Never Say Never

  Hayley smiled and looked at Owain. “He’s my baby, Jess.”

  “I’m not a baby, Mom!” Owain frowned and crossed his arms.

  “We know.” Jessica nodded at him.

  “Come on, little baby. Let’s go inside.” Steve joked with Owain.

  “Grandpa!” Owain whined and dragged his feet up the steps of the porch and into the house.

  “He looks just like him.” Jessica whispered as the girls followed them into the house.

  “I know.” Hayley nodded.

  “It must be so hard.” Jessica frowned.

  “You haven’t even heard the worst part.” Hayley looked at Jess and closed the front door behind her.

  “Mom, Dad, there’s something I need to tell you.” Lucas sat down opposite his parents in their lounge. “It’s really important.”

  Patrick and Heather looked at each other nervously and Heather looked at Lucas. “Is Hayley pregnant?”

  “No, Mom…” Lucas shook his head and frowned.

  “Are you two getting married?” Patrick asked.

  “That would be wonderful news, Luke!” Heather smiled.

  “It’s not either of those things.” Lucas frowned. “This is serious stuff.”

  “Alright, tell us.”

  “Do you remember about six years ago, a girl went missing in Atlanta for eleven days and was eventually found next to the road?” Lucas asked.

  “Yes, I do remember that. It was terrible. The poor girl’s father was devastated.” Heather nodded.

  “That girl was Hayley.” Lucas said.

  Lucas saw the color instantly drain from his parents’ faces and he sat back in the couch.

  “Oh my god!” Heather gasped.

  “Are you serious, Luke?” Patrick asked and leaned forward.

  “Yes, she showed me the articles.” Lucas nodded. “Her name was Lee-Ann Harrington back then. She had to change her name for protection.”

  “Oh my Lord.” Patrick frowned.

  There was an uncomfortable silence in the room and Lucas fiddled nervously with his keys.

  “Lucas, there’s something we need to tell you.” Heather said softly.

  “Mom, I need to get this out. It’s been eating at me this whole time.” Lucas shook his head.

  “Alright.” Heather nodded.

  “The guys that kidnapped her, were…” Lucas’s voice cracked and he looked at his parents. “It was Jack and Ric.”

  Patrick and Heather exchanged uncomfortable glances and Heather looked at Lucas, her light eyes sad. “Please do not be angry with us, Luke, but we know.”

  “What?” Lucas gasped. “You knew?”

  “Everyone knew that boy was a criminal!” Patrick bellowed and stood up from the couch. “That bastard is no child of mine!”

  “Hush, Patrick.” Heather frowned as she watched her husband disappear down the corridor and looked at Lucas. “I am sorry, honey.”

  “How could you not tell me? How could you make me think that my brother was the best person alive, when clearly he wasn’t?” Lucas felt the moisture in his eyes blur his vision and he swiftly rubbed his eyes.

  “Luke, the police found this in one of his pockets.” Heather pulled a folded up letter out of her side pocket and held it out at Lucas. “Read it.”

  Lucas looked at it hesitantly and frowned.

  “Please, Luke. Just read it.” Heather said softly.

  Lucas slowly took the letter from her and opened it. Inside he recognized his brother’s handwriting and he took a deep breath. As he read through the letter, he could hear Ric’s voice in his mind, saying the words to him. Ric signed the letter at the bottom in his usual formal way, as he always did since they were in middle school.

  Lucas blinked and two tears ran down his cheeks. He wiped the tears of his cheeks and looked at his mother. “He tried to stop it.”

  “He did, Luke.” Heather nodded. “He was not a bad person. He helped her.”

  “But she could have died…” Lucas frowned.

  “It doesn’t matter, Luke. What matters is that he helped her.” Heather whispered.

  “It doesn’t fix what he did.” Lucas said bitterly.

  “Of course not.” Heather frowned. “But some good did come of this.”

  Lucas looked at her with a frown and Heather smiled slightly. “What is that?”

  “Owain.” Heather said simply and smiled. “That makes you an uncle to a wonderful little boy.”

  “This is a lot to take in though, Mom.” Lucas ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Luke…” Heather looked at him and Lucas frowned. “…go find her.”

  Lucas looked at his mother and knew she was right. He nodded slowly and pulled his phone from his pocket. As he dialed Information, he mentally crossed his fingers that Steve Harrington still stayed in the same house and that his number was still listed.

  Jessica looked at Hayley with wide eyes and looked over at Owain and Steve at the dinner table. “Are you serious? His brother?”

  Hayley nodded and looked at Jessica. “His brother.”

  “What are you going to do, Lee?” Jessica asked.

  “My dad said we could stay here for as long as we needed...” Hayley ran her fingers through her hair.

  “That’s not what I meant.” Jessica looked at her.

  “I can’t be with him, Jess.” Hayley shook her head.

  “Lee…” Jessica frowned.

  “No, Jess. I can’t.” Hayley shook her head. “If he jumped to that horrible conclusion, imagine the conclusions his parents and his friends would jump to. I won’t be able to handle it, and I most definitely won’t let my son be subjected to that kind of judgment.”

  “I understand.” Jess nodded. “He doesn’t sound like the type of guy that I would want you to be with anyway, Lee.”

  “Thanks, Jess.” Hayley tilted her head and looked at her friend. “Speaking of which, how is Clint?”

  “Still as stubborn as ever.” Jessica raised an eyebrow and Hayley chuckled.

  A few days later, Hayley snapped a picture of Owain opening a red and blue present and she smiled proudly at her son. She could not believe that he was six already, time had certainly flown by much faster than she thought it would. In a few years he would be going to middle school, and then high school, and before she knew it, he would go off to university, get married and have kids of his own. She felt a horrible sadness in her heart and silently wished that she would be able to give him the best life possible. The type of life he deserved to have. Where he can be anything he wanted to be and do anything he wanted to. As if he knew that she was looking at him, he looked up and smiled at her. Even though he didn’t look any older, he seemed wiser to her, his dark eyes told a deep and meaningful story, and his expression resembled that of an old wise man, content and ready to pass on. And as much as Hayley wanted to deny it, he was the splitting image of his father. She dreaded the day when he was old enough to understand about his father. She was not sure if she wanted him to know the circumstances, but she knew she had the support of her father and Joan, as well as Grace. She blinked and felt a tear run down her cheek. Quickly brushing it away, she snapped another picture and winked at him, turning away to hide her sadness.

  “Here you go, Hales.” Grace approached her and Hayley looked at her friend. Grace stopped abruptly, carrying two glasses of wine, and looked at Hayley. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Hayley shrugged and lowered her camera.

  “Come on, I know that look.” Grace frowned.

  Hayley took the glass from her and sighed. “I am tired, Grace.”

  “Do you want to go lie down? Jessica and I could watch Owain…” Grace offered.

  “No, not that kind of tired.” She shook her head. “I am just tired of running.”

  “Hales…” Grace put her arm around Hayley’s shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. “All that matters is that you are safe.”

  “Right.” Hayley nodded, but Grace noticed the
expression on her face and frowned.

  “You miss him.” Grace stated and Hayley looked at her with a frown.

  “No, I don’t.” She shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous…”

  “Hayley, come on.” Grace frowned. “Why don’t you call him?”

  “Because I have nothing to say to him, that’s why.” Hayley shook her head again.

  “You have nothing to say to who, Hayley?” Steve asked suddenly and the two girls jumped slightly, not realizing that he was behind them.

  “No-one, Daddy.” Hayley crossed her arms and avoided eye contact with her father.

  “Hayley, just tell him, please.” Grace begged subtly. “Or I’ll tell him.”

  Hayley glared at Grace and let out a miserable sigh. “I was seeing this guy in Dunedin…”

  “…And she loves him.” Grace winked at Steve.

  Steve looked at Hayley and raised an intriguing eyebrow. “Oh…”

  “I don’t love him.” Hayley snapped at Grace and looked at her father with a sigh. “I don’t love him.”

  “She actually does, but she’s too scared to admit it.” Grace sighed.

  “Grace!” Hayley glared at her and frowned. “It’s complicated.”

  “Actually its not, Mister Harrington. Hayley found out that…” Grace blurted out but Hayley shook her head.

  “Grace, enough. I’ll tell him!” Hayley gritted her teeth.

  “Okay, I’ll be over by the swings, with the birthday boy.” Grace smiled and skipped over towards Owain, sitting on the swings with Joan.

  Steve looked at his daughter with slight concern and frowned, “Lee…”

  Hayley sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. I found out this guy that I was seeing, was the brother of one of the guys that kidnapped me.”

  “What?” Steve gasped and looked around him. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. I saw a picture of them together in his house. I…” She stuttered.

  “You freaked out right?” Steve asked.

  “Do you blame me, Daddy?” Hayley exclaimed. “I thought I put that behind me. I was doing so well, I was moving on with my life and then I saw that picture and I…”

  Steve could see the tears in her eyes and pulled her close to him. “It’s alright, Lee.”

  “I love him so much, Daddy.” She cried against his chest. “But I am so incredibly angry with him!”

  “Did you tell him that you love him?” Steve asked.

  “Yes, but…” Hayley sniffed and looked at her father.

  “But what, Lee?” He asked.

  “I said some horrible things to him and he said some horrible things to me. We just…” She sighed. “We blew it, Daddy.”

  “I don’t think so, baby.” Steve frowned.

  “Well, I do. I was pretty harsh to him, but in all fairness, he was harsh towards me too. I won’t be surprised if he never speaks to me again, actually.” She frowned.

  “I don’t think you need to worry too much about that, baby.” Steve answered.

  “Why do you say that?” Hayley looked up at him with a frown.

  “Because his car just pulled up into our driveway.” Steve said and crossed his arms.

  Hayley spun around and her jaw dropped as she saw his black Subaru in the driveway. She looked back at her father in disbelief and shook her head in disapproval. “I can’t believe it! You too?”

  “Lee…” Her father said softly.

  “Go to Owain on the swings. I don’t want Lucas anywhere near him!” She said to her father. Steve nodded and made his way over to Owain, still playing on the swings with Grace.

  She marched over towards the driveway, but stopped halfway as Lucas climbed out of the car and looked at her. She stood frozen on the spot and glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

  Lucas looked at her, wearing a pair of beige linen pants and a light blue vest. “You look beautiful, Hayley.” She really did.

  “How did you find us?” Hayley crossed her arms and glared at Lucas.

  “I spoke to Grace.” Lucas admitted. “And your dad.”

  “Of course.” Hayley ran her fingers through her hair. “What are you doing here?” She looked around the lawn for Owain and spotted him by the swings.

  “Owain’s over by the swings, he hasn’t seen me yet.” Lucas said and looked at her.

  “You haven’t answered my question.” Hayley looked back at him.

  “I needed to talk to you.” Lucas said.

  “Well, I don’t have anything to say to you.” Hayley turned away, but he gently grabbed her arm.

  She pulled away and heard the Subaru’s doors open. She looked over at the car and saw Heather and Patrick climb out the car, softly talking to one another.

  “Why are they here?” Hayley asked.

  “They want to wish Owain a happy birthday.” Lucas frowned at her.

  “You told them, didn’t you?” Hayley’s jaw clenched and she looked at Lucas pulling free from his grasp.

  “They knew all along.” Lucas frowned.

  “What?” Hayley frowned and shifted uncomfortably. “How?”

  “Ric wrote a letter that the police found in his pocket the day he died. The letter was addressed to my parents and myself.” Lucas pulled a folded up sheet of paper from his jacket pocket and held it out towards her.

  She glanced briefly at it and looked at Lucas.

  “So they knew all along and they didn’t say anything. Sounds familiar.” She crossed her arms.

  “Hayley, I swear to God I didn’t know about this. Any of this.” Lucas frowned.

  “You have some nerve coming here, with your parents, with that letter…?” Hayley shook her head and turned away again, but he grabbed her arm again.

  “Hayley, please, just listen to me…” Lucas frowned again.

  “Let go of me, please.” Hayley gritted her teeth. “You need to leave.”

  “They just want to see him, Hayley. He’s their grandson, and they came all this way.” Lucas said and Hayley’s eyes met his. “Please.”

  “No, it’s too complicated…” Hayley shook her head.

  Lucas took a step towards her and took her hands. He could see that she was close to tears and looked at her. “Hayley, please.”

  “Luke!” They heard Owain call out from the other side of the lawn and Hayley and Lucas looked at Owain running towards Lucas.

  “Make it brief.” Hayley said to him and walked away.

  Owain excitedly ran up to Lucas with his arms open and Lucas scooped him up from the ground. “Hey buddy!”

  “I knew you would come!” Owain exclaimed.

  “I wouldn’t miss this for anything, buddy.” Lucas smiled at him and put him down on the ground.

  “I know. You promised.” Owain nodded and Lucas knelt next to him on the grass.

  “How have you been? You’ve gotten really big!” Lucas looked at him, seeing his brother in Owain’s face.

  “I’ve been good. I just miss having you around.” Owain sighed. “Mom’s been especially moody and sad.”

  “Why is that?” Lucas asked.

  “She looks sad all the time, like someone on TV at a funeral. She cries a lot when she should be sleeping and wears more makeup on her face. Probably to cover the sadness.” Owain said. “I think she misses you.”

  “You think so?” Lucas asked and looked over at Hayley, feeling his heart aching.

  “She stares into space a lot, like you are now.” Owain said with a frown and Lucas looked at him.

  “I do that too.” Lucas nodded.

  “Why?” Owain asked.

  “Because without you and your mom, I’m a little lost, buddy.” Lucas admitted.

  “I know what you mean.” Owain nodded. “Mom definitely seems lost, and I miss playing Battlefields with you. Mom’s not big on being tackled in the dirt.”

  “I can imagine, buddy.” Lucas chuckled and ran his fingers through Owain’s hair.

  “I miss you, Luke.” Owain threw
his arms around Lucas shoulders and held onto him.

  “I miss you too, buddy.” Lucas frowned and held Owain for a few moments.

  “Could you tell my mom that?” Owain asked and pulled away. “Could you ask her if we could go home? I don’t like it here. There are no nice people here.”

  “She won’t listen to me.” Lucas frowned.

  “She can’t possibly be that angry with you. She loves you.” Owain said.

  “Love doesn’t always fix everything.” Lucas frowned.

  “Please Luke.” Owain begged. “You’re not scared of anything.”

  “Alright, I’ll try my best.” Lucas’ jaw clenched and he looked over at Hayley, heaving a heated argument with Grace.

  “What were you thinking telling him where we are, Grace?” Hayley exclaimed. “I asked you not to!”

  “I’m sorry, okay, but he was very persistent.” Grace frowned. “Plus he misses you.”

  “How am I going to explain all of this to him?” Hayley exclaimed again.

  “Give Owain some credit, Hales. He will eventually figure it out.” Grace shrugged.

  “And all the questions after that? About his dad?” Hayley scowled.

  “Just tell him Lucas is his dad.” Grace frowned.

  “And lie to him?” Hayley frowned.

  “Newsflash, you already are!” Grace frowned. “Look, I understand this is probably the most messed up situation, but he doesn’t have to know. His dad was a horrible man, who happened to be the brother of the guy you fell in love with.”

  Hayley put her one hand on her hip and glared uncomfortably at Grace. “I am not still in love with Lucas, Grace!” Hayley growled, and looked at an unconvinced Grace.

  “Oh please, you may think you have everyone else fooled, but not me.” Grace frowned.

  Hayley looked at Grace and frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “You still love him.” Grace stated.

  “You’re wrong.” Hayley shook her head.

  “Oh come on, Hayley! I can see the way you still look at him.” Grace exclaimed.

  “You are wrong.” Hayley defended.

  “Plus, you were so happy together. You were a different person.” Grace tilted her head.

  “Owain’s life was endangered….” Hayley shook her head.

  “But Lucas…” Grace frowned.