Smoke And Mirrors
Chapter 13
authors note : Thank you for the support and feedback. Stay tuned my readers.
You're heartbroken.
You're heart is broken.
Nathan spent the next few hours calling and texting Haley with no response.
Which caused him to quickly come to the conclusion that she was ignoring him on purpose.
Haley placed the tray of snacks on the coffee table. And placed the large blanket over Nadia and Austin.
Before placing kisses on their foreheads. And getting off the couch.
She had turned to the children's section of Netflix. They could watch that content for hours.
"How come daddy doesn't have time for us anymore.?" Austin asked. Looking to his sister.
"I don't know. Why are you so sad and upset momma.?" Nadia asked.
Haley plastered a smile on her face.
"I'm not upset or sad. You're dad and I are going through a hard time." Haley replied.
"I heard you crying. When you tuck us in at bedtime."
"You think we don't hear about we do."
"Whose Rachel.?" Nadia asked. A name she had heard echoed through the one of her parents recent fights.
"She's not important enough to talk about." Haley replied.
Haley was fully aware her daughter was smart and more insightful then most 8 year olds.
Nadia could sense the disconnect and tension between her parents.
Austin noticed Nathan's lack of presence more then anything else so far. Being only 4.
"Enjoy the movie. I'll be in the kithen making hot coco. For all of us."
"We'll be staying here for awhile. I need some time away from you're dad." Haley admitted.
...
Nathan drove around. First the beach house. Then various hotels in town. He reached out to their friends and wasn't given any information.
Either they knew where she was. And was keeping that from him.
Or they had no idea and were worried too.
Out of desperation. He went to his parents and asked to use their private investigator to locate Haley and their kids.
Nathan never planned or expected to find himself at Rachel's home.
"We could forget about the child support. And you could be the full time dad you've been held back from being."
"Stick around Dawn would love some quality dad/daughter time when she get's home from school." Rachel proclaimed.
"I love Dawn and i plan to be more involved as a dad. But you do know."
"Us having her doesn't changed our dynamic. We're friends nothing more." Nathan clarified.
"We're breaking. non conformist. Free. Animals."
"Haley could never handle that side of you. That's why you buried and locked it away."
"It's okay Nate. You can admit it. Why you really married her.?"
"You didn't want to be Dan. But you're better then him."
"I want all of you. The good. Bad. Messy. Complicated."
"Make yourself at home." Rachel said. With a seductive smile.