Needle and Thread

Chapter 2

        A soft knock came on the door. This is the time we dreaded. Looking down to the boy I was holding, I felt my heart clutch. “Jace,” I tapped his shoulder softly. He tightened his hold in reply.

        I took a deep breath, and slowly got both of us up in a sitting position. Joanna’s voice was heard from the other side of the door, “They will be here in 10 minutes.”

        “Thanks. I’ll be out in a moment,” I informed her. I felt Jace reluctantly let go of me, got up from the bed, and walk to his bed. He kneeled near the edge, and took a shoe box from under his bed. I always smile at the sight of his bed.

        His sheets had planes drawn on it – his own drawing – and his pillow had a panda’s head on it. Not his drawing though.

        I watched as he took out a pink, plastic ring – the special surprise inside a box of cereal. He walked towards me, and held out his hand. “Here,” he took my hand with his small ones and placed the ring on my finger. “So you can always remember me.”

        Grinning at him, I held out my arms. “Come here.”

 ___________________

        After a few minutes, I was called to Clary’s office. When Jace and I got there, he stayed outside.

        “Hi,” I said as two heads turned to me when I got in the office. They got up as Clary approached me. They were both wearing suits.

        “Aria, dear,” Clary started. “This is Mr. Aaron Treadwell,” She gestured to the man who looked like he’s in his mid-thirties. He had a black briefcase near the chair he sat on. We shook hands and shared a polite smile. Clary continued, “And this is his son, Austin.”

        Austin looked like he’s in my age range. He’s taller than me, however. I think I’m barely as tall as his shoulders. He took out his hands that were previously tucked in his pockets, ran his right one through his black hair, and then held it out to me. He grinned mischievously, his blue eyes twinkling, “Pleasure to meet you.”

        I hesitated, looked at Clary then back at him. When he noticed it, he raised an eyebrow mockingly. Taking his hand, I shook it once firmly. “Nice to meet you, too.” When I was about to pull it away, he tugged on it then pulled it up to his lips, and kissed my knuckles. Soft but chapped lips. It was my turn to raise an eyebrow at him.

        After the introductions, we proceeded to leave the office and to their car. As they were walking, I purposely walked slower and behind them. I looked behind me and nodded at Jace. He ran to me quietly with his crocs squeaking a little under his feet, and his hands curled in a fist.

        Austin might have noticed it because he glanced over his shoulders, furrowed his eyebrows for a second, and then looked back ahead.

        Jace immediately hugged my hips as I placed my hand on his shoulder. When we exited the building, we started saying our goodbyes.

        Clary hugged my tightly, “I’ll see you soon, dear.” I nodded, closing my eyes tightly as I buried my face at the curve of her neck and shoulder. Jace was behind her, looking down at his feet, and wringing his fingers.

        I pulled away from her and then bent down in front of Jace. He was getting taller; he was growing up so fast. As we embraced each other, I felt him hold onto me tighter. I also heard him sniff, and I felt my shoulder getting wet. I breathed out a shaky breath, and rubbed his back.

        When I loosened my hold, he won’t pull away so Clary had to pry him off me. “You’re growing up so fast,” I mumbled to him after kissing his head. I walked away from him with a heavy heart.