From Grief We grew (Only On Wattpad)

Chapter 34 Hayden

   My eyes shoot open. I feel sweat dribbling down from my forehead. I blink a few times and sigh. Just a dream… I look around hoping to see my brother who just haunted my dream but he’s nowhere. I take my phone. 8.30 am. I also see a text from Teagan. I open it and find her reply to the Flyer I sent.
 
Teagan:
What is this?
 
Me:
Saw this online.
It’s a job at a swimming Academy.
 
    She replies almost immediately.
 
Teagan:
Oh
 
Me:
Why are you up so early? On a holiday.
 
Teagan:
Bad dream…
Wbu?
 
Me:
Same.
Zayden?
 
Teagan:
Yes
U?
 
Me:
Yes.
You should take it
 
Teagan:
What?
 
Me:
The Job. Go check it out.
 
Teagan:
Oh
Idk….
 
Me:
You’ll like it.
Be happy remember.
 
    She takes some time to reply. Meanwhile, I text Bea.
 
Teagan:
Can you come with me?
 
Me:
Sure!
I’ll be there by 9.30?
 
Teagan:
Cool
 
   I inform Bea about it before going to shower. I get ready and go to Teagan's house right on time to pick her up. I drive her to the address on the flyer.
 
   Joe and Jo's swimming academy for children I read the painting on the wall. Teagan opens the gate and we walk through the narrow passage beside a tattered building. We find a flight of stairs and take it. On the right, we see a door open. We walk into the empty swimming room.
 
   “Hellooo?” I yell looking around. I spot an old man approaching from the right side of the pool. I notice another door behind him.
 
   “What do you want?” a grumpy voice says.
 
   I nudge Teagan and we make our way to him. "Uhm excuse me, Sir, I'm come here looking for a job. I saw-"
 
   "Jump in the water.” The old block's statement surprises us. Teagan and I share a glance.  
 
   "Pardon?"
 
   "Do you want this job?" He asks in an agitated tone.
 
   "Uhm yes sir. I've been learning to swim since the age-"
 
   "Don't care. Just jump in the water."
 
   Wow someone woke up on the wrong side.
 
   Teagan looks at me again before replying, " but I don’t have on appropriate clothing for that right now.” Teagan was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
 
   "How are you gonna teach swimming then?" He snaps.
 
   I grab Teagan's hand, ready to tell the guy to take a piss when a voice draws our attention, "Dad how many times have I told you not to be an ass to people.” A ginger head approaches us.
 
   "I wasn't."
 
  "Mum is calling you."
 
   He mutters something as wanders off to the other room. "I'm Stacy," the ginger head says and reaches out her hand. Teagan and I shake it as we introduce ourselves.
 
   "Sorry about him. He's like that around new people." We nod. "Are you here for the job?"
 
   “Yes. Yes, I am.”
 
    There is a huge smile plastered on Teagan's face when we walk out of the building. "This is wonderful. I have a job now and I get to swim and be with kids."
 
   "Congrats!" I throw my arms around her and give her a quick squeeze. She giggles. Not too soon her expression changes. "What is wrong?"
 
   "Work. Another thing I'll be doing without him.”
 
   I sigh and pat her back. "He lives in you yeah? He's part of you. So live your happiest life, T bone." She chuckles hearing the random nickname.
 
   Teagan stops walking and looks at something being me. I turn around and see a Salon. I pat her back and tell her, “Go.”
 
   "Hmmm?" She looks at me.
 
   "Go get funky. Do what you must." Teagan touches her hair as she stares at the shop. I can tell she’s debating whether to keep the ash blonde or not. So I comment, "Trust me girlie only the Fenwicks can pull that off. You go do you." She chuckles and smacks my arms. "I'll go get something to eat. Do you want anything?"
 
   She gasps, "Oh my gosh I didn't even ask you if you ate. I'm so sorry. I ate. You didn’t eat?"
 
   "It’s okay. Now go!"
 
   “Okay, ” She nods.
 
   After eating, I get into my car. I’m just about to call Bea when my phone rings. My Queen B. I smile seeing her name. I quickly swipe on the green icon. “Beba-bear I was just thinking of you!” She doesn't reply. I hear strained breaths and a whimper. “Bea? Bea, are you okay?”
 
   "I-I'm sorry. I just - are you busy?"
 
   “Bea, are you crying?”
 
   Silence.
 
  “Bea, where is mom?”
 
   "She w-went out,” she whispers, her voice sounding hoarse.
 
   "Okay, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
 
   "O-okay."
 
   I inform Teagan about the emergency with an apology before I drive home. I rush to the door and ring the doorbell impatiently as my heart pounds anxiously. The door opens. Bea clings onto me and starts crying. My heart sinks. “Oh baby what happened?” I protectively wrap my arms around her.  
 
   She pulls away. "L-Let's go in.”
 
   I close the door and walk in with her. She grabs a inhale and takes a puff. ”You have wheezing?” I ask unaware she owned an inhaler.  
 
   “Sometimes.” I don’t probe further. I sit with her on the couch and rub her back until she calms down. Eventually, she whispers, “Promise me you won’t act upon it.”
 
   “Act upon what?”
 
   “What I’m about to tell you. I don’t want you asking Mira anything.”
 
   “What did she do?” I grunted.
 
   “Please,” she whispered again.
 
   “Fine. Promise. Tell me now.”  
 
   "I was sleeping when suddenly someone squeezed my bum. I jumped up to find one of Mira's boyfriends sitting on my bed. I started to yell but no one came. He came closer and tried touching him again." I clench my fist. “I scuffed him and ran outside. I told Mira and s-she didn't believe it. I carried Avery and came here."
 
   "Where are Avery and Hope?” I inquire realizing Hope might run in as I’m about to burst.
 
   “Sleeping.”
 
   I nod and spoke as calmly as possible, “You should go to the cops, Bea. Slogging your ass for her with no appreciation is one thing and getting abused is another. You shouldn't endure this.” She shook her head as I spoke not buying into what I’m saying. “Bea, You had enough!”
 
   “I'll lock my room next time. It will be fine. I’m sure she will warn him. She probably didn’t want to tell him anything in from of me,” she tries to reason and I shake my head. “Hayden I have no place to go! I’m only 19-“
 
   “You can stay here.”
 
   “Here? With your parents? Hayden, they don’t even know Avery is my child. Plus I don’t wish to be a burden to someone else.”
 
   “Bea, I don’t want you living with that horrid woman. You are my girlfriend. You can live in my house. My parents will understand,” I insist.
 
   She shakes her head and corrects, “This is your parent's house, not yours.”
 
   I stay silent. Would she stay if it was only me? “She would,” Zay casually replies. I nod and look at her. I take her hand in mine. “Fine. Temporarily. Please be safe.”
 
   “Temporarily?”
 
   “Yes until I get my own house and marry you soon.” My statement makes her blush and she looks away. Tears roll down her cheeks again. I place my finger under her chin making her look at me, “Hey… what’s wrong?”
 
   She shakes her head smiling. “I love you,” she whispers and just like the first time it gives me butterflies. I smile and kiss her as my arms wrap securely around her. When she pulls away, I brush my fingers through her hair and tell her, “I won’t let anyone hurt you, my love.”
 
   I convince Bea to stay at my house for a few days so that Mira would realize Bea was being serious. She might also fear losing Bea (since she is an asset), so she would most likely prevent that guy from going close to Bea again. Hopefully.
 
   Not wanting her to dwell much on the incident, I take her out with both the kids. I choose the mall as our destination since they will be a lot to do there. I hold Bea's hand and take her to Forever 21. "What are we doing here?" She asks.
 
   “Shopping.”
 
   “Yeeeey! Haydy can I buy Cinderella dress?” The five-year-old, walking alongside me tugs my hand.
 
   “Sure baby. But first, let us buy some pretty dresses for Bea,” I tell her and she nods.
 
  “What!? No! Hayden, let’s not waste money. I have plenty of clothes,” she disagrees.
 
   “How is it a waste of money if I’m buying it for my future wife?” I ask with a sly grin.
 
  She gets flustered and looks around before looking back at me. “Hold up mister. I’m still not used to you calling me your girlfriend. My heart won’t be able to take it if you call me your wife already. Go slow will ya?” I chuckle and lean close to her. She steps back. “Hayden, we are in public.”
 
   I huff. “Fine. Just let me buy you something. Don’t say no. I’m not taking no for answer.,”
 
   She rolls her eyes. “Stubborn one. Fine. I’ll take a dress or two.”
 
   I grin and we go around looking at some clothes. An employee named Mary helps us. Hope waddles around saying she’s going to find the “perfect dress for Bea.” I carry Avery in my arms and follow behind.
 
   I spot a red dress on a mannequin. It has long ruffle sleeves that only start from half of the shoulder. Its flared skirt stops before the knees. “What about that?” I ask and point at it. Bea looks at it and shakes her head. “I won’t look good in it,” she whispers.
 
   “I think you will look beautiful as always.”  She hesitates. “Just wear it and see.” She nods. Mary leads her to the trial room and carries Hope who tries to waddle behind wanting to help. I sit on a chair and place Avery beside me.
 
   Bea peeks her head out of the door. I stand up and walk up to her. She opens the door revealing herself. She has a shawl wrapped around her shoulder covering her shoulders. “Bea…” I step forward. She steps back now concealed from the world. I look back at Mary and she nods going to Avery. I look at Bea. I place my hand on her shoulder and turn her around to look at her in the mirror. I slowly remove the shawl. She doesn’t object.
 
   The dress doesn’t show much chest. I wonder why then- I remember how she wore a shawl the entire time she was at the gala. She held it dearly and never let it fall. I figured it was because of the cleavage.
 
   I look at her and take in her beauty. My eyes travel to her shoulder bone and her neck. It hits me. Her freckles! The dress boldly shows off the freckles that pepper down her neck and onto her chest.
 
   “Do you like the dress?”
 
   “I don’t know.” She looks at her reflection. Her finger move to her neck and her fingers brushes over the constellation on her neck.
 
   I lean closer. “Your freckles-“
 
   “I wish I can remove them,” she admits.
 
   “No!” I disapprove. I place my hand on her shoulder and trace the dots on her skin. “They are beautiful. I’m in love with each one of them.”
 
   She stays silent still looking at herself. So I continue, “I won’t force you to wear what you don’t feel comfortable in. I think you look beautiful in everything because it is you that makes the clothes look beautiful. Not the other way around. Just ask yourself this, will I buy this dress for someone else?”
 
   Without saying another word I step out. I close the door giving Bea time to think and go back to my seat. I look at Mary who is playing with both the kids. She looks at me, “You have adorable children.” I smile and nod.
 
   Bea comes out and Mary walks up to her. Bea looks at me and then at her. “I'll take it.” I grin proudly. For some reason so does Mary.
 
   After getting her to buy some more clothes. We go to buy shoes. Hope picks up a gold pair of heel shoes and hands them to Bea. I take it from her and get on my knees. “Hayden…” she whispers. I slowly lift her feet and slip the shoes on her feet.  I hear a awe from Mary. Once I get both shoes on, I stand up and give her my hand. She takes it and stands up. She walks around and then nods.
 
   “I'll take these.” She looks at me with a stern look. “That's enough now.” I nod.
 
      Avery starts crying right when we are about to bill the things. Horror flashes on Bea's face as checks the baby. But then she sighs. “Did she poo poo?" Bea chuckles and nods. “No. Thankfully.”
 
   I give Mary my card and carry Avery. "Where is the kid's section?" I ask Mary.
 
   "Second floor Sir."
 
   "Okay see that she buys all that and doesn't return anything," I tell Mary and grab Hope's hand, "Hope come with me, let’s go get you that dress."
 
   "Don't buy Ava anything," Bea warns. I roll my eyes and nod.