Chapter 28 Just us
Jess was really good when he was trying to distract her. They spoke for all kinds of subjects. That was the thing with him; Rory could always find something in common to talk. Jess and she had the same blood type when it came to the common subjects. They talked for everything except the main problem now. Jess knew that this was a mistake and he knew it from personal experience. However, he could not bear to see Rory suffer like that.
When they had to go out and pick up Jake from the kindergarten, Rory felt all her confidence went away. She looked at Jess with pleading eyes, but he did not give you place for retreat.
'You have to do this!' He insisted and she sighed, putting on her spring jacket.
It was cool outside and it was reining, but it was nice and warm in the car. Jess switched on the radio and smiled when he heard the song they played. Rory looked at him strangely and Jess smiled even widely.
'I give you ten seconds.' He said suddenly and she looked at him with confusion.
'Ten seconds for what?'
'What is this song?' Jess looked at his watch. 'Starts… now!'
'Jess!'
'Nine, eight, seven…' He looked at the road and his watch at the same time.
'This is ridicules!' Rory frowned.
'Six, five…'
'Jess!' However, she listened carefully. 'Okay – it's Clash song.'
'You are so weak!' He teased her. 'Which Clash song?'
'I don't…' Rory frowned even more.
'Four, three, two…' He rose up his eyebrows.
'Jess you really have to… uh-oh… Guns of Brixton!' Rory clapped with hands and Jess smiled at her enthusiasm. That was her first smile since they had left their home.
'Nice, my young paduan.' He glanced at her. 'Your education is complete.'
'You are such a bad boy sometimes.' Rory shook her head, but the smile remained on her lips. She leaned back on her seat and felt his hand squeezing her thigh lightly.
'No, I'm not.' Rory felt that he looked at her and met his gaze. 'Thanks to you.'
'Jess Mariano, noble family man?' She teased him with smile. 'I can't believe it!'
'Don't look at me like that, or we could get late for Jake's kindergarten.' He grunted out and turned his look back on the road. Rory laughed lightly.
'Behave!' She teased him and heard his quiet laugh.
'I can't promise anything!' Jess tilted his head and heard her laughing too; he threw her one brief look and smiled secretly. That was Rory, Jess wanted to see. That was his Rory and he had not seen her since long ago.
'Here we are.' Rory looked at Jake's kindergarten and saw her son standing by the front door with his teacher. She was holding his hand and talking to him something. Rory frowned. Jake looked pale.
'Wait here.' Jess turned off the engine and got out of the car. Rory saw him walking to his son. He took him in his arms and Jake wrapped arms around his neck. His teacher told Jess something and Jess nodded.
Rory frowned even more. Something had happened. She could see Jess talking something to Jake while they coming closer to the car. Jake nodded furiously and Jess kissed his temple.
'Hey mommy!' Jake sang in the moment, Jess put him on the backseat. Rory turned around and Jake gave her one kiss on her cheek.
'Hey honey.' Rory tried to smile. 'How was your day?'
'Fine.' Jake shrugged and sat back on his seat.
'Hey Jess!' Rory looked at him when he got back in the car.
'What?' Jess looked at her and started the engine.
'Jake is fine?' Rory rose up her eyebrows. 'Something to tell me over here?'
'He is okay. Right big guy?' Jess looked at his son in the mirror.
'Yes, daddy.' Jake nodded furiously again.
'Then what?' Rory narrowed her eyes.
'Our Jake had one small crisis today, but he is okay now.' Jess said carefully, looking the road before him.
'Crisis?' Rory's eyes widened and she turned around to look at her son. 'Are you okay now honey?'
'Yes mommy.' Jake smiled with Jess' smile. 'It was scary, but I'm okay.'
'Hey… What about some cake when we get back home?' Jess tried to change the subject.
'Yay!' Jake clapped with hands and Rory looked back at Jess. He just shook his head silently. Everything was under control now.
When they came back home and finished the cake, Jake went into his room for his afternoon nap. Jess and Rory stayed in the living room and Jess switched on the TV. However, Rory could not concentrate over the movie and Jess felt her nervousness. He looked at her and saw her pale face.
'He is okay, Rory.' Jess tried to calm her. 'You know that he will get better!'
'I know, but I am still concerned Jess!' Rory shrugged. 'I am his mother after all. If I'm not worried about his health, who would be?'
'Well…' Jess wrapped arm around her shoulder and Rory leaned her head on him. 'I think I will.'
'I know.' Rory sighed and snuggled in him. 'But I'm scared every time!'
'I know that feeling, Rory.' Jess kissed that temple. 'But we know that he will be okay. He is okay now and he is here with us. You don't have to worry anymore.'
'Yeah.' Rory closed her eyes, trying to stop bad thoughts coming in her mind. 'I guess you are right.'
'I am and you have to listen to me when I'm talking to you.' Jess teased her playfully.
'Yeah, right.' She patted his thigh and Jess sighed. 'You are my teacher.'
'You want a lesson now?' His voice went thick and Rory looked up at him.
'Jake is here.' She hesitated, but looked at his face.
'Jake is upstairs and he is sleeping.' Jess pushed her onto the sofa and hovered over her.
'This is so wrong.' She murmured, but wrapped arms around his neck and pulled his face closer to hers.
'I know.' His lips almost touched hers. 'But that's me.'
'Us…' Rory whispered before his kiss. 'Just... us.'
