Chapter Twenty Five
It wasn't long before Lucas and Brooke were happily reunited with their daughter. There was a joyous celebration as the two parents expressed their gratitude to their friends for their help in locating Bella. Keith and Karen then offered their guestroom since it was clearly too late to drive home. That went for anyone who didn't have a place to stay for the night. However, everyone respectfully declined except for Nathan. Keith and Karen insisted on him staying with them and Nathan was too tired to really object.
"I'm going to let Brooke stay here with the kids," Lucas said. Even though their daughter was safely returned, it was clear there was still tension between the two parents. "I'll find some other place to sleep."
"I'll take you and Peyton home," Rachel offered. Nathan was grateful she didn't say anything about his uncle. They said goodbye to their friends before she, Peyton and Lucas left the house. Nathan followed them to make sure Lucas was okay. He had a rough night and it didn't look like it was any better with his daughter safe and sound.
Haley helped Brooke settle in one of the guest rooms with Bella before she entered the kitchen. Her mother embraced her daughter in a tight hug. Haley was grateful for the hug, but she was confused at the same time. "I heard you ran into Carrie again. I'm glad you're okay, but I really didn't want you to go and confront Carrie alone, especially when you really didn't know if she had Bella or not."
Haley wasn't in the mood for a lecture. "I know, but I was so sure she had Bella. She has been trying to get back into Nathan's good graces and kidnapping a child was her last resort." Her mother gave her a look. "I know it sounds crazy, but that's exactly what she is. She's desperate to get back into Nathan's life and ruin mine."
Her mother wasn't convinced. "Haley, I think you're overreacting. Now I admit I'm not a fan of Carrie either, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't give her a second chance." Haley didn't answer her. "And I also think you should apologize to Taylor for your accusations against her friend." Haley was still quiet. "Promise me that you'll call your sister in the morning and apologize to her."
Haley just nodded as she went to say goodbye to the other guests who were leaving. She stood outside with Nathan as their friends departed ways. After the last guest drove away from the house, the two returned into the living room. "How's Lucas?" Haley asked him concerned.
Nathan let out a heavy sigh. "I wish I could tell you he's great now that he has his daughter back, but he and Brooke still have some issues to work out. It's funny because I didn't even notice they were having problems."
Haley didn't want him to play the blame game. "I don't think they wanted you to know because they didn't want you to worry about them, but I'm sure they are going to work everything out."
"I hope so because I would hate for them to move to Tree Hill and then they split up," Nathan replied.
Haley didn't answer as her parents came into the room. Both of them were holding two cups of coffee. They kept one for themselves and handed the other two to their daughter and Nathan. There was silence before Keith spoke. "I heard you were able to get a date before you found out Bella went missing. Who's the lucky woman?"
Nathan laughed. "I don't know who my mystery date is yet, but I know that woman really put a lot of money towards your charities to win me. I'm just sorry I'm the only one who was able to contribute money." He was about to pull out his wallet when Haley's parents stopped him.
Karen gave him a grateful smile. "Nathan, we appreciate the offer, but you don't have to give us anything. We're just happy Bella is back with Lucas and Brooke." Nathan had to agree with that. The conversation shifted back to the date auction as Nathan told them about some of the other men who were going to be bid off. Their interest peeked when Nathan began to complain about Chris Keller.
"Chris Keller was there?" Keith asked. "Why am I not surprised? Actually, I'm surprised he was willing to hide his face since he loves being the center of attention, but I'm glad he has moved on from dating my daughter."
Haley turned red as Nathan turned to her. "You used to date Chris Keller?"
"Yeah, I really don't want to talk about it," Haley replied, avoiding the question. "He's a part of my past I would rather forget."
Nathan knew better than to ask her anymore questions. It was clearly too embarrassing for her to talk about her relationship with Chris and he couldn't blame her. Chris didn't seem like a guy who wasn't serious about dating. He looked more like a flirt and he seemed to prove it when he had talked to other men backstage.
"That's okay. I have a couple of past relationships I don't like to bring up either," Nathan replied. He didn't press her any further for information about her relationship with Chris. Yet, he couldn't believe Haley had dated that man. He was relieved Haley wasn't willing to give him a second chance. She deserved better than Chris. "We deserve better than those people." Haley gave him a smile.
"Well, it's late," Keith said, speaking up. "I'm sure you two are tired. After all, you guys had a long day. And I'm sure you want to get back to Charlotte early as possible tomorrow so you can be there when your kids get back from their mother's."
Nathan nodded. "Knowing Renée, she will probably bring them back early. I just hope she doesn't have any more surprises for me."
The next morning, Nathan ate breakfast before he headed back to Charlotte. He had asked Brooke if she wanted to return with him, but she told him she would get a ride with Haley. In other words, she wasn't ready to face Lucas yet. Nathan kept quiet about Lucas deciding to stay in Tree Hill for the night. It was better for them to work things out without any interference from him.
When he arrived home, he wasn't surprised to see Renée had already arrived with the children. Their eyes lit up as soon as they saw their father and ran out of the car to greet him. He embraced them in tight hugs as he noticed something he wasn't expecting to see on his daughter. "Are those clip on earrings?" he asked hopefully as he looked at the tiny gold earrings that were hanging from Cassie's ears.
"No, they're real ones," Cassie announced proudly. "Aren't they pretty?"
Nathan did his best to try and hide his anger. "Yeah, they're beautiful." He turned to his son. "What did you get to do while you were with your mom?" He hoped Renée didn't allow him to get a tattoo or something like that. He couldn't take two big surprises.
"Mom and Julian bought me a laptop," Tristan told him. Nathan wasn't happy to hear that either. "Don't worry, Dad. Julian made sure to put the parental controls on there before I could play on it."
"Good to hear," Nathan replied. "Why don't you go and put your stuff away? I'll be right there." The children obeyed his orders. He then turned back to Renée. "Do you care to explain why you allowed our five year old daughter to get pierced ears? Or why our son now has his own laptop without even consulting me?"
"Because I was trying to make up for not being able to take them to Disney World," Renée replied.
Nathan raised his eyebrows. "And you thought bribing them with gifts that they are too young for would be the right thing to do?"
Renee gave him a look. "Tristan isn't too young for a laptop. A lot of kids his age have one. And as Tristan said, I made sure Julian put the parental controls on so he doesn't go on inappropriate websites."
"What's your excuse for Cassie?" Nathan demanded. "Cassie is way too young to wear earrings and you know it."
Renee changed the subject. "Why don't we talk about what you're really upset about? You're angry at me because I found someone so quickly after our divorce and you're jealous of our relationship." Nathan was about to protest when Renée wasn't finished. "Come on. That is why you signed up to be in Brooke's bachelor auction, isn't it?" Nathan was surprised to hear she knew about it. "I'm not the only one who people gossip about. There's talk about you and our nanny."
"I think you know better than to listen to gossip," Nathan replied as he wondered if there was any gossip about his move to Tree Hill. He couldn't believe he had forgotten to tell Renée. Then again, they haven't had good communication for months. Before he could tell her about the move, they heard their children calling for him. They sounded panicked and he tried to remain calm as they came running out with worried faces. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Thumper's missing," Tristan said worriedly. "I can't find him anywhere."
"And we can't find Cinnamon either," Cassie added.
"Calm down. Everything is okay. I went out of town so I asked Jake to take care of them," Nathan explained, not wanting to tell them about the date auction or Bella's short disappearance. "Haley promised to get them later." The answer satisfied Tristan and Cassie as they headed back into the house.
"As much as I would love to continue our little discussion about gossip, I need to get going," Renée said as she headed back to her vehicle.
"There's something else I need to tell you," Nathan said, speaking up. However, he knew it wasn't the right place to tell her about the move. "It's really important. Can we discuss it over lunch tomorrow?" As much as he didn't want to talk to her, she had to be told about the move. "Or possibly dinner?"
Renee let out a sigh. "Alright. I'll change my lunch plans for tomorrow." She suggested the same restaurant they had met up when she had told him about her idea to send the kids to boarding school and he nodded in agreement. He would talk to her about her gifts then.
Once she had left, he went into the house and checked on the kids. Both of them had unpacked their things and were now playing with their toys. However, Cassie stopped and greeted her dad again. However, she was upset. "Tristan said you didn't like my earrings."
"I didn't say that," Tristan defended. "I said Dad is mad at Mom because she didn't ask Dad first. I wanted to ask you, but Mom thought it would be okay. We can take the laptop back if you want."
Nathan was grateful his son was willing to do the right thing. However, he hated to be the bad guy and tell his son he would have to return his gift. "I appreciate the gesture, but I suppose you're old enough for a laptop. Although, I think I will check your laptop out to make sure Julian really did put the parental controls on it."
"What about my earrings?" Cassie asked anxiously. Nathan believed she was too young to wear real earrings, but he could tell she really wanted to keep them. To take her earrings away when he allowed Tristan to keep his laptop wasn't fair.
Nathan let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, you can keep your earrings. Haley can help you with taking care of them. If you don't, then you have to promise me you're not going to ask again until junior high, okay?" he asked. Cassie nodded as she embraced him in another hug.
By the time lunchtime came, Haley had arrived home and the kids helped her bring the pets into the house. When the kids asked her where she was, she told them she had helped their Aunt Brooke and Aunt Rachel with their event and spent the night at her parents' house. Like Nathan, she didn't feel the need to them about the search for their missing cousin.
After lunch, Tristan and Cassie put away their dishes before Nathan sent them off to play. "So how did it go with Brooke and Lucas?" he asked her, wondering if that was it. "Did everything go okay?"
Haley nodded. "Yeah, Brooke wasn't happy Lucas lied and stayed behind in Tree Hill, but they did manage to talk and they want to make their marriage work. So they're planning to go to marriage counseling." Nathan was relieved to hear that. "Hey, Brooke and I were talking with Lucas and my parents and we have figured out the move. Since the kids are starting school soon, we were thinking of putting the kids with my parents and possibly Quinn. That way, they can settle in their new school and we can pack and move without six kids underfoot. Is that okay with you?"
Nathan nodded. "Yeah, that sounds perfect. I just feel sorry for your parents. I know they raised three daughters, but it's different with a combination of both girls and boys." He didn't dare ask Haley if she had ever apologized to Taylor. He should apologize to Carrie, but he wasn't going to bring that up either. He wasn't looking forward to that conversation.
"They might as well get used to it especially since we're moving there," Haley reminded him. Nathan noticed the happiness in her voice. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was thrilled to move back to Tree Hill. "Actually, I think they already are. They love having your kids and your nieces and nephews around the house. I think it makes up for them not being able to get grandchildren."
Nathan wondered if she was thinking about his request of taking his kids if something would happened to him. "You know, you don't have to take care of Tristan and Cassie. I know it's a huge responsibility to raise someone else's kids and you would be a single parent, but I know you would do a great job."
Haley smiled at the compliment. However, she still had some concerns. "I'm not sure if your parents would like it if the nanny was the one who was supposed to take care of their grandchildren if something happens to their son." She didn't even think they would allow her to do it if even she wasn't the nanny. She knew Deb liked her, but Dan was a different story. She could just imagine them fighting for custody of Tristan and Cassie.
Nathan hated to admit it, but she was right. His parents would never approve of him choosing her as Tristan's and Cassie's guardian, but he didn't care. "I know, but they are my children. If I want you to take care of them after I'm gone, then they are going to have to respect my wishes." It reminded him the way his dad treated Lucas and Brooke. They refused to allow him control their lives and Nathan was going to do the same. He tried to find the right words to tell her how he truly felt about her. "Haley, we need to talk."
Haley became a little concerned. "What's wrong?"
There was a long pause. "Haley, I want to forget about my blind date and go out on a date with you." Haley was quiet. "I know it's not appropriate for us to go out, but I don't care what anyone else says. I can't hide my feelings for you any longer: I love you. I think I have since our first visit to Tree Hill."
Haley was in shock. Here, she had been trying to hide her feelings for him because she wasn't sure how he felt about her. And it turned out he felt the same way about her. "Nathan, I have a confession to make." There was a short pause before she took a deep breath. "I think I'm in love with my boss."
"What if you weren't in love with your boss? What if you were in love with just a very good friend?" Nathan asked.
It took Haley a moment to realize what he wanted to do. She gave him a look. "You know Tristan and Cassie would be devastated if they found out I wasn't going to be their nanny anymore."
"No we wouldn't," a small voice piped up. Nathan and Haley turned to see both Cassie and Tristan. It was Cassie who had spoken. "We want you and Daddy to date."
"Yeah, you're happy with Haley," Tristan added. "Even Aunt Brooke and Aunt Rachel says so." Nathan raised his eyebrows in surprise. If that was true, then why did they want him to participate in the bachelor auction? "They really did," his son insisted.
"I believe you, but you have to stop eavesdropping on people's conversations, okay?" Nathan told him. Tristan nodded. "It's not nice." He turned to his daughter. "That goes for you too."
Cassie nodded. "Are you going to ask Haley out on a date now?"
Nathan turned back to Haley. "How about it? Would you like to go out to dinner with me?"
Haley felt mixed emotions. Her head was telling her it still wasn't a good idea to go out with him, but her heart was telling her to take a chance. She took a deep breath before she spoke. "Yes, I would love to go out with you."