Build And Break novel Chapter 18

"Yes." Angela admitted concretely.

"I'm not leaving here without you. And we haven't finished our talk yet." As his usual self, Steven's tone was authoritative.

"No, we haven't." Angela agreed. Of course they didn't. She had yet to chastise him for kicking her out while pregnant.

Angela was too tired to argue or speak any further. Unbeknown to her own body, Angela leaned down on the hard, mint sofa and within a minute, she was dozed off.

Steven watched Angela's sleeping form. Up until yesterday that woman was only his ex-wife. Now she was the wife he divorced and the mother of his son. His son. He still couldn't believe he had a son. That he was a father.

"Is he really my son?" Steven mused with a combustion of emotions. With incredulity, with wonder. With amazement. And he be damned but he just couldn't waver his gaze from Angela. The mother of his son.

From opposite him, Grace peered at him over the rim of her reading glasses. "Are you really questioning the paternity? Haven't you seen Daniel? The second you walked in here I've known you were his father without even knowing who you were. He's your mirror. Of course, he's your son." Grace went to return to her puzzle. But just couldn't stay docile. She could stop herself from giving Steven a tongue-lashing. "How dare you? How dare you think that lowly of Angel? She and my son were just good friends. Do you think either of them wanted to marry each other? They did for Daniel. My Tony helped her raise that boy when you weren't there. You should thank my son. And you should apologize to the mother of your son. You have no idea how hard all of it has been for her." It was then that Grace was satisfied with her barrage of words and continued her crossword.

"When can I play soccer again, mommy?" Daniel had woken up bright and in high spirts. Color had been restored to his face. His cheek were rosy, his lips were pink again.

Angela couldn't help but smile at the boy. "In a few days."

"Can I play with Uncle Jimmy then? He let me score a lot."

"You can play with Uncle Jimmy. But only this once. Your uncle plays very rough." Angela quipped at Jimmy who slouched in the nearby armchair before she teasingly threw at him Daniel's new mini soccer ball that the friendly Dr. Gibbs had gotten him earlier that day.

Jimmy sat up. "Oh, come on. You know I don't play rough with Danny. I only play rough when you're a player against me." He tossed the ball back at Angela intentionally with a little more force than required causing her to shriek back and the ball to hit her in the ribs.

A heartily laughter sounded from Daniel's mouth. Goodness, the sound was music to Angela's ears.

"I want to see you two play." Daniel exclaimed while he jumped to sit back on the bed.

Angela didn't even bother telling him to lay back in bed. She was accustomed to Daniel being this exuberant after waking up in a hospital bed with his fully restored energy. "Never going to happen. Ask me anything you want but not that."

Steven released a deep breath. She didn't ask him away as he'd expected. And she had introduced him to the boy. As he had definitely not expected. He took her words as his invite to come in. "Hello, Daniel." Steven offered his hand to Daniel. The boy took it like a real man. Goodness, he was so much like him.

"That's one fine handshake." Steven remarked.

"Do you like soccer, Steven?" Daniel asked with eager curiosity.

Steven stilled for a second at the enchanting sound of his name coming from the boy's mouth. And did his heart just tugged a little? "I can't say I do, no."

"Uncle Jimmy can teach you. Can't you Uncle?"

"Um..." Jimmy tried to evade from answering. Tried to hide the disdain he showed at Steven.

"I'm not really a sports person." Steven helped out. He took the mini ball Angela held in her hand and sat on the edge of the bed close to Daniel. "But you can tell me how it's played."