leebear

“it’s fine, ma, really.” riley assured, pulling himself away from his mothers grasp. “google said i just need to flush it out with salt water or something– good as new!”

Haleigh looked at her son and raised a brow, “Hmm. Maybe google should be your new mum.” she joked, unimpressed. “I really think you should take it out, Riley..”

“so, remember how i said i got my lip pierced? yeah, my lip is swollen about the size of a grapefruit– not very happy about it.”

“It’s infected. I knew that would happen. You need to be careful, Bear.” Haleigh said, reaching up and placing her hand on Riley’s chin to get a better look  at his lip. “We need to clean it..”

“No no no no- don’t answer-” she paused at the bottom of the stairs seeing the door now wide open with Jake standing outside “-the door…”

Haleigh heard the doorbell ring and went to answer the door. As she opened it, she heard her daughter saying not to answer the door but it was too late. Haleigh grinned as she was met with the boy her daughter had been seeing. “Hi, you must be Jake.” she said, extending a hand for him to shake and looking back at Sadie. “Before you guys go anywhere, why don’t you come in and visit for a bit?” she offered.

“But I was just going to sit outside…”

“Yeah, without me..” Haleigh teased with a laugh as she walked outside with her daughter.

“It’s just a cupcake and dinner is hours away.”

“Yeah but I’m pretty sure Valerie made those cupcakes..”

“You use it as time to relax and breath and self-reflect.” Louis told her, smiling softly as she went on. “I love you too. Always have and always will.”

Haleigh smiled a bit and wrapped her arms around Louis’ torso. She was so thankful that she had him in her life, even after all this time. He was always the most comforting constant in her life. “What would I do with out you?” she said with a soft laugh. She savored the hug for a few more seconds before pulling away and looking at Louis. “Honestly, though..I’m tired of talking about myself. How are you?”

“As you do. Now is you time, Leebear. Focus on you now that they’re settled and if you need help with them or anything else then I am here for you. We all are.”

“Me time.....right. I have no clue what to do with that. But, have I ever told you that I love you? Because I do. Thank you, Boobear.”

“Because I worry about you enough to think these things through.”

“I just...needed to be okay so that I could make sure Riley and Sadie were okay and I convinced myself that I actually was fine but I never had a moment to sit back and think about it all..”