Small Bump [EN]

Chapter 7

Anne turned with a jolt. Justin was behind her, too close for her liking. His face was a strange mixture of emotions which she'd only seen once in her life. The day he told her his love was a lie. She always wondered the pain she had seen that time was real and not an illusion of hers trying to believe it was all a dream.

She clenched her fist forcing herself not to caress his cheek.

"What are you doing here?" she asked wiping away tears.
"I heard sobbing... What's wrong, An?"
"Nothing."
"Is it my presence that made you like this? I can go..."
"No. I told you you can stay. Jason needs you. You're his father too."
"I don't want to cause you any trouble."

For the first time the idea that the girl already had someone else crossed Justin's mind. His heart squeezed to the point of aching.

"I'm sure your new partner won't be pleased that I'm staying here."

An ironic chuckle escaped the girl's lips.

"I don't have anyone else. Be proud, you were the first and last," an almost imperceptible spark of anger settled in her pupils. Justin sighed.
"I think I owe you an explanation."
"You don't owe me anything. It wasn't your fault that I assumed it was serious between us."
"Of course it was!" the brunette ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Anne..."
"I know the story that your parents blackmailed you into leaving me... Just forget the whole thing, Justin," she turned her back to him. It was too many emotions stirred in one day.
"How do you want me to forget the best years of my life? In my 24 years I never felt as happy as I did when I was with you. I never felt like I could really be me until I met you. My heart didn't have a purpose for beating until that moment. You are the love of my life, An. Even if you don't believe me, you are and have been ever since," the brunette said with tear-filled eyes.
"Don't talk nonsense, Justin. You're just being absurd right now," she uttered trying to remain as cool as possible. He has no right to do this, she thought.

Justin sighed in despair, turned the girl gently and took her face in his hands.

"Look at me, princess. You know me better than anyone else in this world..."
"Stop it, Justin," she said as she tried to wiggle out of his grip. He released her face and grabbed her around the waist. That girl, both so big and so small at the same time, was the only one who brought on those pure feelings he never knew in eighteen years of his existence. And, even though he didn't want to press her, it was impossible to try let go of her after having her so close.
"Tell me you don't love me."
"Where are you going with all this?" she asked irritably trying to undo Justin's grip.
"I still love you, An," he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Justin, please...," exasperation was starting to overwhelm her.
"I love you as madly as the first time... Do you remember how we met? It was raining and the air ruined your umbrella. I saw you throw it on the ground and stomp on it. I didn't know whether to die of laughter or tenderness..." he gave a half smile.
"Justin, stop it."
The boy ignored her and continued. "I saw you sitting on the steps of the Avon theater frustrated. You started crying and my heart broke. I couldn't take it anymore. I crossed the street and covered you with my umbrella and coat..."
" Stop it...," her eyes were starting to fill with tears again.
"It wasn't the first time I saw you, but it was the first time I had the courage to approach you...", his fingers were making circles on the girl's waist, unconsciously.

Little Jason's cry was Anne's chance to break free from Justin's embrace. She turned and hurried to take her son in her arms. Whenever she saw him, she forgot about everything and felt the world was right again. That little being was her center of balance, and right now, it was the only thing she needed in her life. No drama. No illness. Just Jason.

"What's the matter, honey, were you having a nightmare?", in a few seconds she had forgotten about what had happened, even the fact that the brunette was behind her.

Arms wrapped around her and her son's body pulling her back to reality.

Justin rested his head on her right shoulder. He missed having her this close. Her scent penetrated his nostrils and brought precious memories back to his mind.

"What are you doing, Justin?"
"Hugging the two loves of my life," little Jason, hearing this phrase, smiled as if he really knew what it meant. They say babies don't understand, but they can feel, and Jason felt the love his father had for him and his mother.
Anne sighed tiredly. "Justin..."
"Let's try again."
"What?"
"I know we can make a family: you, Jason and me."
"Justin, don't...," the words were stuck in her throat as the boy turned her around so they were face to face.
"Marry me, An."
"What?"
"I know it sounds crazy after everything that's happened, but we can really try again."
"Justin, stop it."

"You don't have to answer right now. I can look for a ring tomorrow, get some things quoted."
"Justin..."
"You know that garden room we saw a while back? You said you really liked it. I can go and..."
"Justin Drew, that's enough!"

The boy's bubble burst and he watched dumbfounded the anger stain her face. The baby began crying and she broke free of his grip to head for the kitchen.

Justin frowned and followed her. "Tell me why we can't."
"I'm not in the mood, Drew," she started making a bottle for the baby not looking at him.
"I'm serious. Tell me why do we have to carry other people's mistakes on our shoulders?"
"Just go, please. I have to feed Jason."
"Tell me just one reason. You know I hate myself for what happened, but you haven't tried to understand my reasons all this time either. You just decided to take the easy way out and forget that you knew me like the back of your hand."
The girl took a seat on the living room couch and settled the little boy in her arms. "Come, my love, mommy will feed you."
"It's easier for you to ignore everything I feel for you, everything we went through, everything we were. Why, An, why even though we have a child, who is the memory of our greatest sign of love, is it so hard for you to accept?"
The girl ignored him. "You were hungry, weren't you, you little glutton?"
"You want to hear the truth? Fine, I'll say it. If that's the only way you will lower your walls, I will." he sighed. "The real reason my parents blackmailed me into going to London was because I got involved in your father's problems."

The bottle fell from the girl's hand splashing the baby in the face and causing him to start crying.

She stared at Justin with a fulminant look on her face. "I don't have a father."