The Reunion After Seven Years

Just then, Jay lowered his head in frustration as he walked downstairs.

He glanced furtively at Kerr and then sank wordlessly into the seat next to Nicole. How could it be that Kerr took just a single minute to solve a problem that took him twenty?

Jay couldn't help feeling indignant about it.

The lack of conversation between Jay and Kerr stirred up weird feelings of confusion in Nicole. She dished some food onto the boy's plate.

Jay ate up in silence.

When dinner was done and the dishes cleared away, Nicole prepared a bath for Jay. Meanwhile, Kerr retreated to his study to take an international phone call.

Nicole passed a soapy sponge over the boy's back. "What's up, Jay?" she asked. "Don't you like Uncle Gu? Why did you look so sad when you came back here?"

Nicole made sure her tone was tender and careful. She knew that Jay had missed out on his father's love and care as a child. Now that Kerr was back by their side, it would surely take some time to adjust.

"I'm not sad! I'm very happy. As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter where I am."

Jay looked up and beamed a huge smile at Nicole.

Relief flooded through her as she took in his reassuring words.

Tucking Jay into bed, she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. "Good night, baby," she whispered.

When Jay's eyelids grew heavy, lashes lowering towards his soft cheeks, Nicole went back to her room.

But Jay was only pretending to sleep. As soon as Nicole turned her back, his eyes flew open. He glanced at the door with a smug smile.

bedroom, Nicole pushed open the door and walked into the pitch blackness. She grasped for the light switch but instead

"What..."

finish her question, she registered the familiar breathing beside her. Casting aside all her worries and

Nicole's delicate face in his hands. He'd been waiting for this moment since he first woke up. It was

but her thoughts turned to the

his arms still fastened firmly around her, he walked her over to

advice. He'd found out what exactly

him, throwing her arms around his neck, the corners of her mouth turning upward into

on Nicole and caught

breathed, "you

blazed with

blush deeply. She tried to push him away. Despite the intimacy

in his palm before bringing it to his lips in a gentle

a sharp knock at

stared wildly in the direction of the sound, pushing at

just couldn't

"Mommy..."

Nicole didn't hesitate. She pushed Kerr again, more firmly this time. "It's Jay." She jumped from the bed, yanking a bathrobe from the nearby wardrobe and wrapping it tightly around

reached the door, she opened it and flicked the lights on. There was Jay, standing in the doorway and clutching his pillow in his

"What's wrong, Jay?"

in front of Jay. Seeing the boy frowning nervously, she

Can I sleep in here

mom expectantly before stepping forward and throwing himself into her

comforting the boy. "Don't be scared, Jay. I'm

because she'd been away from him for a while, Nicole thought. Guilt swept through her, flooding her