HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 48

**Shadows of the Past – By Emma Clarke**

**Chapter 48**

“Mom, can Uncle Chase come over for dinner?” Josh’s voice rang out, full of excitement, his eyes sparkling with hope as he tugged gently at her sleeve while they stepped out of the café. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, and the chatter of other patrons faded into the background.

Althea glanced down at her son, a mix of affection and amusement crossing her features. “Well, I haven’t even asked if Uncle Chase wants to join us,” she replied, her tone light but teasing.

Outside, Chase and Lydia were already waiting by the car, their silhouettes framed against the soft glow of the evening light.

“I’d love to,” Chase interjected, his voice warm and inviting, a broad smile spreading across his face.

“YES!!!” Josh shouted, his joy spilling over as he threw his arms up, eager for a high-five. Chase met his enthusiasm with a hearty slap of palms, both of them grinning like they had just won a prize.

Althea couldn’t help but let out a resigned sigh, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

“So, what’s cooking for dinner tonight, Champ?” Chase asked, his hand reaching down to clasp Josh’s.

“Mommy said baked macaroni. Extra cheese for me!” Josh exclaimed, practically bouncing on his feet.

Chase raised an eyebrow, feigning deep contemplation. “Miss Grayson’s baked macaroni? That’s a tough one to resist,” he said, chuckling softly.

As they strolled down the sidewalk, the golden hues of dusk wrapped around them like a warm blanket, softening the day’s edges and casting long shadows behind.

“You sure you won’t come over too? Josh might be a little disappointed,” Althea said, now walking alongside Lydia, who was shaking her head with a playful grimace.

“Ugh, I’d love to. Really,” Lydia replied, her voice tinged with regret. “But I’ve got this presentation looming over me that I need to finish tonight. I’ll swing by tomorrow instead. I’ll bring Josh’s favorite—brownies… or maybe pudding?”

“Fruit pudding would be better. Josh likes it more than brownies,” Althea said, a hint of wistfulness creeping into her tone. “Such a shame you can’t join us tonight.”

“Enjoy your evening, Althea,” Lydia replied, wiggling her eyebrows in a teasing manner. “Besides, you’ve got plenty of time to spend with Chase, right?”

Althea rolled her eyes, a mix of exasperation and amusement. “I’ll take that as a promise—you’re staying over at my place this weekend. And don’t forget Josh’s favorite fruit pudding.”

“Alright, alright,” Lydia said with a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over her heart. “Now go and enjoy your dinner, okay?”

Althea simply nodded, feeling a warmth in her chest.

“I’ll be waiting for some happy news—maybe you’ll finally upgrade that work relationship to something a bit more… romantic,” Lydia teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

They reached the spot where their cars were parked, the moment feeling bittersweet. Lydia’s car sat a little farther away from Chase’s, the distance adding to the sense of parting.

“Guess we part ways here,” Lydia said, pulling Althea into a warm embrace. She then ruffled Josh’s hair affectionately, her eyes shining with genuine fondness as she promised once again that she’d return next week. To Lydia, Josh felt like family—just as Josh considered his mother’s best friend one of the closest people in his life.

They waved goodbye, watching as Lydia walked towards her car, her figure growing smaller with each step.

“Oh—have you heard about the school’s new program?” Chase asked, shifting the conversation.

Althea turned her attention to him, curiosity piqued. “Wait, has my teaching role been reassigned to PR now?”

Chase laughed, the sound light and airy. “Not quite. But I’ll give you a little scoop. The school’s planning to collaborate with the Japanese Embassy. They’re working on a student exchange program—probably for early next year. The committee, teachers, and embassy reps are still ironing out the details.”

“Wow, that’s quite an undertaking. I assume it’ll be reserved for top-performing students?” Althea inquired, her mind racing with possibilities.

“Exactly,” Chase confirmed, his smile softening. “A representative from the embassy is scheduled to visit next Monday.”

“Sounds like Monday will be a hectic day,” Althea mused, already envisioning the chaos that would ensue.

“I’m hoping you’ll be willing to serve as our liaison for the program,” Chase said, his tone shifting to a more serious note.

She blinked, taken aback by the unexpected request. “Me? Why me?”

“You’ve built a solid reputation among both parents and faculty. And, well… word is, you speak decent Japanese,” he replied, his eyes twinkling with admiration.

“Only a little, Mr. Miller,” she said modestly, feeling the warmth of his praise wash over her.

Chase smiled, his gaze unwavering. “A little from you is more than enough. You don’t mind helping, do you?”