Jenalyn: Disconnected (#5) [Complete]

Chapter 83: Hayden

Tues. 3/17/09 • 6:18 P.M. PST

I think Russ and I have both forgotten about the secrets we hold by our third drink; We've just been enjoying this vacation with each other as originally planned, paying no mind to the mistakes we've made. 

Everything is normal again, and I couldn't feel more relieved. 

"Do you want to head back out to the Cabana Bar or the room?" Russ asks as a red haired waitress comes to take our dinner plates away. He pulls out his wallet to pay for our drinks and meals. 

We went down to the bar shortly after we got here. We had a couple drinks, went for massages and a quick swim, and then back to the bar before we found ourselves showering and dressing up to head down to SO•PA for dinner. It's all been really nice, but I wouldn't mind heading back to the room for some alone time. L'Horizon ensured that, as an underaged guest with a celebrity status, I wouldn't have to worry about my privacy during my stay- but I would still rather spend most of it carefully. 

I'm not even supposed to be here, first off, but I've also been drinking. That fact in itself would do terrors, not only for the Golds, but the media too!

"I guess we should head back up to the room?" I suggest, finishing the rest of my cocktail before I continue. "I have to call my mother before I drink too much anyway. And check in on Ev and the baby."

Russ nods his head, signaling for the waitress to come retrieve the check book. She does it promptly, and we gather our things and start to head back up to the bungalow. 

"You want me to make you a drink? I think I'm ready for another," Russ asks almost as soon as we open the door. He's a man after my own heart! I'm not trying to get too messed up tonight, but I definitely need a few more drinks to set the "vacation vibe" right!

I nod my head and thank him before letting him know I'll be in the bedroom on the phone with my mom. I'm not looking forward to the call because talking to her is anything but a vacation, but I know I have to keep up the ruse of being at home with the baby. 

"Hayden! I was just going to call you!" Mama G exclaims as soon as she answers the phone. "Want me to come pick you up? Your aunt Susan is here with Gia's baby! McKaiden can have a little play date and we can chit chat or something! Spend some quality time while your sisters are away!"

She would ask me to go to her house for some 'quality time' when I'm two hours out and tipsy! I mean, I knew she would; Mama Gold is a big family woman and invites us over daily. I was just hoping she'd be too busy today to ask for my company because I hate to turn her down when we've been doing so good. 

"Ah, I wish I could!" I respond after a second, pulling my preplanned excuse from my mind despite its slightly altered state. "I'm actually just about to put the baby down though... I've got a nasty migraine and think I'm just going to call it a night, honestly."

I hear Mama G pull the phone away from her ear to assumingly call out to aunt Susan before she responds. "A migraine? I'm sorry, honey!" she says when she returns, her voice concerned. "You want me to come get the baby? I can keep her for the night so you can lay down. Migraines are terrible; Harlee used to get them a lot too."

Anxiety is quick to flood my chest when she asks about picking the baby up. I didn't anticipate that to be her response because she's always so hell bent on trying to show me how a mother's job never ends, even through sickness. 

"No! N- no! It's fine!" I tell her as I rack my mind for the appropriate way too handle this. I obviously can't have her showing up at my house; That would be a shit show I want no part starring in. "A mother's job never ends, even in sickness! Isn't that what you've told me? I'm commited!"

Mama G laughs having heard me quote her. "Impressive, Hayden! I didn't think you listened to my lectures like that!" she chokes through her laughter. "You are correct! A mother's job definitely does not end because of a migraine, and I won't always be here to bail you out! Are you sure you don't need me to today though? It's your free pass for working so hard these past few weeks, G-ma is allowed to do that much!"

I force a laugh with her though my mind runs wild in worry. Mama Gold is a pretty persistent woman, and she clearly wants McKaiden at her place right now. I didn't think that far into my pre-planned excuse, but quickly revise it for the occasion. 

"It's okay, she's asleep already. She's been so cranky all day! I better just let her sleep that off," I falter off my laugh to say, keeping a light and joking tone in my voice. I quickly add on, "Does this free pass expire though? Are they stackable? I'll definitely hold you up on the offer another time!" 

Mama G let's out a sigh in both disappointment and frustration. She starts to say something about a one time offer before cutting herself off to say something else. "Didn't you just say you were going to put her down?" she asks, quickly following up. "Why are you going to put her down if she's already asleep? What sense does that make, Hayden?" 

Ah, crap... I did say that, didn't I? 

"I uhm- I do have to go put her down!" I spit, my mind working overtime to compensate for what I over looked. "I have to take her to her room, I let her fall asleep in mine because of my migraine but... I know she's got to be in her room, so-"

Mama Gold cuts me off to lecture me, a clear sign that my overcompensating is successful. No longer does she question how or why I said anything that didn't line up; Instead, she concerns herself with scolds on how I need to make sure McKaiden knows where her own room is instead of being spoiled with sleeping in mine.

"Well okay!" Mama Gold finally exclaims after what seems like an eternity of lecturing. "I guess I'll leave you guys be for the night... hang out with Aunt Susan and little Skye by myself..."

I'm supposed to feel bad. I know I'm supposed to feel bad because I'm turning down an opportunity to hang out with family and Mama G is clearly upset about it. 

This is my vacation though; A much needed vacation, at that! 

And I'm not going to let anything... and I mean anything, ruin it!