Chapter 18: Are you okay?

My Daughter's TeacherWords: 6479

September 28th, 2022

Harlow Hanes

I, Harlow Kaylie-Ann Hanes, never gets sick. The most I got was the common cold but never anything serious. Last night changed that. I started sneezing when I got off and blamed it on my allergies.

The sneezing turned into a stuffy nose, then that turned into a sore throat, and then me throwing up followed by a headache. I hate going to the hospital so I just decided to rest.

I woke up this morning feeling the exact same way but I refused to go to the ER, much to JJ's dismay.

"Harlow, please," he begged, "What if it's something serious?"

"We all have to die somehow, JJ, my boy." I laughed dryly.

"I told you to stop saying that." He glared.

"Whoopsies," I chuckled, "But all jokes to the side, JJ, I'm not going. It'll pass."

He gave me that look that moms give their children when they know the child is lying. I'm not lying though, it'll pass. I just have to rest.

"You never get sick, Harlow," He stared, "What if the one time you do get sick it's a deadly disease? You need to go."

"No." I said, pulling the blanket over my head.

I heard him mumble "Good Lord have mercy" before he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

I snatched my phone from the nightstand and began scrolling through it. I had a couple texts from Reggie, a missed call from Lilian, and five texts from Fin. Ever since his breakdown in the foyer I made sure to text him everyday to make sure he was okay.

I've never seen that man cry so I knew whatever caused it was something serious.

Finnegan

Harlow I

can't do it

I really want to

but I can't. It's

too much

Harlow?

Are you ok?

H?!

I'M SO SORRY

I WAS SLEEP

AND IM SICK

It's okay! I just

wanted to

make sure you're

alive and well

Im alive, not too

sure about the well

part though. Are

you okay?

No. Did you see

what I said? It's

too much

Fin, honey, I

love you but

I need you to

get it together

You are more

than capable

of taking care

of two children

I know it's a lot

but you're gonna

get through it, I

promise.

I'm not ready.

Im gonna fuck

everything up

And you think

Lilian is? You

have a child and

you're doing an

amazing job raising

him. I think you're

ready.

Thanks.

Of course. Is

there anything

else you need?

Yeah but it

can wait. You're

sick so I want

you to get some

rest.

Thank you kind sir!

I'll talk to you later

I feel so bad for him. When Lilian told him she was pregnant he froze. He had just gotten off from work and he was preparing dinner.

Apparently she put the test on the counter in front of him and after actually hearing the words he freaked out and ran out of the house. Lilian started crying as she watched him pull off. He returned twenty minutes later and Lilian wasn't crying anymore, she was now throwing shit everywhere.

He tried to apologize but she threw an empty wine bottle at him so he left again and came here.

Me and JJ literally had to lie to get them in the same room together. I thought it worked until Lilian called and asked me if I knew where Fin was. Turns out in the middle of the night he went to his Dad's house.

He doesn't think he'll be able to take care of two children. He also thought he couldn't take care of Atticus but look at where he is now. And  Atticus isn't even his! Lilian drunkenly had a one night stand with some random and cheated on him. He forgave her and raised Atticus as his own.

I remind him daily that he's done an amazing job and everyday he replies with "thanks".

_+_+_+_

I don't remember dosing off, but when I woke up Halo was in bed next to me sleeping. I grabbed my phone to check the time and saw a plethora of notifications. More texts from Reggie, Lilian, and Fin. Some Facebook notifications, and then a text from Salem.

I ignored everyone else and immediately opened her text.

Salem 🤍

You didn't drop

off or pick up

Halo today. Are

you okay?

I am not.

Somehow, someway

I got sick. Halo's

directly under me

too so she might end

up getting sick too.

Well that's

unfortunate.

I hope you feel

better, my love.

Oh so I'm your love

now?

You are. Any

complaints?

Not at all.

How has your

day been?

Tiring. These

kids are most

certainly something

else.

Halo and Atticus

had leftover cake

for breakfast. Bad

idea but it was for

a good reason!

Please never do

that ever again. I

literally wanted to

die today.

Don't say that!

My bad!

But anyways do

you think you'll

feel better tomorrow?

I want to see you.

You just saw me-

I saw you on

Monday. It's

now Wednesday.

Two whole days

without seeing

your face and

hearing your voice.

You're clingy. I like

it

I have sever

attachment

issues.

Same...on occasion.

Well in the event

that I don't see you

tomorrow I'll swing

by and bring you a

couple things.

I never gave you my

address?

I looked at Halo's

emergency contact

packet.

I love how

passionate

you are.

Thank you.

Of course! I'm

gonna go get

my life together. I'll

see you tomorrow...

maybe. I'll try!

Wonderful.

She sat there, flipped through a binder, and then flipped through a packet just to find out where I live. I don't know if I should be scared or flattered.

I shrugged it off and threw the covers off me. I went to the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror for a good three minutes. I looked exactly how I felt; a mess.

Moving on, I went downstairs to make me a cup of tea to try and make my throat feel better. I knew it wasn't going to work but it's worth a shot, plus I add cough drops to mine so maybe it will work...

I expected to see JJ doing God knows what downstairs but I didn't and that caused me to start stressing. Where did he go? I ran back upstairs to grab my phone so I could give him a call.

Outgoing call to 'JJ'

Hello?

JJ!

Yes?

Where the hell are you?

At the store- I left you a note. You didn't see it?

Obviously not-

Woah there, buddy. No need to be sassy.

What are you doing at the store?

It's a surprise.

I hate surprises. You know this

Sounds like a you problem.

Just hurry up and get back. And next time don't leave me a note, send me a text before you leave.

You kids these days and your ding darn technology! Back in my day-

Bye JJ.

Call ended

Who the hell reads notes that are left for them? I sure as hell don't! We shouldn't even be using paper. Cutting down trees and shit, and for what? We have phones, let's put them to use.

1213 words

A/n: Harlow is a damn hypocrite. Talking about "who the hell reads notes that are left for them" mf you do! Read Salem's note and kept that shit in your wallet. But anyways this book has almost 1k reads. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

-Mj