CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE —The picture that broke the internet

“Knock, knock.” Jessie said, pressing the doorbell of the McCarthy’s residence. She hoped she was appropriately dressed for whatever those two boys had planned as she waited eagerly. She was dressed casually in cropped top and jeans, solid for any outing should they opt for mountain climbing again. She couldn’t help but laugh as she recalled their last outing. However, she hoped that wouldn’t happen today.

It was her boss who came to open the door. Luke was right behind him. To her chagrin, McCarthy pulled her in for a hug and then kissed her passionately. Her eyes locked with Luke’s from behind him. Shocked he would do this in front of his son, she started hitting McCarthy on the chest so he could free her. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked as soon as she was released. “Luke.” she tossed her head to where his son stood meekly. He said nothing but smiled at her sheepishly. Rolling her eyes, she turned away from him, then gave Luke his gift.

“Thank you, Jess.” said Luke hugging her. He pulled back, then breathed in dramatically. “I love your cologne. What’s that?”

“Thanks, sweet.” Jessie blushed, “The perfume is…” she pretended to think then said, “A lady never tells.” From the corner of her eyes, she saw McCarthy leaning on the door. He looked at her with this lustful expression as he took in her appearance. What is he doing? His son is right here, she mused to herself. She moved closer to him and stomped on his feet lightly as he blinked twice to adjust his expression. His lustful look was replaced immediately with a boyish grin.

“I like the smell.” insisted the boy.

“Luckily for you, that’s the second gift in there.” she tossed her head at the gift he held.

“Wow?” Luke peered into the wrap as he pulled it aside, trying to check the content.

With Luke being a little distracted, McCarthy pulled his woman closer for another passionate kiss. He whispered how sweet she looked in her ears. “Thanks for the gift, by the way.”

“Get a room.” Luke said, catching the two elders in the act. He dashed for his room to unwrap his gift.

“What was that?” Jessica hit her smiling boss playfully. “You should show good parenting skills.” she scolded him as they started to walk into the apartment.

“He knows.” he said to her, “We might as well not keep our feelings bottled.” He followed her into the inner room, unsure where she was headed.

“Luke knows about us?” Jessica asked, her voice shaking with surprise.

“Yes, he saw us the other day as I walked you to the cab.”

“Oh.” Jessica said, realizing she had walked into his bedroom while they were talking. The big bed stood neatly at the center of the master room. It was a big room, beautifully decorated from the chandeliers down to the furniture in the room. It was a masterpiece. She walked into the place unconsciously, touching the frilly curtains. “Wow.” she gasped. The decoration was bespoke. She was impressed by how a single man could be so detailed.

“You like?” McCarthy asked, standing behind her. He wrapped his hands around her. When she leaned into him, he groaned. Her hair smelt like spring roses. Taking deep breaths, he breathes it in.

“It’s nice.” she said to him, “Did you do this?”

“No, he didn’t.” Luke said, stepping into the room. Smiling as the two adults separated instantly, he continued, “Mom did it.” he said to Jessica. “She was an interior decorator.”

That explains the elegance that the home spoke volumes of. “She’s good.” she acknowledged, looking around the place with an amused expression.

“She is.” McCarthy agreed too. He was already thinking of the day she decorated this room with him. His wife had been two months pregnant then. She insisted on doing it herself. And he let her. It was her job anyway. Then he came in unannounced one evening and met his pregnant wife on the stool, reaching for something on top of the wardrobe. Hearing his voice, she had turned around to say hello. Then she tripped. He had been scared to death. Thankfully, he got to her on time to stop the fall. He never let her go alone afterward. It was the reason he had been here the day she designed this room. And it had been fun doing the work together.

Jessica looked from father to son. They both looked sad, and she knew they were thinking of the woman in their lives that had been lost. She wanted to ask what happened and why. But she didn’t want them this sad again. She would ask McCarthy later. At least that way, she would be sparing the son the trauma of reliving his mother’s death. McCarthy would be able to handle that. It was something she should know. “I love what she did with the curtains and the frames.” she said, walking over to where the pictures were hung. The woman, a pretty one, was holding little Luke while smiling at her husband in one of them. They looked so in love.

McCarthy followed her gaze and looked at the picture that held Jess captive. It was taken a few months after Luke was born. It was unaware, and because they preferred it better than the main picture, they opted to take this. “Luke was barely two months old then.” he told her, “We loved this better. So we took it.”

“Urgh.” Luke pretended to shiver, “They weren’t even looking at me, their bundle of joy.” he said, pointing at the frame, “Instead, they were gazing lovingly at each other.”

“At least this time you said ‘lovingly,’” chuckled his father. His son was always pretty upset whenever any visitor complimented the picture. His excuse was that his parents didn’t give him the attention he needed but had been too busy staring at each other. Ones he had said, “I could have fallen, and they wouldn’t notice.” to a guest, who had burst into laughter.

“She’s a pretty woman.” Jess said, cutting into his thought.

“Yeah.” said both father and son. The two held hands as they stared at the frames. “This was taken on Luke’s first day at elementary.”

“Finally, something of mine.” he said with a big grin. “And they were looking at me with love.”

Jessica laughed heartily, as did her boss. The two parents held little Luke’s hands and smiled at him when it was captured.

“He was so small we weren’t sure we should leave him there.” McCarthy said to Jess. “This little man there was a smallish one at birth.” He said with a small laugh. He remembered how his wife was always so worried about him. from birth; he weighed 2.5kg. That was considerable. And his weight grew steadily. But he remained small. It bothered his wife. It took a while before she could convince her that their son must have inherited the small gene. “But from who?” his wife had asked.

“His paternal grandparents?” he replied her with a shrug. And then he brought out the family album. They spent that day staring at pictures of his parents and hers. Of course, he knew his father was relatively short, and he pointed that out. Fortunately for him, so was her mother. When she teased him, he equally had something to say too.

“I wasn’t small.” Luke protested.

McCarthy stopped reminiscing the past as he laughed at his son. “Whatever you say, little man.” he mocked, “I’ve got proofs.” he said, pointing at the evidence on the wall.

He was right about their son being so tiny at birth, and Jess noted while looking at them all. Looking at the pictures, she could see why McCarthy had gone mute about losing his late wife. They had been happy together. He loved his wife. Losing her must have been a big blow on both of them. She wondered what kind of woman she was. She would have been a loving and smart woman to have chosen McCarthy as her husband. And she could see how her love for her husband made her glow. Was she a worthy woman to take her place? She asked herself. Tossing her hair, she dismissed thoughts of replacement. What am I thinking? She chastised herself while touching the design on the wall. “Did she make this?” she asked, running her fingers through the red rosy patterned design on the wall surrounding the pictures.

“She did.” McCarthy said, “She’s always been good with decorating and designing. She made a few hit sales too.”

She sighed heavily, looking for a way to change the topic now. She could see McCarthy was becoming sad again. “I…”

“You should see my room then.” Luke announced proudly, leaving the room.

Jessica smiled gratefully at the boy. McCarthy walked closer to her as she followed him out, linking her hand with his. “What are we doing today?”

McCarthy looked thoughtful, “I wanted us to go out. But while cleaning, we found an old chest board and some other games. So, we figured we’d have games?”

“Sounds great to me.” Jess beamed. He gave her another stolen kiss and excused himself to set up the room they would be using.

“Just go straight down.” he said, directing her to his son’s room.

Jessica nodded and kept going. She found the room easily with the door opened ajar. Luke stood on his bed, jumping happily. He loved the expression on her. “Told ya.” he said, “She did a great job.”

“Yes. She did.”

A few minutes later, the trio was bent over a poker game. There was a tray of snacks on the table where they took a nibble while playing. McCarthy had won twice in a row, and his son wasn’t having him get a third win. He quickly teamed up with Jess, who had been playing ignorantly. She had no idea what the game was about. “No, don’t play that.” Luke cautioned as she was about to make another mistake. “He’s going to win thrice in a row. We cannot let that happen.” He said it so seriously that Jess burst out laughing.

“It’s just a game.” she pointed out.

“Heck, no.” the boy refused to agree, “We cannot let him win even if it’s a game.” he insisted.

“I’m winning this already.” McCarthy said, flipping his cards in their faces so quickly. They both didn’t see anything. His wide grin looked so annoying right there.

“You cannot.” Jess gasped “He won’t.” Luke said determinedly. His gaze never left his card as he looked intently for a way out.

Jess looked at her man with a sheepish smile, “Must you be so troublesome?’ she asked, seeing his son’s agitation while he tried figuring things out. He stared at her cards, then his, and shook his head like they were doomed.

“You both behave. A man’s gotta do what he must.”

“I got it!” Luke suddenly screamed and jumped up excitedly. His father gave him a suspicious look. “I mean it.”

I’m not fooled, son.” he teased, “Sit and play.”

“Let me see yours first.” Luke said to Jessica, leaning on her.

“You know, you two ganging up on me isn’t cool at all.” he lamented, hoping to boycott their friendship. He was happy his son was getting on well with the woman he wanted in his life. Finally, everything was falling into place. His buzzing phone made him tuck his cards in his pocket as he picked it up.

Jessica also reached for her phone at that moment. She clicked on the news update sent to her and read with shock. That picture? “Oh, no.” she gasped.

McCarthy knew why she was upset. He had just seen the picture too. “Ainsley?” she asked.

“Yes.” she replied, “I…” she began packing her things hurriedly.

“You’re leaving?” Luke asked, looking a bit sad.

“It’s crucial. I promise to be back here.” she said, pulling him for a hug. “Before you leave for school, all right?”

“Cool.” agreed the boy.

McCarthy walked her to the gate. He waved down a cab. Pulling her to himself, he whispered, “Take care of your friend.” she kissed him, “And you, be good, all right.”

“I will.” She assured him “If you need anything, anything at all. Don’t hesitate to call me.” he told her frankly. When she nodded, he smiled, “love you.”

Jessica breathed in those words and leaned back to kiss him again. Without saying anything, she told him just how much she cared about him with the kiss. She got into the cab and waved as she was driven away with a big smile.