In a two-piece costume, Elana walks down to the river where the men were busy fishing. They look at her that threw the towel over a tree and went into the water. Jordan takes a moment to admire her before he looks at the two boys that give him an odd look. It's not unusual for Liam to see another man check his mother out, but this time it's his best friend's father. It never occurred to Joe that his father didn't find interest in other women the way he does in Elana. The two people that had no interest in relationships at all, both with a negative outlook on love had the power to affect, to activate that little spark that's left in their hearts.
"What? She has a beautiful body," Jordan chuckle and looks hopelessly in love at her. Her hair is loose and soaking wet. He can't tell if it's Elana that's making him this nervous or the fact that she's swimming in the river. It's a fear he'll never understand. The fear of drowning. He can be thrown in front of a train, shot in the head, or any other form of life-threatening course, but not drowning. When you're kept under the water, you feel the water flooding into your body and your head pounding, you stay under knowing that you're dying.
"Do you like her?" Liam asks just for interest. He's just wondering. It's okay to wonder. If you don't, what's the use of trying to solve a mystery? Jordan's love for this woman he just met a few days ago in a restaurant through their sons is a big mystery, not even he can solve it. How can this be possible? What did she do to sweep him off his feet? Nothing, she just sat there. So many women try their luck to get past him, but no one could get his attention the way Elana did and she didn't even do anything.
"I don't know. There's something special about her. She keeps letting me fall over my words," he replies and takes a seat. This feels too perfect to be true. Love doesn't come on a golden plate. It's an investment, a piece you have to work hard on. You can't fall in love in such a short time, but with the right person, it will happen if it's meant to be. Usually, you should be more careful when you feel love at first sight, but to Jordan, it's a disease he knows he'll sit with for the rest of his life. Even if they remain friends or become strangers, the love he has for her will forever grow in his heart.
"You should ask her out," Joe smiles at him and takes a seat across from his father. "Try to be a little more romantic and selfless. Else you can forget about winning her heart."
"Wow, coming from a teenage boy with raging hormones, I'm impressed," Liam teases him.
"Hey, you're the one that's around girls all the time," Joe laugh awkwardly at his friend. It's in their nature to tease each other. Sometimes it can be a little too much, other times they know they shouldn't pay much attention to it.
Elana gets out of the water. She follows her path back on the docks and takes a seat at the end. It's not her intention to draw attention, but she knows that there are a few eyes on her. Jordan stands up and looks nervously at her. He knows that she's safe and can swim, but the fear in him remains a thing. His phobia can become problematic for him sometimes, but the best to avoid it is to turn away. "Don't be scared, dad. She knows what she's doing."
"Can someone please pass me my towel?" She asks. Liam reacts to his mother's command and runs her way. He grabs her towel hanging from a tree and throws it to her. "Thanks!"
She throws it down and moves up to lay on it to relax. The shades of the trees are covering her. Tanning is very dangerous and the last thing she wants now is a soar skin.
The time has passed fast enough to make Jordan even more uncomfortable. He stands up and looks at her. Her hair and costume are already dry. She's still laying in the same position as before.
"The docks aren't safe, the sun will burn her and she's delicate," Jordan says. "I need to use the bathroom before I get a nervous breakdown."
The two boys just laugh at him that walked up to the bathroom. Being a nervous wreck can put you in a type of parenting mode that will make you even overprotective towards people you barely know.
"We should get our parents together," Joe mutter. Liam looked down then at his friend. They know nothing will be the same for their parents when they leave, but for what it's worth, they can try to make something work.
"She's my mother, Joe. It's always been just the two of us. Changing that now..."
"Well, it's not like you've been holding her back," Joe interrupts him with a chuckle. "Dude, I know what you're thinking. You've been the only male in her life, but come on. You'll move out of the house and then she'll be alone. The same goes for me and my dad. Why spend the rest of their lives alone if they can spend it together? Even if it's just as friends or roommates."
"It'll be weird between us. We'll be stepbrothers," Liam laughs and look at the docks at his mother. "Right, let me go talk to her then."
Joe nod and grab his pet laying back. Liam stands up and walks to the docks. He steps carefully on it. Elana immediately looks at him and just smile.
"It's okay. It's old, but not that old," she giggles.
Jordan exits the bathroom and stands still looking down at their camping site. From a distance, he can see Liam walking to his mother and taking a seat next to her. He gets dizzy from seeing more weight being put on the docks. The mindset is stronger than reality. What seems to be a big deal for you is nothing in reality.
Elana sits up straight and looks at the river in front of her. She smiles softly and looks at her son that looks at her.
"My grandfather used to take me camping with him almost every second weekend. He never really knew how to spend time with a little girl. It's a boy thing, but I loved every second of it," she smiles and pulls her legs up to her chest. She bites her lip and looks down at her knees. With every thought that passes her mind, she goes back to that night she was fighting for her innocence. How she slammed against her window, tried to get the door open, and kick against the seats. She felt in so much control, yet she was powerless when he got to her. "Liam, I love you so much, okay? I'm sorry I never really spoke about who your dad is. It's just, we didn't have all of the greatest memories. If he was part of your life, I'm afraid you wouldn't have been what you are today."
"Is he a mean person?" Liam asks raising an eyebrow. She nods her head and just smiles at him. Being raised as a rape product can be terrifying and can ruin your mindset and heart, that's why Elana never told Liam about their situation. He's after all her son.
"I don't regret having you as my son," she smiles and takes his hand. He smiles at her. She rests her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes. "Whatever your choices are, I'll be standing right beside you. I respect any choice you make even if it's to go a thousand miles away. I know that wherever you go, you'll change the world the way you changed mine. I never lived until the day I learned that there's a baby in my womb."
"Mom, there are many choices in life that I'll make when I get the chance, but now I need you to make a choice," he whispers. She gives him an odd look. Knowing her son, he would suggest something big and hope that it'll make enough sense to her. Liam originally tries to over-explain things to her that make it more confusing. "I know you never really moved on and so on, but I want you to move on and I would like it if you make that choice too. Joe's dad is...I think he likes you."
"He doesn't like me," she giggles and rests her head on her knees. In relief, she smiles that he didn't have something big coming up, but even this is a huge deal for her.
"There's something special about her. She keeps letting me fall over my words," Liam spoke in a deep voice. They both start to laugh at how he tries to copy Jordan. Liam smiles satisfied with himself and says in his normal voice, "his words, but it's in your hands now, okay? I'll always love you, mom."
Elana gives her son a hug and a kiss on the cheek. When she felt like she lost everything and had no one left, she had him. Even if he leaves for college and start a family of his own one day, she knows he'll still be there for her.
Jordan walks down and looks at Liam that came to him with a smile. Liam takes his seat and looks at Joe that sat up straight raising an eyebrow at him. After their discussion on bringing their parents together, they're both striving for progress.
Jordan gives them an odd look and decides to walk to the docks. Just when he wanted to call Elana to get her off the docks, she stood up. She is beyond any beautiful creature he ever saw. She hasn't got a flat tummy and perfect skin, but it's her flaws that make her so beautiful. She has a little round tummy from her pregnancy many years ago, stretch marks half covered up, and dimples on her thighs.
"Chicken," she giggles at him walking past him. His eyes follow her to the tent. She's probably going to get dressed.
It's dark outside. Jordan takes off his shirt and looks out of the tent at Elana that stood on the docks in the wind all by herself. He walks out and stops where the docks start. He nervously takes a deep breath in and walks slowly over it to her. Many thoughts are filling his mind. What will he say to her? Does she even want his company? When he finally came to her, he could feel the dizziness hitting him. She looks at him and just smiles. There's a blanket fold around her shoulders to keep her warm.
"See, not so dangerous," she giggled. He nods and grabs her when the stream gave a strong push. The dock isn't even loose, but the direction the water goes throws him off balance. She gasps and looks at him. "You're aquaphobia."
"I'm afraid of big waters," he replies and looks around nervously. She smiles softly and inhales deeply.
"So that's why you don't like the docks. Are you afraid you'll fall in?" She asks giving him a worried look. How can he lay his weaknesses out in front of her just like that? "I have hemophobia. It's a fear for a big amount of blood."
He raises an eyebrow at her. She looks down in awkwardness and smiles softly biting her bottom lip.