was so desperate to go out on that date.
"All this, is this because of him, your neighbor?"
"What!!"
"You are this furious because you were unable to go out on that date with him, are you developing some weird feelings for him?"
She bit her lower lip and turned to one of the cops who had just brought me in.
"Deal with this man! I do not want to ever see him anywhere close to my house or my child!!"
"You haven't answered my question!"
"I owe you no explanation, none at all Ryan!" She walks past me, almost brushing my shoulder, out of the precinct where I kept staring at her figure fades away.
"Mr. Ryan Lerman, you are going to need to sign this agreement, stating that you are never going to come anywhere five feet close to her or anything relating to get which includes her child"
He had a pen stretched out to me but I sat there, not daring to take that pen from him.
"I am sorry officer, but I am not signing any restraining order to stay away from my child or wife, we are both legally married and there is no way I am ever letting her go!" I replied firmly and they glanced at each other, I seemed to have stunned them with my reply.
"Mr. Lerman, you do understand that you will be arrested if you fail to sign this document right?" "And I also do understand that I have a right to a lawyer"
"Fine, looks like you are going to be here for a while" One of the cops replied and packed up the documents that were lying on the large desk.