Braydon and Kallie

5.

Kallie has been studying, going to college, and studying, talking on the phone at night with Jaylen, she hasn't been able to see them as much as Jaylen wants but she needs to get passed her first exam that she has in two months, she also decided to do her work experience at the bookshop, her and Melanie had sorted out the details, Braydon meets her at lunch and they talk at the park near the college, she has made two new friends Mila and Nolan, they are in the same course, one of the lunches they had met Braydon and today they were all sat on the grass, 'Kallie showed us a picture of your son, he is so cute.'
'Thanks, he is upset with me because he hasn't been able to see Kallie because she has been studying and not playing with him.' They all laughed. After the lunch they got up, 'I'll see you at the book shop,' Kallie shouted before walking back into the college grounds, 'bye,' Braydon shouted back, Kallie, Mila and Nolan waved and he waved back.
'I know what happened to Braydon's girlfriend that you told us was tragic and that he is still madly in love, he might like you and I know that you like him, his son is smitten with you, about your past don't let it ruin something you could have with Braydon.' Mila said when they got back into the room, Kallie just sat in the chair and looked at the wall.

Braydon was in the book shop, he was at the till, Melanie walked up, 'I heard that uncle Joseph and aunt Emille was here for the week.'
'Yeah, they stayed, I wanted to bring them here, mum wanted to see you but dad wasn't having it, we can try next time when they come for Jaylen's birthday.' He said as he handed the books to the customer and turning to Melanie, 'Mel, do you think Tania would hate me if I started to like someone else?'
'Braydon, do you have feelings for Kallie?'
'Maybe, my feelings have been all over the place since I have met Kallie, she has made me feel like I was with Tania and I feel like I am betraying Tania by liking Kallie,' he walked to the book shelf putting the books on the tables into the shelf, 'you know she is amazing with Jaylen, Jaylen is in love with her, but what about him knowing Tania?'
'He knows her, you have photos of her up on the walls, in his room, he will never forget Tania.' Melanie said taking the books out of Braydon's hands and sitting him on the couch. 'Tania would want you to be happy, she is watching down on you and Jaylen and knows that Kallie will be the best person to look after Jaylen, she shows you that she cares for you and your feelings and doesn't care that you will forever love Tania and will want to make Jaylen remember her,' she took hold of his hands. 'Bray, don't hurt her, you know her past, she had no one and doesn't open up easily, you need to be sure, sure about how to tell her, be with her and give her time.'
'I know, that is what I fear, I fear that I hurt her and then we can't go back to being before, it will hurt Jaylen so much, as well as her and me.' Braydon sighed and put his face in his hands.

Kallie at this point was walking down the street from the college after finishing, she was on her way home to put her college things at home, change then go to the book shop to start working, she made it to the front door, there was flowers sitting there, leaning against the door.
The note said:
Hi new neighbour, we are the Jones' we moved in next door today, we wanted to say hi in person but we must have missed the timing, we might meet again as this is a small town,
from, Harley and Grey Jones.

Kallie thought this was cute, she picked the flowers up and walked into the house, putting her bags down, putting the flowers in a vase then putting them down on the dining table, had a cookie then changed to get to the book store.
'I'll be there in a minute, wait, seriously Braydon.' He was frantic on the phone, she didn't know if he was serious about this or he was wanting her to get to the store quickly. 'I'm leaving the house now.'
She ran all the way from the house to the store, opening the door, Braydon was stood on a chair in the corner of the store, Kallie looked around and saw a spider, it was tiny and cute to Kallie, 'Really, this is why you are crying?'
'It's a spider, I hate spiders, one new thing you have learned about me.'
'Come here little spider, let's get you away from the crybaby.' Kallie got a glass and paper and walked to the back of the store, Braydon timidly behind her, he opened the door for her and she carefully let the spider go on the floor, Braydon let out a relieve sigh and then walked into the backroom, 'I can't believe that I had to get a spider out of the store.'
'Shut up, don't tell anyone, come on let's get to work, Mrs Newbury will be here with her third book trade of the day.' They walked into the front of the store, Kallie walked to the register.  'Little Braydon is scared of a little spider.' she sung while people were walking around, smiling, 'shut up Kallie.'
'I'm going to get Jaylen.'

He walked out of the door, he couldn't believe that he felt happiness when Kallie was making fun of him, he liked it, it made him happy that she is comfortable to do that, he couldn't believe that she saw him in a scared and pathetic way. 'Daddy, is Kallie at work today/'
'Just wait and see.'
Jaylen was practically jumping in his dads arms as they walked down the centre of the town, saying hello to the regulars of the bookshop. 'Daddy, come on, hurry.' He smiled and looked at his son being happy that he is going to see Kallie. 'Daddy put me down, we are here.'
'Hi Jaylen.' Kallie said with her arms open, kneeling down n the floor, when he entered the door, Jaylen ran up to her, putting his arms around her and grabbing him she stood up and hugged him, 'I wish I got that welcome at playgroup but it is all about you, I feel upset.'
'Jay, want to know a pretty big secret of your dads?' Kallie asked when they walked to the kids books. 'Your daddy was about to cry when I walked in, he was crying about a spider.' She used her fingers nd made it feel like a spider was crawling up Jaylen's arm. Braydon walked up to her and his son who was laughing. 'Kallie, you told my son that his dad is scared of a spider.'
'Are you scared of snakes/'
'No.'
'Well, if a snake ever come into the house, or here, you will be the first one I call, crying and scared standing on table or chairs.' Braydon smiled, 'I can't wait for that day, we are in a little town in the middle of the country, of course we have snakes crawling into the house or stores.'
'Well, I'm sorry about that.'
'I'll have to make it work.'
Jaylen was picking out a book, ignoring  his dad and Kallie casually flirting, not knowing this of course.
'Well, I could get a pet snake,' he made hissing noises after the sentence, Kallie slapped his arm, 'Jaylen, do you want a snake as a pet, a crawly animal,' he made a gesture with his arms.
'No, Kallie won't come to house.' Kallie hugged him, 'Someone who loves me.'

Braydon walked away to the register, Mrs Newbury, walked in with a massive bag of books that she found with her son in the attic. 'Here deary, the books I was talking about in the attic.'
'Thank you, here is the money.'
She walked around the store and picked up three books from the shelf, she paid for them and then walked out of the door, Kallie was helping a young mum pick some books for her daughter, Jaylen was playing with the little girl with his toys and books. 'You and your partner have a cute little boy.'
'Oh, he isn't my son, I'm just his dad's friend, he is over there,' she points and waves him over.
'So your the dad.' the woman said shocked.
'Yeah, your daughter is cute,' the woman smiled and said it back. 'I saw you at the playgroup the other day, then with you colleague so I automatically thought you were together and had him together.'
'No we are just friends, Jaylen, my son, loves her too much, always wants to be around her.'
'That is so cute.'
They all smiled and looked at the kids playing, 'My name is Nora Phillips and this is my daughter AnnaLouise, would you like to do a playdate at some point, here is my number, it would be nice, they seem to get along with each other, would be nice?'
'Yeah, I would like that, I'll call soon to make plans.'
Kallie hoped that she was married, she felt a little jealously when they were talking.

'Kallie are you ok?' He asked when he was closing the shop, Kallie was putting Jaylen's coat on and turned round to him.
'Nothing is wrong, why?'
'You have been different since Nora left and since we planned a playdate, you can come you know, you are in Jaylen's life, he would love you to come.' He was walking beside her, they were holding his hand, lifting him up and swinging him.
'I know, I would obviously come if I have the chance if I am not studying, nothing is the matter, can we talk about something else, Jaylen what do you want daddy to make for tea?'
'Hetti hoops.'
'Well then, you have to be good for daddy, Kallie has to go now, to study, I'll miss you.' She knelt down beside him and made sure to kiss his cheek, he kissed her and turned and grabbed his dad's leg. 'I'll be busy for the next couple of days, I told Melanie, she gave me three-four days off, I'll won't have time to Jaylen, I'll call.' She walked timidly off from them, Braydon picked up Jaylen and walked in the direction of Aldi to get Spaghetti Hoops, wondering if he had done something to make Kallie like that.

Walking home Kallie realised she had done what she always does, makes excuses, doesn't tell him how she feels and walks off making sure that he is confused and makes him think that it is his fault that she is like this. She wishes she wasn't, she wants t be more honest but doesn't want to hurt Braydon, herself and especially Jaylen.