Chapter 5

JANICE’S POV

The photograph where me and Eden was is gone, the one Jack found was Chloe and Eden which I thought I threw away.

I know exactly where I left it, top shelf of the hallway closet. Inside a faded storage box buried beneath old winter clothes and things I never look at anymore.

I pull everything out, boxes, blankets, old paperwork but found nothing. My hands shake harder with every passing minute. “No……no……no.”

I search the same shelf again and again. Then a fourth time. My hands won’t slow down even after my brain accepts what my eyes already know.

The photograph is gone and all I can think about is Jack. The questions, the way he’d looked at me last night and the way he’d asked again.

I sink onto the edge of the couch, maybe I misplaced it but I know better because children find things, notice things and my Jack notices everything.

A small voice interrupts my thoughts. “Mama?” I look up, Jack stands in the hallway wearing dinosaur pajamas.

Hair sticking up everywhere, sleepy eyes blinking at me. “What are you doing?”

I force a smile. “Nothing.” His tiny frown tells me he doesn’t believe me then he walks over and climbs beside me like always, like he belongs.

My throat tightens because he does and I’d burn the entire world down before letting anyone hurt him.

The hotel feels smaller lately or maybe it’s just because Eden Duncan keeps appearing everywhere, every meeting, department, hallway, corner, including my kitchen again and again.

The first few times people blamed inspections now nobody bothers pretending, the staff notice immediately.

“So…….” Chan leans closer while slicing vegetables. “He’s back.” I don’t look up. “Who?”

“Please.” I keep plating. “You sound stupid.” He laughs. “You know exactly who I mean.” Unfortunately, I do.

Across the kitchen Eden stands near the service entrance speaking with management.

Dark suit, rolled sleeves, coffee in one hand watching everything, especially me. “Hell of a coincidence,” Chan mutters. “What is?”

“That every inspection somehow ends in this kitchen.” I ignore him mostly because I don’t have an answer. A few minutes later Eden steps closer. “Chef.” I don’t stop working. “Mr. Duncan.”

His mouth twitches slightly, almost a smile. “Everything running smoothly?”

“Yes.”

“Nobody terrified of me today?” That catches me off guard, I glance up before I can stop myself.

His expression remains completely serious then I realize he’s joking.

Barely a laugh escapes me before I can catch it. His eyes hold mine for a second longer. “There she is.” I immediately regret laughing.

Service finally ends after 11pm. The kitchen empties slowly, one cook leaves then another until only a few lights remain on.

I should go home, Instead I stay mostly because paperwork waits, partly because exhaustion makes driving feel impossible.

I hear footsteps then a coffee cup appears beside my elbow. I look up. Eden, “I didn’t order this.”

“No.”

“Then why is it here?”

“You looked like you needed it.” I stare at him then at the coffee then back at him. “Are you always this annoying?”

His smile appears properly this time. “Only with people who dislike me.”

“I don’t dislike you.” One eyebrow lifts, I sigh. “Fine, maybe a little.” The smile grows, he looks younger when he smiles.

For a few minutes silence settles comfortably between us. Two exhausted people pretending work is enough to fill their lives.

“Long day?” he asks. “Every day is a long day.”

“Hummm.” I sip the coffee, across from me Eden leans against the prep table equally tired unwilling to leave. Something about that realization lands strangely because once upon a time this felt normal being near him.

Talking, existing in the same space. Then his gaze drifts toward a tray of pastries. “Chloe used to steal those.”

Everything inside me locks instantly.

Damn it……not again, the memory hits before I can stop it. Chloe laughing, reaching across a table. Eden notices immediately. “You did it again.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

“That reaction I noticed in you recently whenever Chloe is mentioned” I set down my coffee. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His eyes stay fixed on mine. “Hum, you do.” I stand. “I should finish paperwork.”

For a second neither of us moves then Eden nods once but I can feel him watching me all the way back to my office.

*********

The next afternoon disaster arrives disguised as a phone call. “Mrs. Soto?”

My stomach sinks immediately, school, always school. “What’s wrong?”

“Jack isn’t sick,” the teacher says quickly. My hand slides onto the counter as the tightness crushing my chest eases enough for me to breathe again.

Then comes the second problem, babysitter canceled due to a family emergency and no replacement available.

An hour later Jack sits inside my office coloring dinosaurs because I have no other choice. “You stay here.”

“Okay mommy”

“No wandering.”

“Okay mom”

“No bothering employees.” He gasps dramatically. “I never bother people.”

I stare, he grins and I lose immediately. “Stay here.”

“Okay.” For almost twenty minutes everything works then service starts, chaos begins, somebody needs me.

I leave for five minutes, maybe six, when I return the office door stands open.

My heart stops. “Jack?” I move faster then freeze because he’s there standing in the hallway talking to Eden.

Jack looks completely relaxed and comfortable like they’re old friends. Eden crouches slightly so they’re eye level. “What are you drawing?”

“A triceratops.”

“Looks dangerous.”

“Yes, It is.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Jack nods seriously then Eden glances toward the office. “Waiting for your mom?” Jack points immediately. “My mom works too much.” That traitorous little dinosaur.

A warm, genius and real laugh escapes Eden before he can stop it.

Something twists painfully inside my chest because for one impossible second, they simply fit then Jack looks up and sees me. “Mama!”

My feet are already moving before I can think, I cross the hallway immediately. “Come on.” Jack blinks. “But……”

“Now.”

My hand closes around his shoulder, I can feel Eden noticing every second of it. “Janice.” I force myself to meet his eyes. “Yes” Silence, a beat too long. “Nothing.” But the look on his face says otherwise.

EDEN’S POV

Long after everyone leaves, I sit alone in my office. The building is quiet yet I can’t stop thinking about the boy. Jack, his smile, eyes, something isn’t right.

I open the old photograph again, the same photograph I’ve stared at dozens of times over the years.

Chloe is laughing beautifully, for a long moment I simply look. Then my gaze shifts and I see it. The eyes.

My breath catches, I look at the photograph then the memory of Jack then back again.

The same shape, same color, same expression. My heartbeat pounds once, I stare harder. The age, the timing, Janice, the lies, the resemblance, everything crashes together at once.

My hand tightens around the photograph, one impossible thought slams through my head. What if that boy is mine?