Chapter 19- Apologies

Haley leaned in to kiss Nathan one last time before they confronted her parents. Haley had known that Nathan would need to talk to them at some point, apologize and all that, but she thought it was too soon. They only found out about everything earlier today, but Nathan felt that the sooner the better. He didn't want them sitting around thinking terrible things about him any longer than necessary.

Haley was absolutely terrified. Her parents weren't always understanding, and this was huger than anything Haley had ever had to deal with her parents with before. Nathan said he could handle it, but part of her was scared that he couldn't. That he wouldn't say the right things and upset them more, and then they wouldn't ever let Haley see him again. Haley knew though, if this was what Nathan wanted to do, she had to step back and let him.

"Are you sure you want to do this? It's not a big deal if you wait a little while." Haley looked towards Nathan hopefully.

"No Hales, I told you, I'm going to do this now. It'll be okay, I promise. This is my mess, I should explain it to your parents not you."

Haley inhaled a deep breath and held out her hand for Nathan, "Okay, let's go." Nathan took her hand and Haley reached out and opened the door.

She and Nathan stepped inside and saw her parents sitting in the family room with grave expressions on their face. Nathan walked in ahead of Haley, "Mr. James, Mrs. James, if you wouldn't mind I would like to talk to you."

Haley's parents looked to one another and her mother nodded, "Okay Nathan." Haley's father Jimmy nodded to Nathan and then turned to Haley, "Haley, will you excuse us?"

Haley nodded and stepped into the kitchen. Nathan was standing right around the corner so Haley reached out and held his hand. She squeezed it to let him know that she was there for him.

"I know that you have heard about all of this, on the radio and in the news and stuff. I know that I owe you an explanation, and I know that it had better be a good one if I even think I'll have a prayer of ever seeing Haley again. All I can do is be honest, and hope that that is good enough for you."

Nathan looked towards Haley's parents, her mother nodded to let Nathan know it was okay to continue.

"I started drug dealing about 3 years ago. To be honest, I'm not really sure why. It wasn't for the money, I do know that. Maybe it was for the notoriety I knew it would earn me, and it did, but I really don't know. I started into it pretty slow, but over the last couple of years things started to pick up. I was always really careful, now I know that doesn't make it any better, but I think that that was why it went on so long. It was all going fine, and then I met Haley. Haley made me want to be better. When she finally confronted me about all of this, finally asked me if the rumors were true, I owned up to it. I didn't tell her this, but when I owned up to it I swore to myself that I would try and start getting out. Then, on New Year's, I told Haley that that was my resolution, that I was done drug dealing. That was the complete truth. I have not sold anything to anyone since that day. That doesn't matter though, and I realize that, this is me owning up to my past. It doesn't matter if I am doing it now or not, I know that, I know I need to take responsibility for what I did in the past."

Nathan paused for a minute, he had to gather up all his nerves. It had been hard enough for him to learn to let Haley know how he really felt, but to say it to her parents, well that seemed near impossible. But he knew that it was his only chance. So, he took a deep breath, squeezed Haley's hand a little and just let it go.

"The most important part of this isn't about how long I dealt drugs, or that it's done now. The most important part is how much I love your daughter. She is such an amazing person. She has a bigger heart than anyone I have ever met. I never realized that me doing something stupid like drug dealing could affect her so much, and I certainly never thought that that could roll over and affect your family. But it has, and I'm so sorry. There aren't even words for me to express how sorry I am, for putting all of you through this. I know that I shouldn't ask you for anything, because you don't owe me anything, but please, let me keep seeing Haley. I don't know if I can get through this without Haley." Nathan let out a big breath. "And, well, I guess that's all I really can say."

Haley's parents looked at each other for a few minutes, it was as though they were having a conversation with each other through their eyes. After what seemed like forever Jimmy finally started in.

"Haley, you can come out from around the corner now." Jimmy waited a minute until Haley entered the room, and she and Nathan took a seat on the other couch, facing her parents. "I can only imagine how difficult that was Nathan, but I'm glad you did it. Hearing all this come from you was more valuable than anything. Your love for our Haley is very apparent, and that's important to us, but so is protecting her. You need to understand that, protecting Haley and this family has to be our top priority. That being said, we will allow her to continue dating you, but the rules will be strict . Haley can continue riding to and from school with you, but she will always come straight home. Nathan, you are allowed to come over here one night a week, when Lydia and I are home. For the time being that's all we can offer."

"Daddy, that is fine. Isn't it Nathan?"

Haley looked towards Nathan and could see a tear falling down his cheek, "Thank you sir, thank you so much."

"You're welcome. Thank you for being so honest with us. That has earned you a lot of respect. It will take a long time for us to trust you again, but if you work hard at it, it will happen. Understood?" Jimmy rose to his feet and extended his hand out to Nathan.

Nathan rose and shook it, "Understood."

"Now, Nathan, if you will excuse us, we'd like to talk to Haley."

"Okay." Nathan turned and bent down, kissing Haley on the forehead. "Call me later." Then he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "And good luck."

Haley nodded and Nathan turned around and left. Haley couldn't hold back her tears any longer, "I'm so sorry Mom, Dad, really. I should have told you about this. Especially this. I just didn't want you to not let me see him anymore."

"Just be honest with us from now on Haley. Please." Haley's mom spoke for the first time since her and Nathan had arrived at the house. "We want to be there for you, help you make good decisions. We knew from the first time we met Nathan how much you cared for him, we would have seen that and been sensitive to that."

"Realize young lady, you tell us everything from now on, everything. Anything else comes out and we may not let you continue seeing him." Jimmy said to Haley sternly, she knew he wasn't kidding.

"I understand Daddy, no more secrets."

"Okay. Well, I have to head back to work for a little while longer." Jimmy turned towards his wife, "I will be home by 7, if you don't mind holding dinner."

"Of course."

Once Haley's dad left Haley stood to go to her room. "I just have one question mom."

"Sure, what?"

"How come you didn't say anything when Nathan was here? I really thought that you would have something to say to him about all this."

"Because I couldn't talk through my tears Haley-bub. That boy loves you in a serious way, and seeing him so scared that he would lose you, well it brought tears to my eyes and nearly broke my heart."