Chapter Seventeen

Haley had a pretty good idea who the baby was but that still didn't explain why she was at Nathan's house, or why Lucas was there with them. She thought about waking them up to get an explanation but they just looked so cute, she didn't have the heart. She covered Nathan and Chiara with a blanket then id the same for Lucas. She'd just put some water on for tea when Deb walked in.

"Oh, hi Haley. Where's Nathan?"

"Asleep in the living room with a baby I assume is Jake's daughter. Lucas is there too."

"Lucas?"

Haley shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. But maybe you could tell me why there's a baby with him."

"Oh he didn't tell you. He offered to babysit Chiara for Jake tonight."

"Oh. I wonder why he didn't tell me."

"Probably wanted you to enjoy girls' night. He refused to let me stay and help too."

"I wonder how Lucas ended up here."

"I have no idea. But you have to go in there and look at them. It makes quite the picture."

When Deb followed Haley into the living room and saw her son asleep on the couch with a baby in his arms, she could barely contain her tears. "Oh my, my baby. He really is grown up now. I have to go get a camera." She returned moments later and snapped several pictures.

"I want copies of those."

"Of course." Deb wiped her eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just starting to hit me I guess that Nathan's going to be a dad, I'm going to be a grandma. I thought I was used to the idea but seeing him in there with a baby, even if it's someone else's, brings it home you know."

"Oh I know. I felt the same way when I saw them."

"You seem to be feeling much better these days." "I am thankfully. I thought morning sickness would never end." The kettle starts to whistle. "That's the tea."

"Wonderful. Why don't we sit in the kitchen and talk, I don't want to wake them."

"Sure."

Haley poured to cups of tea and sat down across from Deb. "Where were you? I thought the restaurant was closed tonight."

"It was. I had a date."

Haley coughed. "A date? With who?"

"Don't tell Nathan, I told him I had dinner with Karen and Keith. His name is Ben."

"You mean the guy who always comes in to the restaurant? I knew he liked you."

"Yeah, he asked me out a few weeks ago. I said no at first but then I thought about it and decided there was no reason not to."

"So why lie to Nathan?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I had every intention of telling him. After all, he seems to be handling mine and Dan's divorce pretty well but then the lie just popped out."

"He'll be happy for you Deb, trust me he will."

"I know. It just seems a little weird you know. I haven't dated in seventeen years."

"All the more reason to enjoy it."

"You seem a little upset Haley. What's wrong."

"Nothing really. Just had a rough night. I came over here hoping to talk to Nathan about it but I didn't want to wake him."

"So why don't you talk to me about it?"

"Peyton and I had plans to hang out tonight but Brooke came."

"I see. You two have never gotten along."

"Not at all but she and Peyton are close so I was determined to be civil to her. Then she made a confession."

"What kind of confession?"

"Do you remember when word got around school that I was pregnant and I got really upset? Well Brooke was the one who started spreading the news."

"Oh."

"So I ran out of there."

"Understandable."

"She said she was sorry and maybe she means it but I don't know if I can."

"No one's going to expect you to. Especially not right away."

"I guess."

There was a knock on the door. Haley got up to answer it. "That'll be Jake. I'll get it."

"Oh, hi Haley."

"Hi Jake. Come in. Chiara's asleep in the other room. I'll go get her."

"Thanks."

She returned with Chiara in her arms and handed her to Jake.

"So how'd it go?"

"I don't know. By the time I got here they were all asleep."

"Can't have been that bad then. Tell Nathan I'll see him in school on Monday."

"Will do. See you Monday."

"Bye Haley."

When she returned to the kitchen, Deb caught her yawning. "You're tired. Why don't you stay in Nathan's room tonight."

"That's a good idea. Thanks Deb."

"Any time."

"Good night."

***

Haley awoke the next morning in Nathan's bed. That wasn't so unusual but it was the first time she'd awoken in it without him beside her. Her brief disappointment at the sight of the empty space made her realize how used she'd gotten to waking up beside him. True, he was just downstairs but it wasn't the same. She got up and put on the robe she kept in his closet. She walked downstairs, no one else was up so she started the coffee and found some fixings for breakfast.

"Something smells good." Deb said as she came down the stairs.

"I made pancakes and sausage. I hope you don't mind my making myself at home in your kitchen."

"Not at all. You're carrying my grandchild. You're family. So, should we wake up the two baby-sitters in there or should we eat it all ourselves?"

"I don't know; I suppose we could share. I'll go wake them."

Haley walked into the living room and looked at the two boys. Nathan was halfway off the couch and Lucas had fallen to the floor sometime during the night. Neither appeared to notice or care.

"Nathan," she whispered in his ear but got no response. "Time for a different approach." She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him passionately.

"Huh?"

"That woke you up."

"Morning." He smiled. "Wait, where's Chiara?"

"Jake picked her up last night like he said he would. How'd you sleep?"

"This couch sucks. And I was lonely without you."

"Really? Well I was very comfortable in your bed. I'm going to wake up Luke."

"Better not use the same method you did with me."

"Well you know I could but I think I'd give both of you a heart attack." She walked over the Luke and shoved him with her foot.

"Hey! What was that for? Oh, hi Haley."

"Rise and shine. Breakfast is ready."

***

"It smells great mom" Nathan said, walking into the kitchen.

"I know it does but I can't take the credit. Haley made breakfast."

Nathan looked at Haley. "You cook? How did I not know this?"

"My little secret, and don't think for one minute that I'm going to do all the cooking in our." she stopped herself.

"Our what Hales?"

"Nothing. Just don't expect me to do all the cooking."

"Uh huh." He saw that Haley was uncomfortable and dropped it. She could explain her little slip later when his mom and her best friend weren't around.

"So, what are your guys' plans for today?" Deb asked.

"I'm working the dinner shift tonight and before that we have studying to do." She looked at Nathan pointedly.

Nathan groaned. "She works me to the bone this one. I never get a break."

"And it's done you a world of good hasn't it." He was silent. "That's what I thought. What about you Luke?"

"Peyton and I were going to study for the big math test. And I told Keith I'd watch the shop for him this morning. I don't want to think about what he's doing."

"What do you mean by that?" Nathan asked.

"He and my mom ate in last night if you know what I mean." Lucas grimaced. "Ugh, I really don't want to think about it."

Realization came over Nathan's face. "Wait a minute, Mom, didn't you say you were going out with Karen and Keith last night."

Haley saw Deb grow uncomfortable and grabbed Lucas' hand. "Come on Luke, let's go for a walk."

"I'm not done eating."

"You can heat it up when we get back. Come on."

"Okay, what was that all about?" he asked when they got outside.

"Nathan and his mom need to talk. Deb had a date last night."

"Oh. But why would she lie about it I mean Nathan's okay with the divorce."

"Yeah but she still doesn't know how he's going to react to her dating other people. She didn't know how to tell him."

***

"Okay Mom spill, where were you really last night?"

"I had a date."

"A date? With who?"

"A regular at the restaurant. Sweetie, I'm sorry I lied to you, I just didn't know how to tell you."

"It's okay Mom but next time you make a date with a guy, tell me about it. I want to be able to meet him and see if he's good enough for my mom. Deal?"

"Deal."