Chapter 177: Naley
Saturday, January 14th, Afternoon
The late afternoon light danced through the windows of Raven Hill. Haley stood by the window, looking out among the grounds of their house. There were indications that there was frost on the panes of glass.
Haley nodded; it was too cold for the kids to be outside playing. So they were inside trying to stay busy. She looked into the living room to see the grandkids playing, and driving her daughter, their aunt, crazy. LK didn't like her routine disturbed.
"LK, why don't you go to your room, and do what you're doing," Haley said, as she entered the living room.
"Momma, I always sit here and work on my homework on Saturday," LK said, in a way that seemed to go right past Haley.
"Well, it's too cold for the kids to be out. I think you can do your homework in your room," Haley said.
"Momma, I do my homework here," LK said.
"Well, do it someplace else for today," Haley said.
"Momma, I do my homework here," LK said.
"We can't have everything we want, LK," Haley said.
LK sat there and looked like she couldn't understand what Haley was telling her. Finally, LK looked down at the books that were open before her. Haley shook her head and walked out of the kitchen. Finally, she came to where the three grandkids were playing.
She sat down and looked over the three grandkids. The youngest one, Darren, was sitting in the corner, being the youngest he was playing with his trucks. Haley watched him over and smiled, thinking about the joys of having a young child, especially a boy child.
Scanning across the room, she saw the oldest of the three grandkids. Lennon was in the corner; he had his books spread out and was also doing his homework. Something about Lennon was he would just do what he would need to do. Haley tried to keep a closer eye on Lennon because his behavior mirrors his Dad, too much to Haley's taste.
The middle grandkid was off on her own, doing something. Lacy was the only redhead of her grandchildren. Looking her over, Haley was wondering what Lacy was snapping and plotting over there. That was something Haley learned over the four years they had the grandkids, was that Lacy would always be up to something. The challenge was channeling that energy.
"Nana," Lacy said.
Haley canted her head, "Yes, Lacy?" she asked.
"Where is Papa Nathan?" Lacy asked.
"He's in bed," Haley said.
"Why is he in bed?" Lacy asked.
"He's not feeling too well, Lacy," Haley said.
"Is it his knee again?" Lacy asked.
Haley nodded, "Yes," she said.
"What is wrong with his knee?" Lacy said, putting the stuff she was fiddling with down. The young girl stood up and walked over to where Haley sat. Lacy took a seat on the sofa and looked at Haley.
"Well, you know how Papa Nathan played in the NBA?" Haley asked.
"Like how Uncle James plays in the NBA?" Lacy asked.
Haley nodded, "Yes, just like Uncle James plays in the NBA," she said.
"So, how does it hurt his knee?" Lacy asked.
"He got hurt while playing, and his knee still bothering him," Haley said.
"Does playing basketball make you sick?" Lacy asked.
"Eh, not always," Haley said.
Lacy nodded, "Why does Grandma Rachel live so far away?" she asked.
Haley shrugged, "I don't know," she said.
"I wish I could see her more," Lacy said.
"Do you miss Grandma Rachel?" Haley asked.
Lacy nodded, "Yes, I do," she said, "Nana Haley, why don't you go with us to Grandma Rachel's?"
"Because I have to watch after Aunt LK," Haley said.
Lacy nodded, "Nana Haley," she said.
"Yes, Lacy," Haley said.
"You knew My Mom, right?" Lacy asked.
"Yes, I did," Haley said.
"What was My Mom like?" Lacy asked.
"Why do you ask?" Haley replied.
"I don't remember her," Lacy said, with a sad expression on her face, "I only remember living here."
"You're Mom, is, well, an interesting person," Haley said.
"How?" Lack asked.
"For one, she's a redhead, like you," Haley said, and reached over and played with a few loose strands of Lacy's red hair.
"Like me?" Lack asked, and with one hand played with strands of her red hair.
"Yeah, and your Grandma Rachel also had red hair," Haley said.
"Grandma Rachel had red hair?" Lacy asked.
Haley nodded, "Yeah," she said.
"What was she like?" Lacy asked.
"Grandma Rachel or your Mom?" Haley asked.
"My Mom," Lacy said.
"Your Momma liked music and was in love with Your Daddy," Haley said.
"Awe," Lacy said.
Haley nodded and then smiled. Thinking it was over.
"Nana Haley, how is Wyatt, my brother?" Lacy asked.
"Wyatt is your Daddy's son like Lennon and Darren are," Haley said.
"But he's not my Mom's son?" Lacy asked.
Haley nodded, not sure how to answer Lacy. It was something that Lacy was too young to know about that part of life. To add to the angst, Haley wasn't sure about the details about Brian and his life. What she did know was what little she saw, or what Trin, Wyatt's Mom, had told her. Haley knew at best that her information was at best bias.
"No, Wyatt has a different momma," Haley said, wondering why Lacy asked, as she knew this. Well, at least Haley hoped.
"Why?" Lacy asked.
Haley closed her eyes to avoid Lacy, seeing her rolling them. Finally, Haley sighed, "Somethings we'll never know," she said.
"Why?" Lacy asked.
"There are things that well, I don't know how to say this," Haley said.
"There are things that are known, and things unknown, and in between are the doors," Lennon said.
"Ray Manzarek, Lennon?" Haley asked.
"I thought it was Jim Morrison," Lennon said, "I saw it on a poster for the movie The Doors."
"People mis-attributed to Jim Morrison, but it's derived from something co-founder Ray Manzarek said," Haley said.
"Oh," Lennon said.
"What were you doing looking at that movie?" Haley asked.
"Nana, it was on the wall," Lennon said.
"Who's wall?" Haley asked.
"Tucker's wall," Lennon said.
Haley nodded, "Okay," she said.
"Was it true that our Dad liked The Doors?" Lennon asked.
Haley shrugged, and she knew that she was either not going to answer the question or lie. "I'm not sure," she said.
"I know; they named for John Lennon," Lennon said.
"That you were," Haley said.
Lennon nodded and went back to his books. Lacy cuddled up to Haley as the six-year-old girl got comfortable. Haley played with her red hair and wondered why Lacy was cuddly.