Chapter 165

"It's almost noon," Hayden said. "Lunch?"

Stacey shook her head. "Not yet, but I'm on break. Mind if I join you? Mr. Hoggard, let me treat you. Adam, care to join?" She beamed at Adam Lane, Hayden's companion.

Adam glanced at Hayden, then shook his head. "Can't. Promised my wife I'd be home for lunch. She'd kill me!" Laughter rippled around the table.

Hayden chuckled. "Sounds like you two are pretty close."

Adam, head of Southern TV, smiled. "Indeed. Let's go, then."

They piled out, smiles all around. Adam sped home. Stacey, Charlie, Lynn, and Cassie Colt (Charlie's manager) walked Hayden and Jeremy to their car. Stacey, knowing their visit, had already scoped out South City's best restaurants.

Jeremy stayed close to Becky. At the restaurant, Stacey carefully lifted Jeremy onto a couch. His eyes darted around, taking it all in.

Menus arrived. Stacey let Hayden order first, then helped Jeremy choose, his finger tracing vibrant dishes. She ordered everything he pointed at. Hayden, seeing enough food selected, held back. Charlie grabbed two dishes at random; Lynn and Cassie, one each.

The waiter cleared the menus. An awkward silence fell.

"Your company busy lately?" Stacey asked, breaking the ice.

"A few days off," Hayden replied succinctly.

Stacey's eyes widened. "Jealous! You need to rest."

"You could use a vacation, too," Hayden suggested.

Stacey shook her head. "Can't afford it. Gotta support Lily and Kev." She smiled, but her tone held a quiet strength. The Carters were wealthy, but Lillian and Kevin were her children.

Hayden nodded. "Good."

Jeremy, meanwhile, wrote on his tablet and showed it to Becky: I can raise Lily and Kev. He’d saved his Christmas money.

Stacey laughed. Charlie, reading it, paled. "You don't have to raise them! They're my nephews!"

Jeremy scribbled anxiously: I can raise them.

"No, thanks," Charlie insisted.

Jeremy, torn, looked from Charlie to Becky.

Stacey intervened. "Charlie, leave him alone. Jeremy, don't worry. I can afford Lily and Kev."

Jeremy persisted: I have a lot of money. I can support Lily and Kev!

Stacey laughed and cried at once. "I know you're a good boy, but we're fine."

Jeremy looked dejected.

Hayden interrupted. "He can help. Use your pocket money to buy them things—food, clothes, toys…"

Stacey stared.

Jeremy's eyes lit up. Can I?

Hayden nodded. "If Lily and Kev want them."

Charlie scoffed. "They won't accept gifts from him."

Hayden reassured Jeremy. "It's for your siblings. They can’t stop you if they want the gifts."

Charlie sputtered. Jeremy beamed. Charlie whirled to Becky. "Becky, Hayden bullied me!"

Stacey chuckled. "He didn't mean any harm."

Lynn and Cassie observed, whispering, "Rich people drama."

A knock. Stacey opened the door to the waiter, laden with dishes. Jeremy's eyes shone. Stacey served him, and with surprising dexterity, he carefully placed some food in Becky's bowl. He'd practiced.