Eve’s mouth got open. This was the last thing she expected. 

„Are you putting into question, if Jake is yours???“ 

„Yes, I do.“  

Her mood suddenly changed. She couldn’t get more hurt as in this moment. 

„Who are you?“ She stammered, fighting hard against her tears. 

„I’m asking myself the same question about you.“

„I’m.Your.Wife.“

„That doesn’t give you the damn right spying on me and reading my messages!“

„Oh, right. You’re the victim here. How could I forget that?“ 

„Is this the way you deal with unpleasant situations?“ He talked back. 

Eve scoffed. 

„Describing this situation as unpleasant is a giant understatement!“ 

„What do you expect from me, Eve, hm?! What the hell do you want?!“ 

„I’m aware of what happened to you and that learning about your new life overwhelms you. I understand why you’re distant and that you feel uncomfortable having me around. But getting in touch with your ex behind my back is really low, Josh. I never thought you would be capable acting like that.“

Josh didn’t know how to reply. He knew he made a mistake but he wasn’t ready admitting it. 

Eve was surprised, that she kept herself from crying so far. But she knew that she would break down any second. 

„Not in front of him. Get the fuck out of here.“ She was thinking. 

Then she stood up and went to the door. Josh didn’t make her stop. 

Before she disappeared Eve turned into his direction again.

„I’m gonna arrange a paternity test for Jake. But don’t worry about the result. I expect nothing from you.“ 

Being completely shocked about herself, Eve went to the nurse’s office to pick up Jake.

„Is everything okay?“ Monica asked concerned.

„Thank you for watching my baby.“ Eve replied. 

Then she took Jake’s stroller and left the situation.

Josh was processing hard. He regretted the way he talked to Eve. She’ve had the right being upset about the fact, that he was in touch with Jen. But his assumption, Jake might not be his was obviously a much bigger mistake. On the other hand she shouldn’t have checked his phone. But as she knew his code, maybe that’s how things between them used to be, not having any boundaries. 

While he was lost in thoughts, his doctor entered the room.

„How are you doing this morning, Mr. Chasez?“ He asked friendly. 

Josh glanced at him and deeply sighed. 

„You better don’t ask.“

The doctor frowned.

„What’s the matter?“ 

„Eve brought food from Mc Donald’s.“ 

The doctor looked at the paper bag, waiting for more information.

„I hate Mc Donald’s.“

„Oh ehm… maybe you changed your mind and just don’t remember…?“ 

„No. She knew what she was doing. This happened for a reason.“

„Which reason?“ 

Josh explained what just have happened. The doctor listened carefully. When Josh finished talking, the doctor raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.

„That’s not what I meant, when I asked you opening up to her.“ 

„I’m aware of that.“ Josh said annoyed. 

„What makes you believe the baby might not be yours?“ The doctor wanted to know. 

„He’s not looking like me. And there are rumors online, Justin might be the father.“

The doctor frowned again.

„Come on, Mr. Chasez. You’re in that business for too long to let yourself getting manipulated by the yellow press.“ 

„I know. It’s just… I still can’t believe all of this happened to me… a kid and a marriage with a woman who’s not even close being like the girls I used to date…“

The doctor stared at him in disbelief.

„Excuse me for saying that, but your wife is breathtaking. I just saw her walking down the hall. I really don’t see any reason for complains.“ 

„I know she’s beautiful. But she’s so different comparing to my ex girlfriend. I’m still struggling with the fact that she isn’t a part of my life anymore. That’s why I wrote her… I try to figure out what happened.“

The doctor nodded. 

„I understand what you’re trying to say, Mr. Chasez. But your behavior might cause a big damage to your current relationship. So please do me a favor and think twice, before you let your ex back into your life.“

When the doctor left him alone, Josh was lost in thoughts. Some time later an incoming message brought him back to reality. 

„Is there a reason you stopped writing?“ [Jen]

„I don’t wanna hurt Eve.“ [Jay]

„You told her we’re in touch?“ [Jen]

„She found out.“ [Jay]

„Texting is not a crime, Jay.“ [Jen]

„I’m sorry, but I just can’t be this way.“ [Jay]

Eve was in Jake’s room and lying next to him at the floor, while he was playing with his toys. Then the doorbell rang. With the baby on her arm, Eve went downstairs and opened up. 

„What brings you here, Matty?“ Eve asked, letting him in. 

„Is this a serious question?“ He blamed her. „You weren’t in the office today and didn’t respond to any of my messages.“ 

„I reached the point of total resignation.“ Eve replied emotionless. 

„What that supposed to mean?“

„Let me make some coffee before I explain…“ 

„So? What now?“ Mateo asked, after hearing what has happened.“ 

Both were sitting at the kitchen island, while Jake was in his baby bouncer and eating a banana. 

„I’m exhausted, Matty. I simply do not have any energy left fighting any longer. This year was nothing else but a giant disaster. And things are just getting worse with every further day.“ 

„Please don’t say that, Eve. Your husband woke up from coma. This is what you prayed for every damn night.“ 

„I know…“ 

„This is not the time to give up, you hear me? You came so far, you’re not giving up now!“ 

„He doesn’t want us, Matty. What am I supposed to do about it?“

„You need to be patient. Blaming him for not caring about you or Jake is the completely wrong way dealing with the situation.“ 

„I don’t have any patience left. I don’t have anything left.“ 

Of course Mateo understood Eve’s desperation. But showing empathy wouldn’t help her out of her emotional crisis. 

„You need to fight for him, Eve. He’s the love of your life. 

Eve grabbed her face and deeply sighed. 

„Okay… you’re right…“

Somehow Josh lost his appetite, glancing at his hospital breakfast at his bedside table. He didn’t sleep well after his fight with Eve the prior day, thinking about how to make things right. Then he heard someone knocking at his door. He was very surprised, as he didn’t expect Eve showing up this morning.  

In the next moment the door got open and Jen entered the room. Josh stared at her like seeing a ghost. This was the last thing he expected to happen. 

„Good morning, Jay.“ She said, smiling calmly and coming closer. 

„Jen… what… why are you here…?“ He stammered. 

He immediately noticed that she looked older than he remembered her. But as usual her whole look was perfect. Her dark long hair was little waved and sparkling in the daylight. She was wearing a blue silky blouse, white jeans and heeled sandals. 

„I needed to see you.“ She replied and stopped standing in front of his bed.

Then she sat down next to him at the edge and hugged him close. Josh smelled her familiar scent, trying hard to sort his mind. 

„You came from Florida to see me?“ 

Jen nodded.

„I am worried about your condition, Jay.“

„There’s no need to worry. I’m making progress every day during physiotherapy.“ 

„But your memory isn’t back, yet…“

Josh stared into her pretty face, still wondering what must have happened that their relationship didn’t work out. He needed to admit, that he missed her. And now, seeing her sitting right next to him, was making things even worse.

In the very next moment the door got open again. 

„Oh fuck.“ Josh was thinking, as he saw Eve entering the room with Jake in his stroller. 

Jen was also looking in her direction. Eve’s heart stopped beating, as she saw Jen sitting next to Josh. She was so shocked, that she didn’t know what to say. Slowly she came closer, not being sure, if this was just a weird dream. 

„This is not happening. This just can’t be…“ 

„Good morning.“ Jen said and brought Eve back to reality. 

Still Eve was unable to speak. Josh was also speechless, while his heart was running out of control. 

Jen smiled and stood up, walking towards Eve. Then she looked into the stroller, seeing Jake being busy with his teether. 

„Oh…“ Jen said surprised. „He’s… blond.“ 

Josh turned pale, being shocked, that Jen dared making such a comment. Eve was killing her with her eyes, finally having her voice back. 

„What are you trying to say, Jen?“ 

Jen gave her an innocent look.

„Nothing. I’m just… surprised.“ 

„Well, guess what. I’m also surprised about your presence.“ Eve talked back. 

Jen suddenly turned serious. 

„Don’t you think you should have told me about what happened to Jay?“

Eve frowned, turning more upset as she already was.

„I don’t see any reason why I should have talked to you about anything.“ 

„I was with him for several years. I have the right to know.“

„If every of his exes has the right to know, I wouldn’t be finished making phone calls by now.“ 

Jen raised her eyebrows. Josh did as well. 

„What is your problem?“ Jen asked harshly. 

Eve sighed. 

„You know what? There is no problem. I have work to do, so… you two have fun doing whatever is happening here.“ 

Then she turned around and left the room with Jake. Josh grabbed his face, taking a deep breath. 

„This was not good… you shouldn’t have come here, Jen…“

On her way to the elevator, Josh’s doctor saw Eve from distance. 

„Mrs Chasez?“ He shouted, hurrying into her direction. 

Eve rolled her eyes and bit her lips. Then she turned around, seeing him coming closer. He stopped standing in front of her. 

„What do you want?“ She asked annoyed. 

„I received the information, that you asked for a paternity test.“ He answered carefully. 

„I did. They already took samples from Jake. You just need to get one from my husband.“

The doctor stared at her with a pitiful look in his face.

„Mrs. Chasez, is there anything I can do to help you dealing with the current situation?“ 

„Oh no, thank you, doctor.“ She replied cynically. „I don’t need any help, as I just stopped giving a fuck about the current situation.“ 

She forced a smile and then continued walking.