Chapter 10
HI to all! I know it's been a while since I've updated but just been tweaking this chapter big time. Now there were still a few things I wasn't too sure about with this chapter, so instead of waiting longer, I actually just cut it in half and I hate to say it but it's SUPER short! No worries, though I really plan to update again no later than Tuesday! SO it's short, but it'll get you ready for the next chapter so enjoy and please review!
When Nathan left, all the days somehow seemed to go by slower, but after the return of the other Scott's, time seem to fly by. It was now three days until Christmas, and tomorrow Lucas and Drew were supposed to take Haley and Jay out. He was deemed her 'husband for the day', and he had big plans for the four of them. She first she was skeptical about the arrangement she was obviously not in on, but quickly gave in, knowing that Jay could use the distraction of not having his daddy home on Christmas for the first time.
A first for them both.
Besides getting Jason out of the house, Haley knew that she could talk Lucas into buying her anything she wanted to eat.
Her cravings hadn't gotten as weird as they had when she was pregnant with Jason. Nathan would be shaken awake just before falling into a deep sleep, only to hear his wife's sweet, innocent voice begging him to get up and get her a big slice of watermelon along with a slice of cheese. He never objected. He would calmly slide out of bed, but once he was in the kitchen, she could faintly hear him cursing under his breath. Nearly four and a half weeks away from her due date and it broke Haley's heart not being able to share this with her husband.
The next morning Haley opened her eyes, and knew immediately she wanted to take a warm bath. Peeking into her son's room, she knew he'd sleep long enough for her to soak in the tub for a good while. It had been about two weeks since he'd last slept in his parents' bed, and although Haley got lonely, her stomach had grown even more, but their sons' sleeping habits hadn't changed. They usually winded down by watching one of the many movies Haley had from Netflix, and she usually ended up carrying the sleeping child into his room.
That was unless she had her case of Braxton Hicks that were proving to be even worse the second time around.
Looking over at the small clock on the counter, Haley started to let the water slowly drain from the huge fountain tub, and thought about what she would be wearing today. It was Christmas Eve, Eve, and although she and Jay would be gone most of the day, Brooke was staying there while family came to prepare for dinner. Haley's two single sisters had driven into town, and although they had booked a hotel room weeks ago, they opted to stay with Haley and Jason Christmas day so they wouldn't be alone. Not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, Haley agreed, and left Brooke in charge until she returned that night. She wasn't really sure why Brooke would be there all day. Due to Haley's recent 'nesting' period, they opted for cooking everything at Brooke's and bringing it over later that night. She wasn't exactly sure why Brooke wanted to lounge around at her place until then, but she learned long ago to choose her battles with Brooke.
Just as Haley started to lift herself out of the tub, she heard the house phone ringing, and reached over to the small cordless phone that was lying a few feet away. Starting up the two steps in the tub, Haley's foot missed the second one by an inch causing her to slip forward. She luckily got both hands on the top step before any harm was physically done, and let out a shaky breath trying to desperately calm herself down. She was shaking inside, and was relieved that her worse fear wasn't coming true. Something happening to her baby while she was alone.
She knew that had to be Nathan calling this early, and slowly made her way out of the tub and to where the phone was. She definitely didn't want him to be worried since she always picked up when he called in the morning.
"Hey" she breathed out uneasily. He immediately knew something was wrong.
"Hales? You okay?"
"Hold on a minute, I need to get my robe and sit down" it was another minute before she picked up the phone again, now sitting on her bed securely wrapped in her bathrobe.
Nathan waited as patiently as he could on the other end. He could definitely tell that she was crying, and wanted to know what had happened.
"What's going on Haley?" he said hearing her greet him once again.
"I'm fine, but I was just getting out of the tub when the phone rang, and I was trying to reach it and I slipped" she felt ashamed. She had been in too much of a rush, and put the baby in danger.
"Did you fall? Are you hurt?" his questions were back to back, laced with concern and worry.
"Nathan, I'm fine. I caught myself and I'm not hurt. It just really scared me. I've gotten a lot bigger, and with Christmas Eve tomorrow, and everyone coming over, I think I'm just getting stressed out"
She could hear him sighing on the other end, probably beating himself up once again for not being there.
"I know I'm not helping any, I really should be home."
"I wish you could. I at least thought they would allow you guys to be home for Christmas" just the thought and actuality of not being with him on Christmas brought tears to her eyes.
"Didn't you say Brooke is coming over today?"
"Yea, you know how I told you he's taking me and Jay out for the day, well lazy Brooke is hanging out here until later. I think Luke's gonna ask me for help picking out something for Brooke. With getting moved into the house, I guess the loser forgot to pick up a few other things for her. I tell you, you Scott men are something else" she said smiling.
Her husband knew just how to make her smile. Walking over to their closet, she grabbed the bottle of his favorite cologne and inhaled the scent that reminded her so much of her husband. She wasn't sure why he left it, but enjoyed spraying her husband's clothes with it, and pretending that he was indeed still there with her.
"You smell so good" She knew that he knew what she was talking about. "Husband, I have a question" she said pulling out her outfit for the day.
"Go ahead" he said giving her his undivided attention.
"I don't know what to do, Jay is still asking for a puppy everyday, and talking non stop about how he's been so good this year, so he knows Santa is bringing him one. What am I supposed to do, it's not like I can just go get him one today. And if there's no puppy on Christmas, he'll hate Santa"
"First things first, I say we drop this whole 'Santa' thing now"
Laughing out loud, Haley denied that idea altogether. "Well we could, I mean he'll cry, go to pre-school tell the other kids, then we'll get twenty phone calls from angry parents. I don't think so Scott" she told him to wait a second while she slipped on her bra and shirt.
"How about this," Nathan started when she was back on. "Tell him sometimes, Santa can't always give you what you want"
"You know, a few days ago, Drew was over and he hadn't written a letter to Santa, so while I helped him, Jay decided to write another that only had one thing"
"What was it, a puppy?"
"Nope, it was for his daddy to come home" she really wasn't sure if she was going to tell him about Jay's new letter, but she didn't want to lie to him.
"Dammit Haley! I shouldn't be here, I should be at home with you making sure you're okay, and getting Jay dressed myself. I told you that you wouldn't have to be alone in this pregnancy, and look at you now. Alone!"
He was getting worked up, which in return got her worked up as well.
"Stop it! Nathan, I know you don't want to be there. I know I should be making you go out at crazy times to get me weird foods! I should be making you hang up decorations in the nursery, but I'm not! And I'm okay with that. You HAVE to be there. By Law, and there's nothing we can do about it without causing more problems! This is not your fault, so stop blaming yourself" she said now crying.
"You give me too much credit Hales, and I don't deserve it"
"Yea and you know what I don't deserve? That beautiful, smart, crazy little boy asleep down the hall, and this beautiful little angel that's kicking the hell out of me right now. I have two out of three of the best things in the world right here " she said chocking on her words "and that's all because of you. Stop being so hard on yourself." Haley took a few deep breaths instantly feeling the kicking subside inside her. "I gotta get Jay up and get him ready, you wanna talk to him?"
"Yea," he muttered after a minute of silence "I miss my lil man"
"You wouldn't believe how tall he's actually getting"
Nathan had to laugh at that. Their son definitely inherited his wives short stature. "Good! He's small as hell to be four"
"Well daddy, according to him, he's already five years old"
Haley made her way into her sons' room, now fully dressed and went to sit next to him at the head of his full size bed.
"Jay, time to wake up sleepy head" she said gently rubbing his back.
"No mommy" he buried his head further into the pillow and cuddled deeper into the soft blanket he loved.
"Babe, you gotta get up"
"Is daddy here now" he said moving his head around to eye her carefully.
She knew that her husband heard his innocent question. "No, but he's on the phone and he wants to talk to you"
"Yay, let me talk mommy" he said before standing on the bed equaling her height. Grabbing the phone from his mommy, Jay plopped back down on the bed, and leaned back against the pillows.
"Hi daddy"
"Hey man! I miss you"
"I miss you too" he said grinning "can you come home yet?"
"Not yet buddy, but I'm trying"
Haley came back over to the bed holding Jay's outfit for the day, and then started to strip him of his night clothes. She put lotion on him, and then put on his jeans, undershirt and socks.
"Jay give me the phone and go use the bathroom, and brush your teeth. Then you can have it back"
He ran into his bathroom and in just a few minutes after, he returned with a bright smile on his face while he held his small hand out for the phone. After putting his shoes on him, Haley went o grab him a bowl of cereal.
Once she was done with his shoes, Jay followed her into the kitchen while he talked a hole in Nathan's ear.
Haley smiled knowing they both needed that. She and Nathan tried as hard as possible to avoid another phone call like the first one they'd had when he talked to his daddy. He'd gotten on the phone and cried while begging and pleading for him to come home. He'd gone so far as to telling Nathan that he was sick. The sobbing alone had the boy chocked up, and eventually he'd gotten so worked up that he had thrown up and gotten himself sick. After that episode, they tried to make their conversations less frequent or at least whenever she thought Jay could handle it.
"Alright Jay, let me talk to daddy while you eat your breakfast. Tell daddy bye and you'll talk to him later"
"Daddy, I got's to eat my Lucky Chawms', but I'll talk to you later, I love you"
"I love you too buddy, to infinity..."
"And beyond" he responded giggling.
"That was a good safe conversation" Haley said when she had the phone back
"Yea it was good" In the background Nathan heard the door bell ring, and knew that Lucas, Brooke and Drew had arrived. "Hey, let me speak to Brooke really quick"
Brooke walked into the house in front of Lucas who had Drew literally hanging off his arm. She tilted her head to the side and gave Haley a questioning look when she handed her the phone, and went to clean up Jay's bowl.
"Hello" Brooke said into the phone.
"Hey, it's me. How's everything for tonight with dinner and afterwards?"
Brooke instantly made her way a few feet away from Haley.
"It's pretty good. Luke is taking her and the boys out, so I'm gonna hang around here setting stuff up, then go home with everyone and cook, then come back over, we'll all have dinner when Haley gets back. Everything we talked about last week will be done, and they got the major stuff done earlier this week while Haley finished shopping for Jay. The rest is ready to be brought in once they leave so we're good on time. Besides Lucas knows to tire her out, but not too bad. It'll all be one hundred percent done by tonight."
"Good, thanks for all your help, I figured you'll try to take over anyway so why not let you" he said laughing when she scoffed in protest.
"No problem Nate, and I know you miss her, and you're worried about her and all, but don't worry. We're looking out for her and making sure all three of them are good. Here's your wife back, they're about to leave. I'll talk to you later Nate"
Haley grabbed the phone from Brooke and smiled as she watched the brunette kiss her husband and son goodbye. "Bye babe, I'll probably call you in a little while, once I'm ready to kill Lucas for dragging me around a mall just days before the busiest holiday."
"Alright Hales, tell Lucas to keep all those guys off you" he said in all seriousness that his wife scoffed at. What is with the Scott women and scoffing?
"Yea right, I look like a blimp"
"Yea, but you're my blimp Hales. I love you and I'll talk to you later."
"Whatever, I love you too. Bye"
By the time Haley got home, her sisters were there and waiting to say grace for dinner. Before her and Jay could even get their coats off, they were brought into the circle to pray. Once her older sister was done, Haley took Jay to change into his night clothes seeing as though it was already after seven. She made her way back out to her few guest and smiled as people smothered Jay with kisses and got excited about her protruding stomach. She wasn't sure why Lucas had kept them out as late as they were, plus with the holiday traffic, things had gotten hectic.
She felt bad for not eating with them, but both she and Jay were dead tired and she wanted to be with her son and baby.
Changing into some pajama's Haley climbed into her bed next to Jay, knowing she couldn't handle sleeping alone tonight. She looked up and smiled when Brooke came in looking beautiful in a new dress.
"Do you guys want anything to eat?" Lucas had told her how tired Haley really was and that she should rest as soon as she got in. He'd felt bad for how long he'd kept them out, but he'd made sure she wasn't on her feet much and was not under much stress.
"Nah, we're good. He's dead tired, Lucas definitely kept his word on wearing us out."
"Okay, well do you need anything before I leave?"
"Actually yes, could you tell Dan and Deb that I'll call them sometime tomorrow, but I kinda just wanna spend some time with Jay. They were planning on coming straight here and I know it's so unfair and inconsiderate since it's our tradition but it won't be the same with Nathan gone. I kinda just wanna have some time with Jay and skype with Nathan tomorrow, just us."
Usually the Scotts would make their way down to San Antonio on Christmas Eve and spend the day as well as Christmas Day with Nathan and Lucas' family. The day after Christmas, Lucas and Brooke would take Drew back up with Dan and Deb to spend the rest of the holiday through New Years with them, while Haley, Nathan and Jay went to visit the James' crew. Things were definitely different this year, but Haley was happy to not be traveling so much. She just wanted to spend this holiday in her home.
"No problem Hales. I'll take care of everything. Dan and Deb are driving down tomorrow night and I'll have them just stay with us, so don't worry. I love you okay, get some rest and we'll talk to you tomorrow"
"Love you too, thanks so much Brooke. And thanks for decorating the house, Jay loves it and I just didn't have the energy.
Nodding her head, Brooke leaned up and kissed Haley's and her sleeping god son's cheek, then rubbed her stomach before leaving.
When Haley woke up in the middle of the night, Jay was right at her side awake as well. Skipping out on dinner, they were both hungry, so Haley fixed them up a small plate of food to share. Making their way back to the room with the plate, Haley froze hearing something at the front door. Seeing the door knob being twisted, she grabbed Jay's hand tightly in hers, and started quickly towards her bedroom when she heard her name called... by a voice she knew too well.
AN: Hate me? Who's at the door? It could be anyone so no speculating. Lol Like I promised I'll have your next update Tuesday at the latest, and it's very long, so I hope that makes up for this little bit of read. Thanks for reading and review!
Jennifer