Hailey was sitting at her apartment. Seth, Sandy and Kirsten hadn't called. Ryan hadn't called. It was 3 am and she was drinking her fourth rum and coke. The vodka had run out hours ago.
The knock on the door didn't surprise her but finding Sandy on the other side did. He stepped inside.
"How is he?" She asked quietly.
"I'm not going to answer that. I need you to tell me what your relationship is with my son."
Hailey could see that he meant his words. Ryan was his son.
"Sandy…"
"Are you sleeping with him?"
She didn't respond. She wouldn't look him in the eyes.
"How long?"
"A while," She whispered. "We're friends first, Sandy, it's not about the sex…"
"God, Hailey, he's seventeen!" Sandy said.
"He's a 40 year old in a 17 year old's body!"
"Hailey, I love Ryan, but he's got a lot of baggage…whose idea was this?"
"He wasn't sleeping with Teresa. Marissa's fucking everyone except him…"
"So you decided to seduce him?"
"No…it just happened. He tried to stop it…but it was inevitable…"
"Hailey. It's wrong. He's family."
"I know," She whispered.
"How…how could you do this?" Sandy was upset. He sat down.
"It…it wasn't all me…"
"Oh, I know…" He sighed. "Ryan seems to have a weakness for the women…"
"How is he? How's Teresa?"
Sandy sighed again. "He wouldn't leave her. She's still unconscious."
"The baby?"
"It's not looking good, Hailey. Kirsten stayed with him. Seth and I came back."
"Did you tell Kirsten?"
"Hell, no. We just want Ryan home with us, Hailey. You're supposed to be his aunt…not his lover…"
"I'm his friend."
"I don't want you near him," Sandy stated quietly.
"What?"
He was serious. "I'm worried about Ryan. And Kirsten. You know it's the right thing."
"But…" Hailey paused. She had to be an adult. She wouldn't react. She wouldn't show Sandy how much she needed to see Ryan.
"I'll explain it to him. Do you think he'll walk away from us for you? Do you want that? Do you want to make him explain this to Kirsten?"
"No. But we're friends and if he reaches out to me…"
Sandy sighed. "You can talk to him, if he reaches out. But the sex…it has to stop. What about Jimmy, Hailey?'
She covered her face. "He comes by…like, once a week…"
"Maybe you should try to reconnect," He said quietly.
"I'll leave town," Hailey whispered.
"Don't leave. Kirsten…she can't lose anyone else right now. But the sex…"
"Has to stop."
"He needs a stable environment." Sandy's phone buzzed. "Yes?" He listened and sighed. "How's Teresa? I'll be there first thing…"
Hailey held her breath.
"The baby's gone. Teresa's condition is still the same, unconscious."
"And Ryan?"
"Eddie's in jail. Ryan's with Teresa. Kirsten says that…that he's quiet."
---- -------------
Hailey got a call from Sandy 2 days later. She hadn't left the apartment since he had gone.
"Sandy?"
"Has he called?"
"No, where is he?"
"He's here. In the poolhouse. He hasn't said a word since we brought him back. Teresa's dead."
"Oh no…"
"She woke up and started asking about Eddie. When Ryan told her that he was in jail, she got angry and kicked him out…"
"Oh god, she was angry because Eddie was in jail? That bitch…"
"But Kirsten wouldn't leave. She told Teresa about the baby and upset her…the doctors came in and made Kirsten leave. When she came back with Ryan later, Teresa…she'd hung herself in the bathroom."
"No…"
"He won't eat. He won't talk or cry…"
"God, Sandy, this is going to kill him…"
"I wanted to let you know, Hailey, and to see if he'd…if he'd reached out…"
"He hasn't called…have you told him that you know?"
"No."
"I could come for Kirsten…"
"No."
"What if I could help?" Hailey whispered.
"It's wrong, Hailey. I'm serious. If he calls, be his friend. But you can't see him."