At least she wasn't a bundle of nerves this morning. She felt a bit more comfortable with JC's child-care skills. Josh couldn't stop talking about JC all night until she put him to bed. How JC had sang to him, just like she did. How he had told Josh about his mother in Maryland and how JC had read him a book. It put a smile to her lips when she reflected on just how fond Josh was of JC already.

Last night, JC had not stayed for dinner, saying that he needed to get to the recording studio, Of course, she had excused him quickly, but Josh had wished JC had stayed. As for her...well, she didn't know what to think. Maybe she had, maybe she hadn't. Maybe she didn't want to know. And this morning she was prepared, armed with Josh's Apple Jacks, two bowls and two spoons. The milk was still in the fridge because she didn't want it to spoil.

As she would have expected, promptly at seven, her doorbell rang. She knew who it was and slightly braced herself for another day. She could do this. She slid easily to the door, making sure it was JC and not someone else. She heard muffled sounds coming from the other side of the door and giggled. JC was singing softly, close to the door. She put her eye up to the peephole and watched in amusement. She could hear it faintly and half read his lips.

Just when I believed

How do we explain

Another ring of the doorbell pulled her out of her trance and she could not believe she had let him stand out there, singing that tune, for so long. She hardly knew the song. To her, it had to title, no writer, no singer, but yet such meaning. Her heart... it had sunk a little, feeling heavier now than it had in a long time. That song did something to her, touched a nerve, but just what nerve it was, she wasn't altogether sure she wanted to find out.

Not wasting anymore time, she pulled open the door. JC smiled as he saw her. "Sorry, I took so long," she apologized, letting him into her apartment and walking straight to the kitchen. "I was doing something."

"What was that?" he inquired casually.

She couldn't think of anything witty to say. Please, don't do this to me, she was dying of embarrassment. But suddenly she had an idea. "I was setting up our breakfasts!" she said with a satisfied grin. She smiled widely and showed him the table set with two bowls, utensils and napkins, and a box of Apple Jacks.

He just nodded slightly, accepting her explanation. "Shall we?" she asked, motioning to the table.

He grinned and nodded. "Did you have a good night?" he asked lightly, looking for conversation.

"Um, as well as can be expected, I guess. Let's see. I cooked dinner for Josh, put him to bed at eight. Washed up, took a shower and then called Kel. Whoa," she stopped, letting a pause do its work. "Could my day having gotten any less exciting?"

He laughed. "Well, I have nothing to boast about. I went to a very dull recording session, sang a bit, watched the others do their stuff while playing with the soundboard, went back to the hotel and played a little piano." What he didn't reveal to her was the conversation he had had with Lance about a 'forbidden love', nor the merciless teasing he had endured and tastelessly hated for reasons not to be specified. He didn't tell her that he had sat up all night, wondering about what Lansten had said and wondering about her. Why am I trying to get close when it's obvious that she doesn't want me? There was nothing to get close to. But though he wondered it, there were no answers.

"Have you called Kel?" JC asked, wanting to quickly change the subject before he dwelled on it too much.

"Well, yes," she answered. "But I called too late and she was already gone, so I didn't get to speak to her. I guess she had an early morning or something." Halle shrugged her shoulders, recalling the fact that she hadn't seen her friend in two days now, Kel was that busy.

JC just nodded, not knowing what to say in response to her. It was silent for a little while as they eat their cereal, spooning milk and the lifesaver-like bits of cereal. "Hi Mommy. Hi Blue."

Halle's spoon clanked on her bowl as her head swiveled to the doorway behind her. "Josh?" she asked. He was rubbing his eyes, but as soon as he was done, he smiled at them and ran to Halle. She lifted him up as soon as he got to her. "What are you doing up?" she asked, confused.

"Talking to you," he replied, as if that was what she had been asking.

"Hey, little man," said JC, reaching across the table to flick his nose.

Josh giggled. "Hey Blue."

"Look," said JC. "I got someone behind me who wants to say hello to you."

Josh looked up in amazement as JC pulled from behind his back a figurine of the Star Wars character Jar Jar Binx.

Josh grabbed delightedly for it, outstretching his little hands. JC laughed and released the toy.

"Josh...." Halle said in a warning voice. "What do you say to Blue?"

He looked up from his play. "Oh yeah, thank you, Blue," he said before quickly looking down and fiddling with his toy.

Halle smiled as she saw Josh filled with amazement. "JC, you know, you really didn't have to do that."

"I know," he said quickly. "But I wanted to. I love Star Wars. I saw it in a toy store window and I thought of him."

She laughed. "Well, it was really nice of you, JC. How much did it cost? I'll pay you back."

He looked at her critically. Sometimes he didn't like her independence. "I won't accept money for a gift, Halle. It's from me to Josh, that's all." He said it innocently enough, yet it blew her away.

Instantly, Halle swallowed. For some reason, it bothered her to be reprimanded by him, whereas she would usually let it slide. "Okay, it's a gift," she said quickly, not wanting to offend him more. She looked down to her plate and hurriedly ate the last of her cereal. She needed to find something to do.

"Hey, Hal. Look, I didn't mean to say it so sharply. I just didn't like the idea that you thought you'd have to pay me back for that. I'm not a millionaire, but I can afford it."

She waved him away. "No, I guess you're right. I mean, if it was a gift, I guess you don't want me to pay you back, but it's not any special occasion. You really didn't have to."

JC thought of interrupting her. 'Everyday with you is a special occasion.', but he bit back the words before they had formed. He started to say that he had wanted to buy it for Josh, but she stopped him as soon as she saw his mouth open.

She put her fingers to his mouth, silencing him. "Let's not fight about this, please." Both of them were surprised and the quick bolt of lightning that shot through his lips to her fingers. Or was it the other way around? Needless to say, that stopped both of them.

All the while, Josh had been sitting there, watching them, his smile quickly disappearing. He had sensed that all hadn't been well and he wasn't pleased. "Were Mommy and Blue fighting?" he asked them.

"No, no, no!" exclaimed Halle. "We weren't fighting, were we JC?" She looked at him helplessly. She simply didn't know what to say.

He turned to Josh. "Oh, of course not, little man. We were well...acting!" he said it as if it were the most genius thing in the world.

"What is acting?" Josh asked.

"Umm," answered JC. "Well, it's like...playing."

"Oh! You want to play?" Josh scooted out of the seat Halle had set him on and ran out of the kitchen.

Halle shot JC a grateful look. "Thanks," she said. "I owe you one." She would try to keep the peace from now one. She didn't want Josh exposed to constant bickering and truthfully, she didn't want to argue with JC. She liked it much better when they joked. It had been her fault anyway that they had argued just now...

Josh came running back with his own Yoda action figure. "Look, Blue!" he cried. "Yoga!"

JC laughed. "No, Yoda, Josh."

Josh rounded the bend to JC to hand him Yoda. "Ok, Yoda. You be Yoda. I'm Jar Jar. We can play! Just like you and Mommy."

JC stopped him. "Yes, we can play, but not like me and your Mommy."

"Why not?" asked Josh.

JC thought for a moment. "Cause that was very bad playing."

"Mommy's not good at playing?" Josh asked, perplexed.

"No. She's very good. You're just better! Besides, she and I didn't have Yoda and Jar Jar Binx, now did we? That makes playing so much better. Wanna try?"

"Yeah," he shouted and they set off imitating the characters of Stars Wars.

It endeared her to see how good he was with Josh, it made her want to smile so much more than she already did. Halle couldn't deny him his connection with Josh. He was the best choice she could have ever hoped for. She just wished he didn't have to have such mesmerizing blue eyes, or such a great smile... She almost bolted in her chair, afraid of her own thoughts. JC saw this and was quick to react. "Are you alright?" he asked, worried.

"Yeah," she quickly covered, searching for some form of an excuse. "I'm just..." she glanced at the clock and almost screeched again. "Going to be late for work."

He looked at the clock. Seven twenty-nine it read. "Hey, do you have to rush?" he asked her.

"Well, I like to get there early, especially this week when I have to prepare for meetings, presentations and new clients. I don't have to be in till eight though."

"Ok, do you have most of your work done?"

"Well, I prepared last night, just in case..."

He laughed, interrupting her. "You're such a workoholic." He turned to Josh. "Hey, Josh, wanna go for a walk?"

"Yeah!" he said. "Where are we going?"

"To get some coffee with your Mommy. We're going to Starbuck's!"

"What?!" Halle asked.

"Hey, you said you owed me, right? Well, I think I'll collect now."

But instead of feeling a bit displeased, as she expected to, she found herself smiling at him. "Well, I guess I could use a little coffee..."

"And so could I, so shall we?" He bowed to her.

Halle laughed at his immaturity. "Mommy, look!" shouted Josh. "I can do it too!" He bowed in dramatically in front of her as JC had done.

She laughed even more. "And you do it very very well," Halle said, ruffling his hair. He squealed. "Ok, come on," she said, getting up from her chair as she pushed him along. "We need to get going."

JC followed suit and pushed back his chair. "Oh, wait!" she exclaimed. as she turned back to the kitchen. "I forgot something." She opened a kitchen drawing fishing around till she found what she was looking for. She withdrew a gleaming silver key and walked to JC, handing it to him. "Just how were you planning to get back in?"

He laughed, as she opened the door and let them all out to the hallway. "I don't know, I thought we'd hang around your office."

"Hmm, good thing I gave you the key."

He laughed and then pouted. "What, you don't want us there?"

"At my office?" she laughed. "Well, I don't personally mind, but I don't know what my co-workers would say. They hardly even know I have a son."

"You're ashamed?" he asked amazingly. Boy, this would be a twist of her character as he saw it.

She didn't visibly wince, but kept walking, Josh's hand in hers. "They don't ask, I don't broadcast. JC," she said more softly. "Don't ever imply that I am ashamed of my son."

Man, they were just scratching each others nerves today. Immediately, JC was sorry that he had ever said it. "Hal, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, it was way outta line. I know you're very proud of Josh."

Immediately, she too was sorry. "I...I shouldn't have snapped at you. I can just imagine how it sounded to you when I said that. I'm sorry. It's just implying that I was ashamed..."

"No, you don't need to apologize. It's not your fault..."

Joshua was tugging on her hand. "Mommy, are you guys playing again?"

"Umm, yes, Josh, but very bad playing again," she answered.

"Oh, it's okay Mommy. Let me show you how. Watch me and Blue." He started up with Yoda and Jar Jar Binx again as JC became animated, complete with voices.

Halle looked at JC for just a second. "We're even," she concluded. Halle started one argument, and he started the next. She wanted to be even and stay that way.

He just smiled at her. "Definitely."

-*-*-*-

The morning had been cool, but not cold, and pleasant change from the bearings of summer. The walk to Starbuck's had been a bit brisk, but not so Josh couldn't keep up. Josh and JC were still playing with Yoda and Jar Jar Binx, although every time they would cross a street, both Halle and JC would stop to hold his hand. Halle smiled every time she witnessed JC's concern for Josh- it warmed her heart.

JC opened the door for her and Josh and as soon as they stepped in, the aroma of rich coffee beans filled their nostrils. JC smiled as they all went up to the register. He liked the feel of coffeehouses, they always felt so warm and so bright; somewhere where you could relax and be yourself, not having to worry about the daily stresses, whatever they may be. He had slipped on his shades to hide his blue eyes from the lazy eyes of the crowd. He didn't want to get 'accidentally' noticed this morning. He didn't know if the room was populated with fans, or held maybe next to none, but he didn't want to take that chance.

"Hey, Blue," Josh said, tugging to sleeve of JC's leather jacket.

"Hmm?" JC asked, leaning a little closer to Josh so he could hear him clearly.

"Can we go to the park today?"

"Umm, I don't know, Josh," he said truthfully, hating to disappoint the little boy. "I don't know if Mommy wants us to go. Will she let us?" Halle, meanwhile, was oblivious to this, watching the line move.

Josh shook his head. "I don't know."

"Well, why don't you go ask her?" he suggested.

"Alright!" the little boy happily agreed. The next thing JC saw, Josh was tugging on Halle's suit jacket. "Mommy?"

She looked down to him. "Yes, Josh?"

"Can I go to the park with JC today?" he asked. "Pleaaasse?"

JC smiled and joined in. "Pleeeassse?" he asked. "I've got a key," he reminded her. "Josh will be very safe with me. I'll make sure everything is perfect. I'll bring whatever he might need too: his bag, some snacks, some toys, the chart of emergency numbers you made, plus my cell phone in case of an emergency. He will be very safe. I'll make sure of that. I assure you..." JC was rumbling now.

"Stop!" Halle said, putting her hand up. "Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?"

He smiled widely. "No, well, maybe once or twice, but don't you trust me?"

She had to admit... "Ok, yeah. You can take Josh to the park today. Just leave a note in case so I don't worry like a madwoman, ok?"

"Ok! But you never answered my question!"

"What question?" she asked.

"Do you trust me?"

She looked at him exasperated. "JC, do you think I would let you even near Josh if I didn't trust you?"

He laughed. "I'll take that as a yes." He was feeling pleased that she trusted him. A sensation in his chest radiated as he felt pride and appreciation.

Finally, they were at the front of the line. "May I take your order?" asked one of the servers.

"A regular black coffee," answered Halle. She quickly paid for her own cup before JC could get it.

"And for you, sir?" she asked, turning to JC. Halle had turned away and was expecting a bag of coffee on sale nearby. Her face seemed to be a little disapproving and she moved around to the other side, leaving JC with Josh.

"Let me have a cafe con leche," he said quickly after scanning the menu on the wall.

"Yup. Anything for your son? Hot chocolate?"

JC stifled a giggle and turned to Josh. "Anything you want, Josh?" JC asked.

"Do they have any jelly beans?" he asked.

"No, 'fraid not," said JC.

"I don't want anything then."

"K," said JC, smiling. "Nothing for him."

As she told him his total and he paid, JC led Josh over to the waiting area, where he would wait for his cafe con leche. Halle was already standing there, sipping her own coffee. "What did you order?" she asked him.

Just as she spoke, his drink arrived. "Cafe con leche," he told her. "Picked it up in Spain. They're good. Have you ever tried them?"

She just laughed. "I usually stick with my black coffee."

"Here," he said automatically. "Try some of mine."

"No, it's ok, I think..."

"Hal, it's really good. Please try some?"

"JC, I don't..."

"Hal," he interrupted. "For me?" He had expected her to argue with him again, say that she couldn't, shouldn't and wouldn't. But she didn't. His heart jumped when he saw her eyes stop and roam over his face, knowing that she wanted to see past his dark glasses.

"Alright," she said. Her voice was low and soft, not at all unlike her usually melodious tongue, but quieter. He could hear it tremble through the chords. He gave her the steaming cup and he took her own from her. She sipped the brew slowly, a mixture of emotions coming over her face. "It's good," she admitted as she returned her cup to him.

"Knew you'd like it," he said. "I drank nothing but black before like you, until I discovered this."

"Hey," called a slightly disgruntled looking old man on the heavy side. "You're holding up the line!" he said to them. True enough, there were people waiting behind them. They ducked out, Halle taking Josh by the hand.

But a gleam caught Josh's eye as they walked past a glossy advertisement posted on the window of the coffeehouse. "Look, Blue! You're in a picture!" he called loudly enough for the entire street to hear.

He realized Josh was pointing at the Starbucks advertisement with him and his bandmates. JC hoped no one had heard Josh. He quickly looked around, but nothing had changed. The cars still zoomed past and the people stroll indifferently about, focused only on getting to their destination.

For a minute, Halle's expression changed to one undefinably frozen. Then her features sank a bit and her mouth tensed into a crease. JC had no idea what she was thinking, but from the looks of it, it wasn't good. She was staring at the poster now, lost in her own thoughts, as if they consumed her. Then she turned to him abruptly, her arms crossed over her chest, almost distancing herself. "I have to get going now, JC. It's almost 7:50." She said it curtly, her voice a bit clipped.

He nodded. It was time for Halle to leave, although he had hoped she would walk back with him. But what had prompted her silent response? He couldn't figure her out, she was like a faucet, hot and cold. Just minutes ago she had been laughing. Now he felt as though he were walking on thin ice.

Halle leaned down to kiss Josh. "Mommy has to go to work right now. You just do whatever Blue tells you, ok?" JC silently wished she had kissed him too.

Josh nodded in response. "I'll see you after work, JC." she said, addressing him once directly before walking off quickly, losing herself in the crowd.

JC watched her leave, his eyes following her every move as his large hand held Josh's little palm. Josh was silently, holding JC tightly, as if he sensed it. But even JC could not say what 'it' was, he had no idea. He just knew that he didn't like it and didn't want it. Why was she acting so strangely, unpredictably? He really should expect that from her, she'd been acting that way since day one. Yet he knew there was more, something he just hadn't uncovered yet, or at least he hoped there was more. She was one darn confusing woman. Why he stood up to the challenge, he did not know, but strangely, he thought her worthy. Turning away, he sighed, nothing he could do at the moment. He thought he might as well do as she did, so he lost himself in the crowd too.

-*-*-*-

"Since when did you drink cafe con leche?" asked a smiling Mike. He had poked his head, and the rest of his body, in as he knocked on her open door.

"Since this morning," she answered.

"And what happened this morning, may I ask?"

"No you may not Mike, I'm in too much of a work mode to think about this morning."

"Ohh, intriguing," he said, make himself comfortable in the plush cream armchair that sat across from her desk. "Bad or good?"

When she didn't answer, he grunted. "Come on," he prodded. "You can tell me. Tell ole Mikey and he'll make it all better."

She laughed. "Is that the line you use on your kids?"

"Nope, they call me 'Daddy'. I use that one only with busy, Asian co-workers that are drinking a new kind of coffee different from the kind she has been drinking as long as I have known her and it's astounding."

"Gee, Mikey," she said, winding her straight hair with the pen she had in her hand. "I wonder who that could be?"

"Oh, her name begins with a 'H'. Oh wait, it's coming to me." He put his hand on his forehead for emphasis and exaggeration. "Helen, Hilda, Hillary, Hayley, no, no, Halle!" he concluded.

"Halle?" she asked. "Do I know anyone named Halle?"

"Maybe you just haven't have the lucky to make her yet, shall I describe her to you?"

"Go for it," she answered, smiling encouragingly. She was liking this compliment business and she definitely wanted to hear what Mike thought.

"Well, the Halle I know is kind, considerate, beautiful and loving. She's a publicist, a brilliant one, like me of course. But she's also a great person and very very independent. That's her greatest strength and weakness. Plus, she's a very good friend of mine and I know she trusts me. That's why she'll tell me what happened and why she's drinking new coffee, won't she?"

Halle had to laugh. "Maybe later, Mike, I promise. But good try. I must say; I am flattered. Although, truthfully, you didn't have to make that all up. I wasn't going to tell you anyway!" Her shoulders were shaking.

"Aww, Halle, you're so mean!" But he was laughing too. He knew she kept her word, she was very honorable and if she promised to tell him later, she would. "And I meant every word of it. Would you at least tell me if it was good or bad?" Mike was like an eager child.

"Geez, Mike. You're as bad as J....him." She quickly substituted 'him' for JC.

"Aha!" he exclaimed. "I got something!"

"Mike..." she said, suitably embarrassed.

"And who's this mystery man 'J'?" He made eyes at her. "Lover? Friend? Crush?..." He trailed off.

"'Secret'!" she answered for him, laughing he head off at his quick assumptions. She didn't want to reveal anything on her part by staying quiet.

"Aww, Halle!" he pleaded. "Come on! You're killing me here!"

"And it's such fun doing it!" She just smiled.

"Halllle!"

"You're such a child, Mike, I said later! Now go on with yourself. You have work to do! I know you have a meeting with clients in," she looked at her watch. "Five minutes."

He quickly look down at his own watch. "Oh, shoot. You're right. Ok, I'll go now, but only because I have to work! We're not done yet!" he said in a threatening voice. She might have taken him seriously, but his smile washed the gruff of his voice away.

"I'm counting on it!" she called as he scooted out the door. As he left, she fell back in her office chair, resting. Whew, wipe the sweat off your brow, she thought. She had almost told him. She had told him later, but when was later?

-*-*-*-

JC was humming softly as he got two drinks- one for him and one for Josh. As he closed the fridge door, a white slip of paper fluttered in the sudden burst of movement. It caught JC's eye. He pulled the scribbled on piece of paper off the white refrigerator door. He read the slip the paper as he carried the two juice boxes back to the living room. They were having apple juice today since he was letting him have it in the living room. He didn't want Josh to spill anything and if Josh did, JC didn't want it leaving a stain.

He read it. 'Story Oratory. Tuesdays at 4:20 PM. At Criss Cross- 13 Grand Central Blvd.' The message was brief, but completed. As JC sat down, Josh grabbed the juice readily from his hand. "Hey Josh," he asked. "Do you know anything about a 'Story Oratory'?"

"Story Oratory? Can we go, can we go?!" he asked, all excited.

"I thought you wanted to go to the park."

"No, Story Oratory!" he said.

"Ok, but what is Story Oratory?"

"Story time!" said Josh happily.

"Ohh," said JC. "Are you sure your Mommy will let you?"

"I go all the time with Aunt Kel," he said, matter-of-factly.

"Well..." said JC, contemplating whether he should call her.

"Please?" he interrupted. JC didn't answer. Halle did say they could go to the park as long as they left her a note.

"Please?!" Josh asked, more desperate now. "Please, please, please?!"

Well, they could just leave her a note saying they were at this Story Oratory instead of going to the park. Same difference. He looked at Josh's pleading stare. "Alright," JC said with a smile. Little Josh smiled at him, and JC knew he wouldn't have had the heart to say no anyway.

Looking at his watch, JC jumped a little. "Ok, we better get going Josh, if we're going to make it on time."

"Ok!" he shouted and ran to his door quickly.

JC laughed. "We'll go in a minute, Josh. I just have to leave a note for your Mommy so she doesn't worry, ok?"

Josh nodded. JC trouped to the kitchen to find a pen and paper. He grabbed them off the smooth counter and hunched over the paper. The note was simple.

Love,

He did it thoughtlessly. Well, not so thoughtlessly, because he meant it. What would she say? He'd just have to wait and see. Hopefully, she'd smile. Then maybe he would too.

He walked out to the living room where Josh stood waiting for him. "Ready, Blue?" he asked.

"Yup." JC held out his hand. Josh, without question, put his little hand in JC's. Such was trust. Then they stopped out the door, JC fishing for his key and locking it tightly behind him. He liked to have Josh's hand, to know he trusted JC with himself. When would Halle put her hand in JC's? JC knew Halle trusted him with Josh, but when would she trust him with herself?

-*-*-*-

Story Oratory turned out not to be far from Halle's apartment, or her workplace for that matter. It was just ten minutes away, close to a market. JC held Josh's hand every minute of the way. Criss Cross was the name of the store and it was a small cozy children's bookstore. It was colorful, he saw every color in the sun displayed there and felt a friendly setting. The store was complete with fairy-tale themed lights, toys, wood paneling and an excess of plush couches. And of course, books galore, but this was a book store.

Josh scampered over towards the right of the room and stopped at a maroon armchair. There were kids already there and sitting on the floor. The part of the store were they had Story Oratory had a sunken in floor were the staff had placed colorful rugs and blankets for people to sit on as well as a few couches and armchairs that lined the walls away from the window.

JC walked over to him, smiling. "Here, Blue," said Josh. "You sit on the chair."

"No, it's ok, Josh, you can sit on the chair. I'll sit on the floor."

"No!" said Josh. "Sit on the chair!" he demanded. JC looked questioningly at Josh, but sat down on the chair. Quickly, Josh scrambled up onto his lap and leaned back, getting comfortable. Awkwardly, JC put his arms around the child. Josh didn't protest. In JC's head and in the room, the storytelling began.

-*-*-*-

Halle walked down the street to the market. She had gotten off a work a little early, most of her work load had been taken care of earlier. Now she just needed to get some things for the apartment and maybe some jelly beans for Josh. She turned down the street to the market near to her apartment. Little stores lined the street, it was a homey little walk. There was Canons, a store that sold a variety of Bibles, ranging from the black leather-bound ones to Precious Moments. And there was Banter Schmanter, a store that sold odd little things, mostly in the humorous range. Further along the street was The Paper Store that sold what else, but paper. She thought they had every piece of paper under the sky. There was Kernels that was a little snack shop. It sold anything with corn in it, from chips, to arepas and popcorn, to actual corn.

Finally, there was Criss Cross, a children's book store. Kel often took Josh there for Story Oratory, a story hour that Josh looked forward to every week. She sighed. Too bad Josh would have to miss it this week. He was at home with JC. Maybe JC was reading him another book. She looked at her watch. Story hour was almost over, in about five minutes. She stopped to look in the window as she made her way to the market.

But something made her gape in the window. Did her eyes deceive her? There was Josh and JC sitting quietly on an armchair, listening to the story. But what made her heart beat a little faster was the way that they were sitting. Was sitting comfortably in the chair. Josh was sitting in his lap, dipping his head back, relaxed. JC's arms were around her son and together, they listened to the story.

She was literally frozen, riveted on the spot, watching Josh and JC like they could be father and son. Her brain automatically responded, reprimanding her. These thoughts would not be allowed, not in her mind, but her heart did not always heed that. And now, her heart saw it fit to disobey.

The room began to stretch and get up, and Halle knew it was time to leave before they saw. But it was too late she started to turn away. She had already been spotted.

-*-*-*-