Mrs. Kelso dropped her daughter and grandson off at their own house around seven in the evening.
“Come on, punkin,” Taylor hoisted the child up her hip as they made their way up the walk. “We’ll get you a nice bath and into bed.”
“No bed,” Draco protested, using his best smile to try and change his mother’s mind.
“Yes, bed…you’re tired. I can see it.”
“No tired! Time to play. Play with mommy!”
She laughed. “Will you take a bath and then we’ll see?”
“Okay…bath then play,” he smiled leaning his head on her shoulder.
“Well isn’t he well behaved,” a male voice chuckled from the porch.
Taylor stopped and instinctively tightened her grip on her son. “Who’s there?”
“Surprise visitor…straight from the University of Florida!” he answered merrily.
“Hayden?!” she broke into a grin and hurried up the steps.
“The one and only,” he grinned back as he pulled her into a hug.
“Ohmygod!...Come in, come in,” she fumbled for her keys then opened the door and let him inside.
They walked into the kitchen and she flicked on the light then hurriedly put Draco in his playpen in the living room before returning to her friend.
He was almost a completely different person than the boy she grew up with. He was almost completely different than when she’d last seen him at her wedding.
His hair, always kept short and gelled, now fell to just past his chin. His face was rugged and unshaven. Three or for rope necklaces hung around his neck. His old look of Abercrombie and Hollister was replaced by baggy jeans, a loose tee shirt and an old corduroy jacket.
“Wow,” she breathed as she looked him over in surprise. “You look…fantastic.”
“Thanks…so do you,” he smiled as he lit a cigarette and sat down in a chair at the table.
“What brings you home, Hayden?”
“When were you planning on letting me know that Sam hit you? Or that you’re getting a divorce? And that you and Brooklynn are, for all intensive purposes, no longer friends? I’ll forgive you for not telling me about Scott since that just happened this morning. But the rest of it…”
Taylor looked at him in shock. “How did you…”
“Brooklynn called me today in hysterics and told me,” he answered before she could finish.
“Oh.”
“What happened? I leave and everything’s goin great…hell last time I talked to you, you and Sam were the picture of perfect, or so you made me think. Next thing I know it’s like a bad soap opera.”
“Everything just went to hell…this thing with Brook just came down today at the hospital,” she dropped onto a chair with a sigh.
“Are you sleeping with Scott?”
” What?! Hayden, No!” she answered indignantly. “I would never!”
“Just checking,” he held up his hands in submission. “How are you dealing with your divorce?”
“I feel better than I have in a long time. And I know I’ll only be happier when it’s all final.”
“I’m surprised…I never thought you’d leave him. Ever.”
“I had to. First off, nobody touches me. Secondly, it wasn’t a good environment for Draco. I don’t want him to grow up thinking that’s what a marriage is supposed to be. I’d rather raise him myself than subject him to what was only getting worse between me and Sam. Even if I hadn’t left after he hit me, even if he’d apologize and all that, things would’ve been okay for awhile, but it would all blow up again, worse than before.”
“Very adult decision. I’m proud of you, Tay. You’ve grown up a lot since I’ve seen you last.”
“Yeah, well. You’ll have that when everyone around you falls apart. Somebody’s gotta try and pick up the pieces,” she sighed as she lit a cigarette.
“Who’s falling apart?” he questioned in concern.
“Brook. Ever since she and Scott split up she’s been a wreck. I think she’s consumed more alcohol in the past week or so than I’ve drank in my whole life.”
“Ah…she clearly forgot to mention that part to me.”
“She would…she doesn’t think she has a problem. But she’s acting like a crazy woman. I mean, she flew off the handle with me today…I don’t know where she even got the notion that I’m interested in Scott much less that he and I are sleeping together.”
“She basically said that you two are always together. You got really close after he left her.”
“Scott’s been a great friend to me. He came and got me when Sam and I had our last fight, he’s been helping me with the baby. Draco adores him. And you know what? I refuse to feel guilty or even bad about it. There is nothing wrong with a man and a woman being close friends. I mean, look at me and you for all those years,” she explained seriously.
“I fell in love with you,” he replied quietly. “Maybe she’s afraid that he’ll fall in love with you, too. And that you’ll fall in love with him. I think that has to be her main concern. I mean, of course she’d be hurt if you two were having a physical relationship…but if there were genuine emotions involved, if you two were to fall in love with one another…”
“It would kill her,” Taylor sighed.
“Where is she, anyway?” Hayden asked.
“Probably at the bar with Scarlett. That’s where she’s always at this time of night.”
“How does she drink at the bar? She’s only nineteen.”
“They don’t card where she goes. And she’s friends with all the bartenders down there. Have you gone to see Scott, yet?”
“No…I actually just got in and came straight here. Brooklynn sounded so desperate and upset and with everything that was going on with you guys…well…I thought you might need me.”
Taylor smiled and reached across the table, gently taking his hand in hers.
“I’ve missed you…a lot. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about me and Sam…I didn’t want to worry you and have you do this—come running home and miss your classes. Not that I’m not happy to see you…”
“I understand. I’m actually here to stay, though,” he smiled softly.
“You’re…how?”
“I’ve been planning a transfer for awhile…I was gonna just come home at end of term next month. I just decided that I’ll have to make it all up at Pitt when I start in January.”
“I thought you loved Florida, though.”
“I do. But I missed home. I missed you, Brook, Scott…hell I think a part of me even missed Sam.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe that one for a minute.”
“It sounded good, though, right?” he grinned back.
“Yeah, it sounded good.”
Just then, the door swung open and in walked Landon, a drunk, half passed-out Brooklynn leaning on his shoulder.
“Look who I found taking a nap on my bar at the beginning of my shift!” Landon greeted cheerily as he set his drunken friend onto a chair. It was then he turned and noticed Hayden for the first time. “Hello,” a flirtatious smile crept over his face.
“Landon that’s Hayden, Hayden that’s Landon…how long was she down there?” Taylor asked worriedly.
“James was there before me…said she came in with Scarlett around one-ish. She left an hour later, but Brook wouldn’t go with her.”
“Hayden, what are you doin here?” Brook slurred as she noticed him.
“You look horrible,” Hayden replied seriously.
“Yeah, well I feel great!” she started to tip to one side. Landon only just caught her.
“Why do you do this, Brook?” Taylor sighed.
“Sorry we can’t all be perfect like you…but you aren’t perfect, ya know…despite what everyone else thinks,” Brooklynn snapped.
“Nobody said Taylor was perfect, Brookie…we’re all just curious as to why you try to drown yourself in alcohol every night,” Landon replied amiably.
“Yep…she’s just wonderful. Knocked up at eighteen, divorced before she’s twenty. Barely made it outta high school. Bet you didn’t know that one did you guys? She almost had to do senior year over again cause she’s a moron,” Brooklynn continued nastily, ignoring Landon’s attempt to reason with her.
“Brook, why don’t you go to bed, huh? We can talk in the morning, alright?” Hayden tried as he got out of his seat and moved to her side.
“You gonna join me, Hayden?” her anger was replaced by a slurred seductive tone and a raised eyebrow.
“No…you need to sleep this off kid,” Hayden answered as he lifted her out of her seat.
“Oh come on…it’ll be like old times,” she insisted sloppily.
Hayden said nothing.
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember…I know we were what…thirteen…but it wasn’t that long ago…you were good, too Hayden…I remember that you were so nervous cause you were a virgin…and I was nervous cause I was, too…but you were so good to me…”
Taylor looked from Brook to Hayden back to Brook again. This was news to her.
“Brooklynn, it’s time for you to go to bed,” Hayden finally found his voice and all but dragged the drunken girl out of the kitchen.
Taylor sat there numb with shock and confusion.
“Well well well…the plot thickens,” Landon quipped with a highly amused grin.