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..."

sudden?" Eric was agitated now. "Jack is playing you for a fool. He's not exactly an

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

me? What's

explain the details to him. She had learned that sometimes, it was better not to let people know

way, they would not have everyone's

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

tell him

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

So, are you going to move in with us to

you and Jack? Be in the same house with that

shock. "There's no room for

a study downstairs. 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

done what he had done because Eric was

all, married Rachel and then treated

to bring his brother-in-law down in a cunning, less obvious way,

somehow brought this upon himself, he

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

house has cost you? You don't

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

silence,

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

the deal. Instead, she patted him

want to divulge too much. Wrapping up the conversation, she said, "That's it. In the coming

Eric kept silent.

their

it looked as though Rachel had already made up her mind, there

embarrassment of him popping

ahead, she had preferred to tell him about it now than to have to explain it to him

about the discussion. "What were you whispering about?" the boy asked, his eyes bright with

"It's a secret. Shush."

His lips curled in

from him, 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

Mendes exclaimed in agreement as he nodded repeatedly

studied the little boy. Confused, he asked, "Rachel, whose child is he?

was busy preparing dinner, casually turned