Now and Forever novel Chapter 49

"Lucas!" I screamed in horror when the little human turned the faucet on, spraying water all over the whole bathroom.

My voice probably startled him because he jumped a little and turned around to face me, his face pale like he'd just seen a ghost, "what're you doing?" I rushed and turned it off, looking back down at him when I was sure there wasn't anymore water coming out of the shower head.

How did he even get off the bed?? Oh this kid makes me question things I didn't even know could be questioned.

"Shower," he said and tugged at his pajama shirt, "wha- now?" I asked and he nodded his head.

"It's only six am," I cried picking him up, I put him on my hip I walked out of the bathroom, being careful not slip on the water.

I'd barely gotten any sleep last night because he'd keep waking up whimpering -sometimes crying- for his mom and I'd have to pat his back until he'd go back to sleep. Alexander was nowhere to be seen- probably somewhere around the house because I didn't hear him leave.

"I'm hungry," he announced right before I was about to close my eyes. Ugh... "What do you want to eat?" I sighed and sat up. Guess I won't be getting sleep anytime soon...

"I.. I want.. umm.. I want to.. I.. umm.. want.. I want-"

"How about toast?" There's no way I'm going to sit here and let him ramble on- I don't have that kind of patience..

"Eggs?" I asked when he shook his head 'no', "a sandwich?" his answer was the same, "pancakes?" Please say yes please say yes please say yes... "yay!" I smiled and clapped my hands when he nodded 'yes'. He first furrowed his eyebrows at my odd behavior but ended op smiling, showing off the huge dimple on his cheek.

There is no way someone could take a look at this kid and say he isn't Alexander's..

"Come on then," I held out my hand and helped him off the bed, "wait, mingo," he slipped his hand out of mine and ran over to get his stuffed flamingo. What is it about flamingoes?

On our way down the hall, I decided to check in on Alexander. I opened the door to his study and looked around until my eyes fell on his sleeping figure on the couch. That looks really uncomfortable.. "Alexander," I whispered and shook him awake, Lucas waiting patiently by the door.

"Hmm..?" He fluttered his eyes open, "go to bed," I ordered as he slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"What time is it?" He asked in a raspy voice and picked up his phone from the table, he sighed and stood up, "I better get ready for-"

"No," I declared and he dipped his eyebrows, "It's almost seven-"

"How many hours a night have you been sleeping these last two weeks?" I raised an eyebrow and he stayed quiet, "exactly. Go to bed-"

"But-"

"You'll go to work in the afternoon," I turned around and walked away. He fortunately didn't argue but obliged.

God did I feel powerful right now..

"But you said you wanted pancakes Lucas," feeling powerful = gone.

"I want ice-cream!" I swear to god this child..

"No, Lucas. No Ice-cream!" Sometimes they need a little tough love.. right?

"But I want ice-cream!" He screamed again, his lower lip quivering. Don't tell me he wants to cry now..

"And I said no," I stopped cutting up fruit and turned to face him when he'd started crying. I looked at him, he looked at me. He wants to throw a tantrum? Fine!

We stared at each other until his crying slowly went down, "are you done?" I asked and he sniffled while nodding his head. Here I was thinking I loved kids...

I went back to cutting up the fruits to little sizes so he doesn't choke and handed them to him on the little plastic plate I'd gotten last night.

"Do you not like the banana?" I dipped my eyebrows when he'd put all the bananas at the side and was now only eating the strawberries, mangoes and grapes, "no," he replied and put a strawberry in his mouth.

"That's okay," I smiled and took them off his plate, feeling bad for letting him cry earlier on.

***

It had been a whole week since Lucas's.. arrival and still there was no sign of Jessica.

Alexander was.. well Alexander- he'd sleep in his study and would only go to bed when Lucas wasn't there- almost like he was scared him. Yes, scared. For what reason? I have no idea..8

I hadn't been to work -or anywhere in general- and I'm pretty sure I have a lot of work piled up on my desk.

But that ends today. I love taking care of Lucas, I really do but I can't do it all by myself. I mean, I have work too.

"Who's-"

"Hi Charlotte! Is Alexander in?" Charlotte looked up from the sleeping figure in my arms, her face filled with confusion, "yeah-"

"Thank you!"

"Wait-"

"Alexan- oh I'm sorry.." I felt heat creep up my neck out of embarrassment when I interrupted what seemed like a meeting- though it was only Alexander and some other man that looked around his early to mid thirties.

"I'll go-"

"No it's okay," the man smiled at me, "we were done," he turned back to Alexander and shook his hand, "oh," was all I managed to say.

"Robert James, nice to meet you..?" The man -Robert- held out his hand for a handshake.

"Oh uh, Amelia Knight," I smiled and shifted Lucas so I could shake his hand, "beautiful name for a beautiful angel," he whispered, "thank you..?" cleared my throat and looked at Alexander in uncomfort but he wasn't looking here.

"Look forward to working with you," he squeezed my hand one last time before opening the door and leaving. Work with me?

"What're you doing here?"

"Well hello to you too dear husband," I put my handbag and Lucas's baby bag on the floor and sat down in front of Alexander, patting Lucas's bag when he stirred in his sleep, "do you need something?" He asked, ignoring my earlier statement.