Half A Heart

Chapter 26

Jessie's POV

“Hey Lou- Um... Hi,” my eyes widen as they land on the little boy Louis’ carrying, who struggles to get back to the floor.

He puts him down and the boy walks up to me confidently.

“I’m Joshua, are you Jessie?” He asks, grinning at me.

His green eyes sparkle and I stare at him for a while, my lips parted in shock.

All I’m wearing is a graphic tee and leggings, my hair in a messy bun and my face make-up free.

“J-Joshua?” I look over him. He has bright green eyes, brown shaggy hair and slightly tanned skin. He looks like Louis...

“Yes,” he nods excitedly.

“Uh-um... Yeah, I’m Jessie,” I finally respond, looking over at Louis. He bites his lip, looking kind of guilty.

“So you’re the one who kisses my daddy?” Josh raises his eyebrows.

He is one mature little kid... How old is he? He looks about five.

“Um... Yeah,” I blush, opening the door wider.

“Jessie, where’d you go?” Zayn calls out and I stifle a laugh, letting Louis and Joshua in.

“Oh... Wow... Okay... Has it been nine months because I don’t remember you being pregnant...” Zayn notices Josh who frowns at Zayn.

“Who’s that?” Josh whispers to Louis who mumbles something in reply that I don’t hear so I decide to also answer his question.

“Josh, this is Zayn. He’s my best friend,” I tell him, introducing the two.

“I’m confused,” Zayn mumbles, looking at Josh, then Louis, then Josh, then back to Louis.

“Josh is Louis’ son,” I say awkwardly, nodding slowly.

“My mommy isn’t here though,” Josh pouts, “She went to visit Grammy and Oupa.”

Oh. So then what happens? She comes back and looks after Josh again? Are they going to share custody? Are they getting back together?! God, Jess, shut up. You sound really selfish and paranoid right now.

“Josh, why don’t you go play with Zayn for a bit?” Louis looks over at Zayn pleadingly and he nods, taking Josh’s hand.

“Come on, Josh, let’s see what’s on TV, shall we?” Zayn smiles, leading him away from us.

It’s silent between us for a few minutes while I just mindlessly stare at the floor.

“She died,” Louis says softly, my eyes widening again.

I was not expecting that.

“I-I’m sorry,” I whisper, finally looking up to meet his gaze.

He stares at me with curiosity for what feels like decades.

“It’s okay,” he speaks up and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, “There was nothing you could do about it... It was cancer.”

I nod, looking at him with sympathy.

“I only got to speak to her for about ten minutes. That’s all I got and then she was gone. But it’s my bloody fault for being an idiotic coward,” he huffs angrily, tears brimming on his eyes.

“Hey,” I coo, stepping towards him and putting both my hand on either side of his face, “It’s going to be okay. Now’s your chance to prove that you’re not a coward, take care of him and love him like you never left.”