Home sweet home

In the morning baby Jax is awake and he seems to be getting bored of staying in that bed, finally Doctor Lee come back with news.

"Good morning Mr and Mrs Redgrave, I have the results of Jackson tests. It's seems to be everything ok, it was probably just a bug. But he's a strong boy, I bet he'll be 100% in a couple of days. I'm releasing him now, he looks already bored here."

"Yeh, he looks ready to go back to home. Thank you doctor."

"Thank you very much Doctor Lee." I tell her feeling very relieved.

"No problem."

While we wait for the last procedures before we can go home I feel anxious. I don't know what to do, should I go back with them and keep pretending to be Amanda or get back to my own life and forget about them? I think I know who could help me.

*Hi Papa...*

*Candie! I thought you'd be back yesterday. What happened? Are you ok?*

*Yes, I'm ok. What about you, how was your weekend with Amanda?*

*It was ok, she had to left earlier.*

*She said why or where she had to go?*

*Not really, she just told me she would be out for a while, I thought you knew.*

*I'm at the hospital with her baby.*

*Really? What happened?

*Probably just a bug, we're leaving now, but Amanda should be here with him.*

*Yes you're right, but he's lucky to have an aunt like you, Candie.*

*Papa... you regret taking care of me and Amanda when our parents left and then when grandma died?*

*Of course not Candice, I would do everything again if I had to. I love you both*

*I know Papa, I love you too.*

*Are you ok baby?*

*Yes, I'm just tired. I didn't have much sleep.*

*I bet... When are you coming back?*

*I still don't know, I think I'm staying with baby Jax. I'll take care of him till I talk with Amanda, she probably will be back soon when she finds out her son was sick.*

*Ok baby, you're a great person for taking care of your nephew.*

Deep inside I know this is improbable, Amanda wouldn't come back for her son.

*I'm very proud of the woman you became.*

*Thank you Papa, it was because of you.*

*Talk to you soon, baby.*

*Take care, papa.*

(That's it, I'm staying for now.)

I get back to Amanda house with Jackson and baby Jax, we haven't talked the whole way. I think I can work with this, I'm here for my nephew. Since we manage to avoid each other and keep it civil, we're probably not having any problems. Also it would be easier to keep him believing I'm Amanda.

I told Josie she could get later today, she was all night at the hospital. I don't mind to take care of Jax myself.

We know each other just for a few days but I already love my nephew. I'm still worried about Amanda situation, she didn't even care to explain or tell where or how long she's leaving.

But now I'm keeping myself busy with the baby boy.

"There you are..."

"Hey Josie!"

"Ma'am.. you look tired."

"Josie you don't need to call me like that, we're friends."

"I know hon, but it's better this way."

"Ok, maybe you're right. But keep it easy."

"He's not giving you any rest right?"

"Not much, he slept a little in the morning but it was not enough for me."

"He likes you."

"I like him too."

"Of course you do, it's your son."

Josie winks at me. And takes Jax with her.

"Let's go for a walk baby boy, your mom needs some sleep."

"Thank you Josie."

"Don't worry, ma'am."

This time I head to Amanda's bedroom, I'm not making the same mistake again. Jackson is working on his home office since we got back to the hospital, he wants to be in home for Jax.

I take a shower but my mind is full, I can't relax. I decide to good around the house, I need to get familiar with the place.

I already know Amanda, Jackson and baby Jax bedrooms, also the kitchen.

Now I find something I think it's the library. I take my time looking through the books, looks like it's just for show, I bet no one here really read those. I sit on a sofa with some books but soon I fall asleep.

"Amanda...wakeup"

I hear some low voice, I don't know if it's inside my head. Maybe is just a dream, I'm too sleepy.

"Mandie..."

I wake up very confused, Jackson is standing near to the sofa. I sit down trying to have my mind straight.

"What? I fell asleep..."

"I see..."

"Something happened? Where's Jax?"

"He's fine, he's with Josie."

"I should find them."

He looks at me for a moment, I know he's not used to this new Amanda, but I'm not ignoring my nephew just to not look suspicious.

"I have to go to the officer for a couple of hours, call me if anything happens with Jax."

"Sure, I will."

He walks to the door but turn back before leaving.

"I suppose you remember we have the Investors dinner tomorrow night."

"uh!.." ($hit... I didn't even thought about this part of Amanda life, I really don't want to socialize with her friends. Maybe I can avoid it)

"I think with all this thing with Jax I just forgot, maybe I should stay in home with him."

"What? Amanda I told you many times how important it was, but I guess think about anything else besides your own needs is just too much for you."

"I just forgot, I have a sick baby in home, a barely had any sleep. I'm sorry if the last thing I want is mingle with some old money creepies."

I don't know what I got, I don't even know what he's talking about but I felt like standing up for myself. I bet this was not a good idea, I should avoid confront him.

"Suddenly you care about our son?"

"Yes, I do care about my son. Someone has to since you're always at work."

"Oh no... Don't come with this bullshit now Amanda. You'd do anything to avoid spend time with Jax."

"And see what happened, Jax got sick and none of us was here for him."

"Jackson doesn't have anything else to say, I think I made my point."

"What time again will this dinner be?"

"9pm"

"Jax will be already sleeping, I'll ask Josie if she can stay a little longer with him."

"Fine, Samuel will be ready to take you by 8:45pm."

He leaves the library and I can breath again. I can't believe what just happened, fix the things in this family will not be easy. Of course I'm not the one to fix Amanda marriage, but I hope I can make Jackson spend more time with his son. I don't know how much time I'll stay here, when I leave I want to make sure baby Jax will have someone for him.

I just didn't think I'd have to pretend to be Amanda outside this house to.

This dinner will be a huge challenge.

The next morning I wakeup early, I need to talk with Josie. I'll need all help I can find to be Amanda at the dinner.

"Josie! I need your help."

"Sure, what happened?"

"I have to attend this investors dinner with Jackson tonight."

"Oh! I see..."

"Please don't make this face. What kind of trouble I am now?"

"It's a fancy thing, I saw some of the people that will probably be attending. Mostly from Jackson work, old man, fancy woman... I couldn't tell if Amanda likes those parties, she probably got bored at then but she loves to be shown of."

"I see... I have no idea what to do."

"I suppose you just need to wear something fancy, take some drinks and pretend you enjoy spending time talking about boats and wine."

"Oh sure... very simple, something I do everyday."

"Well... yes. That's what Amanda Redgrave do. You should start looking for something to wear, luckily you have a store sized closet."

I check myself in the mirror, i do looks like Amanda, I just need to keep myself low key and avoid trouble.

I get to baby Jax bedroom to check him again one more time before I leave, he's sleeping peacefully.

"Wow... you look good."

"Thank you Josie, but I feel like throwing up."

"Don't worry, they'll be there for Jackson, not for you. You'll be fine."

"I hope so... call me anytime if he needs me, ok?"

"Don't worry, now go."

"ok, see you later."

Samuel is already waiting for me outside, I'll meet Jackson at the dinner place. After a short ride I arrive at the fancy place, there's no going back now.

I'm terrified when I enter the place, I notice a few eyes on me. I spot Jackson talking with some middle age men. I take a deep breath and walk to them.

"Good evening, gentleman."

Jackson and the three other man turn to me, he sizes me up and down but I can't tell what he's thinking.

The three men nods and greets me. I don't know what to do next.

"Good evening, baby." He speaks to me before kissing me on the face.

My face get warm where his lips touches, also the place where his hand rests.

Thanks to the deep fence on the back his hand touches directly my skin, makes my pulse race, or maybe I'm just anxious to be around so many strange people. I just give him a cheek smile.

"Do you want a drink?"

He sounds surprisingly polite, besides the time at the hospital he was never that kind to me.

"Sure, I'd love some whiskey."

He look at me confused.

"I thought you would never change of white wine."

"I think I need something stronger tonight."

Jackson excuse ourselves away from the men, we head together to the bar. His hand still on my back, but he seems unfazed about my presence.

(That's what they do? Just pretend in front of the others? Seems like I'm not the only one faking here.)

"Here..." He hands me the drink but not even a second glance to me.

"Thanks."

I suppose this is a good thing, it means I didn't do anything wrong worthy to be noticed.

"I need to talk with some people, I know you'll be fine by yourself."

I just nod playing along.

I don't know how much time passes, I'm sitting at the bar, alone. I saw Jackson a couple of times talking around with many people.

I don't even know why he was so mad when I said I was not coming if he doesn't even care about me, I'm just a fancy accessory.

"What a beautiful woman like you is doing alone here?"

I look to the side to see the man sitting on the bench next to me, almost too close. I fix myself taking some distance from him.

"I enjoy my own company."

"Then we already have something in common."

He gives me a flirty look, I feel him undressing me with his eyes.

"I'm Randy Maxwell.."

He says standing his hand to me. That I purposely ignore, taking a sip of my drink.

"Amanda Redgrave". It's getting easier to introduce myself as her.

"Oh! Jackson's girl"

"In not his girl, I'm his wife."

"Jackson always had a exquisite taste."

"I bet he does but I don't really like to be compared as a dish or fancy wine."

"I like you already Amanda." He laughs.

"It's Mrs Redgrave..."

"oh! Sure, Mrs Redgrave."

"Hey baby! Found you..."

The blond girl hold her arms around Maxwell, then she finally notices me.

(The douchebag was hitting on me with his woman here...gross.)

"Oh! Amanda. Haven't seen you at the tennis club lately."

(damn... she knows Amanda.)

"That's how it is to have a baby in home."

"I never thought you'd be the staying in home mother type."

"Well it happens I have a son, also a home. Then seems like I am now."

"Good for you hon..."

"Excuse me, I need to find my husband."

I can't stand those two anymore. I look around trying to find Jackson. I finally find him near to the tables.

"Are you staying any longer?"

"I don't think so."

"I'm tired."

"I saw you met Randy Maxwell."

"I could live without that."

"I thought you liked the attention."

I shouldn't feel offended, I know this is Amanda but it doesn't help much.

"Not the attention from married man in the same room with my husband."

Jackson doesn't seems to care if his words hurt me, I think this is how it is between him and Amanda.

"I just have to talk with one more person, you can wait in the car."

I had enough of this people, it was just my first party and I'm already done with all this thing.

I wait in the car for at least 10min before Jackson leaves the party, when he sits by my side and nod to Samuel, he looks upset but this is not my business.

We're both silent on the way back, when we get in home Samuel holds the door open for me, Jackson get out and head to home, those five minutes of kindness during the dinner and that talk before we left were all the interaction we had this night.

He lock himself in his office, first I check on baby Jax who is still sleeping as I left him and say good night to Josie.

It's still hard to me to find my sleep since I got to Amanda house. I always have so much in my mind, where is she? ...will she come back?... What if someone else find out who I really am?

When I'm not with baby Jax I'm spending my time at the library, I'm starting to discover this is the place I can stay with anyone bothers me.

I couple of hours later I'm finally sleepy, I'm heading to my bedroom when I see a light coming from the end of the corridor.

I decide to check, it's Jackson office. He's still wearing the clothes from earlier, sitting on a chair.

I turn around trying to leave without being noticed but it's too late.

"Amanda?... Why are you still up?"