Chapter Eighty-One: Guardian Angels
Back in New York, life was less relaxing. Haley found it difficult to force her growing body into living as actively as she was used to. Gradually she began to turn down invitations to the events they were invited to, in favour of taking care of Eve.
In the middle of October, after making a congratulatory call to Brooke and Lucas to celebrate their anniversary, Nathan and Haley and Eve were in the kitchen attempting to make a passable meal.
"So what do they mean by "season to taste"? Couldn't they just give me a measurement?" asked Nathan. Haley, dancing around the room with Eve in her arms, halted abruptly.
"If it doesn't tell you it probably isn't that important. Leave it out," she said easily. He shrugged and put away the ingredient in question.
"Haley, put her down. You'll strain yourself," he said worriedly, looking up from the cookbook. Haley rolled her eyes and placed Eve on the island in the middle of the kitchen so that she stood at roughly their height.
"Hey baby," he said, making faces at his daughter as she ran toward him. Eve giggled in delight.
Haley looked up and smiled as her husband played with their daughter, her heart warming. Lately, it hard been hard to hate him, as much as she wanted to. The once feeling of desperation, of being trapped, was now gone. As hard as she tried to recapture it, she was unable to. Slowly, she was working back to the feelings she'd felt at eighteen.
"Kid's growing like a weed," came a voice from the door.
Haley immediately recognized the voice and spun around. They'd both heard the footsteps in the hall, but were very used to having Ryan and Jake drop by unannounced.
"Taylor," said Haley in disbelief, her arms automatically winding around her round stomach.
"You're Taylor?" asked Nathan in amazement, staring between his wife and her sister. He grasped Eve around the waist and lifted her down to the floor.
"I'm Taylor," she said. Haley angrily ran from the kitchen. Nathan stared after and considered following her until he observed Taylor kneel down and observe her niece.
"This is Eva? She's beautiful," said Taylor.
"Eve. And thanks," he said distractedly.
"She looks just like you," said Taylor. Nathan frowned, wanting to hate the woman.
"That is how these things work," he said.
"Ouch. And here I thought you'd be thanking me," she said, rising again.
"Why's that?"
"Because, however indirectly, I gave you everything you've ever wanted. Haley would have married Seamus without my intervention," taunted Taylor.
"You conned her?"
"God no. Those people were going to kill me. You're just lucky it turned out this way," she explained.
"There's more to it than just luck. What are you doing here, Taylor? Come to screw with her life again? If that's it, you'd better leave. Life is working out pretty great for us right now," he said.
"I've been seeing that in the papers. All those parties you've been going to together. Oh wait, no you haven't," she said, walking up to him.
"Haley's pregnant. I can understand if she doesn't want to mingle with the entire Manhattan social scene," he said.
"In that case, I can understand if you want to drive a vehicle a little less high maintenance then," she said. Nathan looked past her shoulder to where Eve was watching them with interest, her thumb in her mouth.
Nathan made a noise of disgust before scooping her off the ground and leaving to find his wife. He paused at the door.
"Technically, you are a relation. So take a room if you have to. But Taylor…" Nathan turned around slowly, his dark blue eyes flashing dangerously. "Don't mess with my family."
If Haley had been able to curl up into the fetal position, Nathan could see at once that she would have. But being pregnant, she had to be content with sitting cross legged on the bed and crying her eyes out.
"Can I come in?" he asked, halting at the door.
"It's your room," she said sullenly.
"It's our room. Haley, don't cry," he said gently, going to sit beside her.
"I can't help thinking…" Haley's speech was broken up by a loud sob. "That's she's going to ruin everything again."
Haley glanced up and noticed the pain in his eyes.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"I know you didn't. She just needs a place to crash. And I think she feels guilty," he said.
"She flirted with you, didn't she?" asked Haley.
"Yeah. I wasn't interested," he said.
Haley smiled and snuggled in closer to him.
"I'm huge," she said.
"You," he said, firmly kissing her lips, "are beautiful. Now get some rest."
In the middle of the night, Haley awoke, as she often did, with an urgent need to go to the bathroom. She slowly eased herself out of Nathan's arms and got out of the bed.
Knowing she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, Haley wandered downstairs to the kitchen.
She sighed when she arrived to find it already occupied.
"Taylor," she said curtly. Her sister looked up.
"Hey Haley. I was wondering if I'd be seeing you," she said.
"Luckily for you, I was thirsty," she said.
"Do you even want to know why I'm here?" asked Taylor desperately, as Haley moved toward the fridge.
"No, I don't. Because I already do know. You need family. Or support. What's it going to be this time, Taylor. You pregnant? Being abused? Addiction trouble? Whatever it is, I really couldn't care less. Last time you asked for my help you ended up ruining my life."
"Bullshit."
"Shut up," said Haley sulkily.
"I'm serious. That's all bullshit. Nothing forced you to help me. Nothing forced you to go to Nathan, or to sign that document, or to live like actual married people. And he loves you, Hales. And you love him. And you have the most beautiful child I've ever seen. And for God's sakes, you're freaking glowing. So don't give me this crap about how I ruined everything for you," she said.
Haley stared at her big sister, tears welling in her eyes. For the first time, she did not deny.
"Do you need money?" she asked softly. Taylor made a noise of disgust.
"Even if I did, I wouldn't take it. Not from you. You disgust me, Haley. Stop living a lie, or get out of your life. Just don't sulk," she said, abruptly grabbing her bag from the counter and walking out. Haley watched her go, hearing the door slam a few minutes later. Crumpling into a chair, she covered her face with her hands and once again began to cry.