98

98
HAYLEY’S P.O.V

It was barely an hour until the end of work when Sienna made her way into my office.

Her presence in my office wasn’t unusual. She was the only friend I had here and she loved to make her presence known when I wasn’t with any clients. However, the expression on her face had me freezing.

“There’s someone looking for you,” she began slowly. “I don’t even know if I should be telling you about it because it seems like some weird fan interaction but she says her name is Andrea. I told her to leave but she asked me to-”

I sighed deeply, not mentally ready for the conversation that was about to ensue. “It’s fine, where is she?”

I made my way down to the lobby where Andrea was waiting. She had her hands crossed in front of her and her legs crossed at the knee. From afar, she looked so gentle and calm and not at all like the raging crazy person she was the last time I saw her.

Next to her was Makayla but the youngest was nowhere to be seen.

I took a deep breath, mentally calming myself before making my way over to them. “Is there a reason you’re showing up at my work now?”

To her credit, Andrea managed to look a little sheepish. “I know you don’t want me here.”

‘Glad that we’ve got that settled,” I turned to Makayla. “Why is she here?”

“I needed the support.”

“She’s your child, not your fucking therapist. Why would you need support from her?”

“I’m not a child,” Makayla crossed her arms over her chest before shooting me a death glare. “And it was my idea to come.”

“She’s your mother, she should have said no.”

I turned back to Andre who looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her at the moment.

People were watching us, but not with enough curiosity to be listening in. Our voices were barely above whispers and that was exactly how I wanted it. The last thing I needed was for anyone to overhear something they shouldn’t.

“Kayla, stay here,” she told her daughter before gesturing for me to walk with her.

We didn’t go far, just a few feet away. We still had a good view of Makayla, but we weren’t close enough that she could overhear us.

“I just came here to apologize, Hayley,” Andrea whispered after a moment of silence. “It is clear that you want nothing to do with me. I am just trying to be a mother to you.”

“You’re two decades too late for that.”

“Marie said-”

“Marie is pissed because I’m dating her ex-husband. I don’t think she is someone you should take advice from. Look, you have a good life, you have two wonderful children that love you. Why can’t that be enough for you?”

“Because I have three children, and you hating me won’t change that.”

I took a slow step back. “I think you should leave, and don’t ever show up at my work again. I don’t think dad will take too kindly to that.”

She gave me a small smile. “You’re right. Goodbye, Hayley.”

I couldn’t help but note that she had said good bye and even though it was a common word, it felt like a permanent farewell.

A part of me was relieved- most of me was. But there was a tiny part of me, a little part that still longed for a perfect mother and a perfect life.

She gave me a small smile and called out for Makayla.

I watched them disappear into a cab and it was only after they had left that I allowed myself to breathe.

“She looks like you.”

I jumped when I heard the voice behind me and turned to find Nick standing there with his hands crossed over his chest. I hadn’t even heard him approach.

“She’s your mother, isn’t she?”

It took me a moment to recover from the shock and fright. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “We’re not enemies, Hayley. I’m going to be around you every second of the day. I think I should know what I’m up against.”

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Estranged.”

“I figured as much. You didn’t seem very pleased to see her.”

Just like that, he turned to leave and I stopped him.

“You’re not going to ask more questions?”

He looked at me with pure amusement. “Why would I? You clearly don’t have a relationship with her. I don’t need to know anything else.”

I was torn between relieved and shocked. If Nick wasn’t my guard, I probably would have considered him a friend. He was smart, funny and he knew how to keep a secret. He practically knew everything about me at the moment but no part of me feared that he would let it slip to the news.

He knew when to push and when to let things slide. It was a good quality to have.

“I’m going back upstairs. I-”

“Hayley!”

I turned to the sound of my name and saw Kate rushing into the office.

She was in her college sweater and leggings and her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail. She looked like she just finished a marathon; her cheeks were red, there was sweat on her brows and her breath was coming out in pants.

“Where did you put your phone? I’ve been calling you for half an hour now.”

“It’s upstairs, why?”

“We have to leave, now. My mum called and something is up with Jake but she won’t tell me what it is.”

I muttered a small curse and headed for the stairs but Nick stopped me. “Go wait by the car, I’ll get your stuff.”

I tapped my foot anxiously while Nick drove us home.

I had seven missed calls; two from Jake and the remaining five from Kate.

I tried to call Jake back but my phone kept going to voicemail.

Jake was an adult and I knew he could handle himself but I had never felt panic like this before in my life. I tried to call dad as well but he wouldn’t pick up either.

As soon as we got home, I rushed out of the car and into the living room where I found dad and Jake seated on the couch. Both looked like the epitome of ease but my heart was pounding wildly in my chest as I noticed who was sitting opposite them.

“Hayley, why don’t you go upstairs for a minute?” Jake’s voice was soft but there was no mistaking the order in them.

“What’s going on?”

This time, it was dad who spoke. “We’ll explain later, sweetheart, go upstairs.”

I trusted my father and I trusted Jake but that wasn’t enough to shake off the worry I had. Still, I nodded and made a move to leave when another voice spoke up.

“I think she deserves to know. We found Charles’ body today.”

I turned to the officer, the one I thought I would never have to see again.

I thought Charles’ case was closed, I thought we had finally put it behind us and now- this.

I forced a shocked and confused expression on my face. “Body?”

“He’s dead.”

“Oh no,” my hand went to my mouth. “How did that happen?”

“We can’t discuss the details of the case but if you have any more questions,” he pulled out a card from his pocket and handed it to me. “Feel free to come down to the station.”

“Okay,” I took the card from him with shaky fingers.

My hand had barely closed around the card when Jake appeared by my side, his hand gently angling me away from the officer.

He pressed a soft kiss to my temple. “Go upstairs, Hayley, please.”

I noticed that Kate was still standing at the doorway, frozen in space.

I reached out for her, pulling her up the stairs with me and she didn’t fight. She seemed to be frozen in shock and I didn’t blame her. She had no idea what had truly happened with Charles.

It wasn’t until we were safely in the confines of Jake and I’s room that she spoke.

“Why would the officer come here to tell you that Charles is dead?” she asked but I stayed silent. “Hayley, what the hell is going on?”

“Nothing,” I lied but it wasn’t even believable.

“Did Jake kill somebody?”

“No, he didn’t.”

“Did-” she began but I cut her off.

“I cannot answer any questions so please don’t ask. The less you know, the better.”

She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. “Fuck! There is an officer in the living room.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. “I know.”

She didn’t realize it but I was panicking just as much as she was. If anyone found out about what happened, both Jake and I would be ruined. I was pregnant, I couldn’t go to jail, and I couldn’t let Jake go to jail for me.

“Can we not talk about this please?” I ran my hands down my face.

“What else do you want to talk about? We need to figure this out. I don’t know what happened but this is serious. Someone is dead.”

Bile rushed up my throat and I barely made it into the bathroom when I projectile vomited over everything.