There were many moments that Jason wish he could freeze in time. The births of his first three children, the first time they walked, when they said daddy for first time and this moment. The first time he held his previously unknown son his arms.
I don't want to let go he thought as he kissed the boy on the top of the head. I don't want to let go and I don't want this end.
Jason looked at Lauren who was wiping the tears from her eyes. He shot her an accusatory glance as he thought how could you keep him from me. How could you deny me all those other moments that I will never have with him.
You are not even crying tears of happiness or regret are you he thought. No they are tears of anguish. Instead of being happy for your son, your in mourning for yourself.
What happened to you he thought.
John then pulled away, an embarrassed look was across his face as he said "Hi."
"Hi champ."
"John you weren't supposed to leave the house." Lauren scolded. "Does Sterling know you left."
"No." John said. "I snuck out and rode my bike hear." He then gave her an angry look. "I guess you are going to take that away from me too."
Lauren just looked away.
"I want to live with you." John said.
Lauren's heart sunk in her chest. Her worst nightmare was coming true.
"Come here a minute." Jason said and they walked away. "Are you sure want to do this?"
"Yeah." John answered. "Do you?"
"Of course I do." Jason said. "You are my son." I can't bear the thought of leaving the state without him. He then looked at Lauren understanding the pain she was going through. He knew how it felt to have a child turn on him. To choose the other parent. "I just want you to know that I am pretty strict."
"I know." John said. "Jesse and Zach told me. I don't care. I've been wanting to live with you for a long time." John looked down and shifted his feet. "Don't leave me here."
"Okay." Jason pulled out his wallet and handed him a ten dollar bill. "Go get yourself something while your mother and I talk."
"Yes, dad." Jason could not help but smile at that. He then sat back down with Lauren while John walked to the counter.
"I'm not a bad mother." Lauren said through a veil of tears.
"Never said you were."
"But you've thought it." She said. "I can tell."
"I think you've made some bad choices." Jason said. "And to be honest you are not the only parent sitting at this table who is guilty of that." He then felt pangs of guilt which he pushed away. "But as I said I want him my life." He then looked at her. "But I want a chance to be a father to him."
He then watched as John sat at a nearby booth.
"And this isn't just about what we want to." Jason said. "Its about what he wants, what he needs."
"And he needs to live with you." Lauren said.
"Right now yes." Jason said. "Next week who knows." He shrugged. "But we need to work something out."
"Okay." Lauren said as her heart was shredded into thin strips.
John sat at the booth for ten minutes watching as the two talked. At one point they got on the phone and spoke to someone but he was not sure who. Several times he wanted to get up and ask what was going on but knew he would only be sent back to the booth.
His father then waved him over. He then sat down and his mother gave him a gentle smile. John did not smile back. "You mother and I have worked an agreement out."
"Okay." John said with a hopeful look in his eyes
"On the phone is my lawyer Mister Kirk he wants to talk to you."
"Okay."
"Hi John." Turner said through the speaker.
"Hi." John said.
"As your dad said I'm Turner Kirk your dad's lawyer." Turner said. "Your parents have worked out a joint custody agreement. You understand what that is right."
"Yeah they will share custody of me." John said. "I will live with my mom sometimes and my dad others."
"Yes." Turner said. "You are going to live with your dad during the summer."
"But I don't wait until the summer." John said with emotion in his voice. "I want to live with him now."
Jason placed his hand on his arm. "Calm down." Jason said. "Just listen."
"You will live with your dad during the summer starting now." Turner said.
The relief that crossed his face was like a dagger in Lauren's heart. I can't believe how much he wants to get away from me.
"Your mother will come out to Maryland each weekend to visit you."
"Fine." John said. "I guess."
"John please don't be like this." She said.
"You will also spend the fourth of July weekend with your mom."
I've spent enough fourth of Julys with her he wanted to say but did not.
"And when school starts?" John asked.
"You will come back and love with me." Lauren said.
"And visit dad on weekends." John said.
"Yes."
"What if I want to live with him permanently." John said.
Lauren's face fell. He hates me she thought. He hates me so much.
"We can discuss that come September." Turner said.
"Alright."
They then spoke for a few moments and then walked outside. Tina emerged from her car and made a B-line for them. John cringed as she approached.
"What happened?" She said frantically. "What did he do?" She asked a devastated looking Lauren. "Did he taken of you?" She then turned on him with rage in her eyes. "Did you take advantage of her."
"Come on John." Jason said ignoring her.
"Hey!" Tina shouted. "Dont you walk away from me." She was about to follow the two when Lauren grabbed her wrist. "Don't."
"You didn't give him John did you?"
"Yes."
"Lauren how could you." The two heard her shout as they approached Jason's car.
"I never really liked her." John said.
"Hmm." His phone began to ring. He pulled it and looked to see who was calling him. "Right on time." Jason smiled.
Tina was stomping her foot as Lauren told her to calm down.
"Here." Jason held out the still ringing phone. "Talk to your brother."
John took the phone. "Hey Jack." He said as they walked to the car. "Yeah its me." Jason placed his hand on John's back. "I'm glad to finally talk to you too."
Jason hit his key fob unlocking the doors. John walked to the passenger side. "I'm coming home with dad today."
The two then got in the car. "Do you want to talk to dad?" John then handed him the phone. "Hey buddy, how is school going?"
"Did you see the counselor?" Jason asked. "After lunch." He nodded his head. "You have a good day buddy and we will pick you up after school."
Jason said goodbye to him and then hung up. "Let's go get your stuff."
Tina watched them pull out and said "So he doesn't know?"
"No." Lauren said. "And he will never know." They watched the car drive out. "It would crush him if he ever found out."
"And how is the other person going to react?" Lauren asked. "The person who paid you twenty thousand dollars never to tell Jason about John."
A cold chill then ran up her spine. "I don't know."