CHAPTER 65: DO YOU HAVE A SON?

"I 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.

"So, where are we going next?" Timothy’s tiny voice cut through Bella’s thought like a blade.

"Where you want us to go?" Jake asked before Bella could utter a word.

Timothy squinted his eyes as though he wanted to think.

Timothy’s eyes sparkled, his cheeks sticky with smudges of melted ice cream as he bounced on the bench. "The park! The park!" he exclaimed, pointing with his tiny finger toward the direction of the street.

Bella and Jake exchanged a glance and when she just shrugged, Jake took that as her approval and nodded.

"Alright, little man. Let’s go," he said, and Timothy jumped in excitement.

With Timothy still bouncing on his toes, cone finished and hands sticky, they decided to head toward the park. It was only a short walk from the ice cream shop, the path shaded by tall trees whose leaves whispered with the afternoon breeze.

Just across the corner, the park stretched wide and green, and beyond its gates stood a cluster of bright rides—swings, a merry-go-round, and a small rollercoaster that looped gently, its painted cars filled with laughing kids.

Timothy’s face lit up instantly. "Mama, Jake! Look, look!" he squealed, bouncing on his toes as he pointed with his sticky fingers. "There’s a rollercoaster! Let’s go play rollercoaster!"

Bella’s heart tugged at his joy, but before she could answer, Jake’s shoulders stiffened. His gaze followed Timothy’s finger, and when he spotted the small coaster circling slowly, his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

No matter how hard he tried to hide it, Bella had seen it and could tell he probably has an history with rollercoasters.

"Uh..." Jake rubbed the back of his neck, forcing a smile. "Maybe we should try something else. The swings look fun, don’t they, buddy?"

Timothy’s little brow furrowed in confusion. "But why not the rollercoaster?" He tilted his head, wide eyes blinking up at Jake as though he couldn’t possibly understand. "It’s not scary. It’s small. I’m small too, so I can ride."

Bella bit her lip, her gaze flicking to Jake with quiet amusement. So, he was afraid of rollercoasters? She would never have guessed. Watching him try to wriggle his way out of Timothy’s questioning was... oddly entertaining.

And even if she’d wanted to help him out, she wanted to see how he’d escape this.

Jake crouched down so he was eye-level with Timothy, his hands resting on his knees. "Well, it’s not about being scared," he said carefully, though his tone betrayed him. "It’s just... if we go on that ride, we can’t all be together. You’d ride with those other kids and your mama and I would have to wait for you here. That doesn’t sound as fun, does it?"

Timothy blinked, his little mouth falling open. He thought about it deeply, in the way only a four-year-old could—eyes narrowed, lips pursed, his sticky fingers tapping his chin like a grown man. Then he shook his head firmly, curls bouncing. "Nope. That’s not fun. I want us together. Always together."

Something in Jake’s chest loosened at those words, even though they weren’t meant for him alone. He swallowed, his throat tight, and forced a gentle smile. "Then we’ll do something else. Something we can all play."

Without thinking twice, he tugged Jake’s hand hard, pulling him toward the swings. "Come! Come, come!"

Bella opened her mouth to tell him not to run, but Jake was already moving with him, letting himself be dragged like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She followed slowly, her chest tight, her towel of fear wrapped around her heart.

Timothy scrambled onto one of the swings, kicking his little legs. "Push me! Push me!"

Jake raised a brow. "You sure you can hold on tight?"

"Yes!" Timothy puffed up his chest. "I’m strong. Mama says so!"

Jake’s lips curved in a faint smile as he stepped behind the swing. He gave it a gentle push, enough to make Timothy squeal with laughter. "Higher! Higher!"

"Not too high," Bella called automatically, her voice sharper than she intended.

He’d fallen off a wing not too long and she’d hate for her to watch him fall off another one.

Jake glanced back at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Relax. I’ve got him."

And then he pushed again, steady, controlled — just enough for Timothy to soar and giggle, his little voice carrying across the park.

Bella’s heart thudded painfully as she watched them. Jake was right behind him and she was here, too, so why was she scared?

She sighed as she looked at them. She couldn’t help the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her.

She watched the way Timothy threw his head back with pure joy. The way Jake’s hands hovered close, careful but strong. The way they looked together.

The scene before her was like something she couldn’t let herself imagine but couldn’t unsee either.

Her arms wrapped around herself. Would he be smiling like that if he knew? Or would he look at Timothy differently? What would happen if she just told him now?

After a while, Timothy leaped off the swing and dashed toward the slide. Jake followed at an easy pace, his long strides catching up with the little boy in seconds. Bella walked slower, her steps heavy, her mind torn between pulling Timothy back to her side and letting him run free.

She reached them just as Timothy climbed the ladder.

"Watch me!" he shouted proudly, waving down at both of them. "I can do it all by myself!"

Jake tilted his head up at him. "Go on then. Show us."

Timothy slid down with a whoosh, landing on the grass and laughing so hard his belly shook. Jake clapped once, grinning. "Nice work, champ!"

Timothy lit up, running right back to the ladder.

Bella caught the way Jake’s eyes softened as he watched Timothy’s determination. For a man who built walls so high around himself, he looked... open. Vulnerable. Almost happy.

And that scared her more than anything.

After what felt like hours of running, climbing, sliding, and laughing, Timothy finally plopped down on the grass, his cheeks flushed pink, his little chest heaving. "I’m tired," he announced, dramatic as ever.

Jake dropped down beside him with a chuckle, stretching his long legs out. "Already? I thought you were strong."

Timothy pouted. "I am strong. Just... tired strong."

Jake laughed, ruffling his hair. "That’s a good kind of strong."

Bella sat a little ways off, watching them. Her fingers twisted in her lap as she studied the scene — Jake sitting cross-legged, Timothy leaning against him without hesitation, their voices mixing in light chatter.

Timothy looked up at Jake, his eyes wide with childish curiosity. "Do you have a son?"

The question hit Bella like a slap. Her breath caught, her eyes flying to Jake’s face. What sort of question was that?

Jake blinked, taken aback. Then he shook his head with a faint smile. "No. I don’t have a son," Jake answered.

’You do. You just don’t know it,’ Bella answered in her head.

Timothy frowned, thinking it over. "Oh. You should. Sons are fun," Timothy said.

Bella’s heart squeezed painfully.

Jake chuckled softly, his gaze flicking — just for a moment — toward Bella before returning to Timothy. "I can’t have a son but you can be mine, can’t you?" he asked instead.

Bella frowned. He was saying it again. What did he mean by that?

"You——" Bella was saying when Timothy cut in.

"Of course. You’ll be my daddy!" Timothy said excitedly.

Raymond watched them from afar and decided that it was time he actually did something to stop whatever it was between Bella, his brother and whoever that child was.

He had just before Monday to actually do something, and he wouldn’t miss it. Waiting was dangerous.

He was lucky he’d put someone on Jake’s trail otherwise, how would he have known Jake was here bonding with his woman?

He couldn’t allow this to continue. Never