CHAPTER 63: MAGIC

Timothy skipped between Bella and Jake, his small hand clutching Jake’s like he’d known him forever. Bella tried not to stare at the way Jake held onto Timothy’s hand so naturally, like he’d done it a hundred times before as they headed to the car.

She walked on the other side, her eyes scanning the street, pretending she wasn’t painfully aware of Jake’s presence beside her.

Timothy swung his free arm with delight. "Mama, Mama! Ice cream first, right?" Timothy asked, and Bella couldn’t help but turn to Jake.

Jake chuckled, understanding that the question was meant for him to answer. "Yes, Timmy," he said softly, squeezing his shoulder.

Timothy jumped in excitement as they got to the car.

Jake glanced down at him with a faint smile as he lifted him and carried him into the passenger seat. "What’s your favorite flavor?"

Timothy’s little face scrunched up as he thought hard. "Um... chocolate! No, wait... strawberry! No, no—" He gasped, as if the thought had just struck him. "Both!"

Jake chuckled. "Both, huh? That’s quite ambitious, little man."

Timothy nodded seriously. "Well, that’s because..." he pushed as he thought about what to say and then grinned when a thought formed. "Because then if I don’t like one, I can eat the other."

Bella bit back a laugh, shaking her head as she turned in the passenger seat in front. "That’s not how it works, Timothy."

"But Mama..." Timothy pouted, turning his wide eyes up at her. "Please?"

Jake’s lips curved as he looked down at Timothy. "We’ll see what we can do, buddy. Who knows? You might even get three," he said, winking at Timothy before rounding the car and getting into the driver seat.

Timothy’s eyes widened, sparkling with joy. "Really?" he asked once Jake was seated.

"Really." Jake’s voice was steady, patient—so different from the cold, guarded tone Bella had also seen him use with everyone else at work.

Moments later, Jake pulled over in front of an ice cream shop and they all trooped out.

The ice cream shop smelled sweet the moment they stepped inside. Timothy pressed his little nose against the glass counter, staring at the rows of colorful flavors.

"Mama, look!" he said, pointing frantically. "Green! And yellow! And pink! Can I get all?"

Bella crouched beside him. "Just one, Timmy. Maybe two if you finish it."

"Two?" His eyes rounded like he’d just won the lottery.

Jake leaned against the counter, watching them with quiet amusement. Then he bent down to Timothy’s level. "How about I get chocolate, you get strawberry, and then we share? That way you can taste both."

Timothy’s mouth fell open. "That’s... that’s genius!"

Bella’s lips parted in surprise. Her son didn’t usually accept compromises so easily, but here he was, practically glowing because Jake had offered to share with him.

Jake paid for the ice creams quickly, and soon Timothy had his cone in hand, already licking eagerly and smearing pink around his mouth. Jake followed, holding his chocolate cone. Bella trailed behind with her vanilla, watching them interact.

For a fleeting moment, she felt... normal. Like they were just a family enjoying ice cream on a sunny afternoon.

The thought sent a sharp pang through her chest and she shook her head, bringing herself to face the reality. They weren’t a family.

They had barely walked out to where the car was when Timothy’s little shoe caught on the uneven sidewalk.

With a surprised yelp, he stumbled forward, his cone tumbling from his hand and splattering onto the ground.

He hit the pavement with his knees, and before Bella could even react, his little face crumpled.

"My ice cream!" Timothy wailed, tears springing instantly to his eyes. "It’s gone! Mamaaa! Jake, help me! My ice cream!"

Bella’s heart lurched, and she rushed forward, but Jake was already there.

He crouched down swiftly, scooping Timothy into his arms with surprising ease. "Hey, hey—look at me, champ. You okay?"

Timothy sobbed, pointing at the fallen ice cream. "It—it fell! My ice cream is ruined!"

Jake glanced at the sticky mess on the ground, then turned back to Timothy. With sudden, exaggerated seriousness, he looked at the sidewalk, narrowed his eyes, and smacked the ground with his free hand.

"Bad ground!" Jake scolded firmly. "Don’t you ever trip my Timmy again!"

Timothy’s crying hitched mid-sob. He blinked up at Jake with wide, wet eyes. "Y-you hit the ground? Why?"

"It made you trip, of course." Jake crossed his arms, giving the pavement a final glare. "I had to warned it. It should know that if it ever messes with you again, it’s got me to answer to."

Timothy sniffled. Then, slowly, his mouth stretched into a small, shaky smile. "You told the ground... not to touch me?"

Jake ruffled his hair gently. "Exactly. You’re under my protection, buddy. It has no right to hurt you."

Bella froze, her heart skipping so hard it almost hurt.

The way he’d said, ’My Timmy,’ made her heart beat fast no matter how hard to tried to stay steady.

The words echoed in her head. The way Jake said them—it wasn’t casual. It wasn’t careless. It was firm, protective, almost possessive.

And watching Timothy beam at him, his tears already drying, Bella felt something deep inside her crack open but she couldn’t say anything. Not even express her fear. Or was it confusion? She wasn’t just scared of how close they were becoming but how Jake could be this fear and easy with Timothy when he’d clearly said he couldn’t have kids.

What was it about? Would he say it again if she brought up Timothy’s paternity?

She pushed the thought aside as she followed Timothy and Jake who’d said they should go get Timothy another ice cream back inside.

Bella carried her vanilla still untouched, her thoughts spinning so fast she could barely focus.

Instead of leaving, Jake decided they wait so he could get Timothy another cone after he finished this one.

When they finally settled on a bench outside, Timothy was once again happily licking at his strawberry cone as though the earlier tragedy had never happened.

Bella sat beside him, still stunned by the way Jake had handled the whole thing.

"How did you know to deal with the issue that way?" she asked in amusement.

Jake shrugged, leaning back on the bench. "It’s my mom. That’s what she used to do when I was little. Every time I fell, she’d smack the ground and tell it off. Said it wasn’t allowed to hurt me. I guess it sort of stuck."

Bella blinked at him, suddenly wanting to know more about his childhood. "Your... mom did that?"

Jake smiled faintly, almost wistfully. "Yeah. I used to think it was magic. Like at the time, she could really make the world promise not to hurt me again."

"It guess it’s magic seeing as he stopped crying when you did it," she said,watching Timothy, who was busy trying to finish his ice scream.

Bella then raised her gaze to Jake. She stared at him for a long moment, and then, unexpectedly, a laugh slipped past her lips. It startled her, the sound so free, so unguarded.

Jake turned his head, his eyes softening at the sight of her laughing. "What?"

"Nothing," Bella said quickly, shaking her head, though her lips still curved. "I just... I never thought I’d see you do something like that. Beating the ground for a child."

"Guess I’m full of surprises."

She looked away, her heart racing, her chest aching. She shouldn’t feel this warmth. She shouldn’t feel this soft pull toward him.

Because deep down, beneath her fragile laughter and the brief ease of this moment, the fear remained.

Would he still be this gentle, this patient, this good with Timothy... if he knew Timothy was his?

Bella didn’t dare answer the question.