Little Green Apples (Ivan×OC)

Chapter 8

Jessica could hardly believe that four years had come and gone so quickly. A lot had happened in the last couple years even.

She sold her parent's house and made a nice chunk of change for safe keeping. She had her epiphany about Ivan and they had grown closer; and she had made herself very at home. Her library had become a hub for everyone to spend a little time together. She would read with Gunnar, Khalid would peruse her book collection and knick knacks, and she and Ivan made it a tradition to have tea or coffee in the late morning. It was her favorite part of the day.

She did, however, notice that Ivan looked at her differently; he had a gleam in his eyes when he saw her in the mornings, and when they had their rendezvous in the library he looked the happiest she had ever seen him.
Almost as happy as when he finally brought his son, Christoffer, to meet her.

~~~

"Christoffer here just finished a soccer game before he came," Ivan told her.

Jessica didn't know what to do or say... Christoffer was severely disabled. He was confined to a wheelchair and was completely paralyzed. Ivan obviously was in denial.

"He also just finished first in the school spelling bee."

'... What...?'

She was gobsmacked.

"Well don't be shy, say hello."

She hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to handle this.

"Hi, Christoffer. Or can I call you Chris? Good! My name is Jess," she looked up to Ivan to see if she was going in the right direction.

He gave her a smile.

"It's lovely to meet you! Ivan, why didn't you bring this charming young man to meet me sooner?"

"The boarding school I keep him in doesn't allow him to leave very much. As much as I love spending time with him, he can be a bit of a handful; what with running around and being as hyper as he is."

'Oh, Ivan... My poor disillusioned friend...'

"I see. Well, should I set three places for tea?"

"Yes, Christoffer loves tea!"

"Fantastic! Orange pekoe, mint, or Earl Grey?"

"Mint, if you please."

She gave him a nod and made her way to the library.

'Such a loving father,' she thought.

She forgot to ask Ivan what kind of tea he wanted, so she turned around and stopped outside the door when she heard Ivan talking.

"Remember, Christoffer, I really like her, so be on your best behavior. And no trying to out- charm your dad," Ivan instructed Christoffer.

Jessica felt her heart flatline. He liked her? Like "liked" her? It was surely too good to be true...

"She's beautiful isn't she? Do you like her?", Jessica heard Ivan question Christoffer.

'I can't get ahead of myself... He might just mean in a friendly way,' she reasoned, 'but the "I really like her" and the "Isn't she beautiful" lines have to mean something more... Right?'

Jessica knocked after a moment and walked in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I forgot to ask what kind of tea you wanted, Ivan."