The Baby Favor

8.

Things were going well. Too well.

Michael wasn't known for being the most optimistic person. Running him own company had taught him to always watch for the other shoe to drop. After his talk with Jason the other night, things had made a turn for the better. They seemed to really be giving this a chance. He was actually sleeping in their bedroom again, leaving the playroom and the pull out bed behind. Now he got to fall asleep every night with the scent of Jason's shampoo on his pillowcase and the warm curve of his body pressed into his.

He could almost forget that the drama of the year or so had ever happened. And that was what worries him the most. He was not one to get lulled into complacency. That was when fate would throw a curve ball and you squarely upside the head. He just wasn't sure what direction. The threat would come from next. Would Jason decide that he really want his own child? Would something else drive them apart? Jay's death? Something with Luna? He didn't know. There was no way to know. That was just life. He just needed to be ready for the eventuality.

When Micheal pulled his car into the garage that evening, there was no curve balls in sight. When he stepped inside, he could hear commotion out back and saw Jason, Carroll and Luna were playing in the pool together. He stood for a moment at the window, watching Jason and Luna.

Jason's dark hair was twisted into a messy bun on top of his head to keep it dry. He was wearing
a pair of red swimming trunks Michael had chosen for him at one of his shops a few years before. He was bouncing up and down, holding a little floaty chair that kept Luna upright in the water. The baby was wearing a hot-pink polkadot swimsuit with giant sunglasses that nearly covered half her face. She was happily splashing finger hands and giggling as the water went everywhere.

The look on Jason's face as he played with his niece was enough to make a man or woman melt. Devotion, wonder, joy, amazement....all of those things and more were wrapped up in the ode smile that crossed his face. Jason was meant to be a mother. He'd always known that, he just wasn't sure how to make that happen before Luna came into their lives. Michael might never. E able to provide that opportunity the old fashioned way, but he'd brought a child into Jason's life nonetheless.

The smile on his own face faded away as he realized what it had cost his family to make it a reality. It was had to focus on the happiness, on this second chance they'd been given, when it was costing them both David's and Jay's lives. That was a high price, and not how he ever would've wanted to happen. And yet, here Luna was, in need of a home just as surely Jason needed a child. It was kismet.

Turning away from the window, he noticed his cellphone beeping at his hip. It needed charging. He opened the nearby drawer I search of a cable and immediately forgot all about his phone. Stashed away there was the finalized copy of their divorce agreement. Jason's copy.

At this point, there was no reason not to look it over. His copy was probably on hold without anyone to sign it as his new house. There weren't many surprises. They'd gone back and forth after mediation to get everything settled between them. When David died, the paperwork had become something he'd hardly given a thought to. He supposed that in the back of his mind he knew his attorney was getting things drawn up and ready to sign, but his lawyer didn't know anything about Luna and how much had changed in the last few weeks.

It could change everything. Or nothing. Michael liked to think they were on the part to reconciliation, but he wasn't naive enough to think that a baby could turn everything around. That oversimplified their situation. Yes, losing Elijah ha flushed them to the be, but they wouldn't have gotten there if they'd been able to communicate better. If he'd been able to understand what Jason really needed, not just what he thought Jason needed.

And maybe he was just presuming that what Jason wanted or needed was him. Yes, Jason warmed up to him during their time together, but Michael couldn't be certain he was the sole cause for the smile that returned to Jason's face. More than anything, Jason wanted a baby and he seemed really taken with Luna. When he'd drawn Jason into the situation, a part of him had hoped that Jason would fall for the baby and they could reconcile as a complete family at last. Finally being able to give him what Jason wanted made Michael feel like he was less of a failure in their marriage.