Hayden & Dean (The Sequel) - A Tethered Love

Chapter 17: Death Doesn't Change A Thing

I get a call 2 days later from my father "Hey Dad, what's going on?" I ask once I pick it up. It's a strange thing having him call me but I'm adjusting.

"It's your mother. You should come out and see her, say goodbye." He says matter of factually.

"Goodbye?" I question. They left in a rush the other day because she was sick but I didn't know it was that bad.

My dad coughs "yes, the doctors don't think she has much time left."

"What is it?" I ask trying to sort through the different emotions I'm feeling. Of course I feel bad, she is my mother. But do I really want to go and say goodbye to a women who despises me? Does that make me as bad as her? I wonder to myself all within seconds.

"Her liver is dying" He informs me.

"Oh" I get out. Her drinking finally caught up with her. "Well, I'll talk with Dean and see if I can come out this weekend." I tell him

"She may not make it the weekend dear." He returns lowly.

I hum out for a moment "alright. Let me discuss it with Dean. I'll call you back soon." He agrees to that "Bye." I hang up and go find my husband. He's reading over his father's journal so I interrupt him as softly as I can. "I know you're really focused but I gotta talk to you about something." I whisper to him rubbing his shoulders.

"Hmmm?" He says not looking back to me, probably thinking it may not be as important as I say it is.

"My mother is dying." I tell him blatantly.

He puts the journal down on the table "what?" and looks at me, his attention only on what I'm about to say now.

"I just got off the phone with my dad. She's dying of liver disease or something." I try and explain.

"Hayden.. I'm so sorry." He stands up to give me a hug. I reciprocate it but tell him the truth "I mean, I guess I'm sad but not devastated like you think I would be."

"I get it" he says still holding me into his chest, rubbing an arm over my back. "What are you going to do? Do you want to go see her?" He asks questions.

I shrug as he releases me "I don't know. Not really but I think I should. For my dad at least. I mean, he's been great the last couple of weeks so maybe I owe it to him. I don't know, he wants me to come."

"well, let's go then" He encourages my rambling thoughts.

I shake my head "no, I don't want Paul there. If she really doesn't have that long left then the funeral and everything will be soon too. He's still too young and with everything else going on--" I trail off

"Are you sure? I want to be there for you too babe." He comments.

I smile at his kindness "I'm sure. Besides, you should be close to here in case something comes up with Rowena." I remind him.

He clicks his tongue at that "right. Well she said she got something but needed a codex to decode it."

"A codex?" I question the word.

"Yea, I don't know either." He throws his hands up "We asked Charlie to help us online and I've been looking through my dad's journal and some books but nothing yet." He informs me.

"Well, then it's settled. I'll head back to New York and you stay and figure out how to find whatever the hell she needs." I finalize the decision.

"Okay." He says back going to sit back down. He pauses and turns back to me "but if you need me there, for anything, let me know! We will on our way in a moments notice." He asks me as if I am to promise it.