Saturday arrives and we spend the day at the local Sea Life Centre. Oakley watches the fish and makes cooing noises. I spend most of the time watching Hadley, unable to believe I let her go so easily.
I’m cradling Oakley in my arms when a woman approaches. She’s been catching my eye the last few times we’ve passed, and she’s waited for Hadley to go to the bathroom before coming over. “I’m sorry, I don’t usually make a habit of doing this, but I couldn’t help noticing you,” she says, blushing. She reaches down and scoops a toddler up in her arms. “This is Kyle. He’s two. I’m Chrystal.”
“I’m Grim, and this is Oakley. She’s eight months old.”
She grins. “Nice to meet you both. Are you alone?” She knows I’m not, but I don’t make a big deal.
“Today or in life?” I ask.
“Both.”
“Today, I’m with Oakley’s mum. But we’re not together. I’m single.” I feel Hadley behind me and turn, forcing an easy smile. “Speak of the devil.” Hadley heard my words, I can see it on her face. “Hads, this is Chrystal and Kyle.”
“Nice to meet you,” she says, offering half a smile.
“Well, I’ll let you get on, but take my number. I’d love to meet for a play date sometime.” She hands me a card, and I stuff it in my back pocket. I watch her leave, and Hadley takes Oakley from my arms and marches towards the penguin enclosure.
After a few minutes of silence, I can’t take it anymore. “Are you mad?”
“Why would I be?” she asks coldly.
“You seem like you are.”
“I’d just prefer you to chat up women when you don’t have Oakley in your arms.”
I laugh. “I wasn’t chatting her up, she approached me.”
“Just don’t do that in front of Oakley.”
I shrug. “Okay, sorry.”
“She seemed nice,” she adds with an expression that says she doesn’t think that at all.
“A little forward. I like reserved and quiet.”
“You should call her,” she says, nodding, and I frown. “Maybe we can go on a double date.”
“Hadley, we’ve just agreed to get along, I don’t think we’re quite ready for double dates, do you?”
“Yeah, why not? I’ve moved on, and you should too. Sixteen months is a long time for you to be single, and I heard the club girls saying you keep turning them down. It’s not healthy.”
I’m angry. I don’t want to fucking date anyone else but her, but she seems so keen to push me away. “I told you, I’m your ol’ man. I ain’t going anywhere until I’m certain we’re done.”
Hadley looks me in the eye. “I don’t know how else I can make it clear.”
“I’ll make you a deal. Spend a week with me. Fit me in around work and your other commitments, and I’ll convince you we still have something. If at the end of it, you still want to see Judge Jerk, I’ll step away. I’ll even call Chrystal and arrange the double date myself. But give me one week.”
She takes a minute to think about it before nodding. “Fine. One week. Starting Monday.”
I get back to the club and I’m late for church. Mav glares as I stomp in and drop down in the chair. “I need a plan,” I announce.
“I’m glad you could join us,” says Mav sarcastically.
“This is important,” I snap. “I’ve made a deal with Hadley. She’s agreed to spend the week with me, and I have to convince her we’re still a thing or let her go forever.” Mav groans, and a few of the guys laugh.
“Never gonna happen,” says Ghost.
“It would be nice if you could support me on this!”
“I’m being honest, brother. She’s happy, leave her be.”
I shake my head. “She’s the mother of my kid and she isn’t going anywhere unless it’s with me. So, are you gonna help me or not?”
“Hate to break your bubble, Romeo, but Hadley hates you. It’s not gonna happen,” says Mav.
I look around the table at the doubting faces of my brothers. “Guys, I need you. Without her, it’s pointless. I can’t watch her with someone else, raising my daughter, being happy and shit. She’s mine. She was made for me, and I love her.” They exchange doubtful looks.
Copper slaps me on the back. “Yah know what, a brother in need will always get help from me. Of course, we’ll help. What do you need us to do?”
HADLEY
Monday evening, I step from my office and find Grim waiting for me outside. I wrap my coat around me tightly. It’s getting to autumn, my favourite time of the year. Grim hooks his arm out, and I take it hesitantly. Touching him makes me weaker, especially when he smells so good, like now.
We walk in the direction of the river, and I spot a man in barista attire with a cart. He smiles as we approach and points to a table nearby. People are going about their everyday business, looking curiously as we take a seat. “I know how much you love coffee, so I contacted my friend here,” says Grim, pointing to the man who is now opening up his trolley and taking out small paper cups. “He has a coffee shop that imports coffees from all over the world and he’s agreed to share some of his best ones with us.”
I can’t hide my smile. Coffee is my second love after Oakley, and though Grim isn’t as keen, the fact he’s here, trying it with me, makes it special.
“Tell me about the early days with Oakley,” he says, sipping the first coffee and wincing at the bitter taste. I laugh cos it’s strong and perfect for me. The barista only pours a small amount in each cup, just enough to taste it.
“It was hard,” I admit. “I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I wanted to prove I could cope on my own, so I tried to do it all. Mum eventually made me see sense. Once I let everyone help, it got easier.”
“Mav told me you didn’t use the money I left.”
“I didn’t need to. Put it in savings for Oakley to have when she’s older.”
“What did you do with the letters I sent?”
“I saved them.”
“Why?”
“Because maybe I’ll read them one day. I read your letters to Oakley at bedtime.”
He smiles. “I appreciate that. I went to parenting classes and the tutor suggested it.” It impresses me he went to such lengths. “Do you think you’ll have more kids?”
“I haven’t given it much thought.”
“I want more. Maybe this time I could stick around for the birth,” he jokes, and we try more coffee. “Okay, so, I have this book on good authority,” he says, holding up a paperback. “Each night, I thought we could read a chapter.”
He stands, offering me a blanket. I take it and follow him to a nearby tree, where he sits on the ground, pulling me down beside him. “You’re gonna read to me?” I ask, arching a doubtful brow.
“You once told me I should read this stuff and maybe I’d learn something, so here we are, learning.”
I sip coffee and listen to the beginning of a recent best-selling kinky book. I don’t have the heart to tell him I’ve read it because he seems so determined to share my love of reading. After the first chapter’s read, we end the night with a walk through the park before heading back home.