Entertainment

Mystery Author’s story (Chapter 11)

Read from the beginning – links at the bottom.

February 1, 2022

The author remains a mystery but the story continues.

Chapter 11

They picked up pizza on the way home, and Rachael insisted that he stay the night.

“You can sleep in the trundle in Aiden’s room or the couch in the dining room,” she challenged. “We don’t want Aiden getting the wrong impression.” The women exchanged smiles when Jason chose the trundle and for a moment, he wondered what he had gotten himself into. After dinner, Jason participated in the bedtime rituals and read two stories to a drifting Aiden who insisted that he was not tired and wanted to stay up with them.

“He suckered you into two stories,” Paige said from the couch. He nodded sheepishly. Both women were in the living room watching the television, enjoying the respite of nightly story time.

“Do you mind; I have an overnight bag in my trunk, and I need to take a shower.” Rachael nodded. He looked to Paige “Could you braid my hair again?” She nodded. Rachael gave her a look causing Paige to get up. Making her way into the linen closet, Paige grabbed a towel and washcloth, putting them in the bathroom while Jason re-entered the house. Once showered, Jason pulled the hoodie on in addition to his pajama bottoms.

He walked into the living room and sat down on the floor below Paige and gave her the pic and rubber bands. Their hands touched and held for a moment however Rachael’s lingering gaze prohibited them from acting any more intimately. They settled down to watch a movie on television as Paige expertly braided his hair. An hour into it, Rachael stood up and bid them goodnight. After being assured that she was in her bedroom with the door closed Jason leaned in for a passionate kiss,

“I have been waiting all day for this,” he murmured in her ear. Paige let herself go for a few minutes however she was adamantly opposed to going to far with a sleeping parent in one room and a child in another. Though reluctant to curb tail his hormones, Jason understood and didn’t push. Feeling exhausted by the end of the movie, Jason reluctantly said goodnight and collapsed in the trundle,

“Daddy,” It was still pitch black when he heard the loud whisper. He chose to ignore it and tried to return to sleep. “Daddy,” the voice was louder and more insistent this time. He opened one eye to find Aiden’s face within inches of his own. Jumping back in a start, he inadvertently left space for his son to crawl into his bed. “I can’t sleep.” He refrained from muttering Neither can I; and wondered what Paige would do.

“Do you need to use the bathroom?”

“No.”

“Get a drink of water, are you thirsty.”

“No.” there was a moment of silence as the two of them studied each other. Finally, Aiden broke the silence.

“If you are my daddy, where were you my whole life?” Barely conscious, but still alert enough to think Jason asked.

“What did your mother say?”

“She said that you lost each other. Once I went to the bathroom at the zoo. There were two doors, and I didn’t go out the right one. Mommy wasn’t there and I got scared that she ran away. She said when I didn’t come out the other door, she was scared that I got lost. Is that what happened?” Thankful that she had already explained it to Aiden in a way that he understood. Tears threatened to erupt at the truth of the simple explanation.

“Your mommy was right. I got lost. For six years I was looking for her and she was looking for me.” Aiden crawled into the bed and snuggled close.

“You weren’t looking in the right place,” Aiden commented innocently.

“No we weren’t.”

“Mommy said that you loved her and that you would love me too.”

“You have a very smart mommy. I love her very much and I love you too.” He almost chocked on the words because they rang true. After only a day, Jason very much loved the young boy next to him. His son began stroking his braids.

“Did Mommy braid your hair?”

“Yes, she is really good at it.”

“I knew it, because she braids my hair the same way.” Aiden nodded off then and instead of returning his son to his own bed, Jason moved over and fell asleep.