Page 21 of Baby for the Professor
Aiden stirred. "Mommy? Are we going home?"
"Yes, baby. We are."
"Let me walk you to your car," Jackson said as he turned off the lights and closed the classroom door.
"I can carry him for you if you wish," he offered.
I was tempted to take the offer but resisted. "He's awake. He can walk. Right, Aiden?"
Aiden pouted but agreed.
The three of us strolled toward the parking lot, Aiden between us just like a family. Wait. We were supposed to be a family.
Tell him now!A voice shouted in my head. The timing was perfect. I opened my mouth a few times to speak but held back my words. What was I supposed to say?Jackson, actually, Aiden is your son?What would he say? He might like the child but it didn’t mean he wanted him for his son. Besides,I didn't even know whether he was with someone. So I kept my mouth shut.
“How did you meet Aiden’s dad?” Jackson asked.
He took me by surprise, although I had expected the question. “Oh, at a party,” I lied.
“What does he do?” He continued.
I paused, not knowing what to say this time.
“I’m sorry. I’m being nosy. Never mind.”
“It’s okay,” I said, again struggling with my impulse to tell him the truth.
I was going to speak when Aiden asked, “Mommy, when will I come to your school again?”
“I don’t know, Aiden,” I said. “Do you like it here?”
“Yes I do.”
“You can take him to the campus on weekends,” Jackson said. “Many people bring their kids to play on the lawns.”
“Sounds fun,” I said. “I should do it one day.”
“Let’s do it this weekend, Mommy,” Aiden said.
“Okay, let mommy think about it,” I said as we entered the parking structure. Jackson followed us instead of saying goodbye at the entrance, and I didn’t stop him.
"Here we are," I said, stopping in front of my Honda.
"You're still driving the same car!"
"You remember my car?" He only saw it briefly that night five years ago.
"Yes," he said, his voice suddenly becoming husky. "I remember everything about you, Sabrina."
My breath caught in my throat as I gazed into his eyes. I wanted to tell him I remembered him, too. And I would have no choice but remember him for the rest of my life. But I cleared my throat instead, aware of Aiden's curious eyes, looking at both of us.
I opened the car door and helped Aiden into the car seat.
Jackon observed us quietly for a moment and asked, "How old is he?"
Shit. He must've wondered about the paternity of the child. I pretended not to have heard him but spoke to Aiden instead. “Okay, we’re going home.”
But Aiden said, "Mommy, Professor Hale asks how old I am."
