Chapter Eight: Fight Song

I'd left the function in tears, the second time and for two years' running, and felt a lump slowly but surely developing in my throat as I got into the elevator. The sensible thing to do, I knew, would be to talk to Uncle Lip and Aunt Mandy; however, I'd never been the sensible type, so I got out on the bottom floor and made my way towards my car. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel my mascara running down my face as I stumbled through the darkness in my latest pair of godforsaken heels.

The drive to my destination was not a long one, and, when I arrived, I wiped my face as best I could before heading inside. I rode the elevator up and headed for the correct door before knocking, hoping beyond hope that I wasn't interrupting anything. When the door opened, and Axel stared at me in slight shock, I immediately began apologizing.

"Look, I'm sorry for just showing up like this," I said, my voice trembling. "I can't tell you how sorry I am…"

"No, it's okay," he said. "Do you want to come in?"

I nodded, shakily. "Yeah," I said, and allowed him to put an arm around my shoulders and guide me inside his apartment. "I'm sorry…"

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," Axel said, his voice gentle. "Take a seat. I'll go get you some water."

"Got anything stronger?" I asked, and he hesitated on the threshold of his kitchen.

"Yeah," he said, turning to look at me, "but something tells me that it likely wouldn't be a good idea to let you have any."

I sighed, knowing he was right. "I'll take the water, then. Thanks."

He nodded. "No problem," he replied. He stepped into the kitchen, and I heard the fridge door opening and then slamming, before he returned a moment later with a chilled bottle. "There you go," he said, handing it over.

I weighed it in my hands. "Thanks," I replied, twisting the cap off and drinking it. After a moment, I lowered it and re-capped it, leaning back into his couch, doing my very best to focus on my breathing. "Look, I'm sorry for just bursting in on you like this. It was just a hell of a night, and I needed someone to talk to…"

"I get it," Axel replied, and, when I raised my eyes to his, he flashed me a smile. "Come on, talk to me. What's up? Wasn't tonight the Valentine's Day gala at Penny's?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it was," I said quietly. "Let's just say it didn't end well…"

"Liam and you got into it again, huh?"

I scoffed. "Oh, yeah."

"Why doesn't he just admit that he wants you as much as you clearly want him?" Axel asked then, and when I struggled to protest, he sighed. "Come on, Iana. I'm not stupid. The two of you clearly have feelings for each other; it's not just one half of an equation, it's both of you. You clearly made your feelings known for him on multiple occasions. What's stopping him from taking the plunge and just being with you?"

I swallowed then, the source of all my devastation resurfacing, just as I felt my eyes filling with tears once more. "He's engaged," I blubbered.

"Wait. What?!" Axel demanded. "He throws you out of his penthouse last June, saying that he's not a relationship kind of guy, and then, after summer, has another woman in his life?!"

I nodded. "Yeah…"

"Well, who is this person?"

I sighed, wiping my tears with the backs of my hands. "A business associate's daughter," I said with a halfhearted shrug. "She's from Italy, and looks like a fucking supermodel. She's blonde and has these beautiful brown eyes, perfect body, amazing tits, legs that go on forever… She's trilingual, too. Her father's Italian, her mother's Spanish, and she learned English when she went to this fucking finishing school or some shit…"

"She a bitch?" Axel asked.

I laughed aloud then. "No!" I cried out, finding the entire thing wildly funny. "She's actually one of the nicest people I've ever met. Too nice…"

Axel blinked. "Wait. How could anyone be too nice?"

I rolled my eyes. "Asked me to a bridesmaid at the wedding," I muttered.

Axel's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Don't tell me you said you would!" he bellowed then, and, when he saw my expression, he shook his head. "Iana…"

"What?"

"How can you just sit there and accept it?" he asked quietly. "How can you just sit there and watch as the man you love is planning a wedding with another woman, and then agree to stand there while they say their vows?"

I scoffed. "Love," I said, my tone bitter. "Love doesn't exist. Hell, if we couldn't make it work, that's testament to that fact." I opened my water bottle then, swirling around the undrunk liquid and sighed. "I should've gotten out of the Kennedy's world when I had the chance, listened to you when it meant something…"

"Iana, don't talk that way…"

I laughed aloud again, the tears streaming down my face. "God, this is so fucked up," I muttered, knowing that the six-pack of Old Style I'd found and drunk in less than ten minutes in the kitchen of the gala likely wasn't helping. "I tell him everything, I fucking pour my heart out to the guy, and he pretty much says that he has to marry Illiana…"

"You think he's doing it to pay a debt or something?"

"I don't fucking know, man," I said, chugging the rest of the water, knowing I had to be sober when I got back home that night, lest I get a lecture from my mother about it. "All I do know is, I hate taking advantage of people…"

"You're not taking advantage of me, Iana."

I raised my eyes to his. "Why are you so good to me?"

He smiled. "I'm your friend," he replied. "I pretty much signed up for it."

. . .

My new normal continued for the next two weeks, and I was pleased that I'd worked out a suitable schedule for work, mommy, and family time. Hailey continued growing and amazing me with each day that passed, and her instructors at the daycare were very impressed by her quick development for language skills. She was a popular student, especially with the parents, who did their best to dress their daughters, and sons—in the more neutral portion of the clothing line that Nell's Rags had to offer—in whatever Hailey wore.

Penny loved all the deals I managed to secure as the weeks passed, and even though I had to do most of them via phone and email, she said that I was doing way more for the company than the previous COO, who had stolen tens of thousands from the company. I was just happy to be doing a job I understood, and not talking to ungrateful customers about whether or not their avocado toast burger was Instagramable. Honestly, I could give a damn about your lunch order; all I cared about, when it came to work, was securing the appropriate deals with high-profile investors, and having a decent paycheck to put in the bank.

It was a Sunday when I was working out a deal with a company in Tokyo wanting to invest with Nell's Rags and, once I completed the call, I was free for the afternoon. Pops and Uncle Ian were watching Hailey that day, and while I hated having to take time away from my daughter to work weekend hours, Penny made it worth my while financially, and this was the only time the suits in Tokyo could talk to me. Once I intruded on their breakfast meeting enough—and we'd managed to come to a deal of five million dollars, I politely ended the call. I wrote in my book a quick note to Penny that the deal had gone through and was successful, and was just clearing up my desk when the door to the penthouse opened.

"Hey, Iana."

"Good evening, Liam," I replied, my tone level as I powered off the iPad and locked up my desk as I got to my feet. I put my copy of the key into my satchel, where my laptop was stored; only me and Penny had copies of the key. "How can I help you? Were you waiting on Penny? Her and Lacey went shopping for new potential fabrics for the fall line a few hours ago, and I don't know when she'll be back."

Liam shook his head. "No, I don't need to see Penny."

"All right," I said, a little shrug of my shoulders as I buttoned up the knee-length, faux fur coat that Penny had gifted to me. "Well, I've got to get home, given my obligation to my daughter," I said, not wanting to make this more awkward than it already was. "If you see Penny, you can tell her I got the deal with the Tokyo company without incident. We talked for twenty minutes into their breakfast meeting, but we got four million more than we originally wanted from them, so that's all settled."

He looked shocked. "You squeezed five million out of those tight-wads?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, it seems that way," I replied, walking over to the fax machine and holding up the piece of paper they'd sent back. "Contract's been signed and sealed, and they said a check should follow tomorrow or Tuesday."

Liam shook his head. "I don't know how you do it."

"The hustle? Please," I said, shrugging my shoulders as I pulled my collar closer around my neck and pulled on my hat, so as it covered my ears. "I've been hustling since I was five-years-old, and I had to make it look like two stable adults were raising my brothers. Now, I have three jobs, mothering Hailey, this, and college. I'm going to continue to be a great mother, and excel at this job and getting my degree."

Liam nodded. "I know you will."

"Anyway, better get home," I said, and moved to walk past him.

"Iana…"

"Yeah?" I asked, turning around to face him again.

"Listen, I just want to say, I was out of line at the gala," he said. "I need to be responsible when it comes to my engagement to Illiana. It's not fair to her."

I nodded, forcing myself to ignore the lump in my throat at his words. "No, of course," I said, my voice slightly strained, but I managed to move past it. "It's not fair to her. You made a pretty big commitment to her, and, whether we like it or not, she's a nice person. She doesn't deserve to be jerked around like this."

"You're right. And listen, if you don't want to be her bridesmaid…"

"I'm a girl of my word," I told him, my voice firm. "I told her I would, and I will."

"You don't need to be brave here, Iana…"

"It's not about bravery," I told him. "It's about keeping promises. It would be wrong to back out of something, now that Penny's already designing my dress."

Liam blinked. "She's designing you a dress?"

I nodded. "Of course she is. She won't let me see it, though, and you're not allowed to see it either, apparently. She just said 'trust me' and took my measurements."

He laughed. "She tends to do that."

I shrugged. "Oh, well. Guess we gotta trust her."

"Guess we do. And listen, I understand if, after all the hell I've put you through, if you don't want to see me…"

I raised my hand. "We made a promise, when Hailey was born, that we'd be friends. I'd like to stand by that promise, because I'm standing by the one I made to Illiana. Sound all right to you, Liam?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. Sounds great."

I smiled at him then. "Great," I said. "So… Friends." I allowed the word to hang in the air for a moment before I sighed. "Goodnight, Liam," I said, and turn around and opened the door, before pulling it shut behind me. I walked down the hallway, and pressed the button for the elevator, and felt tears enter my eyes as I stepped inside. It was then, as I heard the doors closing, that I thought I heard another door opening—could've been the penthouse, but I wasn't sure—but the chrome doors shut before I could know.

. . .

"So, the Tokyo deal is officially a-go," Penny gushed two days later, as she held the check aloft for me to see.

I blinked. "It's not official once the contract is signed?"

"It's only official when money exchanges hands," she explained, walking over to the file cabinet in the office. "If we were to have a face-to-face meeting, and they brought their pens for signing their names on both a contract and a check, then yeah, it would be official."

I leaned back in my chair, surveying the room which was one of the few in the place. I'd thought it was crazy the day before when I'd walked into the penthouse and seen my desk missing, but Penny explained that, as the COO of Nell's Rags, I should have my own office. It was just across the hall from the office she used, although the official Nell's Rags building, in Downtown Chicago, was already preparing an office space for me.

"I still think it's too much," I said, watching as she completed filing the check away, which a trusted associate would come along to collect at the end of the week.

"What is?" she asked, leaning against the cabinet.

"I don't know. All this," I said, spreading my hands at the impressive office space, which had taken a page out of Liam's decorating handbook, as it was filled with Victorian furniture, and boasted floor-to-ceiling windows. "Besides, I would've been more than happy to work via iPad and my laptop on that couch of yours out there…"

Penny rolled her eyes. "You're the COO, a.k.a. second-in-command, of a multi-million dollar company, Iana," she said, doing her best to keep patient with me. "Someday, we're going to find someone just as capable as you to do your job…"

"What? If I don't stay compliant and grateful?" I said smugly.

"No," Penny said. "We'd find another COO eventually because I think your head for business would be amazing enough for you to be a partner."

I stood up straight then, staring at her. "What?" I asked.

She nodded. "Of course. You're excellent at what you do, Iana. Hell, you've given me thousands of fashion ideas since you've known me."

I shake my head. "I'm no designer…"

"Oh, really?" Penny said, marching out of my office. She returned a moment later, a binder in her arms, which I quickly identified as a scrapbook. "In here are all the ideas you've given me since we've met," she said, flipping through the pages. "Each one of them has been so hot, retailers and soccer moms alike have bought them up like hot-cakes. And the retailers always tell me the things with your added spice sell more quickly than anything else they have on the racks, no matter what season."

I smile. "Well, that's… Just wow."

The front door of the penthouse opened then, and Penny immediately opened my desk and shoved the binder inside of it as heels clicked on the wood floor. A moment later, Illiana appeared in my doorway, and grinned at the two of us. She was dressed head to toe in one of Penny's faux fur winter ensambles, and, of course, she looked like a regular snow queen. Except, of course, this snow queen had heart.

"Ah, my sister-to-be!" she chorused, trooping into the room and embracing Penny. "And my darling friend, Iana!" she said, letting Penny go and coming for me, and giving me a light kiss on the cheek. "I came to ask if you ladies would come to lunch with me."

Penny snapped her fingers, and took out her phone. "Sorry, big meeting with retailers Downtown in half an hour," she said, and showed off her mobile calendar, in case Illiana didn't believe her story. "But I'm sure Iana would love to."

"Wonderful!" Illiana cried. "I just have to make a quick call to my father…"

"Go on out to the veranda," Penny said.

Illiana smiled at her. "Thank you," she said gratefully, blowing us each a kiss before she walked out of my office.

I turned my gaze towards Penny, and raised my eyebrows at her, waiting to speak until I heard the veranda door open and shut. "Is it just me, or did you have a ready-made excuse not to go to lunch with her?" I asked.

She sighed. "I've had this on the books for months, Iana. I can't just cancel work obligations whenever she wants to do something. I'd run the company into the ground in less than five seconds if I did that."

I hunched my shoulders. "Yeah, I guess you have an obligation to the company, and I'm not disputing that, but…"

"What?"

"Well, you've never told me directly, about your thoughts on Illiana," I said, rolling back and forth on my heels. "I mean, I've hardly seen your mom since the engagement was announced. I know she's traveling to help the grieving process to get over your dad…"

Penny pursed her lips. "She's at our chalet in Switzerland."

I nodded. "Okay," I said. "So, does she know?"

"Yeah, she knows."

"Well?" I ask. "You hardly talk about it. I mean, don't you have any feelings about Liam's engagement to Illiana?"

She sighed. "Of course I do. For one thing, I hate what he did to you, and then turned around and brought her home like she should've been automatically one of the family. And then there's the notion that he doesn't love her…"

I blinked. "He doesn't love her?"

"No," Penny said, shaking her head. "I think Illiana's dad wanted his daughter to have the American dream or some shit, and Liam fit the bill."

"Yeah, but what about you?" I asked. "I know he's been like a surrogate father to you since your dad died, and so you must talk to him…"

"I tell him he's a fucking asshole for what he did to you last summer every time I get the chance," she replied. "He didn't treat you right, Iana."

I shrugged. "Doesn't matter now. You're avoiding the question."

"I don't mind her, as a person," she said at last. "But, as my brother's soon-to-be-wife… No. I think she's all wrong for him, and my mom thinks so, too."

Illiana returned from her phone call shortly thereafter, and waited for me to put on my coat and hat, and change out of my heels and into my snow boots. I brought along my heels to change back into at the restaurant, and we said goodbye to Penny before leaving the penthouse. Illiana was a whiz at small talk, and asked me about my studies at the University of Chicago, and how Hailey was adapting to the program Penny had gotten her into.

"I knew I recognized her from the moment I laid eyes on her," Penny said once we'd reached downstairs, and got into one of the Kennedy cars. "Steadfast, please, Dom," she said politely to the driver, and the driver tipped his hat as we pulled away from the apartment building. "Has Penny used her as a model long?"

"Consistently," I replied. "Even before she hired me. Said Hailey just had 'something'. I guess it was a spark of some sort. I wouldn't readily know. I'm no model."

"Oh, but you could be," Illiana said as we drove along the main streets towards the restaurant, which I knew was in a high-class hotel. "You've got the face and the body for it, Iana. Don't sell yourself short."

I smiled at that. "Well, thanks, Illiana. That's nice of you to say."

We continued talking, just like that, as we continued towards the restaurant, and Dom waited for us to exchange our snow boots for heels, and promised to come back as soon as we were finished so as we could make the swap again. Once we stepped inside the restaurant, Illiana requested her usual table, and we were promptly brought to a secluded booth in the back. My stomach almost immediately rolled then, and I wondered if Liam and Illiana had come here together, and had some intimate conversations over high-priced champagne.

"Thank you," Illiana said as we slipped into the booth, and menus were handed over. She ordered us drinks and appetizers before the waiter slipped away, and turned back to me. "Listen, I don't want to be forward, but I need your help."

"My help?" I asked, wondering what I could possibly do to help her. "What could I possibly do for you?"

She smiled. "I know it sounds silly, but I know you know that Liam and I had a very brief courtship last summer," she said. "As a result, I don't know much about him, and he's always working, so I don't get a lot of opportunities to ask him."

I nodded. "Oh, I see," I said, readily figuring out that this was a fishing expedition, but knowing it would be better if I helped her. "What do you want to know?" I asked.

"Favorite color, foods, anything really," she said.

"All right," I said, and we thanked the waiter when our drinks were brought.

"Let's start easy," she said, sipping at her drink as the waiter slipped away to bring us back the meat and cheese board. "Favorite color."

"Cerulean-blue or silver," I replied.

She nodded. "Okay. And foods?"

"He likes mild fish, but nothing that tastes like fish," I told her. "But, his guilty pleasure is lasagna, but he hates ricotta cheese, so he replaces it with mozzarella."

Illiana raised her eyebrows. "Noted."

"And he has a fantastic wine collection," I continued. "He's also a cheese snob."

Illiana laughed aloud. "Liam?"

I nodded. "The same."

"Morning bird or night owl?"

"He sees getting up in the morning as a chore, and gets his best work done at night," I told her, remembering him getting up and out of bed at random intervals to write down his thoughts on pretty much anything.

Illiana smiled. "We're kindred spirits, then," she said, her tone gleeful. "So, what do you know about his wine collection?"

"That he's the only one with the key," I said softly. "Also, he hates wine."

"Hates wine?" Illiana cried out.

I nodded. "Yeah, hates it. Except for champagne, which he only tolerates. But he's more of a beer kind of guy."

"Favorite kind of beer?"

I smiled, knowing I was responsible for this. "Old Style," I replied.

. . .

I got off early from work two weeks later, and was surprised when Mom told me she had gotten Hailey from daycare and they were going to spend some time together. This was excellent news for me, because Axel had texted me, asking me to come by for a drink. I told him I'd be delighted to, and arrived in the late afternoon hours of the day. We talked and laughed for over two hours, and the conversation, expectedly, drifted towards Liam.

"So, how's work going?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Can't complain. I'm relieved that I don't have to attend any overseas deals for another few weeks. Gives me as much time with Hailey as possible."

He nodded. "How's she adjusting to being two?"

I laughed. "She's literally running around everywhere, singing at the top of her lungs," I replied, shaking my head. "I don't know if I was that bad…"

Axel returned my laugh. "You probably were."

"Hey," I said, reaching out and punching him in the arm. "Not funny."

"So, Liam behaving himself?"

"Eh, as much as pretty boy can," I said, my tone sarcastic.

"Uh-oh," Axel said, taking a swig of his beer. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I want to villainize his bride-to-be more than anything, but I can't. She's just too nice for her own good."

Axel blinked. "Too nice?"

"Yeah. She asked me out to lunch two weeks ago."

"You're kidding. You go?"

I sighed. "Yeah, I went. And it was almost painless."

"Yeah?" he asked, watching as I sipped my own beer. "How so?"

"Well, she doesn't know anything about him, for starters…"

"And, let me guess, you gave her the Liam Kennedy crash course."

I pouted my lips then, growing slightly annoyed at just how right he was. "I mean… I may have helped her along…"

"Iana…"

"What?" I asked. "Just because she's marrying him doesn't mean I have to be a bitch to her. As far as I know, Liam didn't even tell her about us, so it's not like she's seeking me out to be deliberately malicious."

"What does his family think?"

"Rose has been in Switzerland for almost a year," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "She's been sporadically texting me, always nice. She'll be back for the wedding, if not before. And Penny? I guess you could say that she wants to like Illiana, but she feels a loyalty to me…"

"And Rose? How does Rose feel about her?"

"I don't think she likes her for Liam, but parents are always overprotective about their babies getting married, I guess…"

"You think you'll be that way when Hailey gets married?"

I laughed aloud then. "No idea. Better her than me!"

Axel laughed back. "Yeah? How do you figure?"

I shook my head. "You know me. I'm not the marrying kind," I said, taking a swig of my beer and shrugging my shoulders. "Never have been, and probably never will be."

"Eh, I don't think I'll get married either," Axel said.

I blinked. "No."

"Nah," he replied. "Just not in the cards for me."

"What's in the cards for anyone anymore?" I asked, and laughed again.

Axel laughed, too. "No idea," he replied.

I stared at him for a moment, and then his eyes met mine. There was something behind his gaze, and I could distinctly feel something from within me as well. I swallowed slightly then, and didn't move a muscle as Axel leaned forward, and then his lips met mine. It was different than all our other kisses, and I got a sense that there was a farewell behind it, buried somewhere in there, but couldn't for the life of me figure out where it was.

"Sorry," Axel said, pulling away a moment later and shaking his head.

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I let you…"

"Yeah, but I should've stopped it," he replied, dragging a hand through his hair. "We agreed that it was over, and that we were friends."

I nodded. "You're right." I smiled at him. "I'm not mad at you, though."

"Good," he replied. "But no more going down that path. It's not a good idea."

I swallowed then, knowing how right he was. "Don't worry," I assured him. "It's not gonna happen again. I'll make sure of it."

. . .

MURPHY'S POV

I picked up Hailey from daycare as scheduled, and she was very happy to see me. I must've been one of the youngest grandparents involved with the organization, but, at the end of the day, age had proven to be just a number. Even though I was forty-one, I felt a good five or six years younger, which was something my forty-seven-year-old husband enjoyed.

"What are we doing today, Grandma?" Hailey asked, after I'd strapped her into her car seat and gotten into my own seat.

"Grandma needs to do some grocery shopping, so you, Miss Hailey, get to ride in the shopping cart," I replied, and her eyes lit up.

"Really, Grandma?"

"Really, Hailey," I said, flashing her a smile as we pulled away from the curb. "And, if you behave, you'll get a treat at the end of the trip. How does that sound?"

She mulled that over for a minute. "A cookie?"

"Sure, if that's what you want," I said, knowing that, even though Hailey was a handful when it came to Iana, she was usually on her best behavior with me. I scooped her into my arms as we arrived at the store, locking up my car and heading inside quickly, for there were still patches of snow and frost everywhere. I kissed her forehead as we got inside, before grabbing a family-sized cart and slipping her into the section. "Ooh, boy," I said as she wiggled around, doing her best to get comfortable. "Here," I said, and unzipped and took off her coat. "That's better, isn't it?"

Hailey gripped the bar of the cart in front of her. "Almost too small!" she cried out, her eyes wide with excitement.

I laughed. "Just like your crib," I joked, pulling deeper into the store, and heading directly towards the meat section. I smiled as I began filling the cart with a healthy assortment of protein, the sound of Hailey singing softly to herself—along with the hum of the lights illuminating the meat—filling my ears. I was so distracted by mentally remembering all the meat products we would need for the next couple of weeks—in case we got some more snowfall—that I didn't hear anyone coming towards me.

"Beautiful little girl."

"I'm Hailey," my granddaughter gushed.

"She's the light of the family," I tossed over my shoulder, pleased that the person sounded friendly enough, and I was right there in case anything untoward was said or done. I turned, putting the rest of the meat in my cart, raising my eyes to thank the person, but immediately, my heart swelled in my chest, and I grew afraid. "Oh, my god," I whispered, and gripped the cart in front of me, ready to use it at a moment's notice.

He smiled, and the way he stared at me, set me completely on edge. "Hello, Murphy," he said, his mouth working the words slowly, so that they came out like a purr. "It's been a long time. I'd say close to eighteen years."

I swallowed then, taking in his tousled brown hair—which was longer than it had been all those years ago—and he now sported a healthy amount of facial hair, whereas before, he'd been clean-shaven. I swallowed then, lowering my eyes from his icy-blue ones—just like his mother's—and regarded his hands, which seemed meatier, stronger, than they'd been when he'd taken my gun…

"You recognize me," he purred.

"Yeah," I said, the word managing to release itself from my lips, despite the fact that my throat was threatening to close up entirely. "I recognize you, Josh."

He turned his gaze back to Hailey then, before he turned and looked back at me. "Beautiful little girl you've got there."

"She's not mine," I replied.

Josh blinked. "Really? She looks so like your family…"

"Grandma's friend?" Hailey whispered to me.

"Grandma?" Josh said, clearly amused by this. "Already? You're barely over forty. How are you a grandmother? Unless Iana…"

"Don't talk about her," I said, my voice thick with unfiltered rage. "After all the shit you pulled, how are you even…?"

"Standing here?" he asked, a laugh escaping his lips. "Early release. The prison managed to get itself overcrowded, and I wasn't deemed a risk to be released back into society."

"Not a risk?" I hissed, reaching into the cart and grabbing Hailey into my arms. "You threatened to kidnap Iana, and then you shot me in the kidney…"

"Water under the bridge," he purred, stepping closer to me. "Now, don't just stand there and pretend you're not happy to see me," he said, tucking a stray bit of hair behind my ear, which just made my stomach turn.

"No, I'm not!" I shouted, reaching up and grabbing his hand, twisting his wrist behind his back, which caused him to cry out in pain.

I made a grab for Hailey's jacket then, booking it out of the store faster than lightning. I strapped Hailey into her carseat again, before getting into my chair and locking all the doors. I drove home, not saying a word, and Hailey seemed to understand that it was time for quiet. Once we got home, I put her down for a nap without protests from her end and went downstairs, walking into the kitchen to see if there was anything I could throw together for dinner, for I hadn't actually bought anything at the store. As I walked over to the fridge, thinking that we had some meat tucked away, I saw the pack of Old Style that Nicholas and Iana shared between them, and it only seemed to beckon me closer.

. . .

IANA'S POV

I arrived home after drinks with Axel, pulling up in front of the house. Dad was working late at the firm as usual, while Clayton and Fionn were busy at their young architect's group. Carla was at a sleepover, and Charlie was spending the night at Franny's. He had bonded a lot with Ezra over the past summer, and I was pleased for that bond. As I got out of my car, locking it up, I stepped through the gate, slightly confused as to why the living room appeared dark. I walked up the porch steps, something didn't feel right as I stuck my key into the lock, turning it quickly and stepping inside.

I was blown away by the fact that Hailey was screaming like a banshee from upstairs, and there was no sign of my mother. I shut and locked the door quickly, running up the stairs and going straight to my bedroom. "Mama's here, baby," I said, throwing open the door and promptly scooping her up into my arms. "Are you okay?"

"Hailey hungry and hurting," she said, pointing to her tummy.

"Hurting?" I asked.

"It hurts!" she yelled, squirming in my arms, and I immediately put her down, before she dashed to the bathroom.

I blinked, amazed that she'd been able to hold it, and went into the bathroom when she was finished to hold her up at the sink to wash her hands. I gathered her into my arms then and walked towards my bedroom door. "Let's go get you something to eat, huh?" I said, and she immediately relaxed in my arms. We went downstairs, and I flicked on the lights then, and thought my mom might've gone into the office and plugged in her headphones, thus not hearing Hailey's cries. "Mom?" I called out, walking towards the kitchen, and stopped in my tracks when I saw her, passed out, on the kitchen floor, several bottles of Old Style around her. "Fuck," I whispered, the anger bubbling inside me. "Honey, I need you to go into the living room," I said, and set Hailey down. "Turn the T.V. on loud, okay?"

"Mama, what's wrong with Grandma?"

"Grandma's sick, and Mama's gonna help her," I explained, setting Hailey down, and she dashed into the living room.

I stood on the threshold of the kitchen then, waiting to hear the sound of obnoxious cartoon characters filling the background and, once I did, walked over to her. I turned on the hose function of the sink on cold and turned it onto her, and she immediately sputtered in protest. "I went out with Axel for a few hours, and I come home, to see that you've neglected my daughter, your own granddaughter, to get fucking drunk?!" I yelled at her as she stumbled to her feet. "I can't believe you right now!"

"Iana… Honey, you don't…"

"I don't want to fucking hear it," I said, cutting across her words of apology. "You promised me that this wouldn't happen again. You said shit would be different once Tommy left. Was that a lie, too?!"

"No, baby, it wasn't…"

"I'm talking!" I yelled, my eyes filling with tears. "I trusted you with my baby, and you've failed miserably. I'm done," I said, shaking my head at her. "I'm so done. I can't do this anymore." I turned and walked out of the kitchen then, and went towards Hailey. "Come on, sweetheart," I said, and took her upstairs. I changed her into something warmer, and then filled my suitcase with as much of our things as it could carry. I made a mental note to ask Penny to have someone come and collect my things as I left my bedroom, and walked down the stairs. I was hemmed in by Mom for a moment, and I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Iana, please…"

"No," I said, cutting across her blubbering. I stalked out the front door, stomping down the porch and walking across the street, while all the while Hailey squirmed in my arms. I kissed her forehead, and felt that it was warm. "You have a fever," I whispered, shaking my head in disgust at my mother's behavior as I headed through the gate of Pops and Uncle Ian's place. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, before shutting it and heading towards the kitchen. "Hey," I said, and stepped inside.

"You okay?" Pops asked, taking Hailey immediately.

"Nope," I replied. "Hailey's sick."

"What's she got?" Uncle Ian asked.

"A fever," I replied, taking off my coat and watching as Pops relieved Hailey of hers. "Got any tylenol?" I ask him.

"Sure," he replied, getting it down from the cupboard.

"What else is going on?" Pops wanted to know, settling Hailey in his arms, before Uncle Ian gave her the pills and some water.

"Let's get her to bed first," I said. I got Hailey an apple, which I sliced, and she ate it before her eyes grew heavy. I took her upstairs and tucked her into the bed in the big room, which would have to do for the night. I kissed her forehead and straighted her pajamas before heading back downstairs. "We need to call Uncle Lip," I announced.

"Why Lip?" Pops asked.

"What's going on?" Uncle Ian wanted to know.

"Mom relapsed," I replied, leaning up against the counter.

"Shit," Uncle Ian whispered, looking torn.

Pops sighed. "Do what you gotta do, Fire Crotch," he replied.

Uncle Ian nodded. "I'll call Lip when I get there," he said, kissing Pops goodbye before he bolted for the front door, and left.

"You okay?" Pops asked.

I sighed. "I'm staying a few days, if that's cool."

He nodded. "Of course. And then what?"

"And then, I'm moving out. For good," I said, and he raised his eyebrows. "I'm getting an apartment closer to work, so the commute is easier."

"You sure?"

I nodded. "I am. I'm eighteen. It had to happen sometime."

"As long as you're sure."

I sighed, biting my bottom lip. "My mother just fell off the wagon, throwing over a decade of sobriety down the drain. I'm not sure of anything anymore."