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

nodded silently, afraid that she was causing him to worry too

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

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

have everyone's eyes on them all

Rachel simply told him

however, tell him exactly

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 to move in with us to protect

with you and Jack? Be in the same house

his shock. "There's no room

"There's a study downstairs. I think

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

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

after all, married Rachel

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

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

continue to talk about Jack behind his back, but he was afraid to be in the same

has

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

a moment of silence,

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

him about the deal. Instead, she patted him on

Eric was confused. He wracked his brains, trying to figure out what Rachel meant. 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 come by,

Eric kept silent.

them turned their heads

up her mind, there was nothing

and embarrassment of him popping up

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

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

"It's a secret. Shush."

His

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

in agreement as he nodded repeatedly and

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

dinner, casually turned around and