Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 12: Harper

Sunday, 6:22 P.M. PST

Mom isn’t going to be thrilled when she sees me show up at home with Tyler. But I think it’s important that we establish some kind of family relationship before Hayden comes home.

Tyler and I have been doing a lot of talking today about what would be the best treatment for her. One thing stuck out, and that's that she needs a support system. 

We all have to band together if we want to help her.

“Mom! Are you home?” I call out as soon as I open the front door, shifting to the side to allow Tyler in. “I brought company, so make sure you’re decent!”

The sound of bags rustling in the kitchen comes into earshot, followed by my mom’s exhausted voice. 

“I’m in the kitchen!” she calls out. “Who’s here?”

I don’t bother responding. I just walk into the kitchen with Tyler instead- She’ll recognize him.

Mom lifts her head as soon as we make it to the doorway. Her eyes widen in confusion before she plasters a smile on her face. 

“Oh, Tyler?” she asks, placing the bag she’d been unpacking on the kitchen counter. “Or Gage? I’m so bad at the twin thing!” she laughs.

Ty and I laugh too, but we’re aware of the resentment mom holds towards Ty after everything that’s happened with Harlee.

“I’m Ty, but I can see the confusion! It’s no biggie!” He says jokingly, following me up to the island to pull up a stool.

Mom smiles in response. She’s trying to be friendly, but she can’t stop questioning our intentions with her eyes.

I clear my throat, pretending not to notice. “How was Hayden?” I ask, trying to break the silence. “I know she was upset before. Has she at least adjusted?” 

Mom shoots me a glance as if to question my sanity having asked about Hayden in front of Ty. She clears her throat though and responds.

“Hayden is adjusting,” she says with no eye contact. “It’s different for her, but she’s a strong girl.” 

She drops the subject, drifting off into her own world as she resumes unpacking.

Ty scoffs beside me, and I can’t help but thank God that she didn’t hear it.

I know that he didn’t have a great view on everything coming into this. He assured me many times that my mom will never accept him being with Hayden because of his past relationship with Harlee.

She barely forgave him after "hurting" Harlee’s image, but knocking Hayden up right after the Sophie thing? And then announcing that they were together… he thinks he’s already fucked it up for himself.

“You need not be so short with him, mom,” I say. “You can’t just ignore the fact that they’re together. They’re going to be raising a child together!”

Tyler turns to me in surprise. I can see he’s upset that I did the exact opposite of what I said I would by just blatantly bringing up the reason for his presence today.

But we need to squash this sooner rather than later. We need to settle it before Hayden comes home, or she'll never feel a sense of family.

Mom stops what she’s doing to shoot me a glance, also- hers meant to be a warning.

“What?” I ask, turning to address them both. “You guys aren’t going to sit here thinking negatively about each other because of the past, okay? That’s over! We’re in the present!"

I pause, expecting one of them to interject. Mom looks like she wants to, but she’s too shocked at my tone. Tyler doesn’t say a thing.

“Hayden is in love with this man, and he’s in love with her! They’re having a baby together, mom!” I continue when nobody else fills the silence. “Regardless of what happened before, if you want to help her, you need to accept that he’s a part of the family!” 

My mom and Tyler are silent for quite a few moments, both of their faces a perfect portrait of astonishment.

Ty breaks the silence first, his voice resigned to the fact that this conversation is happening right now.

“Look, Karen... I’m sorry about what happened with Harlee, okay?” he says, the nerves only starting to affect his voice once he continues. “We loved each other, but sometimes those things change! People don’t fall and stay in love just because it brings in ratings!” 

I can feel anxiety settling in once my role has been played, and I have to sit around and watch whatever’s about to go down around me. The only thing keeping me going is knowing that this conversation needs to happen- it’s needed to for a while.

Mom’s brows flatten before she laughs. “Tyler Robson, don’t you go trying to tell an old lady amidst a divorce about love!” 

Tyler let’s out a small laugh, but doesn’t get to say anything before mom continues. 

“No offense, Loverboy! I just don’t need Hayden hitting the headlines as Sophie Ryan, take two. If you want to be in your child’s life, I have no problem with that! I know you’re a good guy. But I will not have you pulling my daughter’s heart into it.” 

Ty scoffs loud enough for my mom to hear it this time, and she gasps in response. 

“I love her, Karen! I’m in love with her! Okay? That’s all I can say in response to any of this nonsense!” Ty exclaims beside me, his voice softer than a yell, though it threatens to be more. “If you don’t want to accept that, then don’t! Just know that you’re hurting her in doing that!” 

He gets up and storms off, leaving me and my mom both with a look of surprise plastered on our faces.