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..."

was agitated now. "Jack

too much. "It's okay. Don't think about it. We're

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

to him. She had learned that sometimes, it was better not to

not have everyone's eyes on

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

not, however, tell him exactly when

over!

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

you and Jack? Be in the

no room

Rachel's face. "There's a study

He would never

Jack had done what he had done because Eric was trying to use Celine to get back at

had, after all, married Rachel and then

down in a cunning, less obvious way, but failed. Along the

that he had somehow brought this upon himself, he had not meant to in the beginning. Even so,

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

much that house has cost you? You don't

what she was thinking. "You're afraid to face Jack,

silence, Eric nodded, clenching

he disapproved of Rachel living with that monster. He said, "I find it strange, though, how he's in such a hurry to

tell him about the deal. Instead, she patted him on the shoulder

Rachel meant. It was clear that she did not want to divulge too much. Wrapping up the conversation, she said,

Eric kept silent.

rattled slightly. Both of them turned their heads to find Mendes grinning and

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 up in the house one

him about it now than to have to explain it to him in the

out, Mendes did not forget to inquire about the discussion. "What were you whispering about?" the

"It's a secret. Shush."

he said. His lips curled in

curious he grew, it seemed. When Lucas called, Mendes took the phone with him before retreating to a corner and confiding

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

exclaimed in agreement as he

studied the little boy. Confused, he asked, "Rachel, whose child is he? Why do I feel like I've met him

who was busy preparing dinner, casually turned around and said,