Chapter Eleven: The Boys of Summer

As Haley got ready for work the next day all she could think about is Nathan. Part of her yearned to be with him and the other part just knew that she had to stay away. But she could not deny the heat that she felt when she saw him. All of the love and attraction that she felt for her ex husband just rushed back into her when she saw him walk into that hospital room. Then she thought about Lucas. She didn't know why he popped into her head but Lucas had been there for her all these years. He's helped with James and stood by her in her decision with Nathan. He even got her a job at the paper as a junior copy editor. Lucas has meant so much to her and James. He is like a father figure to James and was there for every big moment in his life so far. She was torn by the two men in her life. On one hand she had the father of her son and once the love of her life. Then she had her best friend that practically raised her son as his own. She didn't know how to deal with these emotions that she was having. Were the feelings that she had for Nathan true or just her wanting to relive her past? Or was she having feelings for Lucas that were more than platonic? Right when she was finishing getting dress while she played mental ping pong with her dilemma, James walked in and told her that Deb was at the door. She put on her skirt and her and James went down stairs. Deb was in the kitchen making herself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning. Don't we look nice today? What tine do you have to be in the office?" Deb said as she sat down at the kitchen table with her coffee.

"I have to be there at 9. Come James, let me pour you some cereal. So Deb, what are you doing her so early? I thought you said that you were going to go by the hospital this morning and that's why you couldn't take James."

"Oh, I am going but there are pressing matters that I need to discuss with you. They concern Nathan."

"Anything that concerns Nathan does not concern me anymore" she said with a little power in her voice.

"I understand that you have your issues with him but you need to know that I think that he knows about James."

"What about me?" James said with his mouth full of cereal.

"Nothing baby, you can take your cereal in the living room and watch cartoons while me and grandma talk."

James didn't need to hear that twice. He got up and took his cereal in the living room to watch Disney's Playhouse.

"Now I understand how you may think Nathan knows about James but how could you be sure? Did he tell you anything when he came back from the hospital the other day?"

"All he said to me was that he saw you at the hospital. He also told me that you had a little boy with you and he was the same boy from the pictures on my mantle."

"He saw pictures of James before the hospital?"

"Yeah he saw it the day he came. Haley I understand all that we've done to keep this from Nathan but I think that it's time that we start telling the truth. With all that is going on we should realize that life is short and we need to make amends where we can."

"I just don't know. I don't want to disrupt anything in his life and James' either. James has been perfect to this point and I don't think that bringing Nathan in his life is the right thing to do. We never planned on doing that."

"I know that was not part of the plan but he is my son and I think that what we've done needs to be rectified."

"And James is my son. And I did and will do what's best for him. And what about Lucas? Don't you think this involves him too? He has been the only man there for James and I don't want him to be left out in this. Nathan is his brother." Haley said as her temper started to rise.

"I've already told him. I told him everything I've told you yesterday when we came from the hospital. And surprisingly he said the same thing you did. He also suggested that I come see you first before I do anything, so that is why I'm here. I'm not here to ask for your permission, I'm just here to tell you what I'm going to do and for you to be prepared for the aftermath. Now I need to go to the hospital. Think about what I said and make a decision about what you're going to do." Deb said angrily as she got up and went over to James, kissed him goodbye and walked out the door.