Killian

I rushed out the door and marched my way to the exit. Henry saw me and ran to me. He took my arm to stop me.

"Hey where you going?"

"Oh hey, mate. I almost forgot about you. Hey can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Henry...Henry, I have this crazy idea that has to do something with your mother, but no matter how insane it might be, will you help me?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

I placed my hands on his shoulders. "I'll tell you my plan in three words. Kidnapping your mother."

"Kidnap? Well, keep going I'm getting interested."

"You and I know that you're mother could get sick again once she returns back to her regular lifestyle. Remember what I told you back in the hospital?"

"Yeah. You asked me how much I liked your place."

"And you said yes. After you said that I thought very hard about the idea of maybe you and your mother moving into my place. When that's settled I'll help your mom with some financial situations, like getting a more suitable job other than working full time in a diner and a motel. What do you say?"

"I'm in. But once she grounds me for getting involved in this, you owe me a car when I turn sixteen."

I smiled. "Deal."

"Deal, my man. So what do I do from the time being?"

"I'm going to send a little package for you soon. You'll know what to do once you open the box, I'll leave a little note too. But right now, I really gotta go, mate. I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay. Bye."

He closed his hand and gave me a light fist punch.

"Goodbye, Henry. Remember, keep this matter between us till your mother gets out of the hospital."

"You got it."

~ I drove so fast to Jefferson's place I'm shocked I didn't get a ticket. I quickly pulled over and ran up into the building. I didn't even bother to get on the elevator and just took the stairs. I almost broke down the door when I arrived at his door.

Jefferson opened the door after my tenth knock. "Hello, Killian. You better have a good excuse for knocking so loud, Grace almost called 911."

I came inside. "Grace is here?"

"Yes. Now why are you here? I have to take Grace to art class."

"I have to talk to you. Where's Grace? Grace! Grace!" I walked around every room till Grace ran to me and wrapped her arms around me.

I picked her up in my arms and spun her around. "Hey kiddo. How are you?"

"It's good to see you again, Uncle Jones."

"Killian, darling. It's Killian. Can you do me a favor, sweetheart?"

"Sure."

"Will you wait in the car for your daddy? I have to talk to him in private."

"Okay."

Jefferson came to us and shook his head. "Hey! Hey! Killian, hang on a minute, whatever there might be that you have to discuss, it has to be postponed for another day. Grace is late."

"That's okay daddy, I never liked that mean teacher anyway. I'll just wait in the car." She gave me a kiss on my cheek. "Goodbye, Uncle Jones. I hope I see you again."

As I lowered Grace down she secured the straps of her backpack and tried to take the keys from Jefferson's hands. But he refused. "Wait a minute. I'm serious, Killian. We have to go now. I could always talk to you later. Goodbye." He took her hand and turned away to the door.

I took a seat on an armchair beside the couch. "Fine. But it's about this very stubborn yet beautiful Blondie who we both know."

Jefferson stopped. He handed Grace the keys. "Grace, why won't you go wait in the car?"

"Who's Blondie, daddy?"

He pushed her to the door. "No one you need to know, darling. Just wait in the car." He opened the door and lightly pushed her out.

As he closed the door, he walked back to the living room. He took a seat on the couch. "What is this about?"

I folded my hands together and rested my elbows on my knees. "I have to tell you something that's going to really shock you. But promise me you'll understand."

"What is this about?"

"Just promise me."

"...I promise."

"Jefferson, there's something about – I mean there are a lot of things you don't know about Emma. Yesterday I discovered something really unexpected and astonishing that I myself could not believe. Jefferson, right now Emma is in the hospital."

"What?! Is she alright?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

"Calm down. She'll be alright, she just needs plenty of rest. But what I'm going to tell you next is going to really shock you."

I told him about Emma's secret; her condition, her full-time jobs, and her past with her high school sweetheart. I don't know how Jefferson held it together, but I can see disappointment and worry in his eyes.

"So Emma has been keeping all that from us all this time?"

I nodded. "Yeah. How are you taking it?"

"Okay I guess. A little disappointed, but also relieved to know this right now."

"But there's something else, I went to the hospital with Henry to see her. But when I talked to her alone things got out of hand. I almost actually believed her when she told me the truth about how she felt about me."

"What did she say?"

"She said that she's been going after the two of us just for the money, for Henry's sake. But when I asked her if she loved me, she said that she liked me and that she could deal living with me. I was so close to believing her, but then again, I realized she's a horrible liar."

"What?"

"Jefferson, what she said was a lie, she's hiding something so I won't get hurt...I'm sorry, for discussing to you. I know you love her too. But Jefferson, you have to understand, never in my life have I met anyone like Emma. She's stubborn, head strong, beautiful and so caring. All the women I ever been with was only for my own benefit and entertainment. After I met Emma, it was different. I can't explain it, but she is certainly unlike any women I ever met, and if I let her go, I don't think I could ever be with a woman the same way I was with her."

"Killian. My friend, look I care about Emma dearly. And I can't obviously say I can let her go easily. But now I think of it, there will be a lot of things that'll trouble her if she ends up with me. After what you told me about Henry, I can imagine how hard it'll be for him to accept Grace. Emma already has so much in her hands, I don't want to hurt her even more to deal with making a new family...My point out of what I just said is that if you and Emma somehow hit it off, I'll get out of your way."

"Wait. Jefferson I don't want you to say that. That won't be fair for you."

"Killian. There has to be one man, not two. Besides, as much as I like Emma, I don't think I can accept everything in her life. I just enjoyed being with her, just her, not her life."

"Jefferson please I – "

He stood up from the couch. "Speak no more Killian. I wish you the best with Emma. Right now I really must go. Grace is fifteen minutes late."

He went to the door and I followed him from behind.

"Thank you, Jefferson."

"That's what friends are for. Goodbye."

"Bye."