Hayden & Dean (The Sequel) - A Tethered Love

Chapter 3: The Ex

The door opens and Lizette answers with a smile "Hayden" she speaks in broken English.

"Lizette!" I smile wide and release Dean's hand to give her a hug. She hugs me in return and we hold onto one another for a few moments. "How are you?" I ask pulling away finally.

"I'm vell.. What are you here for?" She looks to Dean with the same questioning look Mr. Roth showed.

I sigh "This is my husband, Dean" I tell her. "We're here to speak with my parents" I tell her.

She turns to Dean who reaches out his hand for a shake "It's nice to meet you Lizette".

"Pleasure is mine" he says back pushing past his hand and giving him a hug. He stand awkwardly for a moment before returning the gesture. After they release she comes back to me and hugs me again "I'm happy for you" she says squeezing me tightly.

"Thanks Lizette" I say returning the hug. When she releases she has a small tear in the corner of her eye that she quickly dabs away with a handkerchief. "Are they here?" I ask her looking now behind her for a sign of their presence. Usually one of them will closely follow behind whomever answers the door. They are always having their business partners over and do not want them interacting with the help any longer than they need to.

She shakes her dark hair horizontally "They out. They be back for party tonight." She says reminding herself of whatever it was she was doing and moves away into the descending stairwell.

Dean and I follow her down the stairs and into the grand living room "holy shit" Dean says loudly and the room echoes his words. Lizette gives him a side glance "sorry" he shrugs back to her.

"There's a party tonight?" I ask her.

"Yes, party to honor father retirement." She smiles.

"Retirement? No way! He's retiring?" I ask, not believing her words. She shakes her head up and down to confirm. "Wow." I say under my breathe in disbelief.

She picks up a feather duster and starts to dust and the art work "you two stay for party!" She suggests but sounds like a demand in her accent.

"No, we can't do that. They would be livid!" I say to remind her of how things were left when I left New York.

"You their daughter, they be happy!" She smiles moving on. "Go up to bedroom and find se dress, I call down to Mr. Roth to get a suit tailor here for Mr. Dean." She smiles.

I turn to Dean for support on the situation but he is standing in awe of what surrounds him. I roll my eyes defeated "okay" I say. I walk away from Lizette and make my way back up the spiral stairs. Dean follows behind and I open the doors to my bedroom. Nothing is changed in here and everything is left as it was. I walk over to the bed and run my fingers across the frame. A pang of sadness runs through me. What if they have changed, the room is still as I left it, what if they left it that way for me.

"Dean, should we really stay for this?" I ask turning to him.

"We came here to see them, and we should see them. Your dad is retiring, you never thought that would happen. Maybe things will be different." He brushes a piece of hair behind my ear. Although I am still angry that he brought me here, I let him stay close to me.

It's been 5 hours since we arrived and Dean left to get a suit tailored for the night.

"they keep filling my glass with the best whiskey around!" he texts me at one point.

"take it easy, they'll be plenty more tonight." I respond to him.

He doesn't respond back and I let my phone stay on the bed. I change into one of the many gowns I never wore and stand in front of the full length mirror. I'm shocked as it still fits me. The black material falls to the floor and the sleeves are lined with lace. The diamond encrusted beaded neckline matches the diamonds around the slit of the dress. I find an old pair of Jimmy Choo's in the closet and slip into them. The shoes are tighter than I remember but they will still work for the night. I make my way over to the my bathroom vanity and find everything just as I left it. I finish my smokey eyes and move onto my hair. It's been awhile since I've done my own hair for a formal event but I mange to curl it and put it into a nice up do for the night. I find a pair of diamond earrings that match in my jewelry box and make my way to the bed. I take a seat on the edge of the bed and grab my phone.