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..."

Eric was agitated now. "Jack is playing you for a fool. He's

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

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

difficult to explain the details to him. She had learned that sometimes, it was

not have everyone's eyes

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

him exactly when everything

Eric, it seemed as though bad news just kept piling on. "Rachel! Think it over! It's not safe to live alone with

So, are

with you? You mean live with you and Jack? Be in the same house

shock. "There's no room for me

Rachel's face. "There's a study downstairs. I

right now, it's...quite expensive." Eric struggled to come up with a response. He would never want to live with

done what he had done because Eric was trying to use Celine to

had, after all, married Rachel

brother-in-law down in a cunning, less obvious way, but

no longer a big deal. Although Eric knew that he had somehow brought this upon himself, he had not meant to in the beginning. Even so, Jack had dealt with him

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

a place of my own. Do you remember how much that house has cost you? You don't want to be throwing away

said what she was

silence, Eric nodded, clenching his

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

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

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

Eric kept silent.

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

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

She wanted to avoid the shock and embarrassment of him popping up in the house one day

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

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

"It's a secret. Shush."

His

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 talk again tomorrow, and this time,

Yeah!" Mendes exclaimed in agreement as he nodded repeatedly and vigorously in his

"Rachel, whose child is he? Why do I

busy preparing dinner,