Out of Focus #SYTYCW15 Top10 Finalist! [COMPLETED]

24| Overdue

"Hailey, hurry up. We're going to be late." Opening the back door, Eva booted three hyper puppies, chased by a full-sized Labrador, out into the yard. Why the hell had she agreed to watch LeBron while Marshall was out of town? As if she did have her hands full enough as is, she had to go and add an overgrown spastic ball of energy to the list.

At least the pups liked him, she thought, shutting the door behind him. The morning walk had been...interesting, with LeBron heading the pack both Skittles and Wiggles couldn't get enough, leaping and bounding all over him. LeBron behaved every bit as foolishly, running around in whipping circles that forced Eva to uncouple his lead or risk a horrible case of whiplash just trying to keep up.

Short attention span aside, he really was a good dog. Highly intuitive, and quick to respond when Lucy had tripped the other day, scraping her knee. What would have usually been a fit of ear-piercing shrieks and fat, rolling tears quickly melded into side-splitting giggles as he comforted her.

The act alone had been enough to make Eva overlook waking up to the slobbery, shredded mess that had once been a pair of particularly comfortable tennis sneakers. Thankfully Marshall was due back tomorrow.

"Mom, I can't find it." Hailey bounded down the stairs, pushing dark hair behind her ears.

"What, Hail? What can't you find?" Eva asked blowing a fringe of bangs of her eyes. Dammit, she'd been so caught up the last little while she'd neglected to cut it off and now it tickled the back of her neck and ears. At this rate, it would be down to her shoulders before summer's end. Every time Eva looked in the mirror, she was confronted with the ghost of Annelise, and didn't particularly care for it.

Annelise was gone. Finished. And good riddance. She was stronger as Eva. More capable and confident. She liked Eva. There was no going back...

"My permission form. I can't--" Words dying on her tongue, Hailey's eye widened. "Nevermind."

"Permission form?"

"Nothing."

"Hail." Draping the dogs' leads over the newel post, Eva arched a brow. "Spill, young lady. What's going on?"

Almost eye level with her mother, huffing a despondent breath, Hailey bounced a sneakered toe on the step. "Just some stupid form for the play."

"What's it for?"

"Just to say we're allowed to perform. As the principle cast."

"Hailey," Eva's smile spread, " are you telling me you got the lead?" Now a smile tugged at Hailey's mouth, and a gleam reached her eyes. A gleam that was all pride and accomplishment wrapped up in giddy excitement.

"Well...yeah."

Letting out a whoop, Eva scooped her from the stairs in a dizzying spin and for a second, as Hailey's head fell back with a laugh, the two of them were transported far away, to happier times. Simpler times. Where none of the harshness of reality could touch them.

"Oh baby," Eva snuggled in close, arms tight around her firstborn, her special little girl. "I am so proud of you. So happy for you." Setting her down, she smoothed a hand over Hailey's shirt, brushing away the creases as she lowered to her haunches. I will not cry, Eva vowed. I will not be that mom. I will not embarrass her.

"I didn't want to say anything," she said, chewing her bottom lip. "Not right away, at least. In case you said...I couldn't."

"Why would I do that?"

Hailey lifted a shoulder, her gaze flitting to and away from Eva's.

"Baby." Sighing, she took Hailey's hands, kissed them both, and squeezed. "I know it hasn't been easy. And I know I've asked a lot from you, from all of you, but you most of all."