Ice and Fire

Chapter 401 Speculations (Part One)

The next morning, Cherry and Jackson got up early. Cherry went downstairs and headed for the

kitchen to start cooking breakfast. Jackson followed her downstairs but went towards the opposite

direction leading to the garden to do his morning exercises.

When Joe woke up, he hurriedly ran down the stairs. He saw his dad entering the house from the yard.

Wondering where his father came from, Joe asked, "Daddy, didn't you stay here last night?"

"I was here the whole night, " Jackson answered, confused by his son's question. He stopped his pace

and looked at his son, curious as to what led his son to conclude that he stayed out.

Joe then asked, "Then why did you come from outside?"

Jackson replied, "Oh, I did my morning exercise in the garden, just now."

Joe nodded his head and smiled. He now understood what was going on. In his panic he jumped into

the wrong conclusion. So he said, "Well that explains everything."

While this was happening, Cherry went out of the kitchen and saw that the two men of the house were

exchanging words, she smiled and announced, "Good morning you two, breakfast is ready."

Joe replied, "Okay, Mommy." Then he happily ran towards his Mother to give her a hug.

In the dining room, the three sat at the table and ate their breakfast together. While Joe was eating, he

said, "Daddy, Mommy, let's have a family meeting, okay?"

Cherry, surprised by his son's declaration glanced at Jackson. She had no idea what Joe was about to

say to them.

Jackson, though surprised by this sudden declaration of meeting by his son, was amused. He slightly

smiled and wanted to see what kind of family meeting Joe wanted to have.

So Jackson said, " Why don't you tell us first the agenda of the meeting and we'll see."

Joe held his two chopsticks in his two hands, trying to be formal and serious said "Currently, in our

family, Mommy goes to work in my uncle's company and she also drives me to and from school. Daddy,

now that you're back home with us, maybe you should help Mommy? That way, mommy can rest early

and I get to spend more time with you."

Cherry, amazed but still taken aback by what his son said, called his attention in a gentle but

reprimanding tone, "Joe." She was unaware that Joe had been observing the family activities inside the

house. He noted how his Mommy was busy with her work schedule while making sure that he was

given the attention and care that he needed. Jackson was busier then her, but, Joe had no idea.

Jackson had so many things to deal with since Andrew's death.

Jackson thought for a while, nodded his head and said to Joe, "You know, you're right. Your Mommy is

really busy."

Joe then asked, "So you're going help my Mommy?"

Jackson asked in return, "So what should I do? How can I help her" He asked his son to see what idea

his smart child could come up with. Jackson was certain that Joe has already thought of this a hundred

times and already had an answer prepared.

"You should come back home on time every day. Help Mommy cook dinner and, " Joe paused for a

second, and added, "play games with me." After he finished stating his solution to his father, Joe

smiled, sheepishly.

After hearing his son's recommendation, Jackson laughed. He didn't expect that his clever son would

be able to give such a solution. Hitting two birds with one stone, giving Cherry a small break and him

spending more time with Joe.

Cherry stared at her son with a dazed expression on her face. She never thought that Joe would be so

outspoken to his father.

Joe looked into his Mommy's eyes and sweetly said, "Mommy, don't worry. At first, when we arrived

here I thought that it would only be the two of us. But now Daddy is here, too. He followed us, and he is

now with us. I believe that Daddy will go wherever you are, so we don't need to worry where Daddy is.

Daddy will always be with us no matter where we go."

Hearing this, Cherry smiled at her son and felt happy. Cherry thought to herself, 'Joe is right. I have

thought that I would never be with Jackson again. But now, Jackson has returned to me, and actually,

now he never leaves me.'

Jackson, to give more emphasis to his son's statement, moved towards Cherry and placed her arms

her shoulder. He then held Cherry into his arms and said to Joe, "She is my woman, so how could I

leave her?"

Joe smiled and said, "Daddy, I want to discuss another thing with you."

"What, the meeting isn't over yet?" Jackson said. He was surprised and looked annoyed, but his eyes

were laughing. He was teasing his son. "Alright, out with it, " Jackson said. And he decided to try his

best to listen attentively to Joe and try his best to fulfill his son's wishes.

Joe ignoring his father's teasing said seriously, "I can let you have my Mommy, but I have one Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

condition."

Hearing that his son demanded something from him, Jackson became serious. He wanted to hear what

Joe was about to say, so he asked, "What is it?"

Joe replied, "Since Mommy is going to be yours, I will be very lonely without her. So I want to have a

little sister, whom I can love, protect and play games with."

Jackson, amused by his son's request, started to laugh. He didn't disagree with his son's request. In

fact, he loved it and thought that his son made a good point. He made a good lawyer defending his

cause.

Cherry was shocked by his son's last suggestion and hastily said, "Joe, what are you talking about?"

She hadn't even thought about having another child, and now to her surprise, her son mentioned it.

What was more surprising was the way he talked about it. He used such a casual manner. This left

Cherry even more dumbfounded.

Joe pretended to feel offended and said in an injured tone, "Mommy, I'm not joking. You are going to be

taken from me by Daddy, so I'm really going to be lonely."

Jackson lowered his head and with a teasing smile, approached her and asked, "What should we do?

This is our son's requirement. Should we say no to him?"

Cherry looked at Jackson who was grinning from ear to ear. She knew that Jackson must be very

pleased.

Cherry said, "You and your son are ganging up on me. Have you lost your senses?" Then she looked

at her son and changed the subject, "Joe, finish your breakfast and I'll drive you to school, " Cherry

said in a firm voice. She did not like where the family meeting discussion went. She suspected that

somehow this two boys had agreed how to play a practical joke on her.

Seeing Cherry's mood changed and that she was a little upset, Joe obeyed his Mommy's order. He

obediently finished his breakfast in silence.

Jackson knew that Cherry was suddenly placed in a difficult spot. He patted her wife's shoulder to put

her at ease and motioned her to have her breakfast. He whispered that she shouldn't take the family

meeting too seriously. However, at the back of his mind, he agreed with his son's suggestion. It was

about time for them to add a new member in the family. He decided that he needed to find some time to

discuss this matter with his wife. Joe was already at an age where he needed another child's company.

If they were lucky they might have a girl. This would complete their family, and it would be an even

happier family than it was now.

After the breakfast, Cherry took Joe to school and then drove off to her work.

Jackson stood at the gate watching his wife's car disappear into the distance. After seeing Cherry's car

vanish, he too drove his car and left the villa.

While he was driving, he phoned Derek.

Derek answered and said, "Hello, Jackson, good morning."

Jackson waving the pleasantry's out of the way immediately asked, "Where are you?"

Derek used to this attitude replied, "In my apartment. What's wrong?"