Courage in the Kiss (18 page)

Three Weeks Later

Maxx had been gone for three weeks, with nothing more than a few phone calls and text messages, telling Hadley about the business he was undertaking. She hadn’t heard much from him and she’d learned even less from his phone calls with Emerson.

Emerson was keeping well, which only enhanced her suspicion that Maxx had been right all along; that he’d faked his illness to make her stay. She felt like a traitor for thinking it, but there seemed no other explanation. His medication consisted of an inhaler that he threw into a drawer and never touched, and the only visit from the doctor told her that he was ‘doing fine’.

All Hadley had was Micah. He was the only one who knew the truth and understood how unsettled she was, not knowing how Maxx would feel about her when he got back.

“Hadley, dear,” Emerson called from the living room.

She let out a sigh and put her cleaning products on the hallway table, to return to them later. Answering his call, she ventured into the living room and found him leaning over the desk in the corner, scribbling away on a piece of paper.

Unfortunately, she recognised it all too easily.

The adoption papers.

How many times, over the last three weeks, had she told him to destroy them, because she would never sign them? She’d told him to shred them, burn them, rip them up, or simply bin them. He wouldn’t do any of that. He kept insisting that she would change her mind eventually.

“Yes?” she said, wondering if this was something new or if he would finally destroy them.

“Sign this for me, please?” he asked, not even looking up, as he held a pen over his shoulder and waited for her to approach.

Hadley knew what he was up to; he was trying to trick her into signing papers that she wanted nothing to do with. “I’ve already told you no. I don’t want to be adopted. I’m too old and I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me what I already know,” she argued, refusing to fall for his pathetic gimmicks.

“Sign the paper!” Emerson snapped at her, turning to look up at her.

“No!” Hadley shouted back at him. Without waiting for more arguments, she left the room and headed for her cleaning products. She barely made it halfway, before the phone screeched loud and clear close by.

She grabbed the receiver and answered it, still fuming over Emerson’s sneaky tactics. “What?” she bit out, angry that nothing had gone to plan since Maxx left.

“Wow, what happened to my ray of sunshine?” Maxx asked on the other end.

Almost immediately, Hadley felt her anger fading and her shoulders relaxing into a more natural position. “Hey,” she said, with a slight sigh of relief. “How are you?” she wondered, as it had been a few days since he’d last called.

“Getting by,” Maxx replied, nonchalantly. “Better than you, by the sound of things,” he admitted.

“Your dad has stooped to trying to trick me into signing the adoption papers,” Hadley explained, not sure whether to be relieved or frustrated that he called now, just when things were going terribly.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said, with a hint of frustration. “I’m sorry, baby. I talked to him about it, but I don’t think he’s going to listen to either of us. This is what he wants, and he’s not letting go as easily as I’d hoped,” he admitted, sounding tired and exasperated.

Hadley’s first thought was to wonder if she could help. “Are you alright? You don’t sound yourself,” she noticed, not sure what she could do that would help, but convinced there must be something.

“I’m just tired, I guess.” Maxx sighed on the other end and cleared his throat. “And I think I’m coming down with a cold. One of the investors came in the other day, for a one-on-one meeting, and coughed over my entire office,” he grumbled.

She tried not to laugh, but it was kind of adorable, the way he sounded too tired to even be angry. And that was when she realised what she could do, that might just cheer him up. If she could do it, was another question entirely.

“Don’t laugh. Just be glad I’m not passing it on to you,” he continued, only to cough and then sniff into the phone. “Anyway, I called to find out if you had plans for next Sunday,” he admitted, eventually.

“Plans? What exactly would I be doing?” Hadley asked, intrigued and curious over why he was asking.

“I don’t know.” Maxx laughed and coughed again. “Does Micah have a game?” he checked, clearly having something in mind.

“No. His game is this afternoon, so I’ll be leaving for that in about two hours,” she explained. Part of her was hopeful for something to look forward to, but another part of her was worried that it couldn’t be anything good. After all, she didn’t know what Maxx’s plans for them were after he returned home. He could so easily come back and discard her, or come back with another girl.

“Good, so you’ll be home next Sunday?” he asked again.

“I imagine so.”

“Excellent. Expect a little something from me, around four,” he said, enigmatically.

It all sounded so tempting and teasing, that Hadley settled on her plan of how to cheer him up. If he was going to surprise her, then she’d surprise him. “Fine. But what are your plans for tonight?” she wondered.

“Tonight?” Maxx laughed, only to end up coughing again. “Nothing. I’ll get back to the hotel around six, why?” He sounded throaty now, as though that last cough had dislodged something.

Hadley felt sorry for him. If he’d been home, which he should have been, he probably would never have gotten sick. But even if he had, she’d have been there to take care of him. “I’m sending you a care package,” she replied.

“Good,” Maxx said, sounding relieved. “Hopefully it’s got some of that magic chicken soup you make, and maybe some tea,” he hinted.

“Maybe,” she agreed.

He sounded distant, for a moment, as he coughed again a few more times. Then he came back, his voice stronger and clearer. “Sorry, gorgeous, I have to go. Just ignore Dad. That’s how I survived most of my childhood,” he joked, lightly.

Hadley smiled and let him hang up, determined to make sure her ‘care package’ was as ‘caring’ as it could be.

Hadley walked over to the pitch and looked for Micah. She’d had a taxi drop them off in time for the boys to get changed and go through the team pep-talk, then she’d gone to the refreshment tent to grab a drink and a cookie.

When she saw him, she waved and watched him and his team stretch, to prepare themselves for the game. She said good luck to Micah and Rowan, giving them both motherly hugs, and went to get a decent seat on the side lines.

Settling herself on the grass, she stretched her legs in front of her and leaned back on her palms. The sun was beating down and it was a glorious day, so she was happy to spend her time here, out in the sunshine.

She saw Micah and a few of his friends from the other team, looking over at her. She waved and blew Micah a kiss, winking at him. He smiled, as his friends looked between them, curious and in complete awe.

Micah laughed, as his team mates showed disbelief and excitement. This was the first time he’d allowed her to come to one of his games in about a year, so a lot of the team members hadn’t met her before.

Flirting was harmless, since the boys kept teasing him because he wasn’t dating anyone. Although Maxx insisted that he’d started dating Gracie, she knew that he was keeping it quiet, so he didn’t jinx himself. So all his friends kept ribbing him, talking about how shy and unsure he was around girls. It didn’t do him any harm for his friends to think there was something going on between them. It stopped their teasing, which could get downright rude, and it made Micah feel good, not to be made fun of.

She’d never gone to high school, but from what Micah told her, it was full of sharks, waiting to drag any kid under water when they showed an ounce of weakness. Micah was a gentle soul, unlike his brother, and she’d do anything to protect him.

She’d told Micah, countless times, that there was nothing to be ashamed of just because he was waiting for the right girl. He was afraid of making the wrong choice, which, when she thought about it, made a hell of a lot of sense. He’d spent his entire teenage years watching her pine helplessly over Maxx, only to now end up in a non-serious fling with him. She was proud of Micah for trying to avoid that fate.

Hadley turned back to the game and tutted. Not only had she missed the start of the game, but there was a bigger problem. She got to her feet and walked over to the referee. “Oh, come on. That was totally a foul,” she pointed out, realising that she’d been daydreaming.

“No foul. Please return to your seat,” the referee said in a clipped tone.

She let out a sigh and ran her hand through her hair. “You’re joking. Are you completely blind?” she asked heatedly, as everyone turned to look at her. “That was so definitely a foul. Come on…” She modulated her voice, to something calm and pleading. “I can’t believe you didn’t see that. I mean, number six was completely out of line…and I’m not even going to mention number two almost breaking number seven’s nose as he passed,” she reasoned.

The referee looked at her, then shouted for the three players to come over. The guys looked at each other guiltily and then at Hadley.

“We’re sorry, Had,” number Two, Dax, offered.

Hadley smiled at him and put her arm around his neck. “See?”

The referee looked at her and made his judgement. “Foul,” he said in a bored, slightly grudging tone. “Number two, you’re off. A yellow card for number six,” he explained.

Hadley walked Dax to the bench and apologised, since he was a good guy and friendly with Micah, outside of school and the football team. “I’m sorry about that, Dax,” she said, as he took a seat on the bench.

“That’s okay, Had.” He laughed it off and smiled at her. “You’re only playing fair. You want to sit with me a bit?” he asked.

“Sure,” she decided, giving him a nudge, as they started to watch the rest of the game.

When it came to half time, with Micah’s team losing by two goals to five, Dax got up from his seat, offering his arm in a slightly awkward, but gentlemanly fashion.

Hadley linked arms with him and walked him into the refreshment tent, trying her hardest not to laugh. He was so sweet and she appreciated having company to see her into the refreshment tent, while she waited for Micah and Rowan.

Unable to feel happy doing nothing, Hadley offered to help hand out the drinks. With a tray of glasses in each hand, she swerved and ducked between the crowds of people, serving them with ease.

“What did you think?” Micah asked, taking a tray from her.

“You were great,” she promised, rearranging parts of his hair. She knew he was nervous, but so was she. She couldn’t explain why, but she always turned into a mother hen during his games. It was the constant threat of injury that worried her the most, but she also hated being around this many people and knowing what they all thought of her.

“Thanks for what you did with the ref.” He smiled a little.

She smiled as Micah and Rowan shared a secret handshake in hello, as soon as Rowan walked over. “Great game,” she congratulated him.

Rowan opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when Dax walked over, looking guilty. His parents stood behind him; his mother fuming, with her arms folded defensively.

Hadley rolled her eyes as she saw his father looking her over approvingly. So she had to go through this
again
? “Hi, Jill…Crawford.” She smiled at them weakly, unable to like either of them. Jill was the biggest bitch on the PTA, but was also high up in the local Church congregation. Crawford, on the other hand, was a letch.

She sighed and handed Rowan the tray, while turning to Dax. “Buddy, I’m just going outside to have a little chat with your mum.” She ruffled his hair as she passed.

“Oh, Micah,” she turned and walked backward as she spoke, “in case I’m not back before you start again…keep your eye on the ball and watch out for number five,” she suggested, as she disappeared out of the hall.

Hadley stood still, looking between Jill and Crawford, waiting on one of them to speak. After a few minutes of receiving nasty stares from both, she let out a sigh. “I guess I should start?” she asked.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing flirting with innocent young boys?” Jill blurted out, suddenly.

“Flirting? Who said I was flirting?” Hadley asked, defensively. “I’ve not done anything wrong. Okay, so I’m a little tactile and, yeah, I’m like one of their guy buddies. What’s wrong with that?” she argued.

She didn’t see why the mothers like Jill had to assume that just because she was a girl and Micah’s friends were boys, it automatically meant that any affection between them was sexual. Girls and boys could be friends, no matter what age they were.

“Tactile? You go about kissing and hugging any guy you come across,” Jill snapped at her, hands flying as she spoke. “The way you were acting was sinful. That is unacceptable in civilised company.”

Hadley raised her eyes to the heavens and said a silent prayer that she could keep a civilised mouth, while giving Jill a piece of her mind. “I’m sick of taking crap from you people.” Hadley sighed as Micah walked out of the hall behind her, his hands in his pockets as he headed over.

“What people?” Crawford butted in, truly sounding curious.

“You people. People who turn their nose up at someone who’s a little different. So I’m feminine, so I like to look good sometimes, and, yes, I feel close to the guys,” she admitted, to Jill’s disgust. “I feel protective of them…like a mother,” she clarified, emphasising every word.

Micah stood close by, letting her vent her anger, as he leaned against the wall of the building.

“I never had a mother I could turn to, when I was growing up,” Hadley confessed, though the very thought was painful. “And neither do some of these kids. I don’t want them to go through the pain and confusion that can cause. I want to give them what they’re missing. The love and support that a mother can show.” She folded her arms, her anger growing.

“I wouldn’t have to do that, if some of you stopped worrying so much about what other people thought of you and showed your kids some respect,” she added, calmly.

She ran a hand through her hair and took a deep breath, as she made her way back over to the grassy seating area. She sat there for a minute, fuming inside, until Micah sat down beside her.

“Hey…”

“Hi.” She sighed, unable to keep her feelings at bay. Letting the tears flow freely, she turned and cried into Micah’s shoulder. He held her close and attempted to comfort her.

“I knew you weren’t totally invincible,” he joked lightly, his fingers running through her hair. “Hadley…don’t cry,” he shushed her.

A moment later, she heard the noise of the crowds emerging from the hall. Pulling back from his touch, she wiped away the tears and put on a brave face for Micah, as he reluctantly got up and joined his team to return to the game.

She could compose herself long enough to get through the game.

When the game was finished, Hadley had a taxi waiting to take them all home. Micah talked the whole way there, about how great Hadley was with the referee and how all his friends envied him.

Hadley smiled and nodded, commenting when a comment was expected, but otherwise keeping quiet.

“Are you okay?” the taxi driver asked, as Micah climbed out of the car and ran up to Emerson, telling him every detail of the game and embellishing a few of the comments for dramatic effect.

“I’m fine. Thanks.” Hadley flashed a fake smile at him and slipped out of the car.

She walked inside, without even a second glance at Emerson or Micah. Oblivious to the calls from both, Hadley made her way up to her room on the second floor and shut the door behind her.

She’d already arranged her gift for Maxx, but the very fact that he wasn’t here to comfort her, after what Jill had put her through, made her heart ache. She made her way to her bed and managed not to cry, though it was a struggle.

It was evening now, almost four, and she only had an hour or two before she had to make dinner. It was enough time to fend off her emotions and hope that the next few weeks flew by.

As soon as Maxx got home, everything would be better. It had to be.

“Hadley,” Emerson’s voice called through the door, just before a knock.

She pulled her duvet over her head, not wanting to talk to anyone or deal with anything. All she wanted was to be left alone, unless Maxx wanted to see her. And that wasn’t going to happen right now.

“Hadley, can I come in, dear?” he persisted, actually going so far as to rattle the door handle.

“Please go away,” Hadley called out, wanting nothing but to go to sleep for a few hours and forget the whole day had happened. “I’m fine. I’m just getting a migraine,” she lied, trying to placate him.

“Alright,” he replied, hesitantly. Then there was a brief sound of rustling and Emerson cleared his throat. “I’ve left something for you to read. Legal papers. I’m not pressuring you,” he rushed out, before continuing, “but it might clear up some worries you have about being adopted. Please, just read them.”

The begging broke her resolve. Hadley couldn’t keep refusing him, when he was so persistent. She kept quiet and waited for him to leave. Maybe if she stopped resisting the adoption process, he might back off a little. It was the only plan she had.

Barring that, she’d have to leave. Maxx or no Maxx.