From Grief We grew (Only On Wattpad)

Chapter 46 Hayden

“How can I help you?” A tanned lady with a mole near her upper lips looks at us while folding her hands on the table. Bea retells her everything she had told me back at the house.
 
   Mira lied to Bea that her Dad gave away their music shop and made her work saying they have no source of income. Meanwhile, She used it for her career again. Bea saw Mira at the art exhibition tonight while Mira saw Bea with me. Knowing there would be an argument Mira insisted that she’d come home and talk. But little did Bea know Mira wasn’t planning to just talk. When Bea went home, Mira started yelling at her for dating a “rich guy” aka me. She called her a slut and said they both are alike. They would do anything for money. Midway through the argument someone covered Bea's nose with a hanky and Bea fell unconscious. The last thing she heard was Avery crying.
 
   “Do you know who was with her? The cop asks. I read her name tag: Sandra Larson.
 
   “I'm not sure what’s his name but I saw him in the exhibit. I know they are dating.”
 
   “He also tried to molest her once to which Mira didn’t take her side in the argument,” I add.
 
   “Who are you?” she looks at me from above her glasses. Wasn’t she paying attention all this while?

   “I'm her boyfriend, Mrs. Larson. That’s my child. Please find her.” I lie because I know Bea would be uncomfortable retelling her past.
 
   “Why isn’t she living with you then?” Larson questions.
 
   “He isn’t the biological dad. I was born blind. Someone took advantage and raped me.” Oh...I look at Bea. She doesn’t look at me. She just squeezes my hand under the table.
 
   The cop nods and makes notes. “How are you so sure your stepmother and her boyfriend took the child?”
 
   “Did you not listen!?” I yell in agitation. Bea squeezes my hand again. “I saw blurry figures. I knew that was my stepmom. I heard both their voices. I heard Avery cry and then the door shut,” Bea replies calmly.
 
   She nods and then asks for my account of the events. I tell her about the phone call and the house. Teagan gives her an alibi too. “And you are?”
 
   “She's our best friend,” Bea says making me smile.
 
   “Are you sure the gas was on?” Larson asks Teagan and then looks at Bea. “Or you switched it on?”
 
   “I turned it off. All the windows and doors were closed on purpose officer.”
 
   “They wanted to fucking kill her. Burn her in the house!” I rage out.
 
   “Mind your language, Mr. Fenwick.”
 
   “I apologize and no I didn’t go to the kitchen. It all took place in the living room,” Bea answers.
 
   “Was there a fire?”
 
   “No.”
 
   “Why do you think your stepmother took the child?” Larson interrogates.
 
   “I don’t know,” Bea whispers.
 
   “Maybe property? Maybe your dad wrote the house in Avery's name?” I suggest.
 
   “Going by your assumption she tried to burn the house, that doesn’t add up,” Larson replies looking at her notepad.
 
   Assumption? Does she not believe us? “Maybe the music store then because that was something she never told Bea about.” She nods and makes notes.
 
   “Was there any physical abuse in the argument Ms. Dawson?” The cop wasn’t looking at her face this time. I follow her eyes to Bea's hand and gasp. Red claw marks on her wrist. Or nails.
 
   “Yes.” Bea looks at her hand. I rub her back. “She gripped my wrist during the fight so I would listen to her. She also slapped me and pushed me down.” What the f*ck! Bea hid this bit.  It takes everything in me to control my temper. I clench my fist and keep hitting my thighs.
 
   “How old are both of you and the child?”
 
   “I’m 19. Will be 20 in February. Hayden is 20. Avery is 1 year. ”
 
   “Have you informed your parents yet?” ugh.
 
   “Uhm not yet.”
 
   She nods. “Do it soon.” She then gives us a form. “Fill in your details with a written statement of what happened. Then go with Gary.” She points at the cop that walked by. “Give him your child’s photo. Also of your step mum. Describe to him as detailed as possible what the other guy looks like. If you have his picture. Better. Tell him to take pictures of the marks too.”
 
   “But I don’t have pictures of both of them,” Bea whispers.
 
   “You don’t have a picture of your own child?” Larson gives her a skeptical look.
 
   “I do. I have plenty,” I quickly butt in and the cop nods. “You two wait outside. Let Ms. Dawson alone be here,” Larson says and gestures for us to leave.
 
   “What!? Why?”
 
   “Hayden it’s okay. I’ll be fine.” Bea squeezes my hand. I shake my head. “Please baby,” she begs with watery eyes. “We need to cooperate.” I sigh. I lean forward and kiss her forehead.
 
   “Just call Teagan if anything,” I tell her and give her my phone. Teagan and I silently walk outside.
 
   “Teagan are you okay?” I ask noticing her limping.
 
   She turns around and nods. “Yeah... I think I hurt my knee on the road.”
 
   I make her stand under the light. I gasp seeing how purple it is. “Teagan it’s bleeding!” she just waves her hand and starts walking toward my car. I open the car door and grab her shoulders. “Sit.”
 
   “Hayden It’s fine.”
 
   I squat down and gently touch her knees. “Does it hurt?” she frowns and shrugs. “Not as much as it hurt here,” she says pointing at her chest. I stay silent not knowing what to say. How are you holding up T? You are hurting so much and yet here you are to comfort me. I grab the mini first aid kit from my car. Despite her protest, I clean the wound and bandage her leg. We don’t say anything. We just wait for Bea in silence.
 
   “What did they ask you? When will they find Avery? Are you okay?” I ask grabbing Bea by her shoulders.
 
   “Hayden calm down,” Teagan hisses.
 
   “Sorry...” I let go of Bea but she hugs me instead and starts crying. I wrap my arms around her and I brush her hair. “W-what happened?”
 
   “I shouldn’t have gone home Hay. If only I had to stay with you, Avery would be with us. I’m so stupid. So foolish,” she cries.
 
   I cup her face in my hands making her look at me. “You aren’t foolish. You are just kind. Don’t blame yourself. It is your rotten stepmother to be blamed. She manipulated you. That c*nt.”
 
   “They said it will take a couple of days to find her Hay. How am I gonna be without my baby? How long is a couple of days even?” she whines.
 
   “Hey. Hey. We will find her. While the cops look for her. We’ll go looking for her too. I promise you I will find our baby.” I kiss her forehead.
 
   After she calms down, she updates us briefly on what she told the cops. About her dad, her ex and all of Mira's tricks. Then she asks, “Teagan what happened to your legs?”
 
   “I hurt myself on the road.”
 
  “Oh. Mmm, how did the cake-cutting go?”
 
   Teagan doesn’t say anything at first so I reply, “Let us go home and-“ but then she cuts me off, “We broke up.” Bea's eyes widen and she looks at me. I nod. Bea looks back at Teagan and holds her mouth. She then clings onto her and they both hug.
 
   I drive them to my house. Teagan agrees to tag along after I insisted that she stayed the night. I simply didn’t want her to be left alone with her thoughts. I stop the car and sigh in exhaustion. We get down and walk up to the front door. To my surprise, It opens before I can even ring the doorbell. The door opens revealing an unhappy Katherine with her arms crossed. Uh, what now?
 
   “Why is she here?” her voice doesn’t sound friendly either.
 
   “Ma, I invited Bea and T to spend the night with us. I hope you and dad don’t mind.” I try to keep a calm face as I speak. I go in but she doesn’t move.
 
   “Your dad went on a business trip.”
 
   “Okay? Can you move?”
 
   “Yes but she’s not allowed in.” She points at Bea.
 
   “Ma, Why are you acting hostile suddenly?” I ask grinding my teeth.
 
   “Because that girl misused our kindness. She doesn’t deserve it anymore,” she says with disgust. What the heck is she even talking about!?
 
   “Can we go in and talk? It’s bloody freezing outside,” I groan.
 
   “No. Not with her. This girl has been lying to us. That kid she carries around is her own blood. She isn’t living with her aunt or anyone. Her father is alive but she lied to us that he is dead. She just goes around telling people lies to get money.”
 
   I look at her in disbelief. “Who told you this?”
 
   “Her father called me just now. He found out that she works here and called to warn me.”
 
   I turn to look at Bea. Bea looks so scared, she’s even shaking. Teagan has her hand around Bea’s shoulder. I take a step back and hold her hand. I look at Katherine. “Her father is dead. I don’t know who called you but her father is dead. I’ve seen his grave. Do you hear me? The caller isn’t her dad and I already know that the child is hers.”
 
   “You’re just taking up for her because you love her. Son, she’s a gold digger. She mesmerizes men and plunders-"
 
   “No mum! She’s not. Can we please go in and talk about this? Avery is missing and Bea's stepmother took her.”
 
   Katherine chuckles. “You know what she did in the last place she worked at? She said that the kid is dead and put up a pity party for herself making her co-workers give her money for the fake burial. Her boss herself spoke to me. This is one of her scenes, Son. Please snap out of it.”
 
   I frown. Was it Mira? Who else could it be? Wow, never knew we were dealing with a master-minded criminal. I feel sick. I clench my fist and take a deep breath not wanting to yell on the road. I try to speak in a calm tone, “You would have probably spoken to her stepmother and her boyfriend. Mum, she tried to kill her! The house was filled with gas when we went there. Bea was unconscious.”
 
   “Say what you want but I’m not believing all these lies she fed you. A girl like her will go to any extent to get money. Barely of legal age and she is already a mother of a child-"
 
   “Okay, can you please stop it? Are you gonna let us in or not?” I ask in agitation.
 
“You and Teagan yes. She can go home. Break up with her right this instant and walk inside,” she says and moves out of the way.
 
   “I trust my girlfriend. She will stay where ever I am.” I pull Bea and try walking in but Katherine holds out her hand.
 
   “She has no business here. She’s fired. She isn’t allowed into my house.”
 
   “Fine,” I turn and look at Bea. “Stay here.” I walk into the house alone. I hear Katherine tell Teagan, “Leave her and come in love.”
 
    “Kat I think you should trust Hayden on this. Bea is nice, we trust her. You should too.” Her reply brings tears to my eyes. After everything she still supports me... I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
 
    I grab a duffel bag and pack all my clothes. I pack whatever I bought for Bea too. “What are you doing?” I turn around and see Katherine standing with her hands on her hips.
 
   “I’m not staying in a house where my girlfriend isn’t accepted,” I say and walk past her.
 
   “Your father is gonna be so disappointed in you!” she yells.
 
   “I don’t care.”
 
   “You live in this house and eat his money and wear his clothes. You have to listen to us,” She says.
 
   “I will talk to my father when he comes back,” I tell her as I walk out of the house.
 
   “Hayden, go in,” Bea whispers. I grab her hand and keep walking.
 
   “Zayden is gonna be so disappointed in you.” I stop and turn around. She's only 5 feet away from us. I notice something shining in her hand. It’s the chain she gave Bea. She took it back. I clench my fist. “He won’t cause he believes in me,” I say firmly.
 
“I’m telling your parents Teagan. They are not gonna be happy to hear this.” Teagan ignores her and gets into the car with us. I don’t look back, I just drive. Bea bursts into tears and I grab her hand. I squeeze it.
 
   “I’m so sorry. Please just stop the car and let me go. I don’t want you both to be in trouble for me,” she cries and I stop the car.
 
   She looks at me. I see disappointment flash through her eyes. I take a moment to catch my breath and close my eyes. The last few hours have left me feeling so tired and exhausted. I hear her open the door. I quickly grab her hand. “I never told you to go,” I whisper, my eyes still closed.  
 
   After a few moments, I look at her. She is still crying. I wipe her cheeks and kiss her head. “I love you Bea and I trust you. I’m sorry you have to go through this shit but you are not alone. I’m here with you. We are in this together.”
 
   “Me too,” Teagan adds. I smile and nod.
 
   “I promise you this will get better soon. Once we find Avery everything will be okay. I promise I’ll find her soon.”
 
   Bea nods and says, “Thank you. Thank you both of you so much for the s-support. It means a lot.”
 
   “We are sisters now, Bea,” Teagan says placing her hand on Bea's shoulder. “Well, sisters-in-law actually.” We all chuckle at her comment. “The day you started dating my bestie you became family and Family always sticks together.”
 
   Teagan's words make my heart warm. I nod and start the car. “We’ll book a room at a hotel. Teagan-”
 
   “No. No! Let us go to my house.”
 
   “But T you have already done a lot. We can’t-”
 
   “Did you forget that your house is my house and mine is yours? I’ll talk to my parents. You guys stay with me till this all ends.”
 
   I sigh and nod.  Hopefully, they are nicer to Bea than Katherine.