18

Chapter 11- Line of Maturity

"Happy birthday, Hudson!" Everyone yelled as he entered the house after returning from his final physical therapy session. Seeing the expression on his face, Quinn gave a bright smile before carrying the cake towards him. The entire family began singing in with the cliche song until he leaned down to blow out the candles. As the smoke cleared, his gaze moved towards Quinn-insinuating that his wish had to do with her. For a moment, their sights locked until Rochelle carried in a present. The kids had carried it in with both their arms outstretched underneath it and they were both just as anxious for him to open it as Rochelle had been. With her fingers interlaced in front of her and resting just on her lips, he removed the lid to reveal a beautifully tailored suit. Pulling it from the box, he flexed a smirk, but had a disappointing look behind his eyes. Something Quinn was learning to analyze. He had the same look when she covered herself when he caught her coming out of the shower before they began their illicit relationship.

"So? What do you think?"

"It's very nice, thank you." He kissed Rochelle's cheek as the kids then gave them their handmade gifts. Rodrick had given him a mug that had the words: DAD #1 on the front, and Olivia had given him a nice silk tie that she had made herself from fabric from her grandmother's closet.

When it came time to Quinn's gift, she was both nervous and anxious for how he would react. Given the fact she had only one-hundred dollars in her bank account-on a good day, she had chosen something both practical and enjoyable. Having it wrapped as though it would never be discovered, she took a deep breath as he gave a pleasing gaze towards her. Tearing the paper open, it revealed a fountain pen. For a moment, Rochelle did not care to hide her thoughts of being unimpressed. But for Hudson, he pulled her in for a hug-shameless of anyone who saw.

"Thank you." He said in her ear with his sensual voice as she nodded-trying not to hold onto him for too long. Very quickly, the festivities had wrapped up as Quinn carried the now empty plates into the kitchen. Washing the remnants of frosting from them, she overheard a conversation in the living room just as she had shut off the water to then dry them.

"I don't understand why you have to be so stubborn!" She spoke in an aggravated whisper. "Do you not understand just how much you are putting me through?!"

"Not today, Rochelle. The kids are finally getting on a good path again and they deserve a break. NOT TODAY."

As they walked further ahead and in view of the kitchen, Rochelle pulled Hudson towards her. Placing her arm within his, she continued with the facade that everything would be alright and they were still happily married-unaware that Quinn already knew the truth.

"I will see you upstairs in a moment for your real birthday gift." Leaving with that innuendo, he turned immediately towards Quinn-only to find she had already left the kitchen and was walking towards the pool house. He followed after her, so much so, that he entered her living quarters and shut the door behind him.

"I have missed you." He said as he went to pull her into him but she pulled away. "Have I done something?" She paused as he saw tears in her eyes.

"What is it? Please, Quinn-"

"She loves you. You have this beautiful family and I am standing in the way of it being brought back together. I can see your not happy, but you were once and I can't help but think that this is where you belong-"

He pulled her towards him. "That is the LAST place that I belong in there. Do you have any idea how much your gift meant? I told you how I have not had a pen of my own since I can remember. And you got my initials on it and extra ink...a thoughtful and practical thing-"

"But that suit....this house...those clothes that everyone wears...I feel so out of place, Hudson."

He placed his hands on her cheeks.

"I don't know how I've done it until now, but I know that I can't lose you. You are the ONLY thing keeping me sane and if you leave, you are going to have to take me with you." He continued, seeing the doubt still lingering in her eyes. "I didn't plan for this...for you...for an affair...but it happened. And I can't hide for the sake of going completely insane. I know that you deserve someone who can keep up with you and adore you in a restaurant without the fear of being seen-but one day, I promise you...it won't be a secret."

"I'm not angry about it being a secret. I'm angry about not feeling bad about it."

"The only thing we are guilty of is caring about what everyone thinks." He paused. "And one thing to get straight...I HATE lavish gifts. I always thought the idea of giving something so expensive to someone was too much...like you are trying to hard. The truth is...giving someone something practical means that they will always think of you when they use it or see it, that it means more that way."

"Are you just saying this so I feel better?"

"No I'm saying this because It's the truth. AND I wanna kiss you really bad."

They both smirked as he gently pulled her against him and their lips gently touched. Such a tender and sweet kiss was exchanged-but they were unaware that it was a kiss that had not gone on unseen...