Chapter 27 Is Lizzy Back
BELLA
"Can you take us to the park?" I told the taxi driver, feeling Jasper's little hands clutch onto me like I was his life raft. I glanced down at him, suppressing a smile at how tightly he was holding on.
“Is this your first time taking a taxi?” I asked, amused by his grip.
His wide eyes glanced up at me. “Yes, it’s my first time,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn’t letting go for anything.
I couldn’t help but smile. David Copperfield’s only child, riding in a taxi. If only the world knew. I gently lifted him onto my lap, making sure he felt safe, his small hands never loosening their hold on me.
As we arrived at the park, the sight hit me immediately. Families everywhere, kids squealing in laughter, running from swings to slides with boundless energy. Jasper's eyes lit up like I’d never seen before.
"There are so many kids here!" he squealed, bouncing in my lap.
“Yep, lots of kids,” I chuckled, taking in his excitement. His gaze darted from one group to another, each discovery a new thrill.
I was just about to sit down when a woman approached us, her daughter trailing behind. “You have a cute son,” she said, smiling warmly.
“Oh, thank you,” I replied, my hand instinctively reaching out to steady Jasper. “Would you like to keep each other company while the kids play?” I hesitated, but then I saw the look on Jasper’s face as he watched the other kids playing. He needed this. He deserved this.
“Yes, that sounds nice,” I finally agreed, my eyes never leaving Jasper as he mingled with the other children, his laughter filling the air. I'd never seen him this happy before a happiness that seemed to flow from somewhere deep inside him, something long overdue.
“What’s your name?” I asked, turning to the woman beside me.
“Call me Jane,” she said with a friendly smile.
“You can call me Bella.”
“You have a beautiful name, as beautiful as you are,” she said, and I found myself smiling, her kind words warming me.
“Thank you.”
Before I knew it, almost three hours had passed. Jasper and I both had ice cream dribbling down our hands, and I hated to interrupt his fun, but we had to head back. I knew David would be expecting us. I waved goodbye to Jane, thanking her as we gathered our things.
As we walked away, I leaned down, my voice low and curious. “So, tell me about your new friend.”
Jasper’s face lit up. “Her name is Lola. She has so many friends, and she introduced me to them! Can we visit her house one day?” His eyes sparkled with hope, and I could barely contain my own joy at how he’d blossomed today.
“So, you asked her where she lives, huh?” I teased, proud of my little guy.
“Yes!” he said, clutching his ice cream cone with a grin.
“Want to try something new?” I asked him, a spontaneous idea forming in my mind.
“What kind of new?” He tilted his head, eager to hear.
“Let’s take a bus home,” I said, bracing for his reaction.
“A bus? Really?” His eyes widened, his grin stretching from ear to ear. “Will it be fun?”
“Let’s find out.” I took his hand, my heart swelling as he bounced alongside me. The moment he spotted the bus in the distance, he let out a squeal of delight. “The bus is here!” His joy was so infectious that, for a moment, I forgot everything weighing me down.
Then I saw her.
Across the street, staring directly at me with a smug, devilish smirk, was Lizzy. My heart dropped, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. This couldn’t be real. She wasn’t supposed to be back, not now, not ever.
And yet, there she was, watching me a threat hidden behind that twisted smile.