The First Steps (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction, Book 1 of the Hardships Saga)

Chapter Fifty-Four

❝inadequate (pronounced in-ad-i-kwit or ɪnˈadɪkwət), adjective

a response to a situation (e.g. parenting) which does not meet the required standard.❞

Hunter's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

"They must be here for business or something!" she hissed.

"What do we do?"

"Act natural, maybe they won't see us."

"Are you sure it's them?"

"Do you want them to hear us?! Shut it!"

They looked down and silently ate their entrees. When Hunter looked up for a second time, the Lawson's were gone. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"I think they're g-"

"Lilliana," said a cold voice. "Oh, and Harold too. What a- pleasant- surprise," sneered Marcella, as though there was another word she would have rather used than pleasant. Hunter and Lilly both jumped slightly- they seemed to appear out of thin air.

"It's Hunter, ma'am," said Hunter, and Lilly kicked him under the table. Kurt and Marcella smiled, though they didn't look very friendly. Their eyes stayed the same- cold and uncaring.

"Why don't we join you for dinner tonight?" suggested Kurt.

"I don't think-" Lilly was about to say, when Hunter cut her off.

"That would be great," he said, kicking her back. She looked at him in horror, as if to say, "What do you think you're doing?!"

"We need to get back on their good side somehow," he whispered, while Marcella and Kurt slipped a waiter probably about a hundred dollars so that they could move two tables together. They were all silent for a bit, before Hunter said, "Would you like me to pay for your dinner tonight, sir, ma'am?"

"Thank you, Gunter-"

"Hunter."

"- but we actually have the money to spare," finished Kurt smoothly, and Hunter looked down. What was his problem?

"Lilliana, your stomach is far too big for it to be just fat. Are you pregnant?"

"Yes. I'm having twins, Mother."

"Twins?" asked Kurt. "What sort of self-respecting man impregnates his wife with twins?"

"What sort of self-respecting man has such a terrible attitude?"

"Lilly," said Hunter in a warning tone.

Kurt just narrowed his eyes, and Marcella huffed. "I see this boy has made a terrible influence on you."

"I think it was bad parenting."

"Lilly, sir, ma'am, I think that's enough," said Hunter, blocking off Marcella's retort. "I wanted you to dine with us so that we can discuss this- we need to work out these issues between us. I don't want to constantly be fighting-"

"Ah, but we are dining with you for a very different reason," said Kurt.

"What reason?" asked Lilly testily.

Marcella sneered, then said, "How much money are you earning, Hayes?"

Hunter was taken aback. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me."

"I- I don't know, a fair amount, I guess-"

"And will this money be ongoing?"

"Depends on if the fans keep liking the music."

"So you obviously can't look after the children."