Separation
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Mercers.
Chapter Nine
Everyone in the room stared at Jack in disbelief; all accept Evelyn whose smile brightened up.
At hearing her name from someone other than Evelyn made her slightly curious. Slowly, Hailey moved from behind Evelyn to her left side. Jack got up from his seat on the couch and came to kneel in the door way, Bobby moving off to the side. When Jack was in full view of shy little Hailey, it was almost as if she forgot she was afraid of her new home. Her eyes widened and a huge smile spread across her tiny little face.
"JACKIE!" Hailey ran from by Evelyn into Jacks open arms.
"I told you I'd find you didn't I?" Hailey nodded in response.
Bobby smiled at the reunion between him little brother and his new baby sister. "Hey Jack, you wanna show Hailey the house? Maybe introduce her to the rest of us?"
Jack looked up at Bobby and let out a small laugh. "Right. Hailey," Jack looked her in the eyes speaking softly. "You want to meet your new brothers?"
Hailey looked back at Jack confused. "We have other brothers?" She spoke in a whisper as if the question was a secret.
"Yup, and a mom too." Jack looked to Evelyn then back to Hailey. "Do you want to say hi?"
"Are they mean? 'Cause last time I they were mean to me."
Jack flinched. "No, Hailey they are very nice. You know no one is going to be mean to you here. No one is ever going to be mean to you again."
"Promise?"
Jack kissed Hailey's forehead. "I promise, so what do you say?" Hailey nodded shyly. "Okay, well Bobby is right here so let's say hi to him first."
Bobby took a small, slow step forward and knelt down to Hailey's height. Jack turned her so she could look at Bobby, and she smiled at him, and not a small shy smile Bobby was expecting. "Hey kiddo."
"Hi. Jack," Hailey turned back to Jack to whisper in his ear. "He looks like the man who had me meet Miss Evelyn."
Jack raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Is that good?"
Hailey nodded. "I liked him, he was nice. When I thought I lost my bear he helped me find it. I didn't want to loss it 'cause you kept it for me, and see" Hailey held it up. "I still have it."
"I glad you kept it. Come on, we still have two more brothers."
"Two more?"
"Yup, and they're nice too so you don't need to be scared okay." Jack stood, holding Hailey's hand. Jack led Hailey into the living room where Angel and Jerry sat. "Okay, this is Jeremiah, we all call him Jerry though."
Hailey smiled shyly but tried to hide behind Jack.
"Hi there Hailey." Jerry smiled down at her, a very warm comforting smile which made Hailey come out a little more from behind her brother.
Jack was pleased at her reaction to Jerry, she seemed to warm up to him rather quickly. "Over here, on the chair is Angel."
"Angel?" Hailey questioned.
"Yes."
"I think I like that name."
Angel got up from the chair he was in, slowly, and kneel down in front of Hailey. "Hey there."
"Hi."
Bobby came walking into the living room and went over to Jack and Hailey. "Hey Jackie, why don't you take Hailey up to her room. She looks a little tired."
"Yeah, okay. Come on Hails." Jack scooped her up in his arms and started to go up the stairs with Bobby following behind with the bag Evelyn brought in, which held Hailey's belongings.
Jack walked top the top of the stairs and to the end of the hallway. He went into his bed room, where another small bed was set up. Jack put his sister down on the bed that was made up for her.
"Who's room is this?" Hailey ask looking at the band posters on the wall and the other bed.
"Mine, but I'm sharing with you now. Mom must have known that she found you."
"Mom? But I don't have a mom?"
"You do now Hailey."
"Ms Evelyn?"
"Yes, she's going to take care of you now. Like she took care of me and Bobby, Jerry, and Angel. She's our mom, and yours too."
Bobby stood in the doorway listening to Jack talk about their mother in such a loving and caring tone. He cleared his throat and Jack turned to see him. "I brought her stuff up."
"Thanks."
"So," Hailey suddenly spoke. "I have a mommy now? A real one? But what if they take me away again? Jack, I don't wanna go away to that place again." Tears filled her eyes.
"Hailey, it's okay, you won't. You're not going anywhere, I swear."
"But last time you didn't come find me."
"I tried, I promise you I tried. But I couldn't, no one would tell me anything about you. You are not going anywhere. I won't let anyone take you away from me again."
"Hailey," Bobby spoke for the second time. "No one is going to go anywhere. Not you, not Jack, no one. You're home now kid. You better get used to it."
Bobby walked out of the room and smiled when her heard Hailey's squeaky giggle.
This will be really good for all of us especially Jack.
