The Sweetest Devotion (The Affair Series Book 2)

Telling Him

STEF POV

"My boy! My sweet baby look how big you got! And I loved your play it was amazing!" I said to Jude noticing how much taller he had gotten in the last eight weeks but thankfully not too much. Glancing to him I had not even realized how much I missed his handsome face and cute smile as I planted a million kisses on his forehead and he hugged me back.

"Hi mom!"

"Look at you! Shit! What are you 25?30? Huh? What the hell have you been eating?"

"No I'm not 25 mom! You are so silly!"

"I'm so happy to see you. I missed you so much. God you have no idea my boy." Hugging him harder once again and kissing his forehead he looked up at me bashfully while now looking around.

"Mom we are in public. Please control yourself."

"Ok, ok I'm overdoing it. I'll chill. But mama can't help it. I missed you sweets."

"I missed you too." Smiling wide at me I now saw it as I looked deep into his eyes. There it was his resemblance to Frankie and that softness she held in her expressions as well. It was all there and clearly evident.

"Got all your stuff my love?"

"I think."  Grabbing his bags from him I soon saw a boy around his age run toward us as Jude froze letting out a wide smile. Instantly I knew who it was for Jude had mentioned he made a friend named Noah to me and I knew very well he had a crush on him simply by the way he spoke about him each time we talked.

"Jude you forgot this. "Handing something to my son and glancing to me I could only smile as he boy returned it. "Hi Ms. Foster. I'm Noah."

"Hi Noah nice to meet you love. I've heard alot about you. I hope you come visit Jude sometime. Yes?"

"Sure. That would be cool."  With the smile remaining on his face Jude nervously looked up to me almost signaling that he needed time alone. Picking up on his cue I grabbed his bag again.

"I'll go wait by the car love. Take you time." Nodding at me I headed back to the car placing his bags in the trunk as I was unable to resist glancing back toward them and seeing my son place a bracelet of some sort around Noah's wrist. I could only form the widest smile on my face for I was about his age when I gave Diane that cheap ring from gumball machine. Deep inside I wanted Jude to have healthy relationships and I wanted to show him that they were possible. Maybe he already knew that, and maybe if I continued to get my shit together he would continue to see that. Walking back over to me I waved by to Noah as Jude placed another bag in the trunk and I could only see had sad he looked.

"You ok love?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." He said as I watched him keep his eyes on Noah who faded in the distance.

"He's a sweet kid love. I meant it when I said you should invite him over. Does he live far?"

"MM no. No too far."

"It's hard being away from someone we have feelings for mm?" I said gently stroking his hair as he looked up to me.

"Feelings?" 

"Yes feelings sweetheart. Even if we aren't always sure what they are. Sometimes it takes us a bit of time to accept them or realize them and that's ok." 

With his face growing even more sensitive we stood in silence for a bit as I didn't want to push him. Not at all for I knew how emotional my son could be even at his age .

"Come love let's head back. We can grab some food and you can tell me more about this Noah."

Winking at him he smiled as I knew I needed to drop the Frankie bomb on him sooner rather than later as he grabbed my hand and we headed into the SUV.