A Second Chance. Jen and Brad.

Chapter 52, "Baggage".

Disclaimer: This chapter contains some explicit content.

Two days later :

Brad : Oh, but you'll have lots of time to do that when you're older.

Jen walks into the kitchen, waving at Brad who's talking on the phone.

Brad : Viv, I don't think that's normal for most 12 year olds.

He laughs as Jen opens the refrigerator door, grabbing a bottle of water.

Brad : Oh, ok. Tell your brothers and sisters I miss them.

Jen : Who is it?

Jen whispers, taking a sip.

Brad : Viv.

Jen : Tell her I said hi.

He nods, putting the phone on speaker.

Brad : Jen says hi, Viv.

Vivienne : Hi!

Shiloh : Vivienne! Your zoom meeting is starting!

Vivienne : Coming!

Brad : Have a good day honey!

Vivienne : I will. Bye dad.

Brad : Bye.

He hangs up, smiling as he turns to Jen.

Jen : You got to talk to them, huh?

Brad : Yeah.

Noticing how he seems much happier today, in a way only the kids can make him, she's relieved.

Brad : Viv told me about how she wanted to get a tattoo.

Jen : Really?

Jen walks over to him, wrapping her arms around him as he goes on.

Brad : A flame tattoo.

Jen : A real one then, right?

Brad : Oh, of course. That was the whole point of it, she told me.

Brad takes her hands, laughing.

Jen : She must take from her mother I guess.

Brad : Yeah.

Jen winks at him, before leaning in for a quick kiss.

Jen : So you're not as stressed about the whole... "getting the kids to testify" thing anymore?

He takes a deep breath as she asks.

Brad : No... not anymore.

Jen : Mhm.

Brad : It was nice to hear their voices again... and talk to them.

Jen : Yeah?

Jen nods, sitting down on the stool next to him.

Jen : You know... I was thinking about inviting Maria over for lunch this week.

Brad : Yeah?

Jen : Would you like that?

Brad : Yes... yes or course. Why wouldn't I?

Jen : No, I just didn't know if you were going back to work straight away or...

Brad : I'm going in on Wednesday and Friday.

Jen : Thursday then?

Brad : Yeah.

Jen pulls out her phone from her pocket, finding Maria in her contacts.

Brad : I can't wait to see how big she's gotten.