CHAPTER 3
'Friendship is a passion and not a formality.'
~Anonymous.
"Hey mum, are you up?" Harry knocked gently on the door to his mother's bedroom, but without a word in response. "Mum?"
He could hear his mother's faint wavering voice after the second knock, a lot different than he'd remembered since their last conversation. "Harry dear?"
She sounded quite frail and weak which was quite unusual for the energetic personality of Vanessa Haddock. "Come in, I am awake."
"Mum, are you okay?" Harry pushed the door open gently, stepping into her bedroom. His mother was in bed, holding the covers tight to the covers tucked over her. He noticed her shiver and quickly rushed to her side. "Mum! Are you ill? Should I call your doctor?!"
"No, Harry. I'm okay, I just feel a little feverish that's all."
"What about your medication? Did they run out? Mum! you have to tell me when they run out!"
"I've got a month left, Harry, I'm fine."
"That's it, I'm calling your doctor right now."
"Is Zia up? She has to go to school today."
"Let me worry about that mum, you need to rest."
"But you don't know how to..." She struggled to step out of the covers, but Harry stopped her.
"Mum! I'll take care of it...please...rest."
Harry quickly phoned in her doctor setting up a home appointment in an hour. He hoped the doctor could be here before he left, as he couldn't leave his mother alone in her condition. "Mum, seriously, you're burning up." Harry sat on the edge of the bed, placing the back of his palm over her forehead to check her temperature.
"You shouldn't worry too much about me Harry, your daughter needs you now."
"I can't leave you like this mum."
"I said I'll be fine! I'll just wait for the doctor, but you need to prepare Zia for school."
"Alright mum, but I would be back to check up on you."
"It's okay."
Harry left the bedroom, glancing at a clock on the world down the hallway.
7:30 am.
Shit!
He had to be at work in less than an hour, but at the same time needed to wait until the doctor arrived. He hurried to Zia's room and pushed the door open.
"Daddy?" Hopefully, she was awake, totally saving him the time he'd always spent waking her up every morning. "Good morning daddy."
"Good morning Sweetheart."
"Where's Nana, daddy?"
"Nana is ill, Zia. Daddy's gonna prepare you for school, okay?"
"What about my hair, daddy? Are you going to brush my hair too?"
"Of course, I will. Why? You think I can't brush your hair?" Harry shook his head, amused by the shocked expression on her face as he walked towards her.
"Is Nana going to be okay?"
Harry sat beside her on the edge of her bed, running his fingers through her hair. "Of course she is. You just have to say a little prayer for her and she'll be fine."
"Can I say one right now?"
He smiled, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Alright, close your eyes."
"Dear Jesus, please heal Nana and make her okay again. Amen."
"Amen. Nana would be okay in no time."
"Can I see her before we go?"
Harry shook his head, gently pulling her hoodie over her head. "Honey, you have to get ready for school first. Once you're ready, we'll check on her, alright?"
"Okay, daddy."
"Are you serious about this Astrid?"
Astrid packed in some toys into the little backpack of her son, before zipping it up. "Well, I thought I would just try, you know? Harry is kindhearted, and if he hasn't changed from who I remember from twelve years ago, maybe he would consider giving me a spot in his company."
"But what about Neil? My leave ends today and you haven't hired a baby sitter or something."
Clipping on her pearl earrings, she glanced into the mirror. "I'm dropping him off today at my dad's while I search for a baby sitter. It's going to be a lot on my salary, but there isn't much I can do about it."
"I'm sorry Astrid, I wish I could look after him, for today at least."
"I wouldn't want you to. It's not your responsibility to look after my son Heather, it's okay."
"But still, you deserve a break from this. Are you sure your dad would be home, today?"
"I called him already, a few hours ago. He's even more excited to be with his grandson again."
"Man, your dad is really amazing...and to think he's still working?"
"I know he hasn't retired because of me and my son, but I want to put a stop to it. I should be the one taking care of him right? not the other way round."
"Don't worry, it would change after you get this job, and maybe you can save enough to get Neil to school and take care of him."
"Yeah." Astrid tied up her hair in a tight bun, gazing at her reflection in the mirror and feeling a bit uncomfortable with her appearance. "Is this...too much?"
"Oh my gosh!" Heather exclaimed, gaping at her in amusement. "Are you actually...putting on make-up?"
"No...Yes? What if I am? This is a formal occasion, right?"
"I guess..." She leaned towards her, watching closely with a huge grin Astrid wished she could slap off her face. "But I'm impressed...is this for...Harry?"
Astrid slammed the highlighter case shut and pushed her makeup purse further away from her on the dressing table. "Gosh, you make a big deal out of everything."
"Girl, I'm surprised, that's all...You acting all defensive is a bit...suspicious. Should I stop my date with him or..."
"No! Of course not. You met him on that website and that shouldn't change because of me. He wouldn't date me in a million years, I wouldn't either...he deserves...better."
"Ugh. What I would give to get in depth of your history with him...are you sure you still don't want to tell me?"
Astrid rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse, trying to place it in her left hand with her files. "No, I'm not. I gotta go, I'm already running late."
"Goodluck girl, I really hope you'll get it."
"Thanks, Heather. It's one thing I really need right now...luck."
Heather pulled Astrid into a long hug and whispered to her ear, giggling. "It's your ex, Astrid. I'm sure you don't need luck. You just need to look good."
Astrid pulled away sharply, shoving her backward, with Heather laughing out. "Crazy girl. Come on Neil, let's go!"
"Bye, bye, Aunt Heather." Neil waved to Heather when Astrid picked him up. Heather smiled at took his hands, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Bye Niely! I'm gonna miss you so much. Say hi to grandpa for me, okay?"
"Okay."
"Ouch! Daddy, that hurts!"
"I'm sorry honey, just stay still a few seconds, let me just..." Harry struggled with trying to get her hair into the hair band, but stopped, completely concerned when Zia screamed out in pain again.
"Daddy!" She broke into tears this time and Harry's heart dropped. This was one of the things he feared about being a single parent, hurting his daughter unintentionally.
Just like him, Zia had a lot of hair. Her thick lengthy auburn hair seemed to be a huge problem every morning. His mother would always put it into pigtails or side braids but never into a single ponytail as it usually seemed too heavy for her. Harry had zero experience in this and had pretty much underestimated its difficulty.
He'd given four tries in doing pigtails, but all to no avail and in the process of caring for her, he ended up hurting her instead.
"Zia, please don't cry, I didn't mean to hurt you." He lifted her onto his lap and wiping the tears beneath her eyes with his thumb. "Daddy would never hurt you."
"Harry." His mother called from where she stood in the hallway, watching them. "I'll do it, I'll fix her hair."
"Mum, you're supposed to be in bed. I told you I'd take care of it, didn't I?"
"Daddy, can Nana do my hair, please?"
"Alright. I'm so sorry Zia."
"It's okay Daddy. It's not your fault." She stopped crying, placing her hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry for yelling."
Harry smiled, brushing his nose softly on hers. "That's okay, sweetheart. Go to Nana, she'll do it for you."
"Were you actually trying to brush her hair?" His mother immediately snatched the brush off his grip once she got to them.
Harry sighed. "I already brushed it, mum, I was just trying to..."
"Pull her hair out?" She shook her head and turned to Zia, taking her hand. "Come on, sweetie."
"Mum...I was trying...you know that."
"Maybe you'd think more about my request to you now."
Harry rolled his eyes, watching them go down the hallway before turning to face the large portrait of Camilla hanging on the wall. He took in a deep breath and exhaled, staring into her bluebell eyes and flashing back to faded memories of their life before Zia. She was always so obsessed with baby shopping and had been so excited about the news about the gender reveal of the baby.
Talking about activities and moments she was elated to have with her daughter was his favorite part of their 'bed talks', and most of it involved braiding Zia's hair. Harry often loved the way she lit up talking about their future journey to parenthood as she'd been a lot more prepared for it than he was, but never really got a chance to be a mother to Zia or create any memories with her.
He really needed her on this journey, he needed her so much that every single day without seemed almost unbearable to live. He would have never in a million years predicted that he'd be alone at this early stage of their marriage. It wasn't part of his dreams about his future with her and reality was still hard to swallow.
Faded memories flashed in and out of his mind as he just stood motionless at her picture, wishing that he could reminisce those moments with her by his side.
"Daddy?"
Harry froze wide-eyed, his mother's words on this exact issue, replaying in his head and hoping he'd actually taken heed to her them. Zia had caught him at Camilla's pictures...again. Had he really been here that long? Her hair session usually took a while, and the fact that she was already back meant that he'd been here for far too long...especially when he was running late for work. He swallowed, turning towards his daughter who was watching him with a sad look that pierced through him.
It was when it became clear, the reason why his mother was on the case of him not being able to move on. He really was tearing her down in a way he didn't mean to.
"You look pretty, Zia!" He exclaimed, trying to sound as excited to cover up his previous mood. "Wow, Nana did a good job. See? you look just like mummy."
"Really daddy?" Her smile quickly returned and Harry felt relieved, he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her cheek.
"Of course, look." He pointed to Camilla's eyes on the portrait. "You have mummy's pretty eyes and her pretty smile."
"But I want to look like you too, daddy."
"You do look like me sweetheart, you're my princess, remember?"
"Harry! you're late for work. You should leave now, I already packed Zia's lunch."
"Mum, your doctor has to be here first before I leave. I'll be late, but it's alright."
"Harry, it's okay, I'll be fine. Just go ahead, Zia is late for school already."
Harry picked up his keys from the center table, with Zia still in his arms. "Are you sure, mum?"
"Go ahead, it's okay. I'll give you a call when the doctor gets here."
"Mum, please, you need to take your health seriously. You make me worry about you so much."
"You're my son. I worried about you your whole life. It's your turn...don't nag about it."
"This isn't a joke, your health is really important to me right now."
"I said I'll be fine, Zia would be late for school again."
"Alright, I love you."
"I love you too, son."
"Goodbye, Nana! Love you!"
"Bye Zia!"
"Astrid dear, is that you?"
"Hey, Molly. Yeah, it's me. Neil, look, it's Molly."
Neil opened his arms smiling and leaning towards Astrid's stepmother. "Hi, Molly."
"Sweetheart. I missed you so much." She kissed his cheek continuously after taking him from Astrid's hold.
"He's been asking about you a lot."
"Oh, my dear. I'm here now and we're going to spend the whole day together."
He smiled and wrapped his little arms around her neck. Astrid smiled, her heart soaring in delight. "Aww..."
"Was he really discharged from the hospital. I screamed out ecstasy when your father told me about the news."
"He's been out for a week now, although he had a minor attack last weekend, he's been fine ever since."
"That's amazing news! I've just wanted him out of that machine for the longest time."
"I really hope he doesn't get back there Molly, I just want him to be a normal kid."
"He is a normal kid, Astrid and he wouldn't go back there, I believe he wouldn't."
"Thank you for offering to look after him today, Molly. I really appreciate it."
"I also offered to look at him constantly, so you can go back to work Astrid. I know you really want to start work again."
"Thank you so much, Molly, I was worried about leaving him in daycare because of fo his condition."
"You could do that, I'm sure there are special care services, there's no need to worry, but that'll just be another burden on you. I'm here...let me take care of him."
"I know you want to, but you can't watch him all the time, you have a life."
"Alright, but I'm still keeping my offer up." She cuddled Niel in her arms, patting his back gently. "Aren't you late for your interview?"
Astrid dropped off Neil's bag and a box of oxygen concentrator at a corner. "A little behind time. Where's Dad?"
"Oh, he's still asleep. I left him to sleep in today. He got in late last night, he still works on Sundays."
"I'll just leave him then, I'll see him when I return to pick up Neil."
"Alright dear, Goodluck at your interview."
"Well...it's my first try, so..."
"Doesn't matter...you can still be lucky, who knows?"
"Thanks, Molly, It's what I really need now...luck."
"Welcome, Sir."
"Get the first candidate ready in two minutes, how long have they been waiting?"
"About an hour Sir."
"Ugh, I'm sorry I'm late, just let the first person in."
"Alright, Sir."
Harry placed his bag down, pulling off his coat before settling down on the swivel chair. He quickly set the items on his desk in place, checking the time on his wristwatch. The doctor had arrived at the mansion before he left, making him stay further to hear in on the diagnosis. Although he'd claimed it to be some minor ailments, he had to take it seriously.
His mother's health was his top priority as he wasn't up for the loss of another loved one so he was willing to get to extra length to ensure she was completely okay. He'd dropped off Zia about thirty minutes later than the supposed time and then got stuck in LA traffic. He usually left earlier to avoid it, but today was a lot difficult as he'd left later than usual.
"Take a seat please," Harry said still focused on the CV and information documents of the applicant. He scanned the document to the top, reading the name of the individual, but froze before at his first glance at the name, he then looked up to the very last person he'd expected to walk into his life again...Astrid Hofferson.
She was going back to work, Heather had told him about that, but he'd never actually believed that she would even consider applying at this company, considering how they'd split in the past. Maybe he was the one who hadn't grown up. It was the past, they were young and it wasn't something to keep holding onto and she'd probably forgotten about it. He had to be mature about making decisions this, this was work anyway, and shouldn't be related to any personal perceptions or emotions.
"Hey, Harry."
He would've been elated that she remembered his name for the very first time without some kind of help from him, but she needed something right now and had to be less aggravating to achieve that.
"Uhm...Astrid...Hey...I didn't know that..."
"Heather told me about the vacancy and I decided to apply for it, I hope we can put our..."
"Definitely." Harry interrupted, trying as much as he could to avoid bringing up their past. "I mean we're a lot older and matured now, so that shouldn't be a problem."
"Well, considering your tone and reaction to meeting that night, I just thought you were still..."
"Forget about that. I don't know, I was just...shocked, that's all. I didn't expect that..."
"We would cross paths again?" She nodded with a faint smile. "I know."
"So...shall we begin?" Harry faked the most 'honest' smile he could hold up, hiding in his real feelings about her presence. He turned back to her documents, scanning the contents and pretending like she wasn't watching him right now. "Well...seemed like you didn't change one bit in this aspect. Your credentials are amazing so far...but...you've had only two years of experience?"
"Oh...uhm...I...stopped for some personal reasons. I just couldn't..."
"Your son?"
"Did Heather tell you that too?"
"No, no she didn't. When you'd left your son with me in the sitting room that night, we had quite a conversation."
"What exactly did he tell you?"
"The reason why you stopped working? He's mostly at the hospital...I mean that was a lot from a toddler."
Harry went silent when her expression changed, hoping that he hadn't brought that up, especially when there was clearly to reason to. It wasn't his problem anyway.
"Neil never talks to strangers, and he said all that?"
"Well...he did call me his friend...remember?"
"He's...he's had health issues that required me to be with him all the time, I couldn't balance that with work and..."
"I get it, I'm a parent too...and I would do the same for my daughter."
She smiled again, but it lasted shortly as her gaze fell to the framed picture of Camilla on his table. "I'm...sorry about your..."
"Wife? It's alright. I think I've had enough time to heal."
She shrugged, "I guess..that's why you started the dating website, right?"
"Uhm...kinda."
She looked at him in silence, before bursting into a giggle. "It was your mother, wasn't it? Well...it's a good thing she hasn't changed."
"What about you? Did you..also lose your partner?" He leaned forward and asked, before realizing that this was an interview and not a 'catching up' dinner conversation.
She replied before he could get a chance to take it back. "Oh no no, my life was a little different from yours...I never...got married."
Harry paused, staring at her in disbelief. "You...didn't? I mean...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright."
"Uhm...we should probably get back to the interview."
She gave a faintly embarrassed smile that Harry suspected was from the fact that she'd ended up being the one unlucky at love even after being the most attractive and the most wanted girl in high school. He tried to make the interview as formal as the previous ones but couldn't help being biased. He knew her, she was the only person he'd had problems competing with, academically back in high school.
She wasn't just smart but was also disciplined and hardworking to have balanced cheerleading and the numerous clubs she ran back in high school while holding up good grades. She was pretty much the perfect choice for this vacancy, but then...she was Astrid Hofferson. He wasn't for the option of letting her back into his life again, he didn't want to go back to that. She needed this job for her son, especially when she was a single parent, she was more than qualified for it anyway.
"I feel like you deserve a lot better than this, have you tried other options?"
"Well...I have to start from a point, right? I would try other options if this one is unsuccessful."
"It's not like I have a choice, I mean...this is the best qualification I've seen since I started this process and...If you haven't changed from the Astrid I knew back in Arizona, I'd say you also have all the attributes needed for this job."
"So, that's a yes to my application?"
"Definitely, although I'm not sure of how long this would be. It could still be temporary, considering my previous..."
"It's alright. That's more than enough. I'd probably get a new one by then."
Harry leaned backward on his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Or...I could...you know...give you another spot if that did happen. I mean, I wouldn't want you to..."
"Thank you, but you don't have to."
He stood up, extending his hand out for a handshake. "Well, until then...welcome to the company."
She smiled, shaking his hand in return. "Thank you."
Harry phoned in an employee first before turning back to her. "Is it okay with you to go through some orientation and overview of the company today? I just called in someone for that."
"Of course. I've pretty much got the whole day."
"Perfect. You'd said you can start officially tomorrow, right?'
"Right."
"Great."
Harry watched Astrid leave with the employee and sighed, still in total disbelief of the whole situation.
'What the hell just happened?'
Astrid, the same Astrid who had hurt him countless times in the past, but somehow couldn't put an end to his obsession with her. The same Astrid he'd vowed never to let get into his head again after he'd left Glendale high school was the same person he'd just hired to be his secretary and liaison officer? What about the decision not to dig up his past with her? It was why he'd left Arizona in the first place, so how? How did she, after twelve long years, trace her way back to him, and to his life.
This had to be a joke, right? He didn't just sign a deal of working with her for the next six months! It was temporary but was still the most erratic decision he had ever made in the last twelve years. He had an option on excuses...or maybe the major one that seemed to work on every applicant before her.
'We'll get back to you and give you a call.'
There was nothing wrong with that, right? She would have gone back to being just a memory to him...a dead memory. But no...he had to think about her son, her qualification, her offer for help, like that seventeen-year-old boy she felt she could fall on when she was broken, and walk away from when she became whole.
Things were different now, and it also seemed like she was different too so why couldn't he just flow with the change and move the fuck on? She was a mother now, and they were both parents, so he couldn't keep comparing her to that arrogant self-absorbed cheerleader.
Even if she hadn't changed, why did he care about that? It's not like they were ever going to rekindle that relationship, right? It wouldn't be anything more than just friendship, and he was her boss anyway so it shouldn't matter to him, unless they...No way! He was done with those dreams and fantasies, besides, there was a lot more to consider if he ever went back to that...their children.
It was a struggle keeping his mind off his new life of working with Astrid and how he was going to actually get work done. There was a lot going on in the company right now, with the new business partners and project they were currently working on. It was why he'd definitely needed a secretary in the first place as this project was a huge stepping stone to further success of the company.
He jolted to the knock on the door of his office and checked the time on the wall clock. "Come in."
The door to his office opened, and he immediately wished he could have taken back his previous words. Time flew by pretty fast. "I've taken her through the tour Sir, and the orientation session."
"Thank you," Harry replied to the employee who nodded and exited the room, leaving Astrid behind.
She smiled when he caught her stare, folding her hands across her chest. "I'm really impressed, Boss. Did you start this up from the scratch?"
Harry smirked. "Uh...there's no need for that, just call me Harry. I didn't really start it, but built it from where my Dad left it."
"Impressive, how long has it been in your control?"
"About ten years...six years under dad, but he passed away and I couldn't watch it fall, so I took over."
And you've done an amazing job, I'm sure he would be so proud of you."
"Thanks."
"Uh...so I'll be going right now, but I'll be at work tomorrow, I have to pick up my son."
"Hope you don't mind me asking but, have you found a sitter or something?"
"Not really, I just dropped him off at my dad's, but sooner or later I'll need to get one for him."
"What about...daycare options? Have you tried that? It helped a lot when my daughter was much younger."
"Oh no, Niel needs special care and it will probably be more expensive than a regular daycare."
"Alright, I'll cover it...at least for a few months."
She shook her head sharply to show her total disapproval of the offer. "No, no, no...everything I'm gonna get from you, I have to work for it."
"Alright, consider it a flexible loan. You can pay me whenever you can. My daughter's school has a daycare with special care services. If you go with me to pick her up in the next thirty minutes, you can check it out for yourself."
"I don't know Harry. I mean, Neil is..."
"A child, who needs to be around other kids, make friends. He told me he didn't have any."
"He...He also...told you that?"
"Yeah. It's the reason why I suggested this in the first place. He needs to meet his mates and create friendships...It would all make up a memorable childhood. Would you rather he grows up with memories of home and the hospital?"
"But..."
"If there's anyone who understands what it feels like to be lonely? It's me."
"My son isn't lonely, I am always..." Astrid fell silent for a moment before going on. "I see your point. You're right, it's just...he got out of the hospital about a week ago and I don't really don't want him back there again."
"Let's get to the school, see your options and if it doesn't suit his needs, you can then go for a sitter."
They shared a silent awkward stare that sprung up a fraction of the past emotions of that teenager towards a girl completely out of his league. The same way he felt each time she walked into the classroom, even if she never for once took a glance towards his direction. The fact that he even felt this way after twelve whole years only meant that, he hadn't really changed, he was still that teenage boy...even after moving away.
"Alright...Thanks, Harry, you haven't changed one bit."
"I know."
