NYLON ~ 51 ~ IN PRIVATE

Hanna finished placing the candle on the cupcake and put it down in front of JT. The toddler giggled and made his best attempt to clap his hands as everyone around them cheered.

"Okay JT," Hanna said after she'd lit the candle. "Can you blow this out."

She mimicked a blowing gesture and JT tried his best to follow her, mostly by spitting all over the cake.

"You did it!" she cheered. Everyone clapped and JT lit up. Ashley came in from the kitchen with a much larger cake already cut into pieces. Hanna turned to the crowd. "It's okay. I got more for all of you and I promise it's spit free."

She helped JT finish his cupcake as Caleb sat down next to JT and kissed his forehead.

"Happy birthday little dude," Caleb said.

"Come on," Hanna picked him up when he had stuffed his face full of frosting. "Let's get you cleaned up."

She took JT into the bathroom where she wiped off the stray crumbs and frosting with a wet towel. Then she changed his clothes and quickly returned to the party where her guests were waiting.

"My dad is here," Caleb told Hanna. "He wants to see JT."

"Okay," Hanna said. She handed her son to Caleb and then returned to the party keeping an eye on Jamie and Caleb standing in the living room. While she was watching them, Toby tapped her on the shoulder.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked. "In private."

"Uh yeah," Hanna said leading him into the study. She closed the door behind them. "What's going on?"

"I need to know what's going on with Spencer," he told Hanna.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"We are in serious trouble," Toby explained. "We don't talk anymore and I can't trust her after what happened with Wren."

"Toby, this isn't really my place," Hanna told him.

"I know," he sighed, "and I hate asking you to be in the middle, but I need to know if there's a chance I can repair my marriage."

"All I can say," Hanna told him, "is that she's willing to put in the effort if you are."

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"It means," she explained, "in order to fix your problems, you need to talk. One of you needs to be the bigger person and initiate the conversation. It might seem hard, but it's easier than being miserable for the rest of your lives."

"Okay," he sighed. "I think I understand."

"You good?" she asked opening the door.

"Yeah," he gave her a hug. "Thanks."

The two stepped back toward the rest of the party and Hanna caught sight of Andrew still holding a wrapped box, a sign he had just arrived.

"Hey!" Hanna said running toward him. "You made it!"

"Hi," Andrew made an attempt to kiss her but Hanna pushed him away.

"Not here," she said. "I don't want JT getting the wrong idea."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"I used to kiss his dad," Hanna explained. "I don't want him thinking you're his new dad. It's not fair to Caleb."

"Sure," Andrew said clearly annoyed.

"Do you want cake or something?" she asked ignoring his attitude.

"How about a beer?" he asked.

"Ale or lager?" she asked.

"Ale," he replied. She smiled and grabbed a dark beer from the fridge that she popped open and handed to him.

"Hanna!" she turned around to see Jamie holding his grandson.

"Jamie, hi," she smiled hugging him. "How's the new job?"

"He's quickly becoming one of our best guys," Caleb interrupted handing his father a beer and cracking one open for himself.

"I'll be taking this little guy," Hanna said picking up JT who was already trying to grab hold of Jamie's beer. Then she turned to Andrew. "You remember Caleb from high school. Caleb, Andrew; Andrew, Caleb."

"Good to see you," Caleb shook Andrew's hand.

"You too," Andrew said tentatively before JT started crying and squirming in his mother's arms.

"Oh no," Hanna bounced him. "Are you tired? Ready for bed?"

"I'll take him," Caleb offered.

"Thanks," Hanna handed JT over so Caleb could take him into the nursery.

"So," Spencer made her way over, "Andrew, nice to see you again."

I bet you're wondering why this chapter is up today when it's not actually Friday. Due to some unforeseen family issues, I will be leaving town for a while and I'm not sure when I'll have a chance to finish writing this story. I apologize for the shortness of the chapter but it was just out of my control. I'll have the next chapter up as soon as possible but I'm not yet sure when that will be. I am so so so sorry because I love writing this story and I appreciate every one of my readers. Consider this a hiatus, but hopefully I'll be back on track with new MWF chapters before you know it!