*Thanks again for the feedbacks guys, that's what keeps me going. Do rate and comment, cheers. This chapter is dedicated to TRELLYWELLDOITWELL* Olanna.
Rhea looked at her reflection in the mirror one last time, pleased with what she saw, she picked up her handbag and made her way to the door.
She had gotten a job in an accounting firm as a receptionist, it wasn't much, but it kept her busy and helped her make a decent pay. It was pertinent that she get a job recently since she didn't seem of much use anymore. She had begun a schedule with Mitch when she got the job concerning Jonas, he would pick him up at 7:00am to take him to school and she would drop by his place later in the day when she was returning home to pick him up.
This way, Jonas got to spend more time with Mitchell..not like he was interested in spending time with her since Mitchell's outburst over a week ago, Jonas had been withdrawn. Towards her, he didn't hate her, it was more like a feeling of betrayal , he didn't smile as much as he used to when he was around her he didn't talk much either.
She clearly remembered their conversation as she drove them home that day he had asked her casually why she hadn't told him Mitchell was his father and she had simply replied that the time hadn't been right.
"When were you going to tell me?" He asked, apparently not buying that excuse.
"At a later time she replied.
"But he was right here, he had always been, I don't get it. All you had to say was 'Jonas, Mitchell is your father' how hard is that?" He shot, his tone a little angrier.
She hadn't replied hi, because she couldn't give him a straight answer and she honestly couldn't explain to him, the complicated and highly shameful story of his conception, there were some things he would never know, that was for sure.
He had huffed and folded his arms when she failed to reply him.
"I'm sorry." She spoke after some minutes, it was a sincere apology.
Jonas didn't reply, he just stared out the window, that marked the beginning of his silent treatment.
It saddened her whenever she'd talk to him and get one-word replies, but once Mitchell was present, he morphed into a chatterbox, he had even began calling him 'Papa', not that she had a problem with that, it was Jonas' refusal to acknowledge her presence that caused her much worry, she supposed it was something she'd have to endure, to some extent, she deserved it.
She stepped out of the house and locked up the door behind her, just as she stepped off the porch, she noticed Jared's dark brown truck heading to the house, she frowned. She still partially blamed him for the fracas that led to her temporary fall out with Jonas, if only he hadn't gone running his mouth...
She watched the car come to a halt a few metres from hers and gave a brief look at her watch, she supposed she could spare ten minutes.
Jared got out of his truck. His eyes skimmed over her curvy frame, she looked dressed for work going by her grey colored fitted skirt that just brushed her knees, the turquoise blouse and a pair of low-heeled, black peep-toes, it was supposed to look conservative, but with a body like Rhea's it was difficult to pull off the conservative look.
When his eyes finally reached her face, he could instantly tell she was unhappy with him. He walked toward her, stopping when he was half a foot away, "hi" he began.
Rhea wanted to be pissed at him, yes, he did cause all of the drama she was going through right now, but looking at the bigger picture, he wasn't all that responsible, he was more of a blur in it all, "Hi." She replied, her voice as bland as possible.
Okay, so he had pissed her off, "How have you been?"
"I've been well."
The conversation felt like one being held by two estranged people, she hadn't called back to accept his proposal, so it was obvious she wasn't interested in dating him, this reception had solidified that fact...then again, he wasn't so sure he wanted her to accept the proposal either. Things with Rebecca had seriously muddled his feelings up, he still liked Rhea- a lot, but not as much as he had when he first asked her to date him, or over a week ago, when he had confronted Mitch because of her.
He scanned the area idly, unsure of what else to say, "Rhe.."
"I can't Jared." She cut in.
He creased his brows, "You...can't...what?"
Rhea sighed, "I really appreciate everything you've done for I and Jonas, but I can't date you, not now, not ever. I just have too much going on with me and I don't want you in all of my drama, I..." She took a moment off babbling and sighed in exasperation, "...I'm sorry." She finished solemnly.
Jared was quiet as he assessed the feelings those words brought, the first thing he realised was, he wasn't as gutted as he thought he should be, he was disappointed, yes, he was a bit sad, but he wasn't angry. Perhaps because inwardly, he had expected the rejection, perhaps that was why he has been bidding his time all these years, postponing the inevitable. He liked Rhea, but this was one battle he had lost before it's beginning.
"Oh..." That was the only word he could come up with at first. He knitted his brows, "I..is..." He sighed, thinking of a simpler way to ask his question, "Is this about Mitch?" It was still hard to ask, it left a bad taste in his mouth.
She shook her head, "No, I just can't do this." Technically, that wasn't a lie. Yes, Mitch was partly responsible, a teeny weeny part, but on the whole, this had more to do with her and her inability to commit to anyone, she had built her life around herself and then Jonas, she had never been relationship material, she thought she was too strong-willed for anyone to tolerate. The longest relationship she had had was 2 weeks, that was back when she was a teenager. It was safe to say she had no dating experiences as far as her adult life was concerned. The whole idea of a relationship with a man, or even a woman, did nothing for her.
He nodded, "I get it. I just...I hope it's okay with you if I still want to remain friends." He suggested, finding he felt better with that option.
Her initial reaction was surprise, and then after further thought, she realised she was talking with Jared, he was easy-going like that, if it had been Mitch...if it had been Mitch, she would have given him a chance- bitter truth. But this wasn't Mitch as much as she secretly wished it was, this was Jared.
"I...sure." She replied softly, her voice a mixture of disbelief and relief.
He smiled at her, thinking of how he'd call he'd call Rebecca once he got home, she would love the news, "Thank you." He reached out for a hug and she obliged him. He inhaled her scent, thinking this the last time he would get this opportunity, even the feel of her body against his would be missed. He knew what he had had for her was an infatuation, she felt nothing a woman should feel for a man for him, it was Mitchell she wanted, she wouldn't admit it, but that was another fact he had discovered at the amusement park.
He had to go to his Rebecca, the woman he wanted who actually wanted him too.
*****
"Appetite. A-P-P-E-T-I-T-E Appetite." Jonas completed with a large smile just knowing he had gotten it right this time. He had been trying to correctly spell the word without missing or misplacing any word and his efforts were paying off.
Mitch had agreed to help him train for a Spelling Bee he planned to register for that was to hold sometime in early December. He had overheard his class teacher talking about it and thought he could surely qualify for the competition- never mind that it was organised solely for pupils from the 3rd to 9th grade. He knew he was smarter than some of the third graders, hence, as capable as they were to win a Spelling Bee.
"That is..." Mitch held off his verdict, letting Jonas feel just a little suspense before he finished, "..correct. Hi-five!" He said as he raised his palm in the air, Jonas smacked it. He had agreed to help him out with practices and though he knew Jonas wasn't eligible just fro the way he had evaded the question when he had asked of his eligibility, he wasn't about to rain on the kid's parade. Besides, this whole training thing not only helped them bond more, it also helped with Jonas' vocabulary, though he almost dreaded the next week when Jonas would realise he just couldn't manoeuvre his way through certain things.
Jonas jumped around in excitement, "What else, what else?" He asked suddenly feeling like he could actually win those snobby third graders and shut them up.
"That's all for today Jonas." Mitchell replied.
Jonas ceased his jumping, "What? No, no, we only just started" he protested, his voice filled with disappointment.
"Actually, we've been on this for an hour, besides, your mother will soon be here to pick you up." Mitch said with finality.
That information made Jonas sulk, "But I don't want to go, I want to spend the night here." He cried.
Mitch sighed, they had been going through this for some days now he liked the attachment, but it was sometimes hard to pry Jonas off when it was time to go, it was getting increasingly difficult and tiring.
