Chapter 13: Introducing Dad

After setting things up with Finn, he showed her around the company and gave her an office and an assistant, Joe, a new graduate who was very eager to help.
Gwen pretended not to notice a few eyes checking her out. She was sure that was going to be something frequent, especially after everyone find out that she was the mother of Finn’s son. She would have to prepare herself for that.
After getting acquainted with everything, Finn asked someone from the marketing department to guide Gwen through their internal process. He excused himself for a bit and said that he would meet her later to take her back home.
Gwen was excited, though she still felt butterflies in her stomach. It had been a long time since she started something new in her life, so she was trying not to freak out.
She texted Stephanie and asked her to watch Cody for a bit longer, since she had to settle in a bit. She would have to find a new school for Cody as soon as possible; she couldn’t continue to ask favors from her friend.
A woman called Jessie, who was very receptive and kind, showed Gwen around while getting her updated on how things worked in the company.
“And these are the last publicity campaigns we made, which did very well. We got incredible results,” Jessie said, handing over a portfolio full of marketing notes.
Gwen took them and went through some of them. They were very amazing indeed. No wonder they got amazing results. She wasn’t scared not to be up to the task, but the folder in front of her showed her that she would have to work hard to deserve this position.
Finn’s company worked with a lot of fields, technology especially. And Gwen would have to study a few things to improve her skills.
“Thank you, Jessie. Do you think it’s okay if I bring these home with me? Just so I can take a better look at them and know how things are normally done here,” Gwen asked, getting a smile back from Jessie.
She was a very nice woman and didn’t seem to have any interest in Gwen’s personal life, which made Gwen more comfortable around her. She could use some friends in town, especially at work, if she wasn’t going to come back home.
Then it hit her. She would have to find somewhere to live, fly her things from home, find Cody a new school, and God knows what else.
She wasn’t ready for all that chaos. And suddenly, a wave of anxiety took over.
“Jessie, I need to go to the bathroom, could you please show me where it is?”
The woman pointed the direction and Gwen left the room in a hurry, trying not to be rude on her way out. But she couldn’t breathe properly, so she had to find a place to calm herself.
Of course the anxiety wasn’t just because of the moving thing. She could handle that, Stephanie would love the idea of having her friend back in town, so she would be more than happy to help with the logistics.
It was probably everything finally sinking in. The reality of all. She was really back in a place she never thought she would return to. And she wasn’t referring to the company, or even the city, but Finn’s life.
After washing her face and breathing in and out deeply, Gwen felt a lot better. When she got out of the bathroom, Finn was waiting for her outside.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking worried. “Jessie said you left in a hurry, I thought something had happened.”
“I’m fine… I… I think it was just some anxiety. But I’m feeling better now, thank you.” Gwen replied, feeling ashamed. She didn’t want to cause a scene.
“Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?” Finn insisted, still concerned.
“No, it’s… fine. I think it was just me realizing all the recent changes. I… I don’t know how to tell Cody that you’re his father,” she continued, lowering her voice as they went towards the elevator.
She didn’t need to add gossipers to her list of concerns at that moment. Better wait for Finn’s announcement, since she didn’t have much choice over that anyway.
Finn looked at her with intrigued eyes. She didn’t know what he was thinking.
“I can go with you now, if you want. I can help you answer his questions, if he has any,” Finn suggested.
“He will probably have tons of them,” Gwen replied, while Finn pushed the level button. “And do I think it would be nice to have you there.”
“What exactly did you tell him? About me, I mean,” Finn asked, looking at her again.
“I just said that his father worked a lot and didn’t have time to visit. And that you also lived far away,” she replied, feeling ashamed all of a sudden.
Not that she had the need to, but she didn’t seem to be able to control her emotions lately.
“I see,” he murmured, getting out of the elevator and walking towards his car.
Gwen didn’t know what else to say, so she simply entered his car and kept quiet during a good part of the ride.
“I’m really sorry, Finn,” she finally said, after long minutes of silence. “I know you don’t know the reasons why I did what I did, but I hope you can forgive me for taking Cody away from you. I swear it wasn’t my intention.”
Finn looked at her, surprised at her confession.
But he knew that, even if he asked again, she wouldn’t say. She wouldn’t tell him what happened. At least not for now. But maybe one day he could be able to build some trust between them again, and finally get some answers from her.
“It's okay. I know you wouldn’t do such a thing unless you absolutely had to.”
Gwen felt her eyes burn with unshed tears. She didn’t want to cry.
She texted Stephanie to warn her that she was coming home with Finn to introduce him to Cody. Her friend bombarded her with a lot of questions, but Gwen only replied that she would explain everything later.
Stephanie said she was going to work anyway, so they would have some privacy to talk. As soon as they got home, Gwen hugged her and whispered a thank you before she entered the house with Finn by her side.
Cody was playing in his bedroom with Mr. Boots and another toy, one that Stephanie bought him as a gift a few days before.
“Mommy!” he screamed as soon as he saw Gwen appear at the door.
He came rushing to hug her, and seemed very curious when he saw that she wasn’t alone.
“I know you,” he said to Finn, as he separated from his mother embrace, with Mr. Boots still on his hand. “You are that nice man from the mall.”
“Hi, Cody. It’s very nice to see you and Mr. Boots again.” Finn widened his smile, and Gwen could see the glow in his eyes as he looked at Cody. This time, he knew who Cody was. And Gwen was very moved to see the love in his eyes. That warmed her heart in a way she didn’t expect.
She sat on the floor and pulled Cody to sit on her legs.
“Baby, remember when you asked mommy where your daddy was?” she asked in a soft voice, caressing Cody’s hair gently.
The kid nodded, looking at her with curiosity.
“So… What would you think if mommy told you that Finn is your dad?” she pointed to the man standing in front of them, and Cody followed her finger with his eyes.