"It's ready." Susan walked into James' room to find Mark sitting cross-legged, holding a very animated James in his lap. "Hey." She smiled, crouching down. She took James so Mark could stand.
"He likes you." She hoped she didn't sound patronizing, "I mean, he won't go to just anyone without a fuss. He's a good judge of character."
Mark appreciated her words with a simple smile. He didn't trust himself to speak. This was all too much to take in. His mind was blank – except for amazement at what stood right before him: Susan. Holding their son. She was... he couldn't describe her.
"What?" she questioned his stare, not allowing herself the luxury of analyzing it.
"Nothing." He shook his head, "So, what are we having?"
"It's not flash." She turned and he followed her to the kitchen, "Mashed potatoes, sausages and broccoli." She said, a little ashamed.
"Sounds great." He recognized her embarrassment but frankly she could have served up boiled cabbage and Tabasco sauce and he wouldn't have minded.
She laid James in a cushioned rocker. He waved his pudgy arms at the coloured shapes hung above his chest. Mark sat down still watching, still awestruck.
"It can't be that bad." She noticed he hadn't touched his plate.
"Oh," he laughed, "Sorry, I'm a little distracted."
"It's okay. It's a lot to take in."
He nodded and ate. He'd not realized how hungry he was.
She smiled at his enthusiasm for the humble meal and poured him a glass of juice, "Sorry, it's all I've got. I can't have alcohol while I'm breastfeeding."
"It's fine. This is great. Really," he felt like she needed convincing, "I'd rather be here than anywhere." Okay, he hadn't meant it to sound like that.
"Thank you." She looked at James, trying to ignore the possible implications of his words, passing it off as nervousness.
"Thank you – for dinner, and for letting me see him and..."
"I'm glad you came."
"So am I. But I should probably head off and let you get on with things." He stood awkwardly, putting his plate in the sink.
"Okay." She led him to the door, leaving James happily rocking in the kitchen. "So, when do you head home?"
"I've got a few days off so I'll just see what happens."
"Would you like to come over tomorrow?"
He nodded.
"Well, Chloe usually drops Suzie off before work, so just come whenever and we could take them down to the park?"
He swallowed, "sounds great." He smiled.
"It's good to see you again." She said boldly.
"It's good to see you too." He met her eyes, "Goodnight."
"See you tomorrow." She disappeared inside.
Mark walked down the stairs bewildered. He'd never be the same. James was amazing, so beautiful and helpless. And Susan... no. Now was not the time for their relationship to get complicated.
Who was he kidding? They were way past complicated.