by Violet Duke
âSorry,â she apologized again, but this time, a flirty, borderline mischievous smile tilted her lips.
âNo youâre not,â he grinned as he called her out on her bogus concession.
Her steel blue eyes danced with amusement as she confessed, âNo. Iâm not.â
Eddie wanted so badly to kiss her perfect mouth, show her how much heâd missed her this past week. It had been a living hell not talking to her, touching her, hearing her voice, or seeing her smile. Heâd been trying to figure out the whole Lacey situation and he didnât want to drag Haley in the middle of his baby mama drama. Heâd made his bedâliterally! The problem was, that instead of lying in it, he felt like he needed to rip the sheets off and burn them.
So many times over the past week heâd picked up the phone just to set it back down again. Or made it halfway across the street to her house before turning and heading back. She had enough on her plate. He didnât need to dump his pile of garbage on it and say, âBon appétit.â
What Eddie needed to do was figure this out on his own. It wasnât Haleyâs job to be his sounding board. Which, up until this past week, he hadnât realized just how much heâd actually used her, for that very purpose, for years.
If he was worried about Em, he talked to Haley. If he was thinking about getting a new truck, he talked to Haley. When he wanted to buy the patio furniture for his deck, heâd done more than talk to Haley; sheâd gone shopping with him and picked it out.
Sheâd become one of the most important people in his lifeâpart of his familyâwithout him even realizing it. As soon as he got the mess with Lacey figured out, he needed to seriously rethink his âno relationshipâ rule. Because it seemed to Eddie that heâd already been breaking it for years now.
âHowâs Em? Iâve missed her so much.â When Haley talked about his daughter, Eddie could feel how much she loved her.
âSheâs okay.â Eddie wasnât sure if he was lying or not. âActually, I have no idea. She hasnât been herself since Lacey came into the picture.â
Just as Eddie was about to explain his daughterâs behavior and get Haleyâs read on it, his phone buzzed. Pulling it out, he saw that the message was from Emily. She said that her tummy hurt and she wanted to go home.
Since Lacey had unexpectedly showed up on his doorstep a week ago, heâd worked from home, trying to spend as much time with his daughter as he could. This was the first time heâd spent away from her, and he had a feeling her âtummy acheâ might be more psychological than physical. Not that he blamed her. The kid had had a tough week.
âThatâs Em now.â He showed Haley the text sent from the girl who was babysitting her at Chelleâs house.
âIs she okay? You better go.â
âIâm going to go pick her up, but I think sheâs fine,â Eddie explained. âItâs been rough on her. All this stuff with her momâ¦â
âOh, that poor thing.â Haley shook her head. âI know how badly sheâd wanted to meet her.â
âI have to go up to a site at Whisper Lake tomorrow. I saw that youâre not opening until Monday. Would you be able to watch Em for me?â Eddie thought a day with Haley would do his little girl a world of good. He knew a day with Haley would do him a world of good.
âOf course. I found the discontinued nail polish that she loves on Amazon and I bought three bottles. I predict an epic game of Salon in my future.â Haley smiled, the first genuine smile heâd seen cross her face all night, and it was because she would be spending her only day off with his daughter.
Eddie reached up and cupped Haleyâs face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs across her soft cheeks. âDamn, I donât deserve you,â he whispered before crushing his mouth to hers.
Haley didnât move for a moment, but then her lips parted and he swept his tongue inside, passionately feeding on the sweetness of her mouth in a slow, drugging kiss.
It wasnât until he reluctantly pulled away, knowing he had to go, and ended the kiss that he realized that the entire room had grown silent except for the upbeat music coming from the speakers. Eddie froze and stared into Haleyâs eyes, which were communicating the same thing he was thinking.
Oh shit.
Slowly, they both turned their heads to see not one, not two, but every pair of eyes in the room focused directly on them. Then, from the balcony, Krista said, âFinally!â as she clapped loudly.
The rest of the room erupted in cheers and whistles, and Eddie figured, Screw it, kissing Haley once more before heading out and getting pats on the back and âItâs about time!â from everyone the entire way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
âI THINK ITâS perfect,â Haley said as she looked down at her handiwork.
Emily studied her tiny red nails, then with a very serious adult tone announced, âI think it needs glitter.â
Haley took Emâs small hand in hers and carefully examined each again before agreeing. âI think youâre right. Thatâs exactly what it needs. Here. Put them under the dryer for a few more minutes and then weâll finish them.â
Emily happily placed her hands back under the twenty-dollar knock-off salon dryer Haley had picked up at one a.m. this morning at the twenty-four-hour drugstore. After Eddie had kissed her and then left last night, sheâd been bombarded with more questions, declarations of âI knew it!â and well-wishes than she had known what to do with.
Partly because people were assuming after that oh-so-public display of affection that Eddie had shown her last night that she and Eddie were a couple, she hadnât really known what to say, since that was not the case. Not officially at least. Luckily, she had the best sisters and cousins-in-law who had surrounded her like bodyguards, fielding questions, making jokes, and diverting attention elsewhere.
The other reason Haley hadnât been able to graciously field the onslaught of Eddie-related questions flying her way from all sides was the fact that she might have been a little bit in shock after their lip-lock in front of the entire town. Sheâd had a brief moment of surprise when heâd first leaned down and planted one on her. But once heâd moved his soft lips along hers, sheâd been toast. Done. There could have been a nuclear explosion right beside her, and if Eddieâs talented mouth was on hers, she would be blissfully unaware.
The timer dinged on the plastic drying device and Emily announced happily, âDone.â
Haley shook then unscrewed the top of the sparkle nail polish and took Emilyâs hand in hers.
âI met my mom,â Em said in a small voice.
Haley was wondering when and if that subject was going to come up. Sheâd already been there for almost six hours. Theyâd made breakfast and cleaned it up, played Barbie fashion show and cleaned it up, and watched Finding Nemo. Emily had seemed a little quieter than usual and had not said one word about her mom.
âThatâs exciting,â Haley said, trying to put a positive spin on things. The last thing she wanted was for Emily to pick up on any negative feelings Haley had for her mom.
âYeah.â Emily nodded in agreement but could not have looked any less excited.
âAre you okay?â Haley asked, choosing her words carefully. If Emily wanted to talk about it, then of course Haley would be there to listen, but she didnât want to pressure her into talking if she wasnât ready.
âSheâs just not⦠I donât know if she likes⦠I know dad says but⦠I didnât thinkâ¦â It broke Haleyâs heart to watch Emily struggling to articulate what she felt.
Haley nodded as if she understood perfectly all of Emilyâs unfinished thoughts and then told her about her Splash Nâ Slide experience. How sheâd built it up to something so magical, so a
mazing, that there was no way it could have lived up to her expectations. And about how sheâd been so disappointed. Even how sheâd told her mom, who had pragmatically said, âWell, at least now you know.â
That story was all it took for Emily to start talking. And talking and talking. Haley couldnât believe the insights that were coming out of this eight-year-old girlâs mouth. No wonder sheâd been quiet all week. Sheâd been wrestling with some really deep thoughts.
Haley took a page from her own momâs parenting book, and instead of trying to tell Emily that everything would be okay and she and Lacey would have a great relationship, she just listened to her. When Emily had a valid concern, she commiserated with her.
Well over an hour after the glitter had dried on Emâs fingernails, the two of them were still sitting at the kitchen table while Emily poured her heart out. Then, out of nowhere, Em hopped up from her seat and threw her arms around Haleyâs neck. Haley in turn wrapped her arms around Em. She desperately hoped that Emily felt as loved and cherished as Haley did when she hugged her own mom.
âI always feel better when I talk to you,â Emily said sincerely, âeven though you donât know how to fix stuff.â
Haley held in a laugh. She didnât want this sweet girl to think that she wasnât taking her seriously. She was. And she knew exactly what Emily meant. Sometimes there wasnât an answer. Sometimes you just needed someone to really see what you were going through and say, âThat sucks.â Haleyâs mom had always been that person for Haley, and she couldnât be more honored to be that person for Emily.
There was a loud knocking at the door and Emily flew towards it. âAuntie Chelle said she was going to bring over the cookies we made last night.â
Haley followed Emily to the door, glad that she was going to get a chance to see Chelle today. She wanted to thank her for helping diffuse the attention of the Eddie-kiss scandal last night. Chelle hadnât left her side, and since she was Eddieâs sister, sheâd easily absorbed a lot of the Eddie-related questions.
Emily flung the door open. âAuntie Chelââ
Haley looked up. Not Auntie Chelle.
Lacey stood on the porch, dressed in Prada from head to toe. Without even glancing down at her daughter, she glared at Haley, âWhereâs Eddie?â
Emily backed up against Haley, and Haley reached down and protectively put her hands on Emâs shoulders. âHeâs not here. But I can let him know you stopped by.â Haley tried her best to sound pleasant, but with the way sheâd just seen this woman treat her own daughter, Haley wanted to put to use the self-defense classes her cousins had made her go to and take her down.
âHe left my daughter with you?â Lacey practically spit disdain as she spoke.
âIâll let him know you stopped by.â Haley began shutting the door. There was no way Haley was going to let this woman make a scene in front of Em.
âOh no.â Lacey held her hand up and stopped it. âI think I will be taking Emily with me right now.â
Over my dead body.
Lacey was trying to step inside the house when Haley made a snap decision that this conversation should, one, not take place without witnesses, and two, not be within earshot of Emily.
Picking Emily up, Haley walked past Lacey down the front path of the house. Then, after setting Em down, she knelt in front of her and said with as happy and upbeat a tone as she possibly could, âOkay, pretty girl. Why donât you go ride your bike. Stay where I can see you. Donât go past Mrs. Riceâs house.â
Emily nodded and looked over Haleyâs shoulder at Lacey, who Haley could feel standing directly behind her.
âGo ahead,â Haley assured Em as she stood up. âItâs okay.â
Emily ran to the side of the house and pulled her bike, which was leaning against it, down the driveway. Haley waved encouragingly as Emily threw her leg over the seat and started pedaling.
Haley had so much adrenaline racing through her as she turned to face Lacey she was visibly shaking. âYou need to leave,â Haley stated calmly. âI will tell Eddie you stopped by.â
Lacey took a step towards Haley, closing the small space they had between them. âIâm not going anywhere. Eddieâs mine,â she hissed then pointed to the street, âand so is she. This is my family. Not yours.â
Haley had so many things she wanted to say to this woman, but she knew none of them would make a difference, except for maybe making Haley feel better. âFine. You can discuss that with Eddie when he gets back. Right now, you need to leave.â
Something that looked a lot like crazy flashed in Laceyâs almond-shaped brown eyes. âYou donât tell me what I can do with Eddie, you little slut. You think youâre the first babysitter heâs fucked? I know Eddie and I seriously doubt it.â
Haleyâs hands fisted at her sides. She knew that violence was not the answer, but if anyone had ever deserved to be punched in the face it was Lacey.
âYou have five seconds to leave or I will call the police.â Haley reached into her back pocket to grab her phone. Before she could retrieve it, she felt her back slam up against the hard stucco of the side of the house. As Lacey charged her again, she heard tires screeching and a woman screaming down the street.
Her blood ran cold.
âEmily!â Haley yelled as she pushed Lacey off of her and ran down the driveway.
When she got to the sidewalk, all she could see was a car in the middle of the road and Emilyâs bike wheel spinning on the ground underneath it.
âEmily!â Haley screamed at the top of her lungs as she ran as fast as her feet could carry her. She felt like she was running through water. Like her feet and legs were moving in slow motion.
She finally rounded the front of the car as the driver stepped out. âI didnât see her. Is she okay? Please, God, she has to be okay!â
Haley skidded to a halt on her bare knees beside Emilyâs tiny body. She wasnât moving but she saw her chest rising and falling under her pink polka dot shirt. âCall an ambulance,â she instructed. âCall 911!â
Mrs. Rice, who ran down from her porch swing and looked to be in shock, pulled out her phone. Haley could hear her giving the details to dispatch.
âIâm here, pretty girl.â Haley leaned down close to her face to make sure that she felt breath coming from her mouth. Thankfully she did. âIâm here.â Haley brushed her light brown hair off her forehead and tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. She needed to stay calm. For Emily. She couldnât lose it.
âMy baby!â Haley heard Lacey screeching from behind her. She continued her hysterics, and with each plea, they grew louder. âOh God no! Not my baby! My baby! No!â
Emâs eyes began fluttering open and tears fell down Haleyâs cheek in relief. âEverythingâs okay, pretty girl,â Haley assured her when Em started trying to look around. âJust lie still. Okay? Iâm right here. Just look at me and stay still.â
Emilyâs eyes looked heavy, but she kept them trained on Haley. The sounds of sirens from a distance rang out in the air.
âWhat happened?â Emily struggled to whisper.
âJust a little accident. You fell off your bike and bumped your head so you have to stay still.â Haley tried to sound as soothing and calming as she possibly could.
âA little accident? This animal ran over my baby!â Lacey shrieked. Haley could hear her neighbors trying to calm Lacey down around her.
âWhat?â Emily looked around with fear in her eyes as she tried to see the commotion.
âItâs nothinâ.â Haley shook her head. âYouâre fine, baby girl. Iâm right here. Just look at me.â
Emily did as Haley had asked and finall
y help arrived. Her cousin Alex, who was a firefighter paramedic, was first on the scene.
Haley had never been more relieved to see him. He bent down beside Emily and talked to her about school. As he examined her, he asked her questions about which Transformer was the favorite of his son Joeyâs, who was Emilyâs best friend, how many kids they had in her reading group, and what her teacherâs name was. She answered all of the questions correctly as far as Haley knew, which had to be a good sign.
The police arrived by that point and wanted to question Haley, but there was no way she was leaving Emilyâs side.
The paramedics put a backboard beneath her then placed her on a gurney.
As she was being lifted into the ambulance, Alex joked, âIf you really wanted to ride in an ambulance, Em, all you had to do was ask.â
Emily smiled weakly as she said in an irritated tone, âUncle Alex.â
Relief unlike any sheâd ever felt washed over Haley at the fact that Emily was alert and even knew when Alex was giving her a hard time.
As soon as her cousin was in the back of the emergency vehicle, he put out his hand to help Haley up. As she was climbing, she heard Lacey screaming that she was going to ride with her baby, ânot that whore.â Alex turned to the EMT who was holding the door open and gestured for him to shut it while Lacey screamed from the street.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
HALEY TAPPED HER foot rapidly on the linoleum flooring in the waiting area. She pulled out her phone and looked at it again. Nothing from Eddie.
Sheâd called him over twenty times. It kept going straight to his voicemail. She knew that reception was spotty at best up at Whisper Lake, but someone had to be able to get ahold of him.
It had been over an hour since theyâd wheeled Emily through the automatic doors Haley had been staring atâ¦waiting. When theyâd arrived at the hospital emergency room, everything had happened so quickly. Doctors and nurses surrounded the gurney Emilyâs tiny body lay on. People were shouting orders about tests to be run, reading off stats of her condition. Haley tried to stay with her, holding her hand, but she was pushed aside and instructed to ���wait here.â
