Never Say Never (14 page)

“It’s fine.” Hayley smiled at him and turned back to Heather and Patrick. “He died a few months before Owain was born.”

Patrick and Heather’s shoulders slumped simultaneously and their faces were sad.

“I am so sorry.” Heather placed her hand on her chest.

“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” Hayley smiled at them.

There was an awkward silence and Hayley
looked at Lucas.

“Lucas told me about your son, I’m so sorry…” Hayley frowned.

“I only have one son.” Patrick muttered.

Heather scowled at her husband and rolled her eyes. “Thank you, dear.” She smiled at Hayley. “You have a wonderful son, Hayley. How old is he?”

“He will be six in a couple weeks.” Hayley said with a smile.

“He is so small.” Patrick frowned and stood up, slowly walking out of the room.

“Don’t mind him, dear.  He gets tired quickly.” Heather smiled apologetically.

“There’s nothing wrong with being small.” Lucas rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Of course not, you were small as a child.” Heather winked at Lucas. “But look at you now, you’re more handsome than all the other Donovan boys combined.”

Lucas chuckled and shook his head. “Thanks Mom.”

Heather smiled at him and looked over at Owain. “He does not have your features, except the way he smiles.”

“So I’ve heard.” Hayley nodded and looked at over at where Owain was sitting a few minutes before, but he wasn’t there. She frowned and stood up slowly.

“What is it?” Lucas frowned and stood up as well.

“Just checking up on Owain.” Hayley touched his shoulder.

She walked to the large window overlooking the backyard and crossed her arms. Owain was sitting on a lawn chair next to Patrick, chatting about something.

Lucas walked over to her and stood beside her. “I wonder what those two are talking about.”

“Probably how boring the conversation is.” Heather said next to them suddenly and they looked over at Heather. Heather looked at her watch and sighed. “Time for your father’s nap.”

Hayley turned back to the window and watched as Heather walked over to where Patrick and Owain were sitting. “Your dad is a stubborn man.”

“That’s an understatement. He’s very set in his ways.” Lucas nodded. “Especially when it comes to Ric. Mom says it happens when you get old.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Hayley winked at him.

The two of them watched as Owain looked over at Lucas and waved him to come outside.

“You feel like playing?” Lucas smirked at
her.

“Sure.” She smiled at him and they walked outside together.

“Luke!” Owain called over to him.

“Hey buddy!” Lucas walked over to him and knelt down on the grass.

“You want to play with me?” Owain asked.

“Sure. What are we playing?” Lucas grinned at him.

“Do you even have to ask? Owain crossed his arms and Lucas laughed aloud.

An hour later, Hayley adjusted her sunglasses and leaned forward. She had been lying on the sun-lounger in the Donovan’s backyard while Owain and Lucas where playing outside. She glanced over at them and chuckled to herself. Owain was hiding out in a wooden fort in the corner of the yard, and Lucas was hiding in a nearby bush. Both of them were wearing soldier helmets and they were filthy dirty, covered in mud. Owain peeked over the edge of the fort, looking for Lucas, but could not see him. He raised his toy rifle towards his face and narrowed his eyes. Hayley smiled to herself and looked over at Lucas. He was hunched over, also holding his own toy rifle and was adjusting his helmet, which was of course way too small for him. All of a sudden, Owain spotted him, burst
through the fort door and ran full speed towards Lucas.

“You have been spotted!” Owain exclaimed.

“Colonel Pearce!” Lucas pulled his face at Owain.

“I see you, Lieutenant!” Owain laughed and jumped onto Lucas.

“I surrender! I surrender!” Lucas exclaimed as Owain pinned him down on the grass.

Hayley watched with a heavy heart as Lucas and Owain laughed on the grass and she sighed. It was good to see him laughing with someone other than her, because that meant that he trusted Lucas. She felt happy, and sad at the same time. It had been the two of them for almost six years now and it felt strange to have Lucas there. She had not dated anyone since Owain’s birth, and the guys that she did go on dates with headed for the hills as soon as they met Owain. Owain is very protective over her, and would constantly ask them all kinds of strange questions, which sent them out the door pretty quickly. Lucas, on the other hand, did the opposite. Even after Owain’s ridiculous checklist and his tactless way of trying to get Lucas to impregnate her, Lucas was still there, and to Hayley it didn’t seem like he was going anywhere. Not that
she wanted to. He was kind and funny and he made her feel safe. Owain couldn’t get enough of him, and neither could she. She looked at the two of them, still on the grass and smiled to herself. Lucas whispered something in Owain’s ear and Owain nodded.

“Mom!” Owain called out to her and waved her over.

She stood up and walked over to them. “Yes baby?”

“Luke said his mom is baking cookies tonight. Can I help her?” Owain asked.

Hayley knelt next to the two of them and ran her fingers through his damp hair. “Of course, but you need to take a bath first. You’re filthy.”

Owain rolled his eyes and looked at Lucas. “Luke is also filthy.”

“Yes he is.” Hayley nodded. “He also needs to go take a bath.”

Lucas chuckled, but when Owain looked at Lucas, he cleared his throat to hide his suggestive smile.

“I have an idea.” Owain smiled.

“So do I.” Lucas mumbled and winked at Hayley.

Hayley playfully smacked Lucas’ arm and shook her head. “What is your idea, baby?”

“First I want to know, how big is the tub?”
Owain asked.

“Why do you ask, buddy?” Lucas smiled and raised his eyebrows at Hayley.

“Will more than one person fit into the tub?” Owain asked.

Hayley knew where this was going, but as she opened her mouth to say something, Lucas beat her to it.

“Of course it’s big enough for more than one person.” Lucas smiled.

“Cool!” Owain exclaimed and looked at Hayley. “Can Luke and I go bath together, Mom?”

“Wait, what?” Lucas’ smile disappeared and Hayley suppressed a laugh.

“Of course you can, baby.” Hayley winked at Owain and he jumped up from the grass. He grabbed hold of Lucas’ hand and pulled on it.

“Come on, Luke!” Owain looked at him.

“I’ll get you for that.” Lucas leaned over and whispered to Hayley.

“I won’t hold my breath.” Hayley whispered back to him and he narrowed his eyes at her.

“We’ll see.” Lucas nodded and stood up.

“Come on, Luke!” Owain whined.

“Okay buddy.” Lucas chuckled at the impatient boy and walked towards the house.

Hayley burst out laughing and shook her head. “You’ve been outsmarted by a five year old, Lucas Donovan.”

Lucas looked over at Owain, covered in bubbles and chuckled. The two of them were in the bath, and there were bubbles everywhere. Owain was trying to make himself a beard, but was not succeeding.

“Luke?” Owain asked suddenly and looked at him.

“Yes buddy?” Lucas answered.

“You like my mom, right?” Owain asked.

“I like your mom.” Lucas nodded.

“A lot?” Owain asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Yes, I do.” Lucas chuckled.

“I’m serious, Luke.” Owain scowled.

“So am I, buddy. I like your mom a lot.” Lucas nodded.

“Does she know?” He looked at Lucas.

“That I like her?” Lucas asked.

“Yes.” Owain rolled his eyes.

“I think so.” Lucas nodded.

“Have you told her?” Owain asked.

“No, but…” Lucas stuttered.

“If you haven’t told her, how will she know?” Owain asked. When Lucas opened his mouth to retort, Owain frowned. “Mom tells me that she loves me all the time. She says it
so that I don’t forget.”

“You think I should tell her?” Lucas asked, wiping a cloud of bubbles onto Owain’s head.

“Mom also says that actions speak louder than words.” Owain pointed out and looked at Lucas with a slight frown. “You should show her that you like her.”

“I’ll do that, buddy.” Lucas nodded.

“Can I tell you something?” Owain asked and looked at Lucas.

“Sure.” Lucas nodded.

“But you can’t tell my mom.” Owain whispered.

“I promise.” Lucas whispered and leaned forward.

“I wish you were my dad.” Owain whispered.

Lucas looked at the little boy in the bath tub with him and smiled slightly
, feeling a warm feeling in his chest. This little boy had managed to climb under his skin and into his heart in such a short period of time.

“Can I tell you something, little buddy?” Lucas whispered.

“Sure.” Owain nodded and leaned forward.

“You’re such a great kid, I wish I was your dad.” Lucas grinned at him.

“Mom says that if you wish hard enough, it will come true.” Owain smiled at him. “Just wish hard, Luke.”

Hayley walked into the kitchen and saw Owain and Heather sifting flour into a big blue mixing bowl.

“Hey baby. Having fun?” Hayley smiled at him.

“Yes, Mom.” Owain nodded. “We’re making chocolate chip cookies.”

“Wow, impressive.” Hayley looked at him and ran her fingers through his hair. “Do you need some help?”

“No, its okay.” Owain shook his head. “Between Granny Heather and me, I think we’ve got it covered.

Heather chuckled and shook her head. “Granny Heather.”

“Okay. Are you sure?” Hayley asked, slightly disappointed.

“Yes, I don’t need you, Mom. You and Luke can go play.” Owain frowned and turned towards Heather. Heather suppressed a laugh and winked at Hayley.

“Don’t worry about him, dear.” Heather smiled at her. “You go play.”

Hayley felt her cheeks flush slightly and she nodded. As she walked up the staircase, she felt her shoulders slump slightly at the thought that Owain doesn’t need her anymore.
She was not used to hearing those words come from his mouth. He always needed her, for everything. Even though he was a very independent child, he always came to her for everything. She dragged her feet as she walked into the guest bedroom and plopped down onto the bed. For the first time in a very long time, she felt alone.

The sweet smell of cookies baking in the oven filled the house as Lucas walked into the kitchen and he inhaled through his nose.

“What is that smell?” He frowned.

“It’s the cookies!” Owain exclaimed and ran to Lucas.

“It smells terrific!” Lucas scooped Owain up in his arms and looked at him.

“Thanks Luke!” Owain nodded and hugged him. “Granny Heather helped too.”

“Granny Heather, hey?” Lucas chuckled and looked at his mother.

Heather smiled as she mixed some more cookie dough and winked at Lucas. Lucas looked at Owain and frowned. “Where’s your mom?”

“She went upstairs.” Owain frowned.

Lucas frowned and looked at his mom. “Mom?”

“I think you should go check on her.” Heather smiled at him.

“I will.” Lucas nodded and put Owain down. “Have fun, buddy.”

“Thanks Luke. I’ll bring you a cookie when we’re done.” Owain smiled.

“Looking forward to it.” Lucas winked at him and made his way over to the staircase.

As he walked up the staircase and down the hall, he could hear Owain singing along with his mother as she sang an old Sesame Street song and he found himself humming along. He chuckled to himself and shook his head as he pushed open the door of the guest bedroom where Hayley was sleeping. She was on the bed, staring at the ceiling, holding one of Owain’s stuffed bears. He walked into her room, closed the door behind him and walked to the bed. “Hales, are you okay?”

Hayley sat up slowly and looked over at him. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“You know you don’t have to pretend with me.” He sat down opposite her and smiled slightly. She looked sad and vulnerable, something he has never seen in her before. Usually she was strong and unweathering, but now she looked weak, almost childlike.

“I know.” She frowned. “It just feels so strange not being the only one that he needs.”

Lucas took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “It has always been just the two of us. I was the only one he ran to, the only one that he would reach out to.” Hayley looked at him.

“He’ll always need you. You’re his mother.” Lucas said.

“I know.” She nodded. “Your parents are so good with him. You’re so good with him.”