From Grief We grew (Only On Wattpad)

Chapter 74 Bea

I frown seeing that we stopped by his house instead of the cafe he was going to take me to. My stomach grumbles in hunger and I whine, “Hayden, I'm hungry." he gets down from the car. “I thought we were coming to see your parents only after breakfast.” I carry Avery and get down too.

   “Let me just grab my purse.” He holds my hand and takes me with him. I wait while he unlocks the door and opens it. He gestures for me to go in first and I do. The house is quiet and no one is around. “Bea, can you go to the backyard? I left the car seat I bought for Avery there. I'll go grab my purse in the meantime and then we can leave."
 
   “Where is Bubba and Ma?” I ask using the words I've been calling his parents recently.
 
   “Oh, they texted me saying they went to get you a gift.”
 
   I nod and go to the backyard. I'm startled by something popping and confetti flying in the air. I gasp as my hand flies to my mouth. I see Hayden's parents, Hope, Teagan with her parents, Lucah, Haley and Fiona, and my aunt Josie. Even Chad and Jessie the vinyl collectors are here. In a chorus, they wish Happy Birthday. There is a moment of silence and right then my stomach growls making them laugh. Katherine walks forward and takes my hand. “Let's eat Luv. We wanted to cut the cake first but you poor thing must be hungry.” Then Katharine looks at Hayden. “Couldn’t you both eat something?”
 
   Hayden raises his hand in surrender making me laugh. “Hey, you were the one who said we'll be having brunch.”
 
   My daughter turned out to be the life of the party. Everyone was carrying and playing with her. She never cried, not even once. My child simply loved the attention, it amazed me because her Mama is an introvert. Only in the evening when people left and the crowd got smaller, did she cry. But when Teagan carried her, she stopped crying.
 
   We all sit down in the living room as per Hayden's dad's request. “Sooo?” Hayden asks breaking the silence. I wonder what. Noah looks at me and says, “Bea, your aunt and I have been discussing. We are ready to make arrangements for your future. What do you both want to do? University wise?”
 
   “Fanshawe?” Hayden asks.
 
   “Son I already told them you won't be coming back. You and Bea can earn till the semester starts and save money for Uni until then,” Noah explains.
 
   Hayden looks at me. “Where do you want to study?”
 
   I shrug. “I'll follow you were ever you go. I don't want any fancy degree," I tell him honestly.
 
   “You two don't want to get into Music school?” Noah asks.
 
   “Honestly I don't know,” Hayden admits to my surprise. “I love music but the path is not an easy one.”
 
   “We'll support you, Hay,” Teagan pips in. They all nod.
 
   “Give me some time. I'll let you know,” Hayden says and I second.
 
   “Bea, I just want you to know my home is open for you two to come and stay with me in Victoria, Bc. Victoria Conservatory of Music is there if you like to study there. I couldn't be there for you when you needed me. My husband was sick and passed away last year. I'm alone there now and I would be happy to have some company,” Josie explains.
 
   I nod. “I appreciate it, Aunty. Thank you.”  I honestly can't believe that she still wants to help me despite Mira taking her money.

   “Bea one more thing.” I look at Noah. “Your aunt will be leaving in two days. Why don't you move in with us instead of living alone? Zayden's room is free. You can take his room-“
 
   “Or my room,” Hayden suggests.
 
   “Son you and Hope will switch rooms if Bea moves in with us,” Noah says sternly.
 
   “Awww.”
 
   I chuckle.
 
   “So what do you say, hun?” Noah asks.
 
   “I don't know,” I whisper gripping my skirt. “I lived in that house for so long. Even with a family, I was still alone. I'm used to it.” Truth is I'm just overwhelmed by their kindness. For most of my life, my dad struggled with his job. He wasn't home much. When he bought the shop, he was there most of the time because he needed the money. My dad spent a lot of money on Mira to restore her fertility. So all I knew was how to adjust and be without things. I didn't mind it though. Now suddenly I have an entire family willing to give me everything. I just don't know how to react.
 
   “It's okay Luv. Take your time,” Katherine says. “But Noah has a small suggestion.” I look at Noah. “Yeah, it's just a suggestion. If you want we could rent your house. Knowing you, you wouldn't accept us giving you money for your studies. So renting the house could get you money.”
 
   I nod and smile. “Thank you so much. It's just that I thought my life would forever be with me slogging and looking after Avery and my stepmom. So I never thought about my future or what I wanted. Now suddenly I can and I just don't know…” I trail off. Hayden takes my hand in his and holds it.
 
   “We understand hun. Take your time.”
 
   I nod.
 
   “What about the shop? Teagan told me you were selling it,” Tusha inquires.
 
   “Yes. The one good thing Mira did was that gallery. I know how hard it is for young artists to showcase their talents. That gallery is a good place for that. I want it to continue. So I'm selling it to Alfonso. I believe he will do what's best with it,” I explain.
 
   “Do you have plans for what you're going to do with that money?” Emmet asks.
 
   I look at Hayden as I smile. “I'm going to give it to you.”
 
   “Me?” he asks in surprise. I nod. “I was actually going to talk to you about this,” I tell him.
 
   “Oh?” he looks at me blankly.
 
   “Yeah. I know how much you love music. I saw a few universities and schools that you could apply for. But then I saw the price. They were a lot. So uhm I wanted to help. When Alfonso agreed to buy the shop, I decided I want to give the money to you.”
 
   Hayden hugs me and kisses my head. “I- gosh you- I love you so much, Bea.” Hayden gushes. I inhale his scent and feel calm. “But you should keep it.” I pull away and shake my head. “Bea-“
 
   “Please let me do this. Don't say no,” I beg. “Please.”
 
   He opens his mouth to say something but then nods. He caresses my cheeks and smiles. “Okay. We'll think about what we are going to do. Together. Alright?” I smile and nod.
 
   “You two are precious I swear!” Teagan remarks making me blush.
 
   Hayden's parents tell us to take our time and the others tell us that they are here for us too. We thank them. After that, they start playing bingo. I excuse myself. I walk away to the backyard to catch some fresh air. I look up at the stars and one star twinkles brightly. What have I done to deserve them? I feel someone's presence. I don't move. His cologne tells me who it is. Hayden wraps his arm around my waist and I rest my head on his shoulder. He rests his head against mine. “You know I love you infinity right?” he asks.
 
   I smile. “I do. And I love you beyond.”
 
   We stand there for a while and then go back into the house. We hear murmurs and follow the sound to the kitchen. “Answer me T-rex,” Lucah says walking behind Teagan as she puts away the dishes.
 
   “Answer what?”
 
   “Are YOU happy at Fanshawe? Doing art? I remember you telling me Zayden loved art more than you. You were only fascinated because of him. I'm just wondering if there might be something you love more than art,” we hear hear speak.
 
   Hayden walks into the kitchen. “Teagan loved a lot of things, unlike Zayden. She loved to swim, skate, do sports, write poetry and read books,” he informs. I follow behind into the kitchen. “Sorry for barging in on you guys but I do wonder the same thing Teagan. Is art your ultimate passion or is there something else you like to do?”
 
   Teagan looks at us and then looks at her feet. “I don't know. I never thought about it,” she whispers. I walk up to her and hug her wanting to support her just like she supported me. “Whatever it is, we will support you,” I promise. She looks at me and nods.
 
   “I guess we all have a lot of thinking to do about the future uh?” I ask and they all agree. “Whatever it is. I just hope we are all together,” I tell them. They smile and the three of them surround me in a group hug.

   Hayden peeks his head to look at me and says, “Together?” I think of his song. Let's hold on tight beyond forever. No matter what we are in this together.
 
   I smile and whisper, “Forever.”