Find Our Way Back

Chapter 27

The Time Has Come

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH characters, as much as I'd like to.

Author's Note: I've decided to make a change to my format here. I'm having a lot of difficulty coming up with songs to fit my chapters…so, I'm eliminating that part of the stories…besides a lot of people have admitted that they don't read the lyrics anymore, so why waste my time, right? And it should help me get out chapters faster. They will all still have titles, but generally they won't coincide with a song. There may still the occasional song here or there that fits, so I'll add it, but don't expect it. Anyway, enjoy the story! And please, still review! Please!

Jake sat nervously next to Haley as they waited for their appointment. He knew they were ready and well prepared, but he was still nervous. This would be a big change for his family. He'd spent the evening before practicing with Haley. Together there were going to again sing, "Can't Help Falling in Love." But they'd also prepared a song, "I'm Moving On," for him to sing solo, just in case. They'd also brought along their guitars, because a capella was just too darn difficult, especially when he was already so darn nervous.

Haley looked over at Jake and smiled. She knew he was nervous beyond belief, while she was as calm as could be. She had a good feeling about today. But at the same time, she didn't have to prove herself to them either, she was already in.

The secretary looked over at the duo, "Ms. Scott, Mrs. McFadden will see you now."

"Excuse me," Haley looked over at Ms. Jones, "Our meeting was to be with Mr. Devel," she didn't even know who Mrs. McFadden was.

"Yes, I'm sorry, there has been a sudden change in company ownership, nobody saw it coming," Ms. Jones looked away momentarily. "All of the other artists have had their meeting rescheduled, but Mrs. McFadden was adamant about keeping your meeting."

Haley looked at Jake and smiled, hoping her sudden nervousness didn't show. She silently prayed that the meeting was kept because this new owner was excited about her music and not because she was going to be canned.

Jake followed Haley as she stood and walked towards the close door. He opened the door for her, they slipped inside, and he pulled the door closed behind them. Jake looked at the woman behind the desk, she looked friendly enough.

Erica McFadden stood up and stepped out from behind her desk. "Haley Scott, this is an honor. And Jake Jagelski, what a wonderful surprise. It's been too long."

Haley looked at Jake, question in her eyes. Then it hit her, "Ohmigod! Erica Marsh? What are you doing here?"

"Mouth bought this company for me. We'd been looking into something music related, and when I heard your CD I told him THIS was the company I wanted. Sorry we couldn't make the wedding, we were in London on business. Congratulations though, and it looks like further congratulations are in order."

Haley looked down at her stomach which had begun to protrude slightly, "Yes, thank you."

Erica turned to Jake, "It's a surprise to see you here today."

"Yes," Haley began, "I want to change my act from being solo to a male-female duet group."

"Like the Carpenters!" Erica gushed, "I loved their music growing up." Erica smiled at her clients, "Have you sung together before?"

"Not professionally," Haley replied, "but we have something prepared to share." She looked at Jake and nodded her head.

They played the opening notes on the guitar and Jake began, "Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you."

Haley picked up the next part, "Shall I stay, would it be a sin. If I can't help falling in love with you."

Their voices blended perfectly as Jake cut back in, "Like a river flows, surely to the sea. Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be."

Haley grinned at Jake, "Take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can't help falling in love with you."

Jake took her hand, adding to the performance, "Like a river flows, surely to the sea. Darling so it goes,
some things are meant to be."

Together Jake and Haley finished of the song, their voices sounding as if they were meant to be together, "Take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can't help falling in love with you. For I can't help falling in love with you."

When they'd finished, Erica broke into applause. "You guys were awesome! I'd be a fool to not sign Jake on as your partner. I've read over your contract Haley, and I know that you are contracted for five CDs on top of the one just release, unless sales are not sufficient to continue. Based on your current CD and what I just heard here, I don't think that will be an issue. But I have to ask how you want this to be handled. We can keep you contract, as is, and write up a new one for you and Mr. Jagelski with the clause that for every CD you put out as a team, one will be subtracted from your obligation. That way, should you decide to go your separate ways, neither of you would get burned. We would sign Jake here to the same five CD contract with the one connecting the two of you being a CD to CD decision. Or, we can flat out add him to your contract, stating that all of your CDs will be done as a duet."

Haley looked at Jake, "You make the decision, I'm ready to never be a solo act again, so it does not matter to me."

Jake looked from Haley to Erica, "Can I think about this?"

"Of course," Erica replied, "Let me give you a pre-tax figure here. It will be the same, either way you decide to go."

Jake's mouth dropped when he saw the figured, 'This can't be real,' he thought, but he knew it was.

Haley stood to shake Erica's hand, "Thank you so much, we'll be in touch." She turned to walk out the door, then turned back, "Why don't you bring your family by the house for dinner, Nathan can BBQ."

"The kids are in LA with Mouth and I'm heading out tonight, can we take a rain check?"

"Of course," Haley smiled.

Erica handed them each a business card, "Call me if you need anything at all."

As Haley and Jake drove back to the Scott's, they were both beaming.

"I'm so excited that you guys are going to be moving here."

"I am too. And with money like this, we can pay for the house ourselves."

Haley glanced at Jake, "You know Nathan won't let you, right? he's being bull-headed about this. He won't take anymore than what you sell your house for, and he doesn't even want to take that."

"I know, but it just doesn't feel right."

"Don't let it get to you. Nathan just wants to share his happiness. Put the money into college funds for the kids."

"Okay," Jake finally agreed.

Jake called Peyton that night after he knew the boys would be in bed, "Hey baby."

"I've been waiting all day for your call. How'd it go?"

"Well, the company just changed owners - Haley had no idea, so we were nervous. We were the only appointment not postponed until the new owners got settled in."

"Oh baby…" Peyton started.

"But Mrs. McFadden loved us."

"So you got the job?" Peyton paused, "Wait, McFadden, any relation to Mouth?"

"Did you know he married Erica Marsh?"

"Isn't she the girl Brooke beat for student body president junior year?"

"One in the same. And she's who we met with today. She asked Mouth to buy the company just because she wanted to work with Haley."

"That's crazy. Do they live in town?"

"No. she was flying back to LA tonight."

"Sounds like Nathan and Haley aren't the only Tree Hill grads making lots of money."

"We'll soon be joining them Pey."

"Oh really?" she listened as Jake told her the figures, "That's unbelievable Jake! We get to move and we can pay for the new house."

"Nathan won't let us. He finally agreed to take whatever we get from selling our house, but nothing more. He said to put the money into college funds if we're that worried about it."

"We can do that too. This is so great Jake. How's Jenny taking it all?"

"She's excited. Haley talked to her last night and they made some kind of pact. Now all she can talk about is moving out here. Nathan's going to have the contractor call you to set up a time to get together about the house."

"I've been looking at house plans, and picked out a few nice ones."

"Make a list of everything you want, including a bedroom for each kid."

"But what if we have more kids?"

Jake sighed, they'd talked about more kids, but they'd never been able to afford it before, "Decide how many more you want, and plan accordingly. I'll be fine with whatever you decide."

Peyton smiled, "When are you coming home?"

"The day after tomorrow. Jenny, Jimmy, and Nathan have plans tomorrow."

"To do what?"

"I don't know. It's some big secret."

"Call me tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"I love you Jake."

"I love you too Pey. Kiss the boys for me." Jake hung up the phone and walked past Jimmy's room where he could hear his daughter whispering to her new friend.