Chapter 39
The next morning, Andy woke up first, and gently kissed his son, then began looking at Sharon. He loved the moments when she sleeps. Even now, she was beautiful and he had to admit that life without her is difficult. Perhaps only now he realized how hard was to live without Sharon. For him she was like the sun which warms him every morning. He hated the fact that he was away from her and his son. Sharon slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. Her eyes seemed to have fear, but Nicholas was between them. She sighed with relief. Still, she couldn't forget the pain of his betrayal.
"Good morning." Andy said coldly. Sharon took a deep breath and got out of bed, then went to the kitchen. Andy knew that he was guilty of everything, but she also had mistakes. She'd also made that mistake years ago with Jack. He hugged his son tightly, while Sharon was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. At that moment, Rusty joined her sleepy. He kissed his mother on the cheek and sat down. Sharon put his breakfast before him.
"Mom, are you okay? You seem distracted." he noted. Sharon nodded slightly.
"I'm well and everything is fine. Just last night Nicholas begged his father to stay here. Look, you start with your breakfast while I help Nicholas." she said firmly and walked toward the bedroom. Rusty sighed and shrugged. Entering the bedroom, Sharon saw how Andy was helping their son to get ready for school. Yes, he was a good father but still, her anger at him was the same. Nicholas saw his mother and ran to her to hug her. Sharon kissed her son gently on the cheek and smiled.
"Mom, you know, this morning dad again will come with me to school." the little boy said with a smile. Sharon looked at Andy coldly and stood before him.
"Andy, you don't need to do that. With you, we have an agreement. You lead Nicholas to school on Monday and Wednesday. In other days, that's my concern." she said firmly. Andy took a breath wearily and shook his head.
"Sharon, I want to spend some time with my son. Besides, he really wants that." he said sternly. Sharon looked at her little son, who looked at her pleadingly. Finally, she agreed. She had no choice. Nicholas immediately went to his room to take his bag. Andy stood before Sharon as a statue.
"Sharon, thank you that you let me stay here last night. Nicholas was really pleased." he said gratefully. Sharon nodded, looking at the floor. She was afraid to look in his eyes.
"No need to thank me. Yo're his father and my duty is he to be happy. I wouldn't want my son to worry for his father. I don't want him to feel his father's absence, as his sister Emily and his brother Ricky . " she said firmly. Andy bit his lip and put his hands in his pockets. Sharon was right. He had to be near his son, whatever happens. Sharon stood before the mirror, looking at her reflection. Suddenly, Andy wrapped his arms around her waist and snuggled in her silky hair. Sharon closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat. Feeling his body so close, she felt strange.
"Go away. Please." Sharon said in a trembling voice, almost professional. But Andy pressed her to his body, and he wasn't going to leave just like that. Whole five years, he tried to be close to her and he wanted to win her back. But Sharon didn't want that. Not after everything that had happened. She stepped away from his hug and gave him a slap. This wasn't the first time that she gives him a slap. Andy touched his cheek, watching her coldly.
"Maybe it's time to understand that I'm not your toy Andrew!" Sharon said angrily. Andy approached her and grabbed her hand.
"No, Sharon, you're not my toy. You are my everything, absolutely everything. I can't live without you and I don't want to be away from Nicholas. I know I made a terrible mistake but you also made that mistake before years with Jack. Please, let's stop blaming each other. We love each other and I can see it in your eyes. " he said firmly. Sharon gritted her teeth in anger.
"Stop talking nonsense. Andy, you destroy our future. In our hands is a past that no longer mean anything. The only thing I want is you to be close to Nicholas. Your son needs you. Make at least this for me." she said sternly and walked toward the kitchen. Andy took a deep breath and shook his head. He joined Rusty and sat opposite him while Sharon was with Nicholas in his room.
"Hey, Andy, Mom said that Nicholas had asked you to stay here last night." he noted. Andy sighed and nodded slightly.
"Yes, I couldn't leave my son just like that. I'm his father and I'll be close to him, whatever happens under all circumstances." Andy said firmly. Rusty nodded and looked at his watch.
"Nicholas will be late for school. This kid loves mom to be angry." Rusty said, grinning. Andy laughed slightly. After a few minutes, Andy took his son to school while Sharon went to the department. She was about to take an important decision for her career, but she still wasn't sure. Fortunately, Andrea was always there to give her advice.
"So, last night Andy stayed with you and Nicholas? And nothing happened?" Andrea asked doubtful. Sharon sighed wearily and pulled her glasses.
"My God, Andrea, what can happen?" Sharon asked unhappily.
"I don't know, maybe that way you and Andy can find the right path and stop this stubborness. Sharon, your son needs you, but you don't want to make things out. But what is the reason? What happened between you 5 years ago? " she asked heatedly. Sharon closed her eyes for a moment. No, she couldn't reveal such a secret.
"Andrea, I beg you, don't ask me. I can't answer you. But I want you to give me good advice. Look, I'm about to take an important decision for my career and I need your opinion. I know that you won't like what I say, but I think about it a few months. Andrea, I want to retire. " Sharon said firmly. Andrea's eyes widened and she fell into shock. She couldn't believe that Sharon speaks such things.
"Retirement? Sharon, you can't retire right now!" Andrea protested. Sharon took a deep breath and shrugged.
"Andrea, believe me, I want to be more time with my son. Emily and Ricky will arrive in LA a few weeks and I want to solve it as they come. Don't get me wrong. I don't run from Andy, but I need rest. I want to retire. And please, as my friend, as always, support me. " she said plaintively. Andrea nodded and squeezed her hand. She would be with Sharon, whatever happens. Andy returned to the department without paying attention to anyone and sat on his desk with a sad look. Provenza and Tao came out of the interview room laughing, but seeing Andy, they stopped. Tao decided to talk to Sanchez, while Provenza approached Andy, watching him carefully. Andy sensed that his friend was close and looked at him coldly.
"Well, what's the problem this time? I'm tired of asking the same question." Provenza said sarcastically. Andy rolled his eyes, dissatisfied.
"Then stop asking. Leave me alone. I don't want to talk right now." Andy said angrily. Provenza shrugged and went back to the rest of the team. Andrea went out of Sharon's office and seeing Andy sad, she approached him. Whatever happens, she didn't want Sharon to retire and she decided to talk to Andy, knowing that the only person that can dissuade her is he. After Andy had learned Sharon's thoughts, he went into her office without warning. Sharon looked at him confused and closed the blinds, then stood over him, watching him carefully.
"Why you come to my office this way?" she asked angrily. Andy took a deep breath.
"Because it's time for you to realize your mistakes. Because you make mistake after mistake. I know you want to retire. But why? Sharon, why? Because of me?" he asked sternly. Sharon pursed her lips and shook her head.
"Of course not because of you. I just want to be more time with my son. So I think it's time to retire. Thus, I'll be closer to Nicholas. I want to devote my time to my son . " she said firmly. Andy shook his head.
"Sharon, you're his mother. You're always with Nicholas. Come on, admit it, the reason I am. Because you can't stand the fact that I work with you. I know this is extremely difficult. Look, if you want, I will retire. You don't need to leave. " he suggested. Sharon sighed wearily, her eyes filled with tears. God, she still loved this man very much. She squeezed his shoulder, looking into his brown eyes.
"Andy, you don't understand me. I can't work anymore. I feel tired and I need to be with Nicholas. You're almost never with us." Sharon said sadly, and tears streamed down her cheeks, silently. Andy shushed softly and wiped her tears, then hugged her tightly. Sharon huddled in him and wept on his shoulder. She didn't know what was happening to her. Yes, for 5 years, Sharon tried to forget about Allison, but she couldn't, especially since she knew the truth that Andy has spent a night with her while she was babysitter for Nicholas. Andy, however, was determined to fix his mistakes and get Sharon to forgive him. He wanted to be with her and their son.
"Well, promise me, you won't cry. I don't want to look at you like this." he said sadly and touched her face, looking into her green eyes. Sharon nodded and grabbed her coat and her purse.
"Can you come with me? Let's take Nicholas from school together. I am confident that he'll be very happy." she suggested with a smile. Andy smiled contentedly and agreed. Eventually, Nicholas was happy with the fact that his mother and father come together to take him. It was the first time and the little boy couldn't describe his joy. When they got home, Sharon asked Andy to stay with them for dinner, knowing the consequences. While Andy and Rusty were preparing dinner together as years ago, Sharon and Nicholas were in the living room. Nicholas couldn't be more pleased. His father was with him and that made him happy. After Nicholas was asleep, Sharon and Andy went into the bedroom to talk. They didn't know what to say and where to begin.
"Is there any news of your lost son?" Sharon asked to start the conversation somewhere. Andy sighed wearily and shook his head.
"Not yet. You know, for years I haven't stopped looking for my son, but I've already started to lose hope. I feel that I'll never be able to find my son. Jennifer again managed to ruin my life. This is everything. I'm glad that you gave me a second chance. Nicholas is my son and I'm grateful that you fulfilled my dream. But unfortunately, we had to go through many difficulties. I feel weird. " he admitted sadly and sat on the bed. Sharon knelt before him and took his hand.
"Andy, look at me. I still can't forget the pain. Yes, I admit, I spent a night with Jack years ago and caused you to doubt that Nicholas is not your son, but you ... You broke my heart, revealing the fact that you slept with Allison. I couldn't believe that I have to experience something like that. For me it was like a nightmare. Whole five years, I tried to forget and forgive. But I couldn't. I couldn't even for Nicholas. " Sharon said softly and swallowed the lump in her throat. Andy took a deep breath and kissed her gently.
"Sharon, believe me, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I can't live without you." he said pleadingly. Sharon looked at him coldly and at that moment, Andy's phone rang. It was Provenza.
"Hello." Andy said indifferently.
"Flynn, I have good news. I think we were able to find your son. Come here quickly. I think there's anyone who needs to meet his father." Provenza said hastily. Andy almost fainted from shock, while Sharon watched him more confused than ever.
"Andy, what's happening?" she asked anxiously.
"Sharon, I think I found my son." he said softly and hugged her without saying anything else, leaving Sharon in even bigger surprise and confusion again...
~~~ TBC ~~~