Chapter 14: Bonding Time

Finn squatted down by their side, as softly and calmly as he could, but Gwen could tell that he was also extremely nervous.
What if Cody didn’t accept him?
It was almost visible how his brain was working at that moment. She knew it was also a very important moment for him, and she could not neglect that. If it was the other way around, she would be feeling desolated.
Cody looked hypnotized by Finn, as if it was the first time seeing the man. Gwen was also very nervous. What if this hurt him in some way? What if Cody resented her for hiding his father for so long?
It was true that maybe Cody wasn’t old enough to understand all of that, so all she could hope was that Cody didn’t give it much importance now that he had his dad around.
“I think I would like it, mommy,” he finally said, and Finn let out a deep sigh in relief.
“That’s great, baby. Remember that mommy said that your dad worked a lot and didn’t have time to visit us?” she asked, still keeping her voice soft.
Cody nodded, still looking at Finn, delighted.
Finn was smiling like she had never seen before. It was a different kind of joy emanating from him. And it was very nice to see.
“So, daddy asked if we wanted to move into this city, so he can always visit you and take you to go for a stroll, to play in the park, and do all the things that kids do with their dads. What do you think?” Gwen asked again, and Cody looked at her for the first time since her announcement.
“I want that, mommy. Is dad going to live with us?” He looked at Finn again.
Finn looked at her for a split second, maybe trying to get some courage from her, and then sat on the floor with them.
This scene was the strangest thing that happened all day, and Gwen already had had a very busy day. But seeing Finn with his expensive suit, seated on the floor with her and Cody, like a normal and happy family, was a very odd picture. One that Gwen always dreamed of, but never dared to think it could happen. She almost had to shake her head to make those thoughts go away.
“Well, daddy won’t live in the same house as you, but you can always come to my house to play if you want. And I will always visit you in your house as well. What do you say?”
“Okay. Do you want to play with me? I have another toy that Aunt Steph gave me,” Cody offered, running to grab the toy that was on the floor and rushed back to hand it to Finn.
“I'd love that,” Finn replied, taking the toy. He got up, and Cody pulled him by his hand to go where he was seated before. “Does he also have a name?” Finn asked, sounding interested at Cody’s little toy world.
Cody stopped to look at Finn, apparently very satisfied that he showed any interest at all in his toys.
“No, he doesn’t. Do you want to give him a name?” he asked Finn, and they both sat on the floor again to play.
Gwen watched that scene, feeling so emotional that she had to wipe a couple of tears that insisted on falling. It was amazing to see her son and his father bond so nicely. Finn was amazing with kids. Especially with Cody.
It was true that he looked a little lost at first, maybe because he was too afraid of doing something wrong. Gwen couldn’t even imagine what it was like to have to meet your own son after he was already old enough to decide if he liked you or not.
But Cody seemed extremely happy and didn’t stop talking to Finn. She quietly got up, sneaking out of the room to give father and son some time alone.
She didn’t want them to guard their words around her. She trusted that Finn wouldn’t say anything that Cody didn’t need to know.
She went to the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat, since her lunch with Finn had not gone as planned.
After an hour - or was it only a few minutes? - Gwen called them to eat. Cody came running and pulling Finn by his hand.
“Daddy is going to eat with us?” he looked from Gwen to Finn, waiting for an answer.
“Yes, of course. Come, let mom help you sit in your chair,” Gwen said, lifting Cody and putting him in the chair.
She went to the kitchen counter to get the food, while Cody continued to speak endlessly and Finn sat by the table.
“Daddy said he will throw a party and show me to his friends, mommy. And I have a grandma too!” Cody said out loud, feeling very excited.
Gwen suddenly dropped the spoon she was holding. She looked at Finn; she could tell by his worried expression that her face was deathly pale.
She could feel her blood pressure suddenly drop, and she felt faint.
“Gwen, are you okay?” Finn asked, looking very concerned and confused. He got up from the chair and grabbed her, helping her sit. She was barely able to stand still. It was like her legs had turned into jam.
“I’m… I’m fine. I think I’m just too hungry. My blood pressure must have dropped,” she lied, getting up and grabbing Cody’s plate to serve him.
“Here, let me help. Just eat something,” Finn took the plate from her hand and asked Cody what he wanted. He looked lost again at that moment, realizing that he didn’t know his son’s favorite foods.
Cody explained the amount of food he liked and what he didn’t, while Gwen served herself some food and tried to force it down, since she wasn’t hungry at all now.
In fact, she was feeling sick of her stomach, and the food was like sawdust in her mouth.