Chapter 75:

In the morning, Sharon was standing next to her closet, buttoning a black blouse. Flynn's question from the night before swirled in her mind nonstop ever since he verbalized it. Every silent moment resulted in this question resounding in her mind, and try as she might, she couldn't forget about it nor answer it. She didn't want to answer it.

It wasn't the question itself that worried her, but the meaning behind the words. Flynn asking about staying friends if they ever break up, meant that he was thinking about it seriously, as something that might happen. And she knew exactly why. This new, huge problem with their children burdened her just as much as it burdened him.

Sharon was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't hear Flynn coming out of the bathroom and approaching her. He placed his hands on her shoulders just when she finished with the last button.

"Hey," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Sharon put her hands on the back of his hands and leaned back against him. She shut her eyes for a moment and then opened them again when he placed a kiss beneath her ear.

"What are we doing?" she asked suddenly.

"We're… cuddling," he smiled, knowing that it wasn't what she was asking.

Sharon separated his hands so she can move and turned around to face him. "I mean, what are we doing, thinking about breaking up?"

"Well… I don't know how this problem will be resolved, but I know my son. If necessary, he'll take legal actions to have his rights as this baby's father," he said and Sharon crossed her arms on her chest as she listened. "I don't know if we can be on two different sides in this kind of trial and stay together," he finished, and she could see sadness in his eyes now.

She shook her head and then looked down, waiting for the lump in her throat to disappear before she spoke. "Remember when you said you will never let me go again?" her voice was calm once she could control it, but it didn't reflect the ocean inside of her that was about to flood her.

"Sharon, don't get me wrong. I'm not gonna just give you up easily at the slightest problem, but I really don't know how this is going to end with Eric and Cat."

She nodded this time, taking a moment to think of her reaction to his words. "I think I need to be alone," she said eventually, her voice cold and distant, and the wall that was between them yesterday was rebuilt now.

"Sharon…" he took a step towards her but she moved back, just as the doorbell rang.

"I have to get that," she said and walked passed him quickly on the way to the bedroom door.

"Let Rusty get it, don't go," he said, but she already opened the door and then disappeared from sight. Flynn sighed and followed her.

"What are you doing here?" he heard Cat's voice before he emerged from the corridor and saw the front door. Eric was standing on the threshold, looking tired and unshaved. Sharon and Cat stood in front of him, blocking the entrance. Flynn tried to examine Sharon's face. He didn't see hate or despise as he expected. She only looked at him with interest and didn't say a word.

"Can we talk?" Eric asked with despair in his voice.

"No," Cat answered, determined.

"Please, I need to explain some things… and you too," he pointed at her stomach briefly.

"I said, no," Cat insisted.

Flynn walked towards them and Sharon looked at him for a moment.

"Honey, it won't hurt you to listen to him," she said gently to her daughter.

"Mom, he's already hurt me!" she also sounded frustrated.

"And I am so sorry for that. Just tell me how can I make it up to you and I will," Eric said, almost begging.

Cat shook her head without saying a word, and Sharon put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Just listen to him for five minutes. Do it for me," she said very quietly, so the other two couldn't hear. Cat's eyes moved for a second to Flynn and then back to Sharon.

"Fine. Five minutes," she said and walked away with Eric, towards her apartment. Sharon followed them with her eyes for a moment, and then closed the door. She turned around, leaning against it, and saw Flynn watching her.

"Thanks," he said, moving towards her.

"You need to go," she said monotonically without meeting his eyes, her arms crossed on her chest again.