Chapter Seven

The next morning Haley headed to Karen's for breakfast. She was standing across the street staring at the café trying to get up the nerve to go inside. How was she ever going to face the woman she disappointed and hurt so badly, not to mention what she had done to her son. A woman who was like a mother to her, a woman who was still in fact her mother-in-law. Taking a deep breath she crossed the street and stepped into the café.

As the door closed everyone turned to look to see who had come in. When they seen it was Haley the café went silent. Karen looked up from the counter to see Haley frozen in the doorway. It looked as if she was ready to turn around and leave.

"Haley James Scott, get your ass over here and give me a hug!" Karen all but shouted.

Without a word Haley walked over to Karen and into her waiting arms. Tears were falling from Haley's eyes and she didn't try to stop them. She'd missed Karen so much, almost as much as she missed Nathan. She hated that it took coming home to realize what was missing in her life, what was missing to make her happy.

Noticing everyone was staring Karen guided Haley into the back where they could talk in private. "Everything's going to be okay," Karen told her, rubbing her back to sooth her.

"I really hope you're right. I have a lot to make up for. I haven't even seen Nathan yet, I don't even know what to say to him. I don't even know if he'll listen to me," Haley said stepping back and wiping her eyes.

"In time he will, he's still hurt and angry. I can tell you it won't be easy but then love never is," Karen said with a smile.

"I can't believe you don't hate me!"

"You're like my daughter, I could never hate you, but that doesn't mean I wasn't mad as hell at you. As Nathan's mother I wanted to track you down and drag you back home, but as a woman who didn't go after her own dreams, I understood why you left."

With a hint of a smile on her face Haley said, "It means so much to me that you understand and you don't hate me. I promise I'm going to make this right. It may take a while but everything will be right again."

"I know it will be Sweetie, I have to get back to work, how about you go sit down at the counter and I'll get you something to eat," Karen said. With a smile Haley nodded and went through the door to the dining area.

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Brooke was in the kitchen making French Toast when Lucas walked in. "Something smells good," he remarked stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.

"I hope so, it is your favorite after all," she replied laughing.

"Where's Nathan? I'm surprised he isn't down here fighting me for the first plate," Lucas asked laughing. It was a daily routine between the brothers that he looked forward to.

"Last night he cornered me when I got home from seeing Haley. As you can see it didn't go very well. I know they both still love each other I just wish they'd admit it and be happy already."

Lucas went to sit at the table before replying, "I agree to a point, I mean he shouldn't just forgive her."

Brooke flipped the French Toast out of the pan onto plates and went over to the table. "I'm not arguing that, but until they actually see each other it's a mute point," Brooke said with a sarcastic laugh.

"So other than discuss my brother's lack of a love life, what do we have planned for today?"

"Well, I was thinking we could have a picnic lunch in the park then go see a movie. If you're not to tired then we can continue our day back at home," she said with a wink and a saucy smile.

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Nathan walked to his mother's café. He couldn't face Brooke just yet, he knew he'd ask her more questions he didn't really want to know the answers to. He knew he could have driven and been there much faster but he needed to clear his head and this was the best way he knew how, other than basketball. People were smiling and waving when they saw him, much as they did every time they seen him in town, it just seemed different today. He couldn't put his finger on it but he knew something was up.

Walking into the café he went and sat at his usual spot at the counter. He was checking his phone when he realized the room was silent, you could hear a pin drop, silent. After scanning the room he soon realized why. Haley was sitting at the corner of the counter eating, doing something on her phone. She was oblivious to anything around her.

Nathan was debating getting up and leaving as quietly as he came when his mother walked out of the kitchen and spotted him. It was too late to leave now and he didn't know what to do.

His mother, however, didn't have that problem. "Hi honey," she said walking up to him and pouring him a cup of coffee. He seen Haley flinch but she didn't look up. He knew she had to have heard his mother, she wasn't exactly quiet.

"Mom, I don't think I'm going to stay," Nathan said going to stand up but was stopped by her voice.

"Don't go because I'm here, please."