"Don't bother me with that, Charlie," the black-haired woman was saying as she walked along pulling a suitcase with one hand and holding her phone to her ear with the other.
"You'll only do unnecessary damage, Katherine. Stop being infatuated with a man who doesn't want that kind of relationship with you."
She laughed. "And then what, I should date you instead?"
"You know, I'm not going to be nice to you anymore. Risk your dignity all you want, but leave that guy alone. They don't deserve to be targets of your stupidity."
"You should have thought of that before you gave me his address! You idiot!"

The woman hung up angrily as she approached a cab. She had a goal and she would not return to London until it was accomplished. It was necessary. For the boy's sake, she had to talk some sense into him.

***
"What do you mean by that?" the blond asked watching his friend massaging the bridge of his nose.
"I'm not really sure. Charlie said Katherine had had another one of her fits, packed a suitcase and came to Canada. She wants to stay a few days."
"Bro, you're screwed," he laughed. "Anne will go berserk. You know she's a jealously queen. She won't put up for much with that girl around."
"Honestly, I don't want to have to put her through this. I know Katherine can be kind of...explosive. An doesn't need that right now."
"Then tell the girl to go back the way she came."
He sighed. "I can't do that, Ry."
"You're a wimp. And soon you'll be a fucked up wimp."
Justin rolled his eyes. "You're not much support."
The blond laughed. "So where's that girl staying, do I have to set up the couch for you by chance?"
"She got a hotel near downtown. She just wants me to pick her up at the train station."
"Weren't you supposed to watch Jason today?"
"I'll take him with me."
"Anne will kill you if she knows you took him with her."
"Then let's pray she doesn't."
"Guys, are you sure you can take care of Jason today?" the girl asked from the stairs with the baby in her arms and a diaper bag over her shoulder. "Because I'm not sure how long it will take and I wouldn't want to have to force you guys to give up your Saturday."
Justin smiled. The mood had been lighter for a few days now. The girl was really focused on organizing Jason's birthday party and didn't have time to hate him. "No problem. You can take as long as you want, do you need extra money?"
The girl gave him a death stare as she heard him mention money. Ryan laughed. "No."
"I meant I'd like to chip in some money for the party too. Ryan and I would like to chip in."
"What?" the blond stopped laughing. "Oh, yeah, we wanted to chip in some money too," he smiled at the girl.
"It's not really necessary."
"Oh, come on, Anne, how many times will Jason be 1 year old? It's only a few dollars," the blonde started to pull out her wallet. "Besides, if you don't take our money, we'll follow you around all day and you know how annoying I can get when I have to spend the afternoon shopping," the girl laughed.
"That's fine. But I won't take more than $100 dollars."

Justin held back a laugh. The girl would die if she saw how much money he had stuffed into the envelope he gave Ryan. After all, it was her son's birthday too.

***
"Remind me again why I should come with you," the blond asked as he played with Jason.
"Because Anne is more compassionate with you and less likely to kill me if you're involved too," the little boy started waving for a hug. He smiled and gently removed him from his friend's arms. "And I needed someone to carry Katherine's bags while I take care of Jason."
"Hey!"
"Just kidding," the baby yawned and he settled him on his chest.

I love you with all my soul and I promise that no matter what, I won't walk away from you, he thought and placed a kiss on the little one's head.

"Justin!" he heard a voice at his back. He turned and saw the girl approaching them. He got up from his seat and spun around. The girl was petrified at the sight of the baby.
"Tell me you told her about Jason."
"I didn't have time."

The woman snapped out of her shock and approached both boys.

"Hi, Katherine, it's good to see you," the brown man said giving the girl a half hug.
"Who is he?" she asked looking at the little boy.
"I'm Ryan Butler. Her husband," the blond replied with some irony.
"Kat, this is Jason. My son," the girl watched him dumbfounded.
"Yes, Katherine, it's nice to meet you too," Ryan mumbled through his teeth.
"Tell me he's not that woman's son."
Justin frowned. "Please don't make an issue of this visit. I've asked you before to be respectful when you talk about her and now there's all the more reason to do so. I appreciate you, but I won't let you insult the mother of my son, especially when he's involved."

***
The girl was walking back and forth carrying trays, serving refreshments, etc. There were at least 20 people in the garden, including co-workers from her old job and some people she had met at Nina's daycare. Ryan brought at least 3 more people, including his mother, who had refused not to attend.

She tried to place 2 trays of snacks in her arms, both wobbled a bit and a pair of hands removed them before they fell to the floor. She saw Justin somewhat nervous in front of her.

"Anne, I have to tell you something."
"Could it wait? I have to take some more things outside," she tried to take the trays out of his hands, but he stopped her.
"There's someone I met in London visiting Barrie. She's coming to the party today."
"No problem," she tried to remove the trays once more.
"I just want you to know because she's kind of...temperamental sometimes. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings or..."
She laughed. "Don't worry. I know how to behave. I won't do anything to your girlfriend," she removed the trays from Justin's grip and headed for the garden.
"She's just a friend. Really," he stopped in front of her before she could leave. "Please don't get ideas in your head," he stroked her hair.
"Justin!" they both heard shouting from the garden.

This will be interesting, thought the girl rolling her eyes.

Anne watched as the black-haired woman approached the boy and she decided to set aside her good manners and walk away. She didn't need that.

"Can't she even say hello?" blurted Katherine intertwining her arm with Justin's. He frowned and carefully pulled out of her grip.
"Please don't make a drama. You said you wanted to be here for Jason and for his sake, don't try to make a problem."
"Me? She was the one who didn't have the manners to introduce herself!"
"Just stop," he took some trays in both hands and walked down the same path as the brown-haired woman. "You don't want to ruin this friendship with an election you won't win."

Katherine clenched her jaw. How can he be such an idiot, she thought. He's running straight into an abyss. She doesn't love him, and if he continues not to set boundaries, she'll end up destroying him.

No matter what it took, she would make it her business not to let that happen.

***
Ryan approached the brown-haired woman with some trepidation. She radiated an anger-filled aura that could explode at any moment and he would be in the line of fire if it happened.

He watched her pick up the trash from the party and put it in a bag with little finesse as she muttered things under her breath. The guests had left a while ago and it was just them, Justin, Katherine and Nina, who had offered to watch Jason while she cleaned up.

"Anne, are you okay?"
The girl looked at him angrily. "Why did you let him bring her?"
He held up his hands in surrender. "I had nothing to do with it. It was her idea."
Anne rolled her eyes. "Obviously."
"Come on, An, you know Justin doesn't care about her that way. He just didn't know how to get her off his back."
"I don't care at all if they're together or not, I just don't want him coming over here wanting to rub it in my face."
"An, you're misunderstanding things..."
"Of course not, Ry. I know what kind of person he is. And if that girl traveled that far to come after him, it means there was something else going on between them. I won't be the one in the middle of that game," she turned her attention back to cleaning.
"Then I've met the wrong person all these years, because the Justin I know isn't nothing like the one you mention," he sighed. "I know you're still hurting and the things that have happened lately haven't been the best, but we both know this is nothing more than a shell you want to build around yourself," he grabbed the girl's arm to force her to look at him. "You'll suffocate if you stay in there, and I don't want to see that happen."

The girl turned her gaze to the other side of the garden where the brunette was trying to pick things up with the black-haired girl on him.

"Can you do me a favor?" she asked looking the blond in the eyes.
"Sure."
"Don't let her near Jason," she released her grip and continued cleaning up.

Ryan rolled his eyes in despair. He didn't know how to break through the iron shield this girl had on her head.

"You can't keep this up forever, you know that."
"I can and I feel like doing it. She'll stay away from my son as long as I can stop her."

***
Justin opened the door to the house in a hurry. He was running a little late and Ryan had picked Jason up from daycare instead.

Katherine kept talking to him at all hours of the day. She had been a great friend to him, but she was becoming very annoying. She had to turn her phone off when her boss was around to keep herself out of trouble and that, having a baby, wasn't the best thing you could do. He was spinning in his head about the best way to politely get her off his back. She had only been in Canada for 3 days and already he wished with all his might that she would go back to London.  He even tried to get Charlie to talk her into coming back, but didn't have much luck.

He heard Jason crying in the living room and ran into the room. The black-haired girl had the little boy in her arms and was trying to calm him down. He looked at Ryan who gave him an apologetic look. The girl's persistence had won.

He walked over to them and the baby turned his arms towards him immediately.

"No, no, little guy," Katherine said turning to avoid the encounter. "Daddy's tired. We'll have fun, you and, me for the time being."
Justin frowned. "I'd rather be the one to carry him," he gave another displeased look to his friend.
"I should go to the kitchen. I'll leave you two alone," the blond announced and escaped the awkward situation.
"Don't you think we'd look cute like this?" the girl blurted out, approaching the brunette. Jason was crying louder and louder.
"No. Now, please give me back my son. He'll get cramps if he keeps crying like that."
She laughed. "Of course not. He just needs to learn that sometimes daddy can't be with him like he'd like."
"Of course I can. Just please give him to me. His mother will be back any minute and..."
"Oh, yes, the great Anne. You know, you and I could set a better example for Jason than the one she's setting for him with her childish tantrums."
"Stop it! Please understand. We will be nothing, now or ever. And if thing continue this way, it will be you who will have pushed this friendship over the edge. You're just acting like an immature girl incapable of seeing beyond herself."
"At least I really do love you."
"If you really loved me, you would leave me alone and be happy watching me fight for what I want," he said and took the baby from her arms trying not to hurt him.
"I love you enough not to let you humiliate yourself anymore in front of someone who could never value you."
"Go home, Katherine," he turned his back to her ready to go and put the little boy, who was sobbing curled up on his chest, in his room.
"Let's go home, Justin," she suggested turning him to face her. "Jason, you and me. We can start over. I have a friend who is a lawyer in London. She can get a way for us to get out of the country safely and you could keep him."

The brunette heard a muffled sound, like something falling to the floor, followed by an exclamation.

"Get away from my son!" the boy turned around to find the brown standing in the door frame with her fists clenched and her eyes filled with angry tears. Her bag was lying beside her.
He felt his heart constrict with fear. He didn't want to get away from his little boy. "Anne..."
The girl rushed to him and slapped him after removing the baby from his arms. "I don't want you or this crazy woman anywhere near my child ever again! And, if you have any decency, you will take your things and get out of here tonight. I don't want to see you ever again!" she turned away holding back sobs.
"Wait, Anne...," Justin tried to take her arm gently to stop her, but she pulled away before he could tighten his grip. The baby began to crying again because of the ruckus.
"If you touch me, I swear I'll call the police and get a restraining order for me and Jason!" she turned and disappeared up the stairs. Justin ran his hands over his frustrated face. All his hopes were crumbling and his only chance rested on a man who cared little for anything in his life. There was no way to undo or erase all the damage he had caused, and wounds seemed to be the only guidance Anne had at the moment.
"She's a lunatic," the black-haired girl said on the side. The boy frowned and watched her for a few seconds dumbfounded.
"Katherine, go home. And, this time, please don't call me again or try to approach me in any way."
"But..."
"This is over. I have no more patience for you. Please, just go away. I hope you have a good life. I'll walk you to the door," he grabbed the girl's coat from the couch and began to gently direct her to the entrance, desperate not to see her anymore.
"Justin, please..."
"I'm sorry, Katherine, but I can't take any more of you."
"Justin..."
"Goodbye, Katherine," he opened the door and led her out of the house. "Take care of yourself," he said and closed the door in her face putting the latch on.

He slowly dropped to the floor trying to breathe and calm himself. He didn't know how he would fix this new mess. He was too deep in a hole and felt that, at any moment, he would sink to a point of no return.

The black-haired woman gave up after 3 attempts to open the door and snorted in exasperation, ready to leave. She muttered curses under her breath as she made her way down the driveway to the street. Unnoticed, a woman with wavy brown hair watched her.

She crossed to the next sidewalk trying to get a cab. The stranger followed her.

"Excuse me, could I have a few minutes?" the older woman asked out of the blue. The girl frowned suspiciously. "My name is Rose. Rose Frank," she introduced herself and extended her hand.