An Unusual Affair

Chapter 3

'Hayden let's not tell your Mom that we were leaving for somewhere. I promise to take you to Lily's place tomorrow.' Mrs. Swan told Hayden quietly. 

Hayden sighed and agreed. Vanessa entered the house just as Mrs. Swan and Hayden had hung their coats back in the cupboard. 

'Hey, baby boy Mom missed you so much. How are you doing?' Vanessa came forward and hugged Hayden. 

'I good Mom. How are you?' Hayden said hugging her back. 'You haven't been visiting much lately.' 

'Yeah, I am sorry. I was not in the country. Did you miss me?' Vanessa asked looking at her son.

'I have been busy with school these days. My new class has started.' Hayden replied, hiding that he missed having a mother around him but knowing that his mother was not interested in being a mother. 

'I heard about that. Did you make lots of friends?' Vanessa asked standing up and walking towards the dining hall. 

Hayden was about to respond when Mrs Swan interrupted him and said, 'Master Hayden is not very sociable. He is not good at making friends at the moment Madam.' 

Vanessa turned to look at Mrs. Swan, 'Oh I didn't see you there Mrs. Swan. You are still working here I see. Have you been well?' 

Mrs. Swan could hear the rudeness in Vanessa's tone but simply replied, 'Yes, Thank you, Madam.' 

Vanessa passed her a fake smile. She had seen Hayden and Mrs. Swan interacting with Emily and Lily in the morning but decided not to say anything about it. 

'I guess since Richard is not here, everyone has forgotten how to entertain guests. Or maybe I am not a guest here since I am Richard's wife after all.' Vanessa chuckled to herself. 'Can you get me a cup of coffee please Mrs. Swan?' 

'Oh, my apologies. I will bring it right away.' Mrs. Swan said abruptly going red with embarrassment. 

Just as she left the room her phone rang. 

'Yes, Master Richard?' Mrs. Swan said answering the phone and heading towards the kitchen.

'Go back to the hall. I told you not to leave Hayden alone with her.' Richard's angry voice came from the other end. 

'I am extremely sorry Master, Madam asked for a cup of coffee. I was just going to get that.' Mrs. Swan replied in a flustered way. 

'Just go back and call someone from the kitchen to serve coffee.' Richard said and hung up the call. 

Mrs. Swan ran back towards the hall. 

'Not really Mom,' Hayden was heard saying as Mrs. Swan came to the room. 

'You are back early and that too empty-handed Mrs. Swan. Is Richard afraid that I will kidnap Hayden if he is left alone with me?' Vanessa said in a cold way smiling.

'Your coffee is coming Madam.' Mrs. Swan said as she sent a message to the cook to prepare and send some refreshments to the dining hall.

'Richard is still the same. Keeping an eye on everything even when he is away.' Vanessa exclaimed as she went to stand near the windows. 

Half an hour later, Vanessa bid her farewells, promising to return in a few days.

'I wonder why Mom acts like that,' Hayden mused, gazing out of his bedroom window at the evening sky. 'I want to meet with her, but it feels so uncomfortable every time she's around. And I'm sorry she was rude to you earlier, Mrs. Swan.'

Mrs. Swan approached Hayden and rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 'Don't let the behavior of others bring you down, Hayden. We can't always change people's attitudes, but we can choose how we respond and work to bring out the best in ourselves.'