A Little Sane

Chapter 45

Jerome grumbled walking down an alleyway. 

"Why have you been looking for me?"

Jerome smirked and turned around tho see Zella sitting on a fire escape. He walked towards her. 

"I needed to tell you that you got me in trouble."

Zella laughed and stood up.

"Your wife saw the news didn't she?"

Jerome nodded. Zella jump down from the fire escape. 

"Well, look I can take a hint okay? You don't have to come remind me. You're married I get it."

Zella started to walk away.

"Actually..."

Zella froze and a smirk Jerome couldn't see formed on her face. 

"If you don't mind... I wanted to also see what you were up to today.. Just a hang out..?"

Zella turned around with her eyebrow raised. 

"What about your wife?"

Jerome laughed.

"Her one absolute request is that she doesn't want you around the kids."

Zella playfully pouted.

"Awe.. no playdates?"

Zella smirked again.

"I'll be okay with that."

Zella noticed Jerome's eyes scanning her frame. She rolled her eyes playfully.

"One condition."

Jerome tilted his head intrigued. Zella took a slight step. 

"You have to catch me."

Zella took off running and Jerome smirked. He shook his head and took off running after her. He could see her turning every corner. He finally felt he had caught up but he ran into the dead end she was gone. He turned around in all corners smirking.

"You slippery little fucker..."

Jerome stood there thinking for a minute. He jumped when someone landed on his back wrapping their legs and arms around him. Zella kissed him on the cheek and jumped off his back. Jerome stared at her shocked. She laughed. 

"So what do you wanna do?"

Jerome smiled. 

"Mommy hurry!"

Aislinn looked worried. Mercedes jumped up from the couch. 

"What's wrong Aisie?!"

Mercedes  and Abbe could hear Jessie crying down the hallway. Mercedes ran down the hallway behind Aislinn. Jessie was laying in the floor at the end of his bed against the wall. Jessie was holding his arm. Mercedes knelt beside him.

"Jessie.. let mommy look.. Aisie what happened?"

Jessie had a nice nickle sized bruise on his arm. Aislinn climbed on the bed. 

"We played kitchen and.. and.. Jessie made a bad choice.. He jumped on the bed.. you always say not if an adult is not here..."

Mercedes nodded and gave Jessie a semi-serious look.

"Oh... and you fell off the bed didn't you?"

Jessie slowly nodded while Mercedes wiped his tears. She noticed a toy robot lying on the floor close to where Jessie landed.

"You hit your arm on this robot didn't you?"

Jessie nodded. He climbed into Mercedes's arms. Mercedes gladly picked him up laughing a little. 

"You're getting too big for this buddy."

Jessie wrapped his arms around her neck. Mercedes turned to Aislinn.

"Why don't you grab some toys and come into living room with me and Abbe?"

Mercedes set on the couch and Jessie climbed into her lap.

"Mommy.. I don't wanna play.."

Abbe handed Mercedes the TV remote. Mercedes wiped away the rest of Jessie's tears.

"How about we finish watching The Jungle Book? You were liking it."

Jessie nodded excitedly. Mercedes smiled.

"Hop up real quick baby."

Jessie stood next to the couch. Mercedes got comfortable and laid in the corner of the couch against the arm. She extended her arms towards Jessie. Heclimbed into her lap and snuggled deep into her chest facing the tv. 

"Abbe can you hand me that blanket?"

Mercedes covered up herself and Jessie. The kissed the top of his head through his curls.

"I love you my sweet baby boy."

"I love you too mommy."

Mercedes was gently shook from her sleep. She opened her eyes to see Abbe standing in front of her. She realized that her and Jessie had fallen asleep on the couch. Abbe smiled. 

"Me and Aisie made lunch."

Mercedes smiled and gently shook Jessie.

"Jess... Jessie.."

Jessie set up and rubbed his eyes. Mercedes laughed. 

"Abbe and your sister made lunch."

Jessie smiled brightly and jumped off the couch. Mercedes's phone rang. She sighed. She was worried it was Diablo. To her surprise it was not.

"Miah..? Hey.."

"Hey beautiful. I know this is random, but I would really like it if you would consider having lunch with me day after tomorrow when you will not have the kids."

Mercedes sighed.

"Miah.. I don't know..." 

"I do understand. I had something I really wanted to show you."

Mercedes smiled to herself.

"I guess lunch would be nice..."

"I really do understand if it makes you uncomfortable." 

Abbe had flipped through channels on the TV. She landed on the news. Mercedes looked over at the TV. She heard a familiar laugh. She saw Jerome and Zella running from the police. Her heart sank slightly.

"Mercedes? Did we lose connection?"

Mercedes thought about it and smiled. 

"No we didn't lose connection and... I would love lunch. What time should I come over?"

Jerome walked back into his living room that night to find Zella sleeping on the couch. He shook his head feeling stressed. He tried to wake her up, but she never moved.

Fuck! I didn't say she could sleep here! Goddamn it! 

Jerome caught himself staring at her form. He shook his head. She wasn't Mercedes, but he couldn't help noticing her beauty. Mercedes's face entered his mind and looked away from Zella. He was slightly angry.  She was still his wife, but they were separated and he had a feeling that she wasn't staying away from Jeremiah.