Chapter Ninety-Children's Luncheon

Adian's POV

Emmy came and hugged each one of us at the mention of Hailey's name. When she hugged Jerry, I notice him tearing up because he knows Emmy's history. He hugged her tightly, kissing her on her head before she comes to hug me.

When I put my arms around her, I inhaled Hailey's shampoo and body wash. Hailey's here! "I'm Adian" I gaze into the smiling beautiful black eyes that danced in excitement.

Emmy giggles shyly, "I'm Emmy" she introduces herself, before looking at us, "will you eat with Hailey and I?" she asks innocently.

I raised my eyes to Simon, who nodded before turning to the guys. Bas without answering pulled out a chair and sat down with a smile and Jerry followed by pulling out a chair for himself.

I smiled at Emmy, "I guess that we are having lunch with you and Hailey," I chuckled, anxious to see Hailey after almost a week.

Since Jerry and Bas were already seated, Emmy led me to a chair next to where she sat, "I'll be right back," Emmy said as she ran to the back of the hall.

Simon pulled a chair and sat next to me. "I don't know what happened but Hailey loves you, but she is afraid of something and I believe that you are the one to help her. I believe you trust these guys here with you so I am okay with them being here. But please know this, I will be with Hailey every step of the way as she deals with her past." Simon informs me "And another thing" Simon continues, "treat Emmy with love and respect." he says, laughing as he walks away.

Tapping his fingers annoyingly, Bas concentrates on the tempo of his beat. "I know that you had other plans for lunch with Mel. If you want to leave it is okay." I tell him, as he continues tapping his fingers, lifting his eyes to me.

Looking around at the hall, Bas stopped tapping, cracks his neck, "and disappoint that little girl?" he says, "Mel will understand" he starts tapping again, until, Jerry slaps his hand.

"She is really beautiful" Jerry commented.

Gazing around the room, "who are we talking about now?" Bas asks curiously, looking around.

Without looking at us, "the little girl, Emmy" Jerry says quietly.

I looked at the guys as Bas thinks about what Jerry said and not knowing what really went on in Emmy's past.

Bas looks at me thoughtfully, "the little girl, she's important to Hailey?" Bas asks curiously.

"Emmy, the little girls name is Emmy" Jerry cuts Bas across.

Nodding, "yeah," I confirm to Bas about Emmy being important to Hailey, even though she said very little to me so far.

"I wonder what they are serving for lunch?" Jerry suddenly ask and Bas and I chuckle in surprise at his question.

"Mac and Cheese" Bas said, "it's in all the movies, then a food fight follows" Bas informs us as he laughs at Jerry's expression.

Emmy returns to the table breathless after running back. She sits next to me as a young boy starts putting sanitary cups with forks and napkins in front of us.

"Don't you guys feel ashamed to be eating the children's food" I asked because I felt guilty.

Laughing at my question, "we were invited" Jerry said, pulling his empty plate closer to him.

A woman in a nun's uniform came with a serving tray packed with sanitary plates filled with food. She puts a plate in front of us and my guilt at eating what was meant for the children bothered me.

Emmy cut through my thoughts when she shout, "no we have to say grace first!" she shouts and I chuckle when I see Bas putting his fork back down on the table but Jerry laughed out loud, bringing attention to our table.

"Sorry" Emmy apologize when she saw Bas's face flushed in embarrassment.

Laughing at himself, "no sweetheart, I am the one who should be apologizing" Bas told her.

Jerry smiles at Emmy, "where's Hailey?" Jerry ask Emmy the question that was nagging me.

Emmy turns around and points, "there she is" Emmy smiles as I see Hailey walking with a tray of drinks, serving a water and juice to each individual while other young people did the same.

Hailey was back with a plate of her own, kissing Emmy before sitting at the table.

Without looking at me, her eyes on her food, "gentleman" she acknowledges us, just as a nun, calls for grace.

I silently observed Hailey as she ate, seemingly engrossed in what Emmy was saying to her.

Her normally flushed cheeks were dull and there were dark circles under her normally bright eyes. Hailey is not one to wear makeup so her natural beauty always shine through.

Hailey was upset and ran, but she stayed hidden and there must be a reason.

Bas places a phone in front of Hailey and she instantly turns and catches me watching her. I held her gaze, few a few long seconds before Emmy started speaking again.

Hailey reached for the phone, "thank you" Hailey says softly to Bas, before looking at Jerry with sad eyes.

Jerry looked at her as if he knew what her eyes were saying and nodded, before going back to her lunch, which was barely touched like my own. I need to get her out of here. "We are going home when we done eating" I informed her, waiting for her to agree, but instead she again look at Jerry, who again nods to her?

Smiling she looks at me for the first time, "I would love to" she said, "I've missed you so much and Adana" she looks at me. "How is she, you should have brought her with you and she could have met Emmy" Hailey babble.

"How is Mel" Hai;ey asks Bas, who just sat opposite her observing her.

"You owe me an apology"