Miles
"God, Jude… there's only so many ways you can fuck up vegetables." Thea rolled her eyes, "You don't have to cry about it."
"It's not about the food we have to bring to mom and dad's." Jude shook her head with frustration, walking into the house as Thea closed the door over.
"Then what?" Thea shook her head, "What's wrong?"
"I don't even know what to say." Jude shook her head worriedly, pacing on the spot as Thea watched with concern, realising that this really was perhaps more serious than she thought. Of course it wasn't about the vegetables which Jude was in charge of bringing to Christmas dinner at their parents.
"Ok, is it something we can fix? Something that can be resolved?" Thea nodded positively as Jude looked at her.
"Wow, you've really grew up." Jude realised as Thea rolled her eyes.
"Jude." Thea said seriously.
"I don't know." Jude shook her head, "I don't know, it's… it's never happened before. I don't… Thea, I'm so confused." She said as Thea looked across at her.
"Ok, go to the kitchen." Thea nodded as Jude headed through to the kitchen.
She knew Jude struggled around Christmas time as it reminded her of her assault and all the awfulness of that time. But something told her this wasn't about her assault. She knew her sister had been acting a little strange over the past few months. She thought it was just down to stress from all the work she was doing for the book she was illustrating and designing.
Thea stuck her head into the living room, smiling as she saw Sofia and Sam playing with some of their new toys and gifts which Santa had left them.
She made her way down to the kitchen where Jude was sitting, receiving a cup of coffee from Dominic.
"You like Thea's desert she made?" Dominic asked Jude, pointing to the pavlova as Jude looked across.
"It looks how I feel." Jude nodded, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Ignore the desert." Thea rolled her eyes, "What's wrong? Tell me and we'll figure it all out." She nodded whilst Dominic looked on nervously.
"I can go if you-" Dominic began.
"I think I'm in love with someone else." Jude looked up at Thea.
"Something smells good in here." Theo smiled, walking into the kitchen where Cassie was standing working on her side dishes which she was bringing to her parent's for Christmas dinner.
"We got the pigs in their blankets. Chestnut, bacon and cranberry stuffing." Cassie pointed out, "And my world-famous beef-dripping gravy." She smiled.
"All sounds ridiculously good." Theo nodded.
"Did you get the train set all fixed up for him?" Cassie turned to him.
"Yeah, he's in there right now with it." Theo nodded, "Lena is sleeping in her chair."
Similar to Thea, they'd had a morning of opening presents, having breakfast together and spending their first Christmas as a family four in all their glory. Chase was consumed by his gifts from Santa in the living room whilst Lena slept on her swing chair, seven months old and thriving.
"I love this." Cassie turned to him, holding the necklace between her thumb and finger.
"I thought you might." Theo smiled. He'd gotten her a necklace with their children's birth stones engraved, which she'd put around her neck the second she opened it.
"I won't take it off." She said as he smiled, leaning down and kissing her softly, bringing her body close to his as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You looking forward to the chaos later?" Theo asked.
"Always." Cassie smiled, "How did the phone call with your dad go?" She asked him.
"It went well." Theo nodded whilst Cassie returned to her pot of gravy, giving it a stir and turning the heat down, "He said he hoped we all had a great Christmas and then he'd sent some gifts over, but they might not arrive for another couple of days."
"That was sweet." Cassie smiled.
"Yeah, it was a good conversation." Theo said, "I said I'd try and fly out to visit him after the new year."
As Theo's father's illness had progressed, he had been flying back and forth to Mexicali to see him as much as possible. Cassie joined him whenever she could, and over the past few months they'd made some well needed amends. They had even managed to fly Raul and Kelise out for Lena's christening a couple of months ago. Raul's doctor advised him against it, but he was determined to go.
"How is his speech?" Cassie asked him.
"A little rough." Theo nodded, "Lot of slurring but I spoke to Kelise after and she said that it's to be expected." He nodded.
"Still doesn't make it any easier." Cassie said.
"Yeah, I know." Theo said.
"Can I go ride my new bike?" Chase walked into the kitchen as they both turned to him, "Outside."
"In your pyjamas?" Cassie asked him.
"Please, mama." Chase pleaded, taking a hold of Cassie's leg and hugging it innocently as Theo chuckled.
"Go put your helmet on." Theo told him as Chase grinned, looking up at Cassie.
"Go on then." Cassie smiled, brushing her hand through his hair before he ran off to get his helmet.
"I hate Christmas music." Punk shook his head, setting the large table in the kitchen which they had to extend every year for their huge family Christmas dinner.
"Scrooge." AJ told him, folding up the napkins to set at each chair.
"No. I enjoy Christmas. I enjoy the festivities." Punk assured her, "But the music? Awful."
"Well, your idea of good music is people screaming and smashing guitars." AJ nodded, "I'm not surprised you don't like some cheery jingle bells."
"The worst one is that stupid Mariah Carey one." Punk scoffed as AJ chuckled.
"You should take it up with Mariah then." AJ nodded.
"You know, I might." Punk nodded, "I'll send an email."
"I hope everyone remembers to bring their dishes." AJ said, "Or I'll have to bust out some tater tots from the freezer."
"I wouldn't be mad about that, honestly." He said as she smiled.
"I hope Jude is doing ok. Today can be rough for her." AJ said, "And she's seemed a little off these past few months. Don't you think?"
"I think it's just this new job she's got. Meeting deadlines. Working in publishing. It all sounds very stressful." Punk said, "I'm sure if anyone can relate, it's you."
"Yeah, it can get stressful." AJ nodded, "She always reverts her stress into herself, though. Which is why I will always worry about her."
"She's fine, April. She's thriving. They all are." Punk assured her as AJ nodded.
"Yeah, of course they are." AJ smiled, "I'm so excited to see them." She said happily as he smiled, watching her busy herself with lighting some candles on the table. It was always a great day to be able to spend it together as one big family.
"What are you talking about?" Thea shook her head.
"I'll… go check on the girls." Dominic nodded awkwardly, leaving the kitchen immediately whilst Jude fidgeted with her hands.
"Jude." Thea said, "C'mon, talk to me here. Don't drop a bomb like that and leave me hanging." She said, "You're in love with someone else?"
"I… I think so." Jude said, "I don't know. Yes… I think." She trembled a little.
"Who?" Thea shook her head, sitting down at the table across from her.
"From work. At the publishing house." Jude said.
"And you've…" Thea paused, "You've slept with this person?"
"No." Jude shook her head, "No, I… I wouldn't do that to Sean."
"So he knows nothing?" Thea asked.
"No." Jude said, "I think he suspects something might be off with me but… I don't think he suspects it could be something like this."
"Well, who is the guy?" Thea shook her head, "It's not just a crush or something is it?" She wondered. She knew her little sister could be a little dramatic at times.
"No, it's not just a crush. I'm not a child." Jude shook her head, "His name is Miles. He's an editor on the floor above my office."
"And you've known him for what? Three months?" Thea asked suspiciously, "Maybe you're just attracted to him and… panicking a little." Thea nodded, reaching to take her sister's hand which she pulled away and stood up with frustration.
"I am not panicking." Jude insisted, "I've gotten to know him. He's gotten to know me. We've… we've spent a lot of time together and… I can talk to him. About anything." She nodded.
"Doesn't mean in your love." Thea said, "You and Sean have been good-"
"It doesn't mean that I still don't love Sean." Jude said, "But it's just never been the same. Not since he cheated. I… I think I've forgave him but I'll never forget and… part of me ever since has just felt empty and dead." She said, "But it's different when I'm with Miles."
"Jude." Thea sighed, rubbing her forehead stressfully.
"I shouldn't have told you." Jude shook her head, feeling stupid.
"No… no, you should have." Thea nodded, "But you are… annoyingly cautious about things like this. You don't fall in love with a stranger in three months. That's not you. I mean… you told me you'd never be able to trust another man other than Sean."
"I trust Miles." Jude said.
"Hey." A man knocked on Jude's office door as she looked up from her sketching program on her laptop.
"Hi." Jude looked across at him, watching as he paused for a second, staring at her as though he wasn't breathing, "Can I help you with something?" Jude laughed a little.
"S-Sorry. Yeah… uh, I'm Miles." He smiled, "You're working with Laura, right?"
"I am." Jude nodded, "I'm Jude."
"Jude." Miles nodded with a smile, "I work on the next floor. Editing." He walked further into her office, "You're illustrating?" He figured.
"What gave it away?" Jude smiled a little as Miles turned to the desk across the opposite end of the office, holding different art tools and blank pages.
"Oh, I just guessed." Miles turned back to her with a smile as she chuckled a little, "And you seem way too nice to be an editor."
"You don't know me." Jude said, amused, "I could be a huge bitch."
"You could." Miles nodded, looking across at her, watching her as she smiled to herself, looking at her computer. He was the first to judge anyone who believed they had saw the most beautiful woman ever. He thought it was dumb when he heard his friends talk about their girlfriends and wives in such a way. But he truly thought he was looking at the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in front of him.
"So… I assume you know your way about this place. You're not lost are you?" Jude asked him, looking up from her computer, finding his eyes hadn't left her.
"Uh… no. No, I'm not." Miles smiled, "Laura won't be in today. She told me this was your first week here so-"
"So, you came to check on the new girl?" Jude asked as he just nodded awkwardly.
"Laura's a friend of mine. A friend before a boss. She felt really bad for not accommodating you that well this week. Her kid has been sick and she's been rushed off her feet-"
"She's been more than accommodating." Jude said, "I'm doing pretty ok, I think."
"You look right at home." Miles nodded.
"I've never had an office before." Jude smiled.
"Suits you." Miles said as she smiled, watching him put his hands in his pockets.
She wasn't modest enough to deny how handsome, in a very rough way, the man in front of her was. And it wasn't lost on her that he hadn't stopped staring at her since the second he walked in.
"Do you want to see how the illustrations are going so far?" She asked him.
"Sure." Miles nodded.
"It's all very basic." Jude said, "And I've lost count on how many times I've erased and restarted." She said, turning her computer around to show him.
"So, this is our protagonist?" Miles smiled.
"Spoken like a true editor." Jude said, "Yes, this is him." She nodded, watching as he looked closely at her drawings and different illustrations of the children's character she'd created.
"Laura wasn't kidding." Miles nodded as Jude looked at him curiously, "You're a talent." He turned to her as she looked up at him.
"I don't know about that." Jude shook her head, not being able to help feel the heat on her cheeks as she turned her computer back around.
"You're good." Miles nodded, watching her shake her head slightly, focusing back on her computer, a sudden shyness seeming to appear on her which he didn't fail to notice.
"Well thank you for checking in on me but I'm ok." Jude said as he nodded, taking a few steps back from her desk.
"Good. Well, if you need anything I'm Miles. And I'm on the next floor." Miles nodded.
"You said." Jude said, not being able to help smile. All her actions towards this man were natural. She didn't have to force a smile the way she did with most people. It was just happening.
"I did." Miles nodded, feeling stupid, "I'll let you get back to work." He said as she nodded, watching as he headed for the door, pausing before he took the handle, turning back around to her, "A few of us go for drinks on a Friday night. After we finish." He said as Jude looked over at him, "You're welcome to join. If you want." He nodded.
"That's kind." Jude said, "But I fear my daughter's might hold it against me if I break my promise of a movie night tonight. They hold grudges." She smiled, not being able to help notice the almost look of disappointment on his face. She didn't know if it was upon hearing her decline his offer, or the fact he heard she had daughters, which possibly meant a husband.
"Better not cross them then." Miles nodded.
"Thank you for inviting me, though. It's nice to feel included. It's been scary starting a new job. Everyone has been really welcoming." Jude nodded.
"You're a good addition to the team." Miles said, "Enjoy your movie night."
"Enjoy your drinks. I'm totally not jealous." She said, watching as he smiled, glancing across at her with hazel eyes, eyes she hadn't felt watch her so closely before.
"I'll see you around." Miles nodded, eventually leaving the office as Jude stared at the office door, raising her eyebrows a little as she realised how hot her cheeks felt. And how a man's stare, besides her husband, hadn't taken her back like that in quite some time.