The Walks of Life

Chapter Fourteen

"Hi!" Delilah heard a childish voice say excitedly. She opened her eyes slowly and blinked. "Hi!"

"Who-" Delilah started to ask.

"Aiden! Get off of her!" Lloyd ran into the bedroom and removed the toddler off of Delilah quickly. He looked at Delilah out of the corner of his eye. He still didn't trust her even in her sick state. You could hardly blame him.

"That's Aiden?" Delilah asked. "He's grown so much."

"You've seen him before?" Lloyd raised an eyebrow at her and held the squirming toddler firmly.

"I haven't seen him since he was a baby," Delilah answered. She tried to sit up but changed her mind after a dizziness hit her.

"Don't sit up yet," Lloyd furrowed his brow. "And why would you have seen Aiden when he was a baby?"

Delilah blinked at him and then a look of confusion spread across her face.

"Did Haden not tell you?" Delilah asked. She began to cough again.

"No," Lloyd answered slowly. "Tell me what?"

"Lloyd!" A voice called from another part of the house. Lloyd hesitated and then left the room without waiting for a reply.

"Why do you look so pensive?" Aira asked as he walked up to her. He pecked her on the forehead in greeting.

"Delilah hasn't seen Aiden since he was a baby," Lloyd answered.

"Huh? Why would she have seen him at all?" Aira asked in confusion.

"I don't know," Lloyd shrugged. Then he winced. His shoulder was aching today. That usually meant the weather was changing. "I asked her that and all she said was, 'did Haden not tell you?'"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aira asked.

"I don't know," Lloyd sighed.

"You know you could always ask Haden," Aira suggested.

"I-" Lloyd began but he stopped and let out a breath slowly. "Here. Take Aiden, please."

Aira held her arms out for the toddler and he went to her willingly. He was beginning to look sleepy. Aira cuddled him and he snuggled up to her. She looked at Lloyd and then kissed him on the cheek. He smiled and she winked at him. She walked away after that, leaving Lloyd to his thoughts.

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Haden rolled out from underneath his car. He was using a skateboard as a mechanics board. He was covered in oil from head to toe.

"Stupid car had to be stupid and break on me," he grumbled to himself. "Where is that-"

"Are you looking for this?"

"Oh, yes! Thanks, Dad," Haden took the wrench from Lloyd and rolled back underneath the car.

"Haden, can I ask you a personal question?" Lloyd asked. He shifted from one foot to the other.

"Sure," Haden shouted from underneath the car.

"Is Delilah Aiden's mom?"

Haden was so startled by this question that his hand slipped and he burned it against one of the hot parts of the car.

"Ow!" He yelled. He rolled out from underneath the car and tried to sit up to look at his dad, but hit his head on the car instead. "Ah!"

"Are you done hurting yourself?" Lloyd asked blatantly. He crossed his arms and waited for Haden's response.