CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
HALEY
My mind’s churning on the way back from the store. I wasn’t even paying attention to what kind of baby food I was buying, simply depositing it onto the counter while I tried to make sense of the conversation Dane and I had earlier.
And just when I thought we were making progress…
Maybe I’m being foolish. What did I expect? That this built, bad boy from the sky would fall into my lap and suddenly change completely overnight?
You know people don’t change. It’s something people say, to excuse themselves, to fall back on when things don’t work out.
I promised myself I’d never be a fool again, to see people for what they are.
And here we are?
It’s clear. He’s going to leave.
And there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
My cell starts to ring. I take it out. “Haley speaking.”
“Hi, Haley. It’s Jerry here.”
I stop walking. “Sherriff Fallon?”
“The one and only.”
“Have I done something wrong?” I ask, but truthfully I have a pretty good idea why he’s calling.
“How’s your job at the motel going?”
“Fine,” I reply, wishing he’d get on with it.
“Good, good,” he mutters, no doubt trying to think of more small talk to delay the inevitable.
My nerves are getting the better of me. “Just hit me with it,” I say, sharper than I intend to.
He seems taken aback at first. Everyone knows Haley Walker doesn’t snap. She never talks out of place or has a bad word to say to anyone, but that Haley is gone.
“Well, okay then,” he says. “There’s no good way to say it, so I’m simply going to spit it out. I’ll be handling your foreclosure on the twenty-second. Do you… have some place lined up to go?”
Now I snap, the weight of everything too great to carry. I turn on the spot, throwing my free arm up. “Do we have somewhere to go?” I correct. “No, we don’t. The Ritz is booked out, sorry.”
“Now, there’s no need for—”
“My attitude,” I cut him off. “You know what, Jerry,” I huff, “I’m sick of everyone in this stupid town with their unblinking little eyes and judgement. I’m sick of being stepped on and put down. I won’t stand for it any longer.”
“That’s all well and good, but the fact remains—”
“Does it give you pleasure, doing the bank’s dirty work, taking a home from a mother and her child? Tell me. Tell me!” I shout.
“I… ah…” Poor Jerry doesn’t know what to say, clearly on the back foot.
But I’m not done. “Yes, I had a baby out of wedlock. No, I’m not sorry about it. Why should I be punished, day after day after day, for that? Please, enlighten me.”
I swallow hard and tap my foot against the sidewalk, my head beating and my breathing quick.
“I, I’m not sure what you want me to say here, Haley.”
“I can’t exactly leave town until the ice clears, can I? And it’s not like there’s anywhere in this god-forsaken town I can stay except for the motel, but, oh, wait, I can’t even afford that, can I?”
“Like I said, I’m real sorry. Good day to you.”
He hangs up just as I’m about to start on another tirade.
I throw my cell down into the snow. “Asshole.”
Feel better now?
I don’t. If anything, I feel stupid and lost. That may have been the one person who was in a position to help me out, and what did I do? I went full Exorcist on him. I’ve taken my frustration with Dane out on the first person to cross my path.
“Asshole,” I mutter again to myself, smiling at the sound of it.
I doubt it’s going to be the last time I pull it out today.
I pick up my cell from the snow and start to walk.
*
Dane’s stoking the fire when I get back, a pot of coffee waiting.
He stands, brushing himself off and reaching for the grocery bag, but I push past him to the kitchen, dumping it down.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he offers.
I start unpacking, facing away from him. “I don’t need your help or anyone else’s for that matter, thanks.”
“What’s with the—”
“Attitude?” I bark.
I hear Andy start to cry upstairs.
“I’ll get him,” says Dane.
I spin around fast, blocking his path. “I’ll do it. I wouldn’t want to bother you with such trivialities.”
Dane throws his arms out. “Hey, I’m here right now, aren’t I? Let me help while I can.”
I shake my head, crossing my arms and facing him. “‘While you can’? That says it all.”
I break down—the call from the Sherriff, trying to act like this is fine… everything’s pressing down. I’m being buried alive below it.
I sense Dane wants to comfort me, but he holds off, heading upstairs to get Andy.
I take a seat at the dining table and take a tissue from the box, dabbing at my eyes with it and wondering why I’m so damn weak. Was it my upbringing? Was it my schooling, my friends? They’ve all gone, quick to move to greener pastures with proper jobs and real families.
When I see Dane emerge from the stairwell with Andy against his shoulder, my heart breaks even more.
Andy deserves a father.
The wall phone rings. “I’ll get it,” says Dane, reaching for it with his free hand, lightly bouncing Andy up down with the other.
“Walker residence,” he answers.
I only catch part of the conversation.
“I understand.”
“Sure.”
“That’s good to know.”
“I don’t follow, sorry.”
“Right. Thanks for the call.”
“Yeah, go ahead and book me a room.”
“Yes, same details.”
“Yes.”
“You too.”
He hangs up, looking towards me—my son and the stranger holding him.