Forbidden Love

Chapter 10

The next morning Ethan was out of the house early. James' dad was going to look at a new car and had agreed to bring both boys along with him. Mum looked like she didn't believe Ethan and like she wouldn't let him go until James' dad himself pulled up outside the house and he was away.

"So, what are your plans for the day, now your brother is gone?" Mum asked me over a cup of tea.

"Oh well Joe is looking after is baby brother today so I thought I'd go meet him for a bit." I said casually.

Mum made a face, "you're spending an awful lot of time with this boy."

"Did you not like him?"

"I did! That's not it. It's just you're young and I don't want you getting too close to him too fast." I didn't think I could help that I thought but didn't say anything to my mother. I almost felt a force pulling me to Joe that only got stronger the closer we got.

"Did you say his parents are away?" Mums eyes narrowed at me.

Panic filled me, she wasn't going to stop me going out. "Just for the day. To see his grandparents. And he's got his baby brother." I answered quickly.

"You're not planning on going to his house unsupervised are you? Because I won't have it!" Mum was standing up now.

"No mummy, of course not!" I answered quickly like the thought hadn't even crossed my mind, "I was just going to meet him and his brother in the park. Play with the baby."

Mum seemed to calm slightly, "boys that age are no good with babies." Her lips came into a judgmental straight line. She seemed to think it was a terrible idea to leave Joe with his brother. I had no idea how Joe was with babies so I didn't say anything.

Just before I would usually have lunch I grabbed a biscuit from the cupboard without my mum seeing then told her I was heading out. Making quickly for the door before she could protest.

I got to the house I knew to be Joe's even though I'd never been inside. There was no car in the drive which meant I was probably safe to go inside. I rang the bell.

Joe answered with a baby in his arms. He smiled when he saw me. I smiled back.
"Come in." I followed Joe into the kitchen.

"I'm trying to make him a bottle. He's tired and he needs to go down for a nap. I think he misses mum." Joe looked stressed, "I can't put him down because then he cries."

"Give him to me." I held out my arms.

Joe looked hesitant, "he doesn't usually go to people he doesn't know."

I kept my arms held out and Joe placed the baby in my arms. Andy looked unsure at first but then laid his head down against my chest and started sucking his thumb.

"He's precious!" I whispered over his head gently stroking his hair.

"You're amazing," Joe quickly went around the kitchen making the bottle now he had two hands, "I've never seen him take to someone like that before. Especially not when he's tired."

"What can I say?" I joked, "I must have a way with the Boyd boys."

Joe laughed and agreed with me. He handed me the bottle and asked me if I wanted to feed him.

I eagerly accepted and sat down and gave him his bottle until he fell asleep in my arms.

"He's asleep." I whispered to Joe who then carefully lifted him away from me and up the stairs. I waited for him in the kitchen.

"Would you like a tour?" Joe offered coming back without the baby.

"I'd love one." I stood up and Joe showed me around his house. It wasn't much different from my house. I did notice a sign hung over the front door that read, 'no blacks, no dogs, no Irish' and said, "so your mums not keen on dogs then?"