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..."

now. "Jack is playing you

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

kidding me? What's going on?" Eric asked

it difficult to explain the details to him. She had learned

not have everyone's

do, so Rachel simply told him that she

did not, however, tell him exactly when everything would

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

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

and Jack? Be in the same house with

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

a study downstairs. I think

Eric struggled to come up with a response. He would never want to live with the man who almost

way even though he knew that Jack had done what he had done because Eric was

after all, married Rachel

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

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

back, but he was afraid to be in the same room with the guy, more so live

you remember how much that house has cost you? You

what she was thinking.

of silence, Eric nodded, clenching

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

about the deal. Instead, she patted him

clear that she did not want to divulge too much. Wrapping up the

Eric kept silent.

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

looked as though Rachel had already made up her mind,

avoid the shock and embarrassment of him popping up in the house one

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

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

"It's a secret. Shush."

His lips curled in

hid things from him, the more curious he grew, it seemed. When Lucas called, Mendes took

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

exclaimed in agreement as he

"Rachel, whose child is he? Why do I

who was busy preparing dinner, casually turned