Chương 6: 5. The Road Ahead
In their bedroom, Thomas and Emily lay under the covers, talking softly about James. The day's events had left them feeling closer, and they couldn't help but think about his future.
"What are you planning to do for his birthday?" Emily asked. "He's going to turn 18 in a few days."
Thomas smiled slightly. "I've already planned something. He'll be taking his driving test soon, so I got him a car... a Ferrari 360 Modena."
Emily's eyes widened in surprise, but then she nodded with a small smile. "That's a great idea. Kids always love cars, no matter what. I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
"I hope so," Thomas said, sounding a bit unsure. "What about you? Do you have any plans?"
Emily adjusted her position and rested her head on her hand. "I'm taking him to court with me in San Jose. He said he's interested in becoming a lawyer, so I think it's time he gets a taste of what it's like."
Thomas raised an eyebrow. "You mean the assault case you're working on?"
Emily nodded. "Yes. Why not? He's old enough to see how these things work if he wants to pursue law."
Thomas rolled his eyes but didn't argue. "I didn't say it's a bad idea," he said, though his expression suggested he had concerns.
"But you were about to," Emily teased with a small grin.
Thomas sighed. "Look, it's not about taking him to court. It's just... that case is complicated. It's high-pressure and emotional. I don't know if that's the best way to introduce him to the legal world."
Emily reached out and touched his arm. "Thomas, he's smart, and he can handle it. We can't protect him from everything forever. If he wants to be a lawyer, he needs to see the real challenges."
Thomas thought for a moment and nodded. "You're right. I just worry, you know? He doesn't open up easily. If something bothers him, he won't tell us."
Emily smiled softly. "Maybe not with words, but we'd know. We've always been able to tell when something's on his mind."
Thomas sighed, his expression softening. "You're right. You always are, aren't you?"
Emily laughed lightly. "Well, I am a lawyer, after all."
Thomas smirked and pulled her closer. "Don't let it go to your head, Mrs. Bennett."
Emily chuckled and rested her head on his chest. "Too late."
They talked for a while longer, reminiscing about James's childhood and imagining his future. They laughed about his quirks, like how serious he was even as a little boy, and talked about their hopes for him as he became an adult.
As the night grew later, Emily yawned and rested closer against Thomas. "Do you think he knows how much we love him?" she asked quietly.
"I think he does," Thomas said gently. "He might not say it, but he shows it in his own way."
Emily nodded as her eyes closed. "I hope so. He deserves to know."
Thomas kissed her forehead and whispered, "He does."
The house grew quiet as Emily fell asleep, but Thomas couldn't. Something was bothering him and it was making him restless. Finally he couldn't take it anymore and got up from the bed and started walking towards James's room.
.
..
A few minutes earlier, James was lying on his bed with his earphones in, listening to his iPod. The device hadn't even been released to the public yet, with its official launch slated for October 2001, but thanks to Thomas's connections, James had managed to get his hands on one a month early. It was just a pre release model, and there were still some developments to be made, but it was already a game-changer.
One of his favorite songs, "Hit the Road Jack," was playing, and he smiled as he thought about the day and how happy Emily had been. Over the years, his bond with Emily and Thomas had grown stronger, and these last couple of years had been the happiest of his life.
Even so, James often thought about the world he was in. After being reincarnated, James spent hours trying to figure out where he was. Was this the Marvel Universe? The idea excited him at first. But after searching online for clues, he found nothing about Tony Stark, the Avengers, or any Marvel-related events. Instead, he discovered Marvel Comics—a company that wrote stories about fictional heroes instead of recording real ones. This made him believe, reluctantly, that he wasn't in the Marvel Universe.
Even so, James didn't completely give up. Sometimes, he searched the internet for strange events or anything that might prove him wrong. But everything he found seemed to confirm one thing: this was a normal world, set a few decades in the past.
Though a bit disappointed, James had moved on. This life was still better than his old one.
In his old life, money had always been a struggle. He once dreamed of becoming a lawyer but couldn't afford school, let alone college. Now, that was no longer a problem.
Thomas, was a billionaire with investments in Apple, Google, and real estate. Whereas Emily, was a successful lawyer and a millionaire in her own right. For the first time, James felt like his dreams could actually come true.
This new life had given him so much already. He had graduated high school—a goal that felt impossible in his old life—and was about to attend Stanford University to study law. Just the idea of walking into college as a law student felt unreal. He couldn't help but feel thankful to Cole, the mysterious being that had given him this second chance.
As he sat on his bed, lost in thought, the door suddenly opened. Surprised, James quickly pulled out his earphones as his father walked in, looking a little uneasy.
"Sorry, James," Thomas said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I knocked, but you didn't answer."
James smiled. "Oh..... I was listening to music. What's up?"
Thomas walked over and sat on the chair at James's desk. He took a deep breath and said, "James, you're turning 18 next month, and I wanted to ask... are you planning to move out? You know, like most kids do when they go to college?"
"Well," James said, "Stanford is only two miles from here, so there's no reason for me to move out. Plus, I want to spend more time with you and Emily. Would it be okay if I stayed here?"
Thomas sighed in relief, smiling. "Thank God. I thought you'd want to move out. Emily would've been really upset, you know. She loves having you around. And, honestly, so do I."
James laughed a little. "It's not weird, though, right? Staying here while going to college?"
Thomas stood up and shook his head. "Weird? What's weird about living with your family? This is your home, James. You'll always have a place here."
He walked toward the door, stopping to look back. "Don't overthink things. Oh, and don't use those earphones too long—they'll mess up your hearing."
James grinned. "Yeah, I got it. Night."
"Night, son," Thomas said with a smile as he closed the door behind him.
James lay back down, staring at the ceiling. A sense of calm washed over him. For a long time, he had wondered if he truly belonged here. But moments like these made him realize he did.
His thoughts drifted to Stanford and all the opportunities ahead. For once, he wasn't worried about his past or the strange way he came into this world. He felt at peace, happy with his life and the family he now had.
With a small smile on his face, James closed his eyes and fell asleep, his heart light and his mind clear.
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