AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you. You handled it well." He kissed my forehead.
"Okay, I just want you to know, whatever happens, I'm here for you. Both of you."
"Thank you. That means a lot. Where is Hailey?"
"She's on the porch waiting to talk to you. She thought you might want a minute to process before you two talked."
"She's a good kid," he said with a sad smile.
"She gets it from you."
He chuckled, but it wasn't genuine. "Thanks."
He headed towards the porch, and I went next door feeling like the needed a moment alone myself. I wanted to be there for them and support them, but this was a family matter.
16
JAKE
I found Hailey sitting on the porch, her gaze fixed on the tree line as if searching for answers in the fading sunlight. She looked so small, so fragile, that my heart clenched with a mixture of love and worry.
"Hey, kiddo," I said softly, sinking down into the chair next to hers. "How are you holding up?"
Hailey shrugged, a small frown tugging at the corners of her lips. "I don't know, Dad. It's just... weird, you know?"
I nodded, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. "Yeah, I get it. But I'm here for you, okay? Whatever you need, I'm here."
She gave me a faint smile, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it."
We sat in silence for a while, the only sound was the chirping of insects loud around us promising summer’s swift arrival. I wanted to understand more about how she was feeling, what was going through her mind, but the words caught in my throat, tangled up in a mess of emotions I couldn't begin to unravel.
Instead, I got up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, letting her know without words that I was here, no matter what happened next. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.
The weekend had been wonderful, but now it seemed a million miles away. I'd missed my friend, and the weekend reminded me that I was a whole person. Not just a dad and a teacher, but I was me—Jake Kingsbury who had interests and hobbies, and Molly.
I was all ready to apply this new outlook to my life, eager to find a new balance, but coming home to find this was not at all what I had expected. It was like me breaking from the norm I had established over the last decade had tempted fate and brought Natasha crashing back into my life at the most inopportune time.
"You never told me how much I look like her."
I laughed but it held no mirth. "I think about it every day."
"Can I see her? If she wants to see me?"
"Hails..."
"Dad, please, it's my choice."
"I would never keep you from her. She's your mother, but I think you should understand a few things first. Ok?"
"Ok."
"She is not a bad person. I don't want you thinking that. She did not leave because she didn't love you or didn't want you. I just think she didn't know how to stay. So, if she leaves again and disappears, I want you to understand that it's not you. Even if she makes you promises, there is a chance that she could leave and I want you to be prepared for that possibility."
I couldn’t sit here and bad mouth Natasha to her daughter when I had no idea what the truth was. I had always thought I knew Nat so well, but the truth was I didn’t. The Nat I loved wouldn’t have left her family, but for Hailey’s sake, I couldn’t let her believe that Natasha was capable of that.
Hailey's brows drew together, and she looked at the ground.
"I just don't want you to get hurt more than you already have."
