Ray Of Sunshine

Chapter 11: Imaginary Friend

I clean up the kitchen, while Jessica eats her pudding.

"Today was fun, wasn't it?" I smile.

"Yeah. I like Jack. He's funny." She smiles.

"Yeah." I laugh softly.

I hear footsteps through the hall, coming towards the kitchen. Michael is home.

"Hi daddy!" Jessica smiles, looking over at him.

"Hey Jessie." He smiles, and walks over to her, giving her a kiss on the head.

He glances over at me, and I flash a smile.

"Hey."

"Hi." He sighs, showing no emotion.

He's in a bad mood...

"Rice pudding?" Michael says, looking down at what Jessica is eating.

"Yeah, there's some over there if you want any?" I nod over to the bowl, next to the fridge.

Michael nods, and looks at Jessie.

"Have you had a good day baby?"

"Yeah, me and Ness had a fun day." Jessica smiles.

Shiiiit. She better not mention Jack.

"Uh, Jess, do you want any more rice pudding?" I smile.

Michael looks at me, but I avoid looking at him.

"No, thanks." She shakes her head.

"What did you do today?" Michael asks her.

"Are you sure you don't want any more Jessie?"

"She said no." Michael says abruptly, as he looks at me again.

Oook... I nod, and clear my throat.

"I'll run you a bath in a second."

"Ok." Jessica nods.

"So, what fun things did you do today Jessie?" Michael tries asking again.

He knows there's something up... I can't stop Jessica from telling him, so I just have to deal with this.

"I met Vanessa's friend." Jessica smiles.

"Friend?" Michael lowers his eyebrows, and then glances over at me.

"Yeah, Jack." She nods. "He was here earlier."

I laugh softly, and shake my head.

"You mean, Jack, your imaginary friend." I raise my eyebrows.

I don't even know why I'm trying to lie? She isn't going to go along with me. Jessica makes a face, and shakes her head.

"No?" She laughs. "I don't have an imaginary friend."

I feel Michael staring at me. He's giving me his resting bitch face stare. I'm in trouble.

"We danced to Beyoncé, and then we went to the park. We played together on the slide, and swings. Oh, and then we had ice cream! Ness had vanilla, Jack had chocolate, and I had strawberry."

"Oh, really?" Michael rubs his face, and forces a little smile through his sigh.

He looks frustrated...annoyed...angry.

"Yeah, and Jack is really funny." She smiles.

Michael clears his throat, and starts to unbutton his shirt. What's he taking his shirt off for? Maybe he just needs to cool down. He's definitely pissed, so I think it's wise he cools down. He looks hot as he takes it off, and I mean hot as in sexy. He pulls it off, and now his white t-shirt is showing. Damn, he looks mad.