An Unusual Affair

Chapter 4

Richard came back to his room after the meeting. He opened his laptop to see if Hayden had returned home or not when his eyes bulged out seeing Vanessa standing there among the other names displayed on his screen. 

His heart started to race and the vein in his temple started to throb. He took out his phone and dialed a number. 

Mrs. Swan was still trying to compose herself, startled as she was to see Vanessa there in front of them so suddenly. 

'Mrs. Swan you look like you have seen a ghost.' Vanessa laughed looking around at Emily and Lily and then at Hayden. 'Hey baby boy, you said you were not going anywhere. I see you have learned to lie. Did Daddy teach you that?' 

'Mom, how did you come here?' Hayden asked in a small voice. 

Lily and Emily were standing there confused, looking at Mrs. Swan's white-washed face, Hayden's surprised and guilt-ridden expression, and a stranger who had caused this sudden unease around them. 

'And who are you, beautiful girl?' Vanessa squatted down in front of Lily who backed away a little unintentionally. 

'I am Lily.' Lily said in a small voice. 

'What a beautiful name. And are you Hayden's friend?' Vanessa asked further. 

'Yes.' Lily's short reply came before either Mrs. Swan or Hayden could say anything. 

Seeing that everyone was acting petrified, Emily stepped forward and asked, 'I am Lily's mother Emily. And you are Hayden's Mom I believe?' 

'Yes indeed. Nice to meet you, Emily. I am Vanessa Sterling.' She extended her hand towards Emily who shook it briefly. 

Peter came running towards them from the car and said, 'Master Richard wants us to return home right now Mrs. Swan. We should be leaving. He was quite angry on the phone.'

'Yes, yes we should leave. Come on Hayden.' Mrs. Swan hurriedly held Hayden's hand. She was about to say goodbye to Emily and Lily when Vanessa started to laugh. 

'Tell Richard that he is not the only one who has an eye on everything. I have learned some tricks as well. Being his wife has its perks you see.' Vanessa said in a sneering tone.

 Hayden waved Lily and Emily goodbye and left with Peter and Mrs. Swan. Vanessa kept standing there looking at the car that had just left. 

'What should I be doing with her now? Should I invite her in? She is Hayden's mother after all. But everyone acted like she was a monster or something. ' Emily thought to herself. She held Lily's hand tightly and asked gently, 'It is rather cold here. Would you like to come in?' 

Vanessa turned to look at Emily. She looked at the timid pair in front of her and then at the small house behind them and said, 'Yeah, I would love to have a cup of tea if you don't mind.' 

Emily smiled and led her into the house. 

Richard was still observing everything on his laptop and he clenched his fists seeing Vanessa enter the Bakery with Emily and Lily. Although he did not know the mother and daughter duo very well except for whatever Hayden had confided in him, seeing Vanessa there he started to have doubts in his mind if they were somehow involved with Vanessa to harm Hayden in any way.

'Maybe this is because  Hayden was able to be friends with Lily so easily.' Richard said to himself. 'I should look into them.'

Vanessa stayed for half an hour and Emily observed that it was the most uncomfortable time she had spent around someone in a while. Lily went to bed after brushing her teeth. Emily cleaned the kitchen while Vanessa sipped her tea slowly. All she was interested in was to know where Emily's husband was and how they were related to Richard.