Always Been You

Jensen laughed again.

“So do you like it here, Tim? How has it been since you moved?” Jensen asked.

Yeah I guess I like it. I have always wanted to come here. So I can be with my grandma and grandpa, and my Uncle Jon. But mom didn’t want to at first. I was so happy when she finally changed her mind… I kinda miss my friends though but my mom said I can make new ones” Tim said.

“And how’s that going?”

“Pretty good I guess”

“That’s good. And now you can count me as one of your friends”

“Really?” Tim asked.

“Yeah. Sure. Your mom and I used to be really close when we were little”

“Well, she never told me that. And you never visited us.. Why didn’t you?” Tim asked.

“Well. Sometimes life just separates people. People just you know… Lose touch. You understand?”

“I’m not sure I do, but I guess it’s the same with my friends I had to leave behind” said Tim.

“Yeah, that’s right. You are a smart kid. I like smart people” Jensen said.

Tim smiled. “Thanks,” he said.

Jensen couldn’t help thinking. Katherine had a son. The little guy should be like nine… Or ten. Did she have a kid in college and he didn’t know?. Who did she have the child with? Was it Mitch? Was that the reason why she decided to leave with him? Was that why she wouldn’t listen when he asked her to stay?… because she didn’t have a choice?

He looked at Tim. The kid had dark hair, just like Katherine’s. But he couldn’t detect any more resemblance.

How could Jonathan not tell him? He didn’t need anyone to answer that. He knew why. In his anger he told Jon he didn’t want to talk about Kathy. And Jon understood he was mad and he had done what he wanted. But now, for the first time. He regretted making that move.

They got to his building and Tim got out of the car. “Thanks, Jensen,” he said.

“You are welcome,” Jensen said. I’m coming up with you too though. I want to speak with your mom ”

“Alright,” Tim said.

When they got to the store Katherine was on the phone. She looked at Tim with very angry eyes and then her eyes fell on Jensen.

“It’s okay, mom”. She said to the person on the other line. “He is here now”.

“Hi mom,” Tim said cheerfully.

“And just where the heck have you been, young man?” Katherine asked angrily. “Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?”

“I had a flat tire on my way here mom. That’s why I’m late.”

Katherine drew Tim closer and wrapped her arms around him.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Mom,” Tim muttered. “You are smothering me”

“You should have called me, Tim,” Katherine said.

“I’m sorry mom. I didn’t think about it” Tim said. “Jensen saw me and he gave me a ride”

“Jensen?” Katherine repeated. “It’s Mr Packard, Tim” she corrected.

“Well… He asked me to call him Jensen”

“You see, that’s the reason why I didn’t want you coming here by yourself” Katherine said. She was so aware of Jensen. And why the hell was he just standing there like that staring at them?

“Well I’m safe, mom,” Tim said. “Nothing happened”

“And you know better than to accept rides from strangers, Tim,” Katherine said.

“But he is not a stranger. You know him. And he knows you. I thought it would be alright”

Katherine saw Jensen smile, and she frowned.

“But you know you can’t just believe everyone when they say they are not strangers, Tim. I just want you to be safe, okay? Do you understand me?”

“Alright mom. I’m sorry”

“It’s okay sweetie, where is your bike?”

“In Jensen’s trunk” Tim replied.

“I will get it out for him when I go down,” Jensen said.

Katherine nodded. “Did you thank Jensen for the ride?” she asked Tim.

“Yes mom I did. Can I go look at the rest of the building now, mom. It’s so big?”

“Yes. But please be careful”

Tim ran out of the store. Leaving Katherine with Jensen.

“Nice kid,” Jensen said. “I like him”

“Thanks…. Thanks for giving him a ride” Katherine replied. “I was really getting worried”

“It’s no big deal. Said Jensen. He hesitated, then added. ” I didn’t know you had a kid, Kat ” he added.

“Jonathan didn’t tell you?” Katherine asked.

“No he didn’t”

“Oh”

“You never mentioned it to me either, Kat,” he said.

“Well, Jensen, we hadn’t spoken to each other in five years… And I didn’t think I needed to. Are you saying I should have mentioned it because I wanted this store?”

“What?” Jensen said, sounding surprised. “Not everything is about the store, Kat. I just… I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to know”.

“Well, now you know”. Katherine said.

“Is he Mitch’s kid?” Jensen asked without thinking. He knew it wasn’t his business. But he just had to know. He didn’t know if he could stand the fact that she had a child with Mitch. He already blamed himself because she left.

“What? No.” Katherine replied. “And it’s none of your business”

“So you won’t tell me…. Who is his father?”

“I adopted him four years ago, alright? He was just four then. And he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m proud of him”

“You should be.” Jensen said. “He’s smart and I can see you both love each other very much. I see it in the way you look at him and the way you were so worried about him.”

Katherine stared at him. She didn’t know what to say.

“So how’s the setting up of the store coming?” Jensen asked.

“Great,” Katherine replied. “All the equipment is set up and ready. I can focus on other things now”

“Like what?”

“My house”

“Yeah, that’s tomorrow right?” he asked

“Yeah, it is”

“So I will see you tomorrow then. I will meet you at your parents house, right?”

“Thanks Jensen. But really you don’t have to…”

“You don’t want me there?” he interrupted.

“No…. I mean yes. Of course I would appreciate the help. I just don’t want you to stress yourself over it. Like I told you before, I have my parents, Jon and I….”

“I want to help, Kat,” he said, moving close to her. “Just let me…. You don’t have to fight me about everything, Kat. We aren’t kids anymore. You haven’t changed one bit, you know.”