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..."

what's wrong with you? Why are you two living together all of a sudden?" Eric was agitated now. "Jack is playing you for a fool. He's not exactly an angel. Haven't

causing him to worry too much. "It's okay. Don't think about it. We're

divorced? Are you kidding me? What's going on?" Eric asked in

found it difficult to explain the details to him. She had learned that sometimes, it was

would not have everyone's

would do, so Rachel simply told him that she and Jack were going through a

tell him exactly when everything

kept piling on. "Rachel! Think it over! It's not safe to

nodded in agreement. "That's exactly what I was thinking. So, are

mean live with you and Jack? Be in the same

in his shock. "There's no room for me here. I don't

Rachel's face. "There's a

expensive." Eric struggled to come up with a response. He would never

he had

married Rachel and then treated

knowing that he was not as powerful as Jack was, had planned to bring his brother-in-law down in a cunning, less obvious way,

this upon himself, he had not meant to in the beginning. Even

back, but he was afraid to be

much that house has cost you? You don't want

hearing his excuses, Rachel finally said what she was thinking. "You're afraid to face Jack,

moment of silence, Eric nodded,

he disapproved of Rachel living with that monster. He said, "I find it strange, though,

deal. Instead, she patted him on the shoulder

clear that she did not want to divulge too much. Wrapping up the conversation, she said, "That's it. In the coming

Eric kept silent.

them turned their

made up her mind, there was

tell him the truth without telling him too much. She wanted to avoid the shock and embarrassment of him popping

it now than to have to explain it to him in the case he accidentally

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

"It's a secret. Shush."

His lips curled

the more curious he grew, it seemed. When Lucas called, Mendes took the phone with him

listening to him for a time, Lucas finally understood. He said, amused, "Okay, okay. We'll talk again tomorrow, and this time, it'll be our secret. We won't let

Yeah! Yeah!" Mendes exclaimed in agreement as he nodded repeatedly and

little boy. Confused, he asked, "Rachel, whose child is he? Why do I

busy preparing dinner,