Andy Barber Fanfiction - Blog Posts

i just…. this is so fucking good and i LOVE THIS

I read your hc for Andy and i love it! I read it like 5 or 6 times. I have crush on Andy (crush on a fictional character is Silly i know) and Andy in this hc is sooo close to my imaginations. Exept that he got divorce after ten years from his wife (not laurie) which they always had problems an at the end she cheated on him and Andy saw them in bed! So if u accept request i want to ask for a hc Andy and young reader that she give him a BJ. Andy was just with her wife for like ten years and she really wasn't into it so this BJ is after long time and sooo diffrent from what he had in the past :)

notes: first of all, i’m so glad you liked that hc - it’s very near and dear to me and probably one of my favorite things i’ve written for andy! so i appreciate this ask as well :) i won’t lie, though, i did take some liberties with this because i felt more inspired keeping it in the same universe of the original hc! hopefully that’s okay, and you still enjoy this because i had an great time writing it - consider it our second look into fresh start!andy as i’ve started calling him! post break credit to the lovely @evansyhelp!

pairing: andy barber x reader.

warnings: 18+ / minors dni, oral sex (m receiving), face fucking but the tender kind, all in all sweet andy getting back into the swing of dating. you don’t have to read this previous headcanon to get this one, but it does add context for everything reader and andy are worried about! 

wc: 1.7k

The first night you spend at Andy’s house is an accident. You’ve only been dating a few weeks at that point; each one more wonderful than the last but moving, at his request, at a snail’s pace.

So, waking up in his bed, head pounding from wine the night before, feels like a foot on the gas that you can only hope hasn’t ruined things. From the looks of it, he didn’t join you – leave it to him to be so selfless — but you can’t decide if that makes this better or worse. And when you finally emerge from his room, face washed and tongue stinging from mouthwash, it’s with a heart braced for the cold shoulder. For Andy, aching from a night on the couch he wasn’t expecting and irked by the crossed boundaries. 

Instead, you’re met by his usual warmth; a broad smile when he sees you peek into the kitchen and a hand squeezing your hip when you’re close enough to reach. “Mornin’, sweetheart. Sleep well?” He asks like it’s nothing - like you’re right where you’re supposed to be - and when he presses a cup of something warm into your hands ( made just the way you like it ), you nod, preening.

Crisis averted.

The second time you spend the night, it’s storming. It’s in the depths of Massachusetts winter, just one month after the first night; so a blizzard isn’t all that shocking. But, it had been unexpected, the skies opening up to dump a few feet of snow in just a couple hours.

Andy had hosted dinner again and you’d taken extra care to pace yourself, not wanting to repeat the mistake from the month before. But after just one glance out the window as you pull on your jacket to go home, Andy himself nips that plan in the bud.

“Absolutely not,” he huffs when you insist you could make it back with your ‘state of the art tires’. “This isn’t stopping any time soon and there’s already a few feet down - just stay here and if it’s still bad in the morning, I can help take you back.” 

The invitation isn’t the problem — in fact, your chest warms at his worry, tender spreading through every part of you. But, you worry, still, about imposing after the last slip-up. Even with your wits about you, there’s so much that could go wrong; so much you could do to overstay your welcome the first time you’ve actually earned it. 

Caught up in your thoughts, you don’t notice Andy getting closer until he’s upon you, hands moving to guide yours off your coat. His touch draws your eyes to his face where he, again, has that big smile, this one laced with softness as he works your jacket off you. “Not sure what you’re thinking about so hard over here,” he muses, folding the coat over his arm once he’s done. “But, you’re not arguing with me anymore, so I’m going to take that as a win and get some blankets out here to keep us warm.” 

His lips come down on the swell of your cheek before he turns and as you watch him pad towards his bedroom, you feel your heart flutter in anticipation. 

There’s something about this you could get used to.

The third time you spend the night, Andy can’t stop kissing you. 

It isn’t the first time you’ve made out, now four months into your relationship and long past the nerves that made him clam up at anything beyond a peck. But, it is the most intense, the most indulgent it’s ever been.

It’d started with a night out; with dinner at his favorite restaurant and drinks at your favorite bars. Each new spot found you closer, touching more and more until the levee buckles and you’re in his lap, head spinning equal parts from the alcohol and him.

He gets you home without putting much distance between you, fingers skimming any skin he can reach as you wait for a ride and pulling you into him once you’re both in the backseat. But he doesn’t kiss you again until you’re alone; until you’re back in that small apartment that’s started to feel empty when you aren’t there and he can lick into your mouth until your knees knock. 

That’s all he really wants that night — to kiss until you’re both sick of it. But, some things have a way of taking a life of their own and it would seem tonight that that’s you. Or rather, the desire between you; this pent up, heavy thing that’s grown steadily for some time, but is at a full rage tonight, inevitably landing you here —-

You, on your knees before him while his chest squeezes with a desperate need.

He can’t remember the last time he’d been touched like this; could count on one hand the number of times Laurie took him into her mouth after those early years together. But, he knows better than to write his excitement – and the throbbing in his jeans – off as simply lust for what’s about to happen.

It’s because it’s you. It’s you who wants it, breathing the ache against his mouth so prettily – “Can we — could I taste you, Andy?” — he couldn’t deny you. It’s you sitting there, mouth moist from his kisses as you fish his cock out. It’s you sucking in that hungry breath, eyes watching the precum at his tip leak down over his veiny underside. And it’s you, his sugar-sweet girl, leaning up to trace it with your tongue until you can wrap your mouth around him.

The heat of it sends a jolt through him, something guttural rising from his chest as his hand finds the back of your head. You feel incredible; tongue slipping around him as if gauging the girth before your cheeks hollow and sets his entire body ablaze. “Jesus Christ,” he grunts, embarrassed by the way he actually has to work to keep his hips from bucking up.

You don’t make it any easier, of course. As if you can read his struggle in the tension at his shoulders, you start to move, head bobbing at a pace that’s slow to start. So much so that he’d think you were baiting him if he didn’t know any better. But, there’s something in your eyes, something in the way you devour his expression as much as you devour him that makes it clear that you just want to learn him - see what he likes, what makes it good.

The thought of it makes his body tremble and his fingers tighten some in their grip on the back of your head. It’s only slight, but you notice enough to move faster, the increased pace bringing with it messy sounds that make Andy lose his resolve, if only briefly, and rock his hips to meet your mouth. 

Horrified, he’s stuttering out an apology before you notice, even starting to sit up as if to guide you off, but your hand on his hip stops him cold. You pull off of his cock, but only enough to be heard; he can feel your lips against him as you talk, in butterfly kisses that make his legs jump. “‘S okay,” you breath, giving his hip a reassuring squeeze. “‘S okay.”

You smile then, the curve of it plush against his cock, before you’re taking him back into your mouth, this time to the hilt. Andy’s head falls back against the couch, lips parting in a silent groan that starts to rise as you take on the fastest pace so far. 

This time, he’s convinced you are baiting him, goading him to let go with the way you watch from under your lashes. And when his hip twitches under your hold, pulling one word from you before you’re back on him – “Please,” – Andy’s an absolute goner. 

Eager, but still nervous, he fucks up into your mouth slow at first; cursing at the depth and slick that comes when you’re coming down to meet him too. He’s only a couple, careful pumps in when your fingers dig into his hip and tug; needy, demanding.

You want more.

It bowls him over; how much you want, how much you’ll give. And even with some lingering concern about going too far, he’s finally started to lose his head. Inhibitions lowered, he’s fucking up faster, more intently, as he pants your name into the still of his apartment. And you’re there to meet every stroke, mouth so wide you’re practically drooling just to make it easier for him to press into your throat.

Before long, he’s close, embarrassingly so, and thinks he should at least warn you before he goes over the edge. But, the words don’t come, not in any way that matters, and he’s stuck with stuttered gasps to try and make do. “Baby, s-shit – I’m–” 

You catch on, quickly at that; but to Andy’s surprise, you don’t stop. No, you go faster, take him deeper until he’s lost to his climax, hips lifting all the way off the couch as he cums down your throat with an intensity that takes his breath away. And it’s only when you’re absolutely sure that you’ve gotten every drop that you pull off, a pleased sound rolling in your chest.

You barely have a chance to swallow or even wipe your mouth before Andy’s on you, hoisting you into his naked lap to bear down on you with kisses. His tongue fills your mouth like it’s seeking himself out in the edges and every time he tastes it, he grunts; kisses harder. 

You’ve unleashed something, you think.

But, you don’t have much time to dwell on it when he’s breaking the kiss, nose knocking yours gently before he gives you a sated smile. It’s different from those big, beaming ones you’re used to – dopey and not as wide, but lovely all the same. It stirs you so much, you plant another kiss for good measure before pulling him forward to catch his breath in the crook of your neck.

Content, Andy settles right where you want him, mouth to your still-stuttering pulse. He decides right then that there’s something about this he never wants to lose. 

soulmate au where when your soulmate draws something on their body it also appears on yours. please do andy barber x reader

Sparks Fly

A/N: Short but cute. I'm not super good at fantasy AU (first time) but I hope this is sort of what you wanted. It was fun to write but definitely a good challenge. Thanks for breaking me out of my comfort zone! I want go back! 🤠💕

Andy fiddled with his pen during witness interviews, half listening to the third person account and half letting Neal have a moment to feel like he was the big man; asking and responding to the witness. Andy was supposed to be taking notes, but he found himself doodling, on the notepad in front of him. What started off with random squiggles and unreadable shorthand, slowly turned into more intricate patterns as he realised the pressure he applied allowed for contrast in the strokes.

  After filling in most of the page, he needed a new canvas, eyeing up his hand he moved the pen ever so slightly to the skin between his thumb and his pointer, enjoying the feeling of the pen tip of his skin as he drew a small heart. Smiling down at his creation, small enough you wouldn’t be able to notice it as he went about his day to day, but big enough that he could enjoy the small joy he got from it. He admired his work, thinking about how good it would look like a tattoo on a more feminine hand. 

  You woke up, late as per usual and with 20 minutes before you had to leave to your job at the coffee shop you instantly sprinted out of bed, gathering your clothes from off the floor. 

  Reaching down to grab a clean pair of panties from the basket with your left hand you noticed the small, hand drawn heart that had appeared while you slept.

  The heart sat like ink on your skin, brushing it off as a mindless action from yesterday or a weirdly sweet prank by your roommate while you slept you made your way to the bathroom.

  Lathering your hands with soap you went to scrub away the scribble yet after 5 minutes of mindless palming frothy soap in your hands and attempting to scratch away the heart with your fingernails to no avail you were starting to get frustrated. Permanent marker you thought or maybe some weird temporary tattoo pen. 

  You quickly googled ways to remove a permanent drawing on your hand but all you got was tattoo removal in your area. But it wasn’t a tattoo, you’d never stepped foot in a shop and were petrified on needles. It sat on your skin so well, like it came up from your bloodstream and sat below the skin rather a minor attack from the outside. It wasn’t itchy or scabbing or bruised like most fresh tattoos. It just… was. Like a freckle or an inconspicuous mole. 

  Deciding that were already late and since the doodle wasn’t offensive, on your face or overtly obvious you went about getting yourself ready for work. Making your way out the door, keys in mouth while mid ponytail with minutes to spare. 

  Your day went on as usual, serving coffee to the local businessmen and women during their pursuit of caffeine. Ever so often you’d glance down at the minimalist “tattoo” while counting cash or handing over coffees. While you were still keen to get whatever toxic formula was used to create the inerasable mark you appreciated the joy that ignited in you whenever you looked at it. It released an intoxicating feeling, a strange mix of happy nostalgia and content. But it was just a little heart, right? By afternoon, you had settled that if you couldn’t get rid of it you wouldn’t mind the hand drawn ode to love on your hand. 

  But you would still have a go at your roommate about drawing on you while you slept. 

  “Hi gorgeous.” You internally groaned at the tall, cocky man who had appeared in front of you. Forcing a smile for the man.

  “What can I get you?” 

  “I’ll have a black coffee and um…” He turned around to meet the man who entered in closely behind him. 

  “Andy what do you want?”

  “Just a coffee please.” His acquaintance’s smile at you was softer and less creepily threatening. He was clearly tired but that couldn’t overshadow his handsomeness. His button up shirt fitted snugly against his arms and chest. His slight scruff on his chin was well kept. The man clearly took care of himself, and you couldn’t help but notice the intoxicating smell of his cologne as he approached the counter. 

  “Great two coffees, one black coming up.” You smiled back.

  “Your coffee.” You gestured to the handsome lawyer. 

  “Thank you so much.” He walked over to you holding out his hand as you held out his takeaway cup and there it was.

  An identical heart on the very same hand as yours. In the very same position. And in the very same style.

  You both paused when you noticed each other’s relative markings. 

  “Is that a tattoo?” He gestured to yours, breaking the silence first.

  “Umm no I woke up with it this morning, it’s weird it won’t come off. Is yours?”

  “No, I just drew mine on me this morning while I was distracted.” His nervousness present in his voice as he ran his hand through his hair.

  “That’s… odd.” Your head running with plausible reasoning, confusion present on your face.

  “Really odd.” His eyes honed into your hand. 

  “I’m Andy by the way.” He held out his decorated hand. 

  “Y/N.” You shook his hand back, with your decorated hand. 

  A sudden zap between the contact caused you both to startle. You made eye contact, both breathing out a laugh.

How does Andy take care of us when we’re sick 😷 🤒 🤕

He HATES seeing his precious girl sick but he thinks you look adorable with your red nose. He calls in to work and tell them he can't come in because you're more important to him than work. Rarely leaves your side, waiting for you to wake up to make sure you take your meds and drink lots of water. Even if you refuse he'll coax you into it "Come on bubby it'll make you feel better, please for me?". If he has to he'll get more stern "Water. Now." as he feeds you little sips. He's not afraid to get a little dirty so if you do need to barf his instincts kick in and he has the bucket in front of your face before you even say "I". He makes sure you're not moving too much even to the point he's carrying you into the shower and washing your hair all while softly telling you it's gonna be okay and he's right there when you need him.

Can I get a sweet fluffy Andy like anything Andy no Laurie (I ignore she exists anyway lol) but sweet Andy couple stuff

Yes! Yes! Yes! Hope this is exactly what you needed angel. ✨💕

What to Wear

Summary: You cant find a shirt that fits but Andy's always there to help. BigChested!Reader X Andy Barber

Warnings: Fluff

Too tight. Too loose. Too small. Too… awkward.

You huffed in mirror, trying to find a top for your date night with your boyfriend, Andy.

“Honey you ready yet?” Shit, he was going to find you in the wardrobe, a sweaty mess with clothes thrown everywhere.

“Just a second!”

You could feel the tears forming in your eyes from frustration. Nothing fit over your chest properly and you simply just wanted to look classy and cute for your date, but your only choices were Hooters waitress or Grandma muumuu.

“Honey, is something wrong… I’m going to come in, okay?” the door slid open to Andy with a look of concern on his face. He looked gorgeous as ever in a button up with the sleeves rolled up, his take on casual was taking off his tie and rolling up his sleeves after work and God did it look good on him.

“Oh, baby what’s all this?” He looked at you slouched down in the chair, in the only comfortable lace black bra you own, clothes and hangers strewn over the floor. You covered your face with your handing hoping he wouldn’t pick up on your tear-stained cheeks.

“Nothing fits Andy! Nothing unless you want to take out Pamela Anderson...” You pulled up the red bodysuit that was barely a top and more loke a thin piece of fabric. “…Or Paula Dean!” in your other hand the overly floral button up that looked like a sack on you, was far too big and managed to cover any sign of curves on your body.

He moved closer crouching down at the chair in front of you “Well if its ok with you, I’d like to take you out and I don’t mind what you’re wearing now.” He traced a finger over the lace covering your breast.

“This is a bra, Andy!”

“Well, it’s a very nice bra.” He inched his face, putting his palm on your cheek washing away any residue of tears.

“Hey, I don’t care what you wear, I know what you look like, and I love you… hell I think you look good in one of my shirts – why don’t you try one of them on?”

You had worn Andy’s button ups before around the house from time to time. The expensive shirt was soft against your skin and the buttons didn’t gape over your chest.

Andy hopped up and started sifting through the racks of shirts, pulling out an off white slim fit button up.

“I’m no fashion stylist but this will go with your jeans… try it on.”

You were hesitant but took the shirt from him, his eyes never leaving yours as you slowly pulled it across your shoulders. Your arms weren’t tight within the fabric as they usually catered to Andy’s large biceps.

“Here let me help.” He buttoned up the shirt starting from the bottom, one by one, grazing the skin of your stomach ever so softly.

“I think it’d look better without the bra but that’s just me.” He smirked

Bra-less was not an option for you given the fact your breast weren’t naturally perky but it warmed your heart that he didn’t care.

“Ok let me finish it off” Once the last button was done showing a hint of cleavage, you tucked once side into your jeans and zipped them up. Readjusting the gold necklace Andy got you for your birthday so the pendant sat in the valley of your chest.

You finally got a good look of yourself. You looked amazing.

Andy came up behind you as you admired your figure in the mirror, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your shoulder.

“I think it looks better on you.” He whispered in your ear lips grazing your lobe, eyes never leaving the reflection of you two in the mirror.

You smiled at yourself in the mirror for the first time in months.

“I think we should leave now before I decide I want you to myself for the rest of the night.” Andy’s grip tightened around your waist as he turned you around to face him.

“Ok let’s go.” With a quick kiss on his lips, you finally found something to wear. As well as a new favourite shirt.

Moved On (Andy Barber x Wife!Reader)

A/N: Thanks for this request! I attempted an Andy Barber fic once but tbh I wasn’t happy with it and deleted so thank you for sending this one in so I could have another shot. <3 This fic takes place three years after the series. A few things deviate from the book/television series, but I you like this, anon.

Pairing: Andy Barber x Wife Reader

Warnings: Language, angst, Laurie Barber.

Length: 2.4k words

Andy crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the granite kitchen island as he watches you in pure adoration while you go about setting the table for dinner. He knows that he should probably be helping you out, but he simply can’t help himself as he stands there and stares at you in complete and utter awe—he never would have believed that this was the life he would be living. Sometimes he can’t believe this is the life he’s living, even after all this time. It often feels like a dream, a blissful dream he's afraid that one day he’ll wake up from.

If someone would have told Andy three and half years ago that one day he would be remarried to the love of his life, expecting his second child, and that his teenaged son would be healed, healthy, and happy, he would have scoffed right in their damn face. After everything that had happened—the murder trial, the near fatal car crash, and Laurie being put behind bars for nearly killing herself and their son, Andy could have sworn that his life was over. Laurie had been put in the psychiatric unit of a women’s correctional facility to serve her four and a half year prison sentence and shortly after that, Jacob had come out of his medically induced coma with an incredibly long and painful road to recovery ahead of him. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, Jacob had been wounded so deeply by everything that had happened and Andy feared he wouldn’t be able to be the strength his son needed to go on. He’d been left all on his own to pick up the shattered, jagged pieces of the world he once knew, with no idea of how to even start putting them back together again.

But then you happened.

Andy never saw this coming—never saw you coming.

When he first met you, from the first hello you two exchanged, Andy couldn’t have possibly imagined that you would end up being exactly what he and his son needed.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” You tease, smiling over your shoulder at him.

“Sorry, honey.” Andy chuckles and shakes his head, uncrossing his arms as he pushes himself away from the kitchen island. “What can I help you out with?”

“Can you pull out the salad from the fridge and bring it over to the table?”

He quickly nods and does as you request, bringing over the bowl of salad that you’d chopped up earlier to the table. He sets it in the middle of the table before taking his seat at the head of the table. “Where’s Jake? Let’s get him down here, I’m starving.”

“Jacob!” You call out loudly. “Dinner’s ready! Let’s go, shut off that video game!”

Andy frowns. “Video game? Isn’t he supposed to be studying?”

“It’s Friday, so I let the kid live a little.” You wink at your husband as you take a seat beside him and drape a clean white cloth napkin across your lap. “And besides, he’s been doing really well in his classes. His counselor e-mailed me the other day. Jake’s grades have never been better.”

“He has a good influence.” Andy reaches over and places his hand over yours.

At that moment, your seventeen year old stepson comes down the stairs and takes a seat across from you. He has a white envelop clutched in one of his hands.

“What do you have there, bud?” Andy questions suspiciously as soon as he sees it. He raises an eyebrow at his son. “You’re not in any trouble, are you?”

Jacob doesn’t reply, and instead, he simply shoots you a nervous glance.

“Go on,” You encourage him, grinning excitedly. “Tell him, Jake.”

Andy glances between the two of you, confused. “Tell me what? What’s going on?”

“It’s an acceptance letter,” Jacob informs him, handing it over. “My first one. It came in the mail earlier today.” He shoots his father a sheepish look. “I was going to wait for all three of us to be together to open it, but I couldn’t wait and neither could she,” he explains, tossing you a quick smile. “We figured we’d just tell you over dinner.”

Andy opens it and he beams with pride as his blue eyes glaze over the document in his hand. “Northeastern University?”

Jake nods. “I’m going to e-mail the school and commit first thing on Monday for the upcoming semester.”

Andy’s smile fades ever so slightly. “Commit? Already? Are you sure this is where you want to go? You’re still waiting on other letters, Jacob. Isn’t it a little too soon to make the commitment?” he asks, setting the letter down. “You still have a couple of months left in the school year. Don’t you want to wait?”

“Not really. This school is the closest to home, dad. I don’t want to move somewhere too far for college, especially since I want to be close enough come and see my little sister after she’s born.” Jacob turns from his father and his eyes meet yours. “I want to be a part of her life as much as possible. I can’t do that if I ship myself off too far for school.”

You place a hand on your growing baby bump. “He’s got a point, Andy.”

“Well, if that’s your decision, than you have our full support.” Andy puts a hand on Jacob’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “I’m so proud of you, Jake. We both are. We know you’ve got a bright future ahead of you.”

“Thanks, dad.”

After dinner, Jacob excuses himself from the table to watch television—normally he’s the one to help you clear the table and clean up, but Andy decides to give him a pass for the night and volunteers to help you himself. You’re in the kitchen tossing scraps into the silver, stainless steel trash can when Andy walks in, takes the plate from your hand and sets it down on the counter. He then grabs you and takes you into his arms, pressing his lips to yours in a long, slow kiss that sends chills up and down the length of your spine. As his hands start to wander, you break away from him ever so slightly, resting your hand gently on his chest.

“Mm, someone’s feeling extra affectionate today,” You murmur against his lips.

“I’m just really happy, is all. Ridiculously, deliriously happy.”

“Oh?”

“Mhm.” Andy moves his mouth to your neck and starts to trail his way down to your chest.

You laugh, lightly pushing him away. “Let’s finish cleaning up first, lover boy,” You tell him, eliciting an impatient groan from him. “I cleared off the dishes for you, can you just load them into the washer for me?”

“Fine.” He playfully rolls his eyes. “But wait until I get my hands on you later tonight. I had dinner, now I want my dessert,” he smirks at you. “My sweet tooth is aching for you.”

“Jesus, Andy! Jake is in the room next door! Save it for the bedroom,” You remind him, blushing as your attention turn back to the trash can. You grab at the bag, tying together securely before pulling it out of the component. “I’ll be right back, I’m just going to go take this outside.”

Andy shakes his head and reaches out. “Sweetheart, let me do that for you—”

“Andy, I’m pregnant, not wounded. I’m perfectly capable of taking out the trash,” You tell him, shooting him a look. “I’ll be right back.” You make your way through the house and out the front door, stepping out into the chilly, evening air. You walk down the long driveway towards the black garbage can, lift the lid open and quickly toss the bag inside, letting the lid slam shut. As you turn and begin to walk back up to the house, you stop when you get the sudden feeling that you’re being watched by somebody. Furrowing your eyebrows, you slowly turn on your heel and let out a gasp when you see her standing there right beside Andy’s Audi.

Laurie Barber.

You and Andy have been hearing faint whispers around town about Laurie’s possible early release due to her improvement and good behavior. After the car crash, Laurie and her defense lawyers had taken a plea deal from the prosecution in order to avoid having to go to trial. While her sentence may have been light considering the serious nature of what she had done, the mandated court order to stay away from Andy and Jacob had been much harsher. She was not allowed to come into contact with either of them after her release or it would violate the terms of her probation. And yet, here she is, standing right in front of you, outside of your family’s home.

You stand there, frozen solid on the spot, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

Laurie stares at you, her eyes falling to your swollen midsection.

Instinctively, your hand goes to your stomach.

Her eyes flicker to the diamond ring on your finger. “You must be his new wife,” she says, rigidly. “I heard he remarried. But I didn’t know he was having another baby.”

You open your mouth to speak, but nothing comes out and you clamp it shut.

Unsure of what else to do, you give a small nod of your head.

“I’d heard the rumors that he’d completely moved on,” Laurie says. Despite the stiff, and cold tone of her voice, you can see that her eyes are brimming with tears. “Part of me refused to believe that he could forget about the life we had together, just like that. That he could move on so quickly.”

“Laurie, you shouldn’t be here,” You finally manage to say. “You need to leave.”

“How’s Jacob?”

“Laurie, please, you need to leave right now before Andy sees you—”

She ignores you, firmly repeating, “How is Jacob?”

You let out a small sigh, feeling conflicted.

One on hand, you can’t stand the woman for what she had done. But then, on the other, you can see the remorse in her eyes and you know that she’s desperate to hear about her son. “He’s doing great, Laurie,” You tell her. “Jake is thriving. He’s doing well in school, he’s been accepted into a good university. And most importantly, he’s healthy and he’s happy.”

“I need to see him.”

“You can’t. The judge ordered you to stay away from him.”

Laurie steps forward and grabs your arms. “Please! I need to see Jacob—”

“Get your fucking hands off my wife!” Andy’s growl comes from behind you, startling both you and Laurie. He snatches you out of her grasp and pushes you behind him, his broad shoulders squaring protectively. He speaks again, his tone venomous as he faces his ex-wife for the first time in over three years. “What the fuck are you doing here, Laurie?”

She lifts her chin, a tear sliding down her cheek. “I’m here because I want to see my son.”

“After you tried to fucking kill him?” He nearly shouts. “Are you fucking insane?”

“I made a mistake, Andy! I wasn’t in the right frame of mind! After everything, after the trial, everything was just falling apart and I couldn’t take it!” Laurie shouts back at him. “It was a fucking terrible mistake!”

“A mistake that nearly cost our son his life!”

You step beside your husband and place a hand on his chest. “Andy, please! You need to calm down before Jacob overhears and comes outside.” You look up at him, your eyes meeting his. You can see the anger, the pain, all of his emotions swimming in them and your opposite hand slips into his, lacing your fingers together. You give his hand a small squeeze. “Please, just calm down.”

Andy nods in agreement and takes a deep breath before turning back to Laurie. “I don’t know where you got the nerve to show up at my door,” he says. He’s certainly calmer than before, but there’s still an angry edge to his tone. “How you can even show your face around here after what you did is beyond me.”

“I’m sorry,” Laurie whispered. “For everything. Andy, from the bottom of my heart, I’m so fucking sorry. You have to believe me, I wasn’t in a good place. Mentally, or emotionally.” At this point, the tears were now streaming down her face. “I love my son, and I live with the guilt and the shame of what I did every damn second of every damn day. I never meant for any of it to happen, Andy. You have to believe me. I love Jacob.”

Her apology doesn’t faze Andy, but it fazes you.

Perhaps it’s the pregnancy hormones that have you on the sensitive side. But you just can’t help but to feel some sympathy for Laurie Barber.

“Please. I just want to see my son. I want to tell him I’m sorry. At least let me do that,” she pleads. “Let me apologize to him, face to face.”

Andy is about to protest when you place a hand on his arm to stop him.

“Let us talk to Jacob, first. And if he decides he is up to seeing you, then we can contact our attorney. They can speak to the judge and perhaps we can arrange something if he allows it.” You glance between Andy and Laurie. “It’s a decision that Jake should make. And everyone will respect his choice as well as the choice of the judge. Can we all agree on that?”

“Okay. I can agree to that.” Laurie nods. “Andy? Do you agree?”

His lips press into a tight, thin line. “You’re lucky my wife is here to be the voice of reason. Because if it were up to me, you’d never fucking see him again. Not a fucking chance. Now leave my property before I call your probation officer.” He grabs your hand and starts pulling you towards the house. “Come on. Let’s go back inside.”

“Wait!” Laurie reaches for your opposite hand, holding you back.

Andy’s nostrils flare. “Don’t fucking touch her!”

She ignores him, her desperate eyes meeting yours. “If Jake decides that he wants nothing to do with me, can you just do me a favor?”

You nod slowly.

“Look after him for me, please. From a mother to a mother. Please, just look after my boy for me.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing all along, Laurie,” You tell her in a low voice. Before you can stop yourself, it slips out, “I’ve been the mother he’s needed for the last three years.”

Laurie releases you, feeling stung by your words.

“Let’s go,” Andy says firmly, pulling you towards the house.