28. Hayden
Chapter twenty-eight
Hayden
I meant what I said. I intend to make things up to both Addie and Luna. And the first step in that direction is bringing dinner over to them after a full day of school and work.
Understandably, Addie sounded a little skeptical when I first brought up the idea. But after some prodding and light begging, she agreed to it. It didn’t hurt that I offered to bring her favorite pizza.
“But wait!” she said. “They’re closed today.”
“Don’t worry about that.” I had my ways, and I managed to call Danny, from Danny Boy’s Pizza, and work out a little deal.
So, on my passenger’s seat sit two greasy pies with all the fix-ins.
After arriving at Flores Manor, I ring the doorbell. Addie answers, and she’s in a pair of muted green, corduroy overalls. Underneath, there is a tan T-shirt with black trimming around the neck and arms. As for her hair, she has two messy braids on either side of her head.
Per usual, she looks adorable.
“Hey, Hayden,” she says casually.
“Addie. I brought your favorite.”
When her eyes set on the boxes, they go wide, and she reaches for them. “How did you—wait. I don’t want to know. I don’t care. I’m starving.”
Even before sitting down, she takes a slice and starts munching on it.
“Luna! Paige! Dinner!”
Soon, two little girls jaunt down the stairs.
“Wait.” I put a hand on her shoulder, and she turns, revealing a little bit of sauce on her cheek. Before telling her about the surprise, I use my thumb to wipe it off.
“Oh.” She giggles and her cheeks turn a light hue of pink. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” The pad of my finger burns in the best way after touching her skin.
After that, she gets Luna and her friend all situated with dinner, and then I ask her to meet me in the hallway quickly.
“What’s up?”
“We’re going to have a surprise guest after dinner tonight.”
Her face twists. “Really? Who?”
I flick my wrist. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Okay,” she responds cautiously.
Then, we join the girls and eat our own ‘za off of our paper plates.
“So,” she asks after blotting her mouth with a crinkled napkin, “how’s work?”
“Um, good. Very good, actually.”
“Great.” Her eyebrows dance up and down.
“I heard today that we solved everything with the IRS.”
For most adults, those three words are scary. But when I look over at Luna and Paige, it’s evident that they don’t care in the slightest.
So, I continue, “I used a few connections to speed up the process, and everything has been resolved. Now, all I have to deal with is the SEC situation. However, I’m positive they won’t find anything either. I’m always doing things by the books, and so are my employees. My business has been built on that kind of integrity.”
“Uh-huh.” Her grandfather’s company is entangled with mine now, so I know she’s more interested in the subject than her response would suggest.
“But I still haven’t heard from Randall. Although, I’m hoping he’ll call with an answer any day now.”
She chomps on her second or third slice and says, “Well, I’m really glad you’re less stressed now, Hayden.”
“Thanks.”
Once dinner is over, the girls clean up after themselves and then ask to be excused back up to Luna’s room.
“Yes, you can go,” Addie says. “But remember, Paige’s mom is going to be back to pick her up soon!”
“Yes, Mom.”
We pause and listen to their little footsteps clomp up the stairs.
“They sure are inseparable, huh?”
“It’s looking that way, yeah. And I’m so glad. I was so afraid it would be hard for Luna to make new friends here.”
Well, that certainly doesn’t appear to be the case.
“Do you want some wine?” she suddenly asks.
“Oh! Um, sure.”
“Great.” She smiles and then walks over to a rack filled with bottles in the corner of the room. “Red?”
“Works for me.”
Once she’s made her selection, I watch as she makes the cutest faces while struggling to uncork it.
“Can I help?”
“No.” She’s biting down on her lip and cranking on the spinning lever.
“Okay.”
Finally, she gets it and pours me a glass. I would never tell her this, but there are definitely tiny bits of cork floating on the surface.
I try my best to avoid ingesting them while also resisting looking at my watch for the millionth time that evening.
“Alright, Cohen,” she says after plopping down across from me and taking a sip.
“Alright what?”
“Time for you to spill. There’s obviously something on your mind.”
“Funny you should ask. Um . . .” Moments later, the doorbell rings.
“Who—”
“I’ll get it,” I offer before getting up. “You just stay there. We’ll be right back.”
***
“Addie, this is Dr. Donaldson.”
“You can just call me Jerry.”
“Jerry,” I correct myself. “This is Addie.”
She stands and shakes his hand. “Very nice to meet you. But sorry, what are you doing in my home exactly?”
They’re then both looking at me with confused expressions on their face.
“Uh.” I hook my finger in and loosen my tie a little. “Dr. Don—Jerry is a therapist.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes squint while her arms cross.
“Yes. He’s a renowned family therapist. Go on, Jer. Tell her about all the celebrity couples you’ve counseled.”
He chuckles humbly. “Well, I unfortunately can’t give names. But let’s just say, some of the most beloved A-listers are still together because of me.”
“I mean, right? That’s awesome.”
Addie shrugs. “I suppose.”
To her credit, she’s taking a complete stranger, and a shrink, nonetheless, as well as being at her house. I probably would act the same.
“So—” Jerry starts.
“Right. I just figured that if we are going to give this newfound connection a proper go. It might help to have a licensed professional facilitate our conversations.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, okay.”
“I just want to make sure this transition goes smoothly for us and for Luna, at least from here on out.”
“For sure.” I’m hoping the expression on her face is one of optimism. “No, I think that’s a great idea.”
Yes! “I’m hoping he’ll help us both get to a place where we’re comfortable opening up and being completely honest with each other.”
“But this is just the introductory meeting,” Jerry clarifies. “We won’t get to the nitty-gritty until I get to know each of you as individuals and as a pair first.”
“Exactly,” I agreed.
“Well, in any case, thank you for coming, Jerry. It is much appreciated. I’m sure you have a busy schedule.”
He tilts his head back and forth. “Eh, I’m always happy to meet with new clients. You keep my job interesting and unexpected.”
Soon, there’s a knock at the door, and a woman with brown hair and striking eyes makes her way through the threshold. Even without the context clues, I probably still would’ve been able to guess based on their similar appearance that she is Paige’s mother.
A few minutes later, everyone who doesn’t live there, besides me, is shuffled out of the house.
“So—” I’m still very impressed by how well Addie seemed to take everything I’ve sprung on her tonight.
“Alright,” she says curtly. “If that’s all, I’ll talk to you la—tomorrow, I guess.” She moves towards the door and opens it before gesturing for me to get out.
Oh. “Okay.”
“It’s getting late. I’ve got to get Luna ready for bed.”
I know that I’m new to this parenthood thing, but seven o’clock seems a little early for someone her age. But what the hell do I know? I suppose her routine may be more involved than I realize.
However, the way in which she’s rushing me out also leads me to wonder if she wasn’t as appreciative about the whole therapist thing as I originally thought.
Nevertheless, I take her lead and head outside. But once I turn to face her again, to tell her about how much I’m looking forward to building a healthier future together, I’m met with a slam and cold wood in my face.
“Good night, Hayden,” her muffled voice calls from behind it.
“. . . Good night.”