Falling Again

9

**PRESENT**

Charlotte woke up from her slumber, lazily and checked the time on the clock, it showed 7.30 am. Her eyes widened in shock and she got up instantly. Then she remembered what day it is!

“Ah! Saturday,” telling that she fell back on her bed. It’s a weekend and it’s the first holiday since she came to this house. She got relaxed with a smile but still, there’s tiredness on her face. Yesterday there was a lot of work in the hotel as it’s a month-end and she came home very late. Thankfully Jaxson was there to look after Noah or else it would be difficult for Charlotte.

Jaxson picked him from school, took him to an ice-cream shop which she couldn’t do due to her stressful situation and busy schedule and looked after him properly until she arrived at the night. When they get back to their home, Noah told how big her dad’s house, he’s greatly hooked by his charming daddy who’s so perfect in every aspect. It’s not his fault, Charlotte was also fell in love with him, because Jaxson got a side which he won’t show it to everyone easily and no one can stay without loving him if he shows that side on someone but that’s not so simple as it sounds.

Charlotte felt sad because she neglected that love and lost eventually having no way to get it back. She’s happy at least, Noah is getting that love now but she’s afraid at the same time.

These days Noah kept talking only about Jaxson, he used to spend more time in his house and comes home when he wants to sleep. Spending time with his dad is something so normal but in their case, it’s making Charlotte anxious thinking she will lose Noah. She can never think a life living without Noah. Jaxson didn’t seem to worry about that, he pulls his son close to him instead of making him available for both of them.

Charlotte still thinking about her decision on Noah, and Jaxson didn’t bring that topic again after that day, but he’s not going leave it there and she has to decide something about it. How can she say, “Hey Jaxson, let’s live together and look after our son?”

That sounds so stupid. She’s right now in a very difficult situation. Unlike to what she has imagined, Noah easily accepted Jaxson and they were bonding so well. If only Jaxson’s demand and pressure was not there, then Charlotte will be happy too.

Slowly she got up from the bed and headed to the restroom. After finishing off her morning chores Charlotte came out and went to see Noah is still asleep. She doesn’t want to wake him up so she came out silently and went back to her room.

To check whether there’s any phone calls or messages she took her phone and saw a message from that Stalker. She got pissed off and deleted that love you and good morning messages.

Then she turned her gaze to the balcony, illuminations from the sun were trying so hard to enter inside the room but the curtains don’t let them in and the doors were closed. Charlotte reluctantly walked near to the door. She has been avoiding to open this balcony door in fear whether she will see him despite the fact that she meets him every day. Charlotte never wants to accidentally make a room to be alone with him. It’s too awkward to look at him when there’s no one around, and in other situation when Noah is there they won’t talk much and it’s so easy for her to tackle.

 She slightly peeked through the curtains whether he’s awake. This is something that even a teenager wouldn’t do and strangely Charlotte got an excitement to see him. After seeing him her excitement got accelerated.

He’s standing near the glass wall, shirtless, his hands were in his sweatpants’ pocket and his eyes were on the sky. His entire body glowed in the sunlight. There are lot of scars on his skin yet he looked so perfect. He’s not just physically changed; there’s a lot of things that have altered. She just feels like he’s someone else, there’s alienated feelings in her heart that couldn’t let her to talk with him about her life, the struggles she faced and what she wants. But Charlotte doesn’t understand why Jaxson was also like this.?

When she is admiring him secretly after a long time, suddenly Jackson’s attention shifted to her room. She took a step back in surprise and went to her bed with this crazily pounding heart.

Did he saw me?

No there’s no chance for that to happen.

But if he did?

Oh my God, what he will think about me?

Ah… Charlotte nowadays you are losing your mind, soon you will become a madwoman someday.  She thought and fell back on her bed.

Then realizing that staying like this doesn’t change anything, Charlotte got up and changed into her new clothes, a sweater and pair of leggings. Then she came down to make a cold coffee for her with extra sugar. She needed something sweet to lit up her day.

When she’s looking at the hot coffee coming out of her espresso machine, she heard footsteps and she turned to find Noah. He’s all freshen up and smiled brightly when he looked at his mom.

“Good m-morning, mommy,” he said.

“Morning,” Charlotte smiled back. “Did you had a peaceful sleep?” she added.

“Yes, I feel so good now,” he replied.

“Great. Have a seat, I will pour you some milk,” she told and reached out for the milk in the fridge. She placed the bread slices on the toaster and sat down with her son.

“Mommy, today Jax and I have planned to go out. Shall I go?” Noah told.

“Sure, but where,” she asked.

“He said, he will take me to an amusement park,”

“Amusement park?” Charlotte exclaimed. If they go out now, then they will take an entire day to return back. How can she stay alone? It will be so boring; Charlotte bites her lower lip in distress. How can I ask him to stay? Ah… I hate this situation.

The toast got ready and she picked it up. She spread some jam and cheese on it before serving it to Noah. Sipping her cold coffee Charlotte thought about how she can make him stay here, she needs a valid reason. He doesn’t have any homework, activities or tests next week so she doesn’t find any good reason at all.

When she was in her thoughts,

“Hey, Noah,” Jaxson’s voice startled her.

The next thing that happened after is all a great shock for Charlotte.

“Jax!” Noah exclaimed and got down from the seat. He ran to his father, hugged him with so much love and happiness. For the first time she’s seeing Noah so excited, even he has never showed this much love to his mom. Charlotte’s face became pale and small because whatever that she has feared is happening now.

“Did you slept well, buddy?” he asked kissing his cheeks.

“Yes, Jax,”

Then Jaxson gaze turned to Charlotte, she immediately turned her eyes to other side and thus hiding her emotions and fears which she’s going through right now.

“Hey,” he smiled when Charlotte saw them.

“Hi,” she tried to smile, slightly nodding her head.

He came closer and Charlotte got up from her seat. He sat down with Noah and his eyes watched her every awkward move.

“Uh… do you want coffee?” she asked.

“No, I had,” he answered.

“Some toasts?” she added when she was going to have hers.

“No, that’s not in my diet list today,” he replied.

“Oh okay,” Charlotte nodded.

“Today I am taking Noah to an amusement park,” Jaxson informed.

“Yeah, Noah said to me. Have a great time,” Charlotte smiled and Jaxson nodded unable to tell what he wants to say.

“Noah, why don’t you go and get ready. We should leave soon right?” Jaxson suggested.

“Yes,” Noah agreed and went upstairs leaving them alone which Charlotte hates the most.

“I will go and help him to get ready,” Charlotte stepped to escape.

“Charlotte?”

“Hmm,” she stared at him.

“If you don’t mind, do you want to join us?” he asked, “Noah will be happy if you come along with us,”

Charlotte knotted her eyebrows by this sudden offer. Of course, she wanted to go with them yet she doesn’t want to say yes right away.

“Ah… actually I have some work,” she said hoping he will ask her again.  

“Oh, it’s okay. No problem. We will go next time,” he casually accepted it, getting down from the seat. There’s no small disappointment on his face. If it was old Jaxson, he would please her in all cute ways to come with him but things have changed now and Jaxson is not her same old lover. There she realized how much she’s unimportant to him. Charlotte mentally screamed for being like this and regretted for always taking the wrong decisions at times like this. 

When he was about to leave, she stopped him by calling his name. With hesitation she said, “I will come. Since it’s for Noah. I think I should come,” she gave up her ego and agreed.

“Okay, then get ready. We will leave soon,” he said with a smirk and walked out of the house with this thought, now you’re coming to my way.

Charlotte went to take a shower after checking Noah in his bathroom. She wore her floral printed skirt and left her hair free. She came out to help Noah to put his clothes.

“Are you coming with us!” he asked.

“Yes,”

“Thank you, Mommy. I thought to ask you but I felt I shouldn’t.”

“I know your heart, baby,” Charlotte smiled.

“I am so excited about today,” Noah jumped in joy.

Charlotte was so happy to see him, she thought that she should never take this happiness away from Noah as she knows the importance of dad’s love.

They had their breakfast and came out of the house. Charlotte locked her house and put the keys on her purse. They both waited for Jaxson and he came out driving his Mercedes, wearing his signature white shirt and a pair of black trousers. His eyes were covered by his black Raybon glasses so Charlotte couldn’t see where his eyes were on, but she doesn’t know that his eyes were always on her. She can never escape from his eyes after this.

“Get in,” he said. Noah sat in the passenger seat and Charlotte sat in the backseat. Jaxson adjusted his front mirror to see Charlotte and had a smirk before driving the car.