The Deal- Extra Chapters

Ice cream

JJ stared out the window, feeling her breath slowly leave her lips. She closed her eyes, imagining the bridge that Neil and her had gone to on their first date.

"It's okay," she mumbled to herself. She opened her eyes. "It's okay. I'm okay." She turned around to face the desk and straightened up. "I'm okay. I can do this."

"Cara," Neil called as he opened the door. Lara walked in pushing him to the side. He huffed when his knee hit the door frame. "God, you're an animal."

"Mama!"

"Yes monkey?"

Lara ran into the room and giggled when she saw JJ walking over to her for a hug. "I got you a present."

"You did? And what did I do to deserve this?"

Neil walked into the room with a smile. JJ looked up at smiled at him before focussing back on Lara. She put her hand into her pocket and pulled out a metal bookmark. There was an engraving on it that said 'I love you this much, mama' with a stick person with long arms.

"Oh monkey, this is awesome. I love it so much! Is this your handwriting?"

"Yeah. Papa and I made you one each."

"Alright kiddo, go and get some clothes out. I'm going to start your bath and you need to be in bed soon."

"Okay. I'll be back. Thank you so much for today, papa. I had so much fun."

Neil leaned down to kiss her cheek before she skipped away to her room. When he looked at JJ, he didn't say anything. He opened his arms and she walked into them silently. "Whatever it is, it's going to be okay. We'll talk about it when she gets into her bath, okay?" She nodded her head and tightened her arms around him. "I love you so much, cara," he whispered. "You're my everything and more."

"Papa, I think I just want a shower today," Lara yelled as she walked down the hall. When she walked back into the room, she saw them still in a hug. "Triangle hug!" JJ laughed loudly when she felt Lara hug her waist. "Are you okay, mama?"

"Oh, I'm okay, sweety. Just a little stressed out from work."

"Okay, well I'll have a shower and we can all drink juice and put a face mask on."

"I can't wait," JJ said with a laugh.

"No juice, just water. You had way too much sugar already."

"Alright, buzzkill," she mumbled as she walked away.

Neil gasped as he listened to JJ laugh once again. "She learnt that from you."

"No she didn't." The shower started. "It happened again."

Neil sighed. He gently placed his hands on her cheeks to lift her face up. When he looked into her eyes, he noticed the tears that were waiting to spill. "You could have called me. You know I'm always there for you on the other end of the line."

"I know...it wasn't a full panic attack. I managed to calm myself down. Did what you told me to do about my happy place. I just got really scared for a second and I-" She stopped when her voice broke. She exhaled sharply, wiping her tears away. "It's just so stupid. A panic attack over numbers for the bakeries and I don't even know why."

"Stop it. You can have a panic attack over anything. There is no one judging you for it. Cara, you are doing so well with both bakeries! Everything is fine. Listen to me, I'm telling you, let someone else take over the numbers. Let it be me or I can get someone at work to do it. Please, just let me do this for you. As great and awesome as you are and as much as I know you can do everything- you can't. You need to be healthy. You need to be happy. It's okay to get help."