"If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance."
George Bernard Shaw
Jimmy carried the boy from upstairs, while Haley followed him to Nathan's room.
His wife tried to join them, but he gave her an admonishing look and she stayed downstairs. She was not happy about Haley James being alone with her husband, not at all. Jules paced the foyer lost in her devious thoughts.
Haley pulled back the covers so Jimmy could lie Nathan down. She sat at the end of the bed and removed his black Timberland boots. After getting him settled, they backed out of the room, leaving the night stand lamp on.
Jimmy was pulling the door closed when Haley stopped him and left it halfway open.
"You want to be able to hear him when he wakes up." She divulged in irritation. No wonder Nathan was doing so badly, these people didn't know anything!
Following Mr. James to what she concluded was a study, they joined his wife.
"Why did you say WHEN he wakes up?" He asked puzzled.
"He always does, unless I'm with him. I'm sure your wife told you." Haley directed her attention to the lady of the house.
"Oh... About that. Yeah, I was going to mention it." She wrung her hands together, refusing to look her husband or the busy body girl in the eye.
"He woke up screaming and frightened Monday and Tuesday night. I found him hiding under the bed, but he was fine last night." She shrugged off.
"That's because he didn't sleep at all last night!" Haley fumed.
" I'm sure he's just having a hard time adjusting to the move here, especially after the treatment his aunt gave him." Jim resolved.
"Gave us!... and that has nothing to do with it……… Look, the reason I'm here is because Nathan's night terrors and erratic behavior are results of him being in the plane crash that killed his parents. Since he's been in your home, he hasn't taking his medication and hasn't slept more than five hours. He can't live like that. I won't let him!"
She stared at the adults, meaning every word she said. Jimmy liked this strong little doll. She was assertive, kind, beautiful, loving and loyal, all the things he hoped his daughter would be some day.
Mrs. James got up and stood in front of the fireplace with her hands on her hips. She turned to Haley and started yelling.
"How dare you come in here and judge us! I have gave him medication everyday. Taylor and I tried my best to comfort him when he had a nightmare. He sent me away. What was I suppose to do?"
Jim didn't understand why Jules was so angry and disturbed by the young female's presence. It was obvious she was there strictly out of concern for Nathan.
"I don't dispute your intentions as good, and I'm grateful you have treated him well, but Nathan is one stubborn, passive and not trusting soul, with good reason. As soon as you turned your head Ms. James, I bet he spit the pills into a napkin." She explained more calmly. "He has a thing about swallowing pills and he was too afraid to tell you. He never wants to be a burden. You have to crush them up in his juice."
The lady's face tightened and her eyes narrow. This was unbelievable! She was being talked down to by a kid, a bastard no less!
Haley ignored her attitude, Nathan's health was too important to care if she hurt Mrs. James's feelings.
"Also, as soon as you left his room after the nightmares, he just stayed awake. You have to say in there. Eventually, he'll fall back asleep. It may not be for the entire night, but he'll get in a few hours." She instructed like a physician. " But under no circumstance give him sleeping pills. He gets trapped in the dreams. Last time we had to call a doctor because he had an anxiety attack."
"If he's so tired, what's he doing out with you?" The woman accused.
"That's why he came to see me. He feels comfortable and relaxed enough to sleep when he's with me. If he lacks sleep and doesn't take his medicine he is prone to runaway or get himself into bad situations. I have seen it happen many times before. ... I just wanted to warn you. If I can't be with him, at least I won't have to worry so much now that you know what he needs. I'll be going now." She headed out of the finely decorated space.
Suddenly, gut wrenching screams came from Nathan's room. Haley was halfway up the staircase before the other James's made it to the foyer. She found her boyfriend under the desk in his room holding his arms out as if he were reaching for someone, still lost in his sub conscious. Haley was on the floor crawling over to him by the time, Jules and Jimmy entered the room.
"Dad! I can't get over there! Daaaadddd!" His heavy voice boomed hauntingly." Mom! Wake up and help me get to dad! Wake up, Mommm!"
"Nathan, your dad and mom are gone. They left for heaven. It's nice there, Sweetheart." She coddled sitting on her knees, directly in front of his unfocused gaze.
She place her hands gingerly on his face. "It's not your time yet. You're safe here with me."
Nate gradually returned to reality as she continued to hold him.
"Hales?" A glinted came to his sexy eyes at the recognition of his lovely better half. "My Hales." He smiled and she gave him one right back.
"Yes, It's me. Don't be scared. We're at the James's." She crawled from his hiding place.
"Come with me. Let's go back to bed." She reached out her hand and he took it.
The was the first chance Haley got to look at is new surrounding. It was immaculate with walls in different hues of blue, mahogany blinds and furniture, and blue and black bedding. Nate's autographed basketball sat in the middle of the bed. She hurried to move it aside when they reached the bed. She got him to lie down before pulling up the covers and making sure the picture he had shown her earlier was in reaching distance.
Jules was growing impatient. When was this girl ever going to leave?
On the other hand, her husband was fascinated by the teenager. He had been watching her all evening. After her revelation of being Haley Myer's he knew she could only be one person's daughter, his only true love's Lydia Myers" child. A few of her feature and ways reminded him of his ex. Especially the way she cared for the afflicted boy.
Haley kissed the boys lips and brushed the hair from his forehead before whispering " I love you" to Nathan.
Jimmy remember being that much in love with someone. What a wonderful feeling.
They all exited the room and headed for the front door. Mr. James and Haley were deep in conversation.
"He's so exhausted. He should sleep the rest of the night." Haley told the foster parents.
"How come you're such an expert on that nice young man?" Jimmy cross-examined.
"I love him ... Nathan and I live together. We were both his aunt's wards. My mother died when I was around ten." Her voice was breaking and Jim's crack to as he replied.
"I knew you mother. She was a wonderful woman. Wonderful!" He reminisced on how happy he was with Lydia.
"Yes, she was." Haley nodded in agreement, fighting back tears.
Jules rolled her eyes and lagged behind.
"Nathan reminds me a lot of her, maybe that's why I love him so much. I care for him like no other person in the world." Haley admitting merrily. "To be honest, I think he needs to move in the cottage with me. I can take care of him better than anyone else."
"Good one, Child." Jimmy squeezed the adolescent's cheek and let out a hearty laugh. She is as gutsy as her momma was.
Haley didn't flinch.
Mr. James was still laughing.
Jules stepped between the pair and looked the brunette straight in the eye. She hated that she didn't seem the least bit bothered by her.
"Are you nuts? You're just a kid! What do you know? You just want to play house!" Jules fussed and Haley flipped.
"This kid has been taking care of him for the last three years and my track record is better than yours!" She shot back.
"Calm down, Pumpkin. I agree with my wife. If you think I'm going to approve of you making Nathan's nightmare an excuse for you two to shake up, you're wrong!"
She placed her hands on her hips, tapping her foot in displeasure.
"I just want to make sure he gets his rest and takes his medication. We've been sleeping together for the last couple of years and it's never gone over the line. I love him, but my MOM raised me right!"
"The answer is still no." Jules added curtly, turning the knob. "We'll take better precautions, I promise. Goodnight, Haley!"
She opened the door and the girl stepped out, ready to leave at this point.
Mr. James shadowed her down the first two marble steps. "Wait! There's another solution."
Alarmed at her husbands actions and words, Jules burst through the door.
"No there's not!" She fought dangerously.
An overwhelming sense of dread fell on her. This is exactly why she never want Jim to meet Ms. Myers.
Frazzled, Haley turned to her and then her father. This family was weird.
"You could move in with us too? What do you say, Haley?" He proposed. grinning at his new nickname for her." We have a cottage out back. You would still have your privacy."
"You can't be serious!" His wife squealed.
"This isn't the time to joke, Jules!" He advised his spouse, sick of her nasty air towards the girl. "Come live here, Pumpkin." grinning at his new nickname for her. It was perfect.
Haley stood there for a moment, immobile. That was the second time, Jimmy had called her "Pumpkin" that night. She didn't think it would have such a profound effect on hers or that he would like or enjoy talking with him so much.
Brown eyes reflected identical ones as Jules stomped through the foyer and into the living room for a drink. She knew where this was headed.
Five minutes later, Jimmy came in and made him a Hennessey and coke, swallowing it in one shot and looking off in the distance. She scanned the room for Haley, taking in her man's sullen disposition.
"Where's the girl? Should I settle her in?" She wondered slyly, praying her absence meant she was gone permanently.
"She wouldn't stay." He said faintly, swirling the ice in his glass. "She didn't want to intrude and said she would think about it, but I doubt it."
His wife walked around the back of his chair and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Don't worry, Jim. I'm sure Nathan will be fine without her."
He looked into his glass and thought to himself. Will he? Will I?
Mr. sawyer and Haley returned to his home instead of dropping her at the cabin. She really didn't want to be alone tonight.
She walked into the den where Karen was sitting on the plaid sofa watching a movie. Larry sat in the recliner after taking off his coat.
Haley had spoken a word on the ride back and Lucas's dad was positive something more than the usual was bothering Haley. She stood at the door to the den pacing and running twirling several strands of hair around her finger.
Mr. Sawyer nudged his wife and she joined in his observation. The girl sensed the woman's peering eyes and stopped, her lip trembling and her eyes misty. Karen held out her arms for the tormented teen.
"Come here, Sweetie. It's alright."
Haley rushed to her, sobbing into her chest and let her comfort her like only mothers could.
She'd whispered to substitute mom emotionally. "Mr. James is my father. He's really my father."
She kissed her forehead and rocked overwrought child gently.
"I know, Sweetie. I know."
Pamela