Hailie
900 days after...
~
"Parker, please sit down and eat, baby," I said exhaustedly to my toddler. "You can play with Kat when you're finished."
"I'll feed him if you want," Kat, the teenage babysitter said softly. "You're gonna be late to work if not."
"Are you sure? You're already an hour early, Kat," I laughed. Parker laughed at the TV and I sighed.
"Absolutely," Kat said. "Go to work."
"Thank you so much, I owe you huge," I mumbled as I rushed out the door, kissing my son on the cheek. I grabbed my purse and a bottle of water before scrambling out the door. I rushed down the stairs of my apartment building, not even thinking twice before I accidently bumped straight in to the guy who lived above me.
"Sorry," I gushed. "I'm running late, I'm so sorry."
"It's not a big deal," he said, brushing dirt off my shoulder. "I don't believe we've met?"
"Hailie," I said. "Y'know, the one with the kid who likes to come knock on your door when we get your mail?"
"Right," he said. "Sorry, I just remember you as the girl with the prettiest eyes I've ever seen. I'm Cody."
"That's really sweet," I blushed. "Thank you."
"When do you get off work?"
"I work a twelve hour shift tonight," I said tiredly. "Why, what's up?"
"I was just wondering if you'd wanna hang out sometime? Maybe see a movie or get lunch?"
"Oh," I said. "Um, sure, I may have to check with my babysitter though."
"That's cool, just come knock on my door when you get a chance, I'm always home and pretty much never busy so any time's a good time," he laughed. "I don't wanna make you late, I'll see you later."
"Bye, Cody," I said. "Sorry again for like body slamming you!"
901 days after...
After a twelve hour shift in the emergency room, I crept in the front door, closing it almost silently behind me. I sighed when my phone buzzed, making a louder noise than I would've liked.
Luke Hemmings: I miss you a lot Hales. When can I come see my nephew?
Me: He'll think you're his dad, Luke. I don't want that.
Luke Hemmings: Then let him meet his dad. What's the worst that can happen?
Me: Absolutely not. Not yet. I can't let Ashton into our lives right now. You guys are on tour and normal dads don't just pick up and leave their kids.
Luke Hemmings: He really wants to see what he looks like.
Me: Tell him to look in the mirror because they are identical.
Luke Hemmings: He wants to call you like right now.
Me: No. It's five in the morning and I just worked a twelve hour shift. I'm going to sleep for a few hours before he gets up.
Luke Hemmings: Call me later then, sleep tight. Love you. xx
Me: Okay.
I walked in my room, and my sweet boy was curled up in my bed. Kat was asleep in the guest room, while Parker always slept in my bed with me. I changed quickly and crawled into bed beside him, kissing his forehead, before I fell asleep.
~
I was woken up at eight-thirty to my phone ringing. It was an unknown number, so I decided not to answer it the first time. The second time they called, I figured they needed something, so I answered.
"Hello?" I asked politely.
"Yes, may I speak with Hailie Elizabeth Clifford?" A voice I vaguely remembered asked.
"Uh, speaking," I replied. "May I ask who's calling?"
"It's an old friend," the male voice muttered. "Do you mind if we talk a little?"
"Sure," I said. "But who's calling?"
"You'll hang up if I tell you," he said.
"Ashton?" I asked, growing a little scared. "I thought we had an agreement?"
"I know we did, but we're coming to Perdido Key," he sighed. "Like, we land there today. I think it's time."
"I don't think it's time," I disagreed.
"He doesn't even need to meet me as his father," Ashton tried to compromise. "Just as a stranger, Hailie, please. He's my son too."
"I don't want someone to come into his life and leave two days later," I argued. "How long are you even gonna be here?"
"Nine days," he said. "Please, Hailie, I don't even know his name. Am I even on the birth certificate?"
"Yes," I sighed. "Yes, his biological father is Ashton Fletcher Irwin."
"Good," he breathed. "I just wanna meet him, see what he looks like. Luke says you told me to look in the mirror to see what he looks like, but I wanna see him in person."
"He looks just like you," I sighed, looking down at our sleeping baby.
"I wanna see him, Hailie," he begged. "Please, just like, once a year or something once every other year I don't care, I just feel like I owe the little guy something. I wanna be his dad, not just his father."
"I don't know," I whispered. "Ashton, he's so happy, I don't want that to be ruined. He's never even asked about his dad. I don't want to have to answer questions."
"Aren't you dating?" He asked. "He hasn't had a guy in his life before?"
"I don't have time to date, I work twelve hour shifts almost every day," I said. "So no, no guys have been in his life."
"Where do you work?"
"This isn't about me," I groaned. "Do you want to meet up and see him? I mean, I don't know what time you'll be here, but I have to be at work at six tonight."
"We land at three," he said. "Where do you live? Or do you wanna like do lunch or something?"
"You can just come here, I guess," I said. "I'll text you our address."
"Okay, I guess I'll see you then," he said. "And—"
"Parker," I replied. "His name's Parker."
"I'll see you and Parker at about 3:30,"
