Chapter 18
On A Day Like Today

It was the first day of summer and you could tell by the thickness of the air, the children running down the streets playing in sprinklers and by the yelling coming from the living room. The two pregnant women were uncomfortable. The air conditioning wouldn't get cold enough for them even though the thermostat was at a freezing fifty-six degrees. Peyton was taking care of then while Lucas was at the body shop.

She leaned her head against the warm window and sighed. Daniel was out of town this weekend and Reed was staying with his mother, Eliza. That made Peyton nervous. She knew she shouldn't be because Eliza was Reed's mother and she wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Would she? "No she wouldn't." Peyton thought to herself, "She isn't a monster. She is just a slut."

Peyton stared out the window watching children run through the yard of Karen Roe's house. Their sprinklers were on and the kids were using them to their advantage. Peyton smiled. She missed Reed.

"Peyton!" Brooke screeched from the living room. Her swollen feet were propped up on the couch; a pillow was behind her back, and a glass of ice cold lemonade was squeezed tightly into her hands. She wiped her forehead and put her hands below her protruding stomach.

Haley turned her head toward Brooke who was sighing as loudly as she could. Haley took a deep breath and screamed, "Peyton!"

Peyton squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to block out Brooke's demands. "Get me a bologna sandwich with mustard, a banana, three saltine crackers, and... uh... damn, I though there was something else. Oh, yeah. Some peanut butter mixed with honey on a spoon."

Peyton stood up and walked over to Brooke. She stared at her, "You're kidding right."

Brooke put her hands on her hips and stared at Peyton. She pointed to the area where she had been housing twins for seven months. As she narrowed her eyes she said, "Look at me. Do I look like the kind of person who would be kidding about foods right now? Hmm?"

Peyton rolled her eyes and turned to Haley, "Haley, you want anything?"

Haley shook her head, "No thanks. I'm fine." She put something on her face that resembled a smile and Peyton left the room.

"Hey," Brooke said as she tried to shift her body toward Haley, "What's going on? You have been really quiet today and that is so not like you. What's up?"

"Nothing important, just thinking." Haley said. Her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling fan that spun rapidly. Seventy-eight rotations a minute, Haley counted.

Brooke nodded and stared at the doorway anxiously awaiting the arrival of the food she had been craving for nearly twenty minutes. She ran her fingers through her long brown hair and put them folded over her chest.

Haley put her hands atop her stomach and rubbed it slowly. She began humming. Brooke slowly turned her head trying not to let Haley see her. Haley squeezed her eyes shut and the tune quickly turned into words that flowed out of her mouth as if she had previously written the song she was singing.

"...So when I close my eyes and when I see your face, I'll know that you're the one for me. When the cold night turns to gray and the stars slowly fade away I know I'll miss the way we used to love. So don't go away but don't let me stay here now..." Haley's voice crackled as she felt a tear roll down her face. "... I'm hurting too much for you to know..." She sighed. "Tonight I cried and tomorrow'll be the same. I'll miss you just as much as I have every other day. Now there's someone else that I have to love too. I can only hope he'll love you just the same as I did every single day..."

Brooke swallowed hard and quickly wiped her face. Maybe it was the pregnancy emotions or the fact that what Haley was saying made Brooke realize how lucky she was, what ever it was... Tudor Girl made Brooke cry.

She glanced over at Haley, "That was really beautiful Haley."

Haley gave her a half smile, "Peyton! Will you bring me the phone?"

Peyton came into the room. Her arms were full of food. She handed the phone to Haley, "Whats goin' on?"

"I was just thinking," Haley said, "My horoscope this morning said 'You can't put this phone call off any longer. It won't be as bad as you think.' So that's what I've got to do." She stood up and walked to the front porch. Her fingers moved across the phone to number that she had come to know so well over the past few months.

He answered the phone after a single ring. She had almost hoped he wouldn't answer at all that way she could continue to put this off. This being telling him how she truly felt.

"Jake?" She said, her voice wavering a little.

"Hey Haley, what are you doing?"

Haley could hear Jenny rambling in the background, "I just... I just wanted to call and tell you something."

"This doesn't sound good. Am I going to want to hear this over the phone?"

"It shouldn't matter. You just need to hear me out."

"Okay, I am sitting. I think I am ready."

"Okay..."

"No, wait. Am I ready?"

"I hope so because here goes nothing." She paused for a moment. She could hear Jake's breathing. The other night, as he head rested on his chest, that he had an extremely slow heart rate. Forty-three beats per minute. She was sure it would be faster now. "Do you remember that day that I was sitting at the dock and you came and talked to me? You asked me if the glass was half full or half empty. Before then it was empty, but after spending all this time with you my glass is full again." She took a deep breath, "I don't know what made me realize this but, Jake you are the kindest most gentle man I have ever encountered in my life and knowing that there are guys like you out there makes me hope that every girl who ever dreamed for their prince charming will find someone like you."

"But..." He interrupted. He knew this was too good too be true. There had to be a but. There always was a but.

"Jake Jagielski... I... I want you to be the reason my glass is always full, I want you to be the one who gives me all their eights in a rousing game of go fish; I want you to be the one who... who tells me that everything will always be okay and as childish and naïve as this my sound... I want you to be the one for me." She felt herself start to cry again, "I want to love you... I do love you."

Jake was speechless. No words could be processed. The strong silent type, Jake Jagielski was not strong anymore. He was only silent.

"Jake?"

"Haley?"

"I hope I didn't say anything I shouldn't have I just wanted..."

"No. No. It is nothing... I just, I don't know what to say. I am blown away. Haley, I remember the moment that I decided that I loved you. You had just told me about your being pregnant and I was shocked and upset and all these emotion were flowing around and you threw your arms around my neck. You smelled like honeysuckles and vanilla and I was just in awe. You were glowing and I knew that I loved you, all of you. Even the baby that I didn't... don't even know. I loved it because it is a part of you..."

"Where do we go from here?" Haley asked him as she rubbed her stomach.

"Well, you can come..." Jake was interrupted. Peyton came running outside.

"Haley! It's Brooke." She said, exasperated.

"What? Peyton, calm down. What is going on?" Haley asked, trying to remain calm."

"Brooke, she... she is having these contractions. I don't know what to do. I called Lucas on your cell phone and he said something about her water breaking this morning or something... I don't know what to do Haley. Help me." Peyton's voice was shaking as was her entire body.

"Jake, I have got to go. Brooke is in labor." She said.

"I'll be right there." Jake said.

Haley waddled into the living room to see Brooke still lying on the couch. Her upper lip was dripping with sweat and her gray shirt was black in places from the perspiration. "Brooke," Haley said as she ran her hand over Brooke's head, "Jake is going to be here any minute and then we will get you to the hospital."

Brooke shook her head, "Haley, it is too soon. The babies. It is too soon for them."

Haley continued running her hand over Brooke's dark hair, "They will be okay, honey. They babies will be fine." Haley winked at her.

The front door swung open and Lucas came rushing in. "B I'm here. Can you walk to the car?" He quickly answered his question, "No, I'll carry you."

He looked at Peyton, "Go get a bag for Brooke. Fill it up with things she might need." He turned to Haley, "Hales, wait here. Get someone to pick you up and go by mom's house and get Lilia."

Peyton ran up the stairs and Haley nodded. "Jake is on his way."

Lucas carried Brooke to the car and laid her down in the backseat. He kissed her on the forehead. "You'll be okay baby. We have done this before. You are a pro."

She looked up at him, her eyes twinkling, "I'm glad you're here this time Luke."

He jumped into the driver's seat, started the car and looked back at her, "I wouldn't miss it again for the world."