The Hardest Thing
Chapter 4
March
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH (or DC) characters, even though I'd like to.
Author's Notes: As you'll notice, this chapter takes place four months after the last one. Time 'jumping' is something that I tend to do a lot of. I don't always feel a need for some of the minor details in the middle. So, fill in the blanks as you wish. Some stuff will be explained.
Four months later…
March
"Thanks for making dinner again Joey. I'm sorry I'm late," Nathan set his things on the counter.
"Nathan, I love your kids, and I know their mother isn't part of their lives, but things have to change. Do you know what Abby told me today? She misses daddy. They need you Nathan. And I love that you can talk to me, but my fiancé is feeling neglected."
"Fiancé? When'd that happen?" Nathan questioned.
"Saturday night," Joey smiled.
He tried to smile, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Nathan," she wrapped her hands around his, "You've got a lot going one, and it's not going to change anything."
"But it has, obviously. He's being neglected."
Joey turns towards the sink, "Don't do this. I used to be off at 5, not it's 8 or 9 every night. You should be the one giving them baths, reading them stories, and tucking them in. Not me. I don't mind staying late once in a while, but I can't do it every night anymore."
"I'm sorry Joey. I'm happy for you. And I apologize for the late nights. You're right, I have grown more distant. I guess I've been burying myself in work to forget about Haley. I wish I could tell your fiancé I'm sorry."
"You can," her face lit up.
"What do you mean?"
"Come over for dinner Saturday night. I'd really like you to meet him. Maybe you could even become friends."
"I have friends," Nathan busied himself putting away the dishes.
"Everyone can always use another friend. Besides," Joey smiled coyly at him, 'maybe then he'd be more comfortable about a few late nights."
"I'd need a sitter," Nathan argued.
"I'm sure one of your FRIENDS would be willing to watch them."
"Fine. I'll get someone. Saturday then?"
"Yeah, 7 o'clock. Here's the address," Joey scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, okay."
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Come on Joey, did you really have to do that?"
"Pacey, it'll be fine. He's a great guy."
"I dunno…"
"It's just one night."
"Fine, then I'm inviting a friend I'd like you to meet."
"What?" Joey asked surprised.
"I met her several months ago. She's in the middle of a divorce and doesn't really have any friends." He neglected to tell her that she'd just had a baby.
"Wait a minute, so she's single?"
"Well, yeah, basically. But it's not what you think."
"Oh, I know Pacey, I trust you. I'm just thinking."
"Uh oh…" Pacey frowned.
"I'm serious. He's single, she's single. He really needs to get out more and she needs friends. Definitely invite her. Maybe there'll be sparks."
"I don't think that's such a great idea."
"Please Pacey," Joey batted her eyes at him and pouted.
"Fine, but it backfires, I'm blaming you."
"I can deal with that."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Saturday night…
"Hey Karen, thanks for agreeing to babysit. It seemed really important to Joey that I meet her fiancé."
"It's okay Nathan. You deserve a night out. I mean, since Haley," Karen looked at him. "I'm sorry, I know it still hurts."
"Don't worry about it. I know I've kinda been a hermit. But, I think I need this. It's been nine months for God's sake. I need to move on. I can't dwell on her anymore. I have to move on. I know she's never coming back."
"Nathan…"
"No, it's the truth, and we all know it. Now I should go or I'll be late."
"Have fun."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Nathan sat in the living room, nursing a drink. Apparently they were waiting for a fourth person.
The doorbell rang and Pacey stood. Walking to the door he said, "Good, she's finally here."
Nathan looked at Joey, "She?"
"She's a friend of Pacey's. I've never met her."
"Pacey, hi. Sorry I'm late."
Nathan froze, no, it couldn't be. Or could it? Then he saw her, walking into the room behind their host.
Pacey directed her towards Joey first, "Haley James, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Josephine Potter."
Joey shook her hand, Nice to meet you Haley. But please, call me Joey. I have this feeling I know you. Have we met before?"
Haley looked at her, "Nope, don't think so."
"Well, never mind that. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Haley James, Nathan Scott."
The two shook hands, silently agreeing to placate the happy couple.
Seated across from each other, Nathan and Haley both avoided eye contact, only conversing with their hosts. Sitting in the living room after dinner they sat as far apart as possible, again avoiding eye contact.
Breaking the obvious silence, Joey turned to Haley, "So, Pacey tells me you're in the middle of a divorce. Do you have any kids?"
Eyeing Nathan she answered, "Yes. A boy and two girls."
Pacey eyed her, wondering why she'd neglected to mention her infant son.
Nathan snorted, louder than intended.
The women pretended not to notice. "Really? Nathan has three kids also - a boy and two girls. What a coincidence. Isn't it Nathan?" Joey looked at him.
"Yeah. Sure," he stood. "Thanks for the wonderful time tonight, but I'm gonna go."
Joey glared at him, "Nathan, what's your deal? You've been weird all night."
"Why don't you ask her," Nathan nodded his head in Haley's direction, "when was the last time she saw her son and two daughters."
"Nathan," Haley whispered.
Joey looked between the two, then at Pacey, pleading for help. He put up his hands and shook his head.
Nathan spoke again, "I bet I can tell you why you feel like the two of you have met before. Because you have, briefly. But you've seen her picture a hundred times." He saw a flash of realization on Joey's face, but kept talking. "I believe her son, Harrison, is the oldest. He's almost nine now. Then her two daughters are Abby, age 4, and Emma, age 3. And she hasn't seen them in nine months. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving."
Joey glared at the woman who had been sitting at the end of her sofa. "I'd like you to leave please. Anyone who can abandon her family, especially three such wonderful children, is not welcome in my home."
Haley didn't hear her though, she was rushing out after Nathan, "Nathan, please, wait." She reaches for him.
Stopping in his tracks, he turns and brushes her arm away, "All I've been doing is waiting for you Haley. I'm done with it."
"Nathan…" a tear rolled down her cheek.
"No Haley, don't do this. I'm done. You've made your choice. Now live with it."
She watched him leave before going back inside, "Joey," she started.
"What do you want?" She tried to ignore Pacey's glares.
"Joey, please, tell me about my kids."
"Give me one reason why I should," Pacey had told her that Haley talked about her kids constantly, and worried about the decision she made.
"Because you're with them everyday."
"Yes, I am. You could've been too. Do you know how many times I've struggled with the question, 'Why doesn't mommy love us?'? It kills me every time."
Haley cried, "I made a mistake Joey. I shouldn't have left."
"The divorce isn't final, you can still go back."
How do I admit to him, and everyone else, that I was wrong?"
"Do you still love him?"
"God yes. But I don't know that he still loves me."
"He does."
"But will he after he finds out about my secret?"
"Secret?"
"Yeah, I, we, have a son who is just a month old now."
Joey whistled, "He'll find a way to forgive you. It may be a slow process getting him to trust you again. And he'll be super protective of the kids. But he still loves you as much as the day he married you."
"Really?"
"Really. Take it slow. Call him."
"I will. Thank you," she grabbed her coat and purse. Walking over to Pacey she hugged him, "Thanks for inviting me tonight."
Pacey watched Haley leave, "Nicely played Joey. You did good." He kissed her softly.
"Lets just hope she plays it well."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Nathan crept in the front door and saw Karen sitting on the sofa with two sleeping kids. He smiled at her and picked up Harrison and started towards the stairs.
"Did you have a good time?" Karen whispered as she followed with Abby.
"No, not so much. How were the kids?"
"They were great," conversation stopped while they put the kids in their separate rooms. Walking downstairs, Karen asked, "What happened?"
"Her fiancé brought a friend. I don't know if it was supposed to be a set-up or what, but his friend was the one, and only, Haley James."
"Oh Nathan. I'm so sorry. Did you fight again?"
"Not until after dinner. We pretended to not know each other. But then Joey started asking Haley questions. When she asked about kids, that's where things went bad."
Karen didn't know what to say, but Nathan used the silence to think before continuing, "It killed me seeing her tonight. At home, I can block out the photos that are displayed everywhere. Sitting there watching her laugh, and smile, and breathe, it was so hard Karen. She looked different somehow though. I can't describe it exactly." He paused again, "I have so many questions, so much anger. But at the same time, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and tell her how much I want her, how much I need her, how much I love her. She's sad and lonely. I could see it in her eyes. I think she's having doubts, maybe regrets, about the decision she made."
"Go to her Nathan. You know how to find her now."
"I can't Karen. She made a point of not wanting to be found. She has to come to me, to make the first step. She knows how to find me."
"Will she know how to find your heart?"
"I sure as hell hope so."
"Nathan, think about everything that you've said."
"I will. Thanks Karen," he hugs her.
"Anytime."
