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..."

living together all of a sudden?" Eric was agitated now. "Jack is playing

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

me? What's going

explain the details to him. She had learned that

would not have everyone's eyes on them all the

something that Eric would do, so Rachel simply told him

tell him exactly when everything

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

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

with you? You mean live with you and Jack? Be in

stammered in his shock. "There's no room for me here. I

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

response. He would never want to live with the man who almost

knew that Jack had done what he had done because Eric was trying to

had, after all, married Rachel and then treated her

Jack was, had planned to bring his brother-in-law down in a

himself, he had not

behind his back, but he was afraid to be in the same room with the guy, more

own. Do you remember how much that house has cost you?

she was thinking. "You're afraid to

silence, Eric nodded, clenching

that monster. He said, "I find it strange, though, how he's in such a

patted him on the shoulder and said vaguely,

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

Eric kept silent.

floor-to-ceiling windows rattled slightly. Both of them turned their heads to find Mendes grinning and

looked as though Rachel had already made up her mind, there was nothing

without telling him too much. She wanted to avoid the shock and embarrassment of him popping up in the house

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

about the discussion. "What were

"It's a secret. Shush."

he said. His

Mendes took

him for a time, Lucas finally understood. He said, amused, "Okay, okay. We'll talk again tomorrow, and this time,

in agreement as he nodded

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

dinner, casually turned around and