CHASING TROUBLE

They made quite a team, Caroline thought as she approached the table Nicholas was already seated at. Nicholas visited as often as possible and Caroline couldn’t help but notice that he was growing on Charlie and although she hated to admit it but he was growing on her as well.

It scared her too, knowing that once again, it was all happening so fast and the last time she let herself open up to him, he’d walked away from her. She could take it, but she didn’t want it happening to Charlie, who was clearly getting so used to seeing Nicholas around now. If he left and broke Charlie’s heart, she’d never forgive him for it. She wanted to protect her son, but she couldn’t stop Nicholas from spending time with him.

They got along quite well and Caroline wondered what it was Nicholas wanted them to discuss now. She knew it was a bit serious because he’d sounded serious on the phone.

Nicholas actually smiled when she got to the table, and he stood up to help her with the baby carrier, careful not to wake Charlie who was sleeping peacefully.

“I’m glad you could come,” he said when they were finally seated,

“It took some time to get him ready,” Caroline replied, referring to Charlie, “But we’re here now…. and I’m starving. Do you mind if we order something to eat first before we talk?”

Nicholas shrugged, “Of course not,” he said, and motioned for a waitress to come to their table.

The waitress arrived almost immediately with the menu and they both ordered the same thing. Some rice, veggies, stew, fruit juice and some water. Nicholas insisted on them eating before they could discuss and Caroline didn’t mind at all. The idea sounded very good to her as she was very hungry.

Halfway through the meal, Nicholas cleared his throat, “I think we make good co-parents, don’t you think so, Care?” he asked.

Caroline nodded. Yes, she thought so, but she couldn’t help but wonder where this conversation was going.

“You look a bit exhausted,” Nicholas said, watching her closely.

Caroline sipped her water before she replied, “That’s because I am,” she told him, “With Elsa back to school, I have to handle Charlie alone when I get back from work and I tell you, it’s not easy,”

Nicholas’ face lit up, like that was the reply he’d been expecting. He leaned forward, “What if there was a way I could help with that?”

Caroline raised an eyebrow, “I don’t understand. What are you trying to tell me?”

The expression on his face got even more serious. “What I’m trying to say, Care,” he began cautiously, “Is that you need a break… You know.. You need some time to rest… I mean, like you just said, you’re exhausted so I was thinking… How about you let me have Charlie for a week or two. Give you an opportunity to get that rest you need, and I on the other hand, get to spend more time with my son,”

The look on Caroline’s face told Nicholas that she didn’t like the idea at all. She didn’t even need to speak before he knew that her answer was going to be no.

“I don’t need time away from my son, Nicholas,” she told him, “And you do get to spend time with him. You visit him often,”Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Nicholas shifted in his seat, “Yes, I know that, and that’s why I said, I need ‘More time’ with him. Let’s face it, those visits are not going to be enough. As he grows, he’s going to need me to be around more. He’s going to need to bond with his father, and I’m pretty sure visits aren’t going to be enough by then. I’ve missed so much already, Care. Is it so bad if I want to spend more time with him?”

Caroline knew that he was right. Her eyes darted to Charlie, who was still sleeping and the thought of having him away from her for that long didn’t sound right to her at all. “I… I’m sorry, Nick, but a week or two is too much for me to be away from him. Besides, I’m still breastfeeding him. I know he eats other foods now but he still needs me. Even if you take him, where is he going to stay? With you at your dad’s place? I know Frank would love to have his grandson around but I don’t think he’d would the noise either. Charlie is still very little, and one thing about babies… They cry sometimes… Very loudly too. They demand a lot of attention and they poop a lot too,”

“Are you trying to discourage or scare me with these details?”

Caroline shook her head, “No, but you should be concerned. Have you ever taken care of a child before?”

He hadn’t, but that wasn’t the point, “No,” Nicholas replied, “But I can learn. Practice makes perfect as they say. And as for where he’s going to stay, he will be with me…. In my house… Not my dads,” He read Caroline’s confused expression and shrugged, “I…got a house last week,” he explained, “Didn’t want to say anything until everything was ready,”

Caroline didn’t say anything for a while because she was thinking hard. If Nicholas had a house in town now, it was because he planned to stay, so she didn’t have to worry about him leaving and hurting Charlie anymore.” You are staying,” she said finally, “I mean… I thought you’d leave again sometime,”

“And leave my son behind?” he asked, “What kind of man do you think I am, Care? If I told you to leave your life here and your job so you and Charlie could come with me, would you have said yes?”

She wouldn’t have agreed to that, so she shook her head, “I guess not,”

“Yeah, I thought as much. Besides, I was going to come back sometime anyway because of the company, so why not now,”

So Nicholas was staying, Caroline thought, which was good for his relationship with Charlie, but what did it mean for the both of them? It was a silly question because she already knew the answer to it, but it kept popping into her head.

Her heart juddered and her composure cracked. Her hand spasmed against her glass, sending the liquid flying. Cheeks flaming instantly, she was saved from the weight of Nicholas’ suddenly piercing stare by a passing waiter hurrying to clean it up and refill her glass.