Stuck in you

Eric was suspicious when he heard that Jack and Rachel were going to be living together.

He put the rag down and grabbed Rachel's hand, leading her to the balcony.

Mendes, being a child, didn't know what was happening. This seemingly secret conference confused and intrigued him.

His interest grew when he saw Eric suddenly pulling Rachel into the balcony.

As much as he was curious, he was nervous, too. He promptly followed them and asked anxiously, "Where are you going?"

Rachel patted Eric on the arm, a signal for him to wait. She stopped walking and turned around. "We just need to talk. Can you stay here while we do that? We won't be long."

Mendes frowned and asked, "Can't I come with you?"

It was difficult to refuse the request of a child who was as cute as a bun, but Rachel immediately responded, "No."

Eric felt sorry for the little boy. He had thought that she would let Mendes come. He was only a child, after all.

"Stay here and wait for me, okay? We just have to talk for a bit in the balcony, and I'll be back before you know it." Although Rachel had not given in to the boy's request, she continued to talk to him patiently.

He was too young to understand what she meant. Even so, he didn't like that she was acting so secretive.

He only wanted to be part of things.

Mendes looked at Eric and then at Rachel as the two were about to leave. Pouting, he said reluctantly, "Okay, you go ahead."

Rachel was amused by the fact that the child was clearly hurt. "Be a good boy and wait for me. It'll only be a moment, sweetie."

Mendes looked at her with a hint of reluctance in his eyes. It could be difficult at times to convince a little child, but although he pouted, at least he was reasonable.

Lowering his voice, Eric asked, "How long will he be staying here?"

"Someone's picking him up tomorrow night." Lucas had already returned, and he had called Rachel earlier to let her know that he was going to pick up Mendes the following night.

Although she liked Mendes, Rachel no longer wished for him to stay any longer than he was scheduled to.

Honestly, if anything happened to the child, it would be difficult to explain things to his parents.

They hadn't shown up so far, though.

When Eric heard her response, he blurted out, "So let me get this straight. You will be left alone with Jack then?"

"Yes..."

agitated now. "Jack is playing you for a fool. He's not exactly

was causing him to worry too much. "It's

me? What's going on?" Eric asked

to explain the details to him. She had learned that

not have everyone's

that Eric would do, so Rachel simply told him that she

tell him exactly when everything would be

seemed as though bad news just kept piling on. "Rachel! Think it over! It's

was thinking. So, are you going to move in with

You mean live with you and Jack? Be in the same house with

no room for me here. I don't think

Rachel's face. "There's a study downstairs. I think you would find it

place I rent right now, it's...quite expensive." Eric struggled to come up with a response. He would never want to live with the man who almost cut his

way even though he knew that Jack had done what he

had, after all, married Rachel and then

to bring his brother-in-law down in a

deal. Although Eric knew that he had somehow brought this upon himself, he had not

afraid to be in the same room with

that house has cost you?

excuses, Rachel finally said what she was thinking. "You're afraid to face Jack, aren't

moment of silence, Eric nodded,

"I find it strange, though, how he's

deal. Instead, she patted him on the shoulder and said vaguely, "It's just

divulge too much. Wrapping up the conversation, she said, "That's it. In the coming months, if you want to come by, you can call me,

Eric kept silent.

windows rattled slightly. Both of them turned their

up her mind, there was nothing left for Eric to

to avoid the shock and embarrassment of him popping up in the house one day and learning right then and there that she was living with

preferred to tell him about it now than to have to explain it to him in the case

two of them came out, Mendes did not forget to inquire about the discussion. "What were you whispering about?" the boy asked,

"It's a secret. Shush."

he said. His

hid things from him, the more curious he grew, it seemed. When Lucas called, Mendes took the phone with him before retreating to a corner and confiding to him in a low

He said, amused, "Okay, okay. We'll talk again tomorrow, and this time, it'll be our secret. We won't

he nodded

he asked, "Rachel, whose child is he? Why do I feel like I've met him

busy preparing dinner, casually turned