Chapter 10: Chapter 10

"Look at that bird," Kyle pointed excitedly to the wandering pigeon hopping on one leg, poor thing.

"I see, the poor little guy must be hard to walk like that," I said

"But he can fly isn't that so cool," Kyle beamed

"It is so cool buddy," I said with a smile, we were just walking around the park wasting some time and energy. I did happen to be enjoying my time at the park and so was Kyle by his excited tone and pointing at anything that caught his attention.

"Can I touch it?" He asked slowly, walking towards a small Pekingese with a man who was holding on the leash.

"You have to ask the owner first," I told Kyle looking up at the owner who happened to be a pretty tall man with smooth mocha skin, smokey grey eyes, and a buzz cut with a line up which didn't suit many people but he made it work well.

"Of course no problem," the man kindly said in a deep and gentle voice. Kyle didn't waste a second as he pet the dog letting it lick his face all over.

"Randall Bennett," the man extended his hand for a handshake.

"Harley Glenn," I said shaking his larger soft hand

"Pleasure to meet you," he said

"Likewise," I said

"And whose the adorable little kid here," he asked, staring at Kyle who happened to somehow end up on his back with the dog on his chest licking at his face as he laughed away.

"That would be Kyle," I said, placing the dog off him as I picked Kyle up.

"Cute kid," he said

"Thanks and whose this little guy," I asked, rubbing the dog's head.

"That's Lido and also my best friend," Randall chuckled

"I want one," Kyle said, picking the dog up in a hug.

"Careful," I said, making sure he doesn't drop the dog.

"It's ok Lido is a tough cookie and he loves kids," Randall said

"How old is he?" I asked

"He just recently turned one," he said

"Awe still a baby I see," I cooed petting lido who seemed to love all the attention he was getting, he was a cute little thing with round brown eyes and a long mane of straight hair and tan coloured fur.

"Thank you," Randall proudly said, "Care to join us for a walk?" He asked

"Can we please?" Kyle begged with those adorable eyes of his, how could I say no.

"Fine," I said making him whoop happily

"You wanna walk him?" Randall asked Kyle who nodded repeatedly with a little twinkle in his eyes.

"That doesn't sound like a good idea," I sceptically said

"Don't worry Lido is well trained and he listens to me watch, Lido sit," Randall commanded and Lido sat down.

"Paw?" He asked and Lido gave him his paw

"Wow he is trained," I said in awe

"He's a good boy so no need to worry, and if he goes too far I'll just call him back," Randall said, taking out a ball from his pocket.

"Ok fine kyle you can hold the leash but don't run ok," I told him and he nodded before taking the lease and ball and doing the exact opposite of what I just said.

"Boys will be boys so let him be," Randall said with a small smile

"You're telling me," I said with a sigh

"So where are you from?" He asked

"Born and raised here in Vancouver Canada and yourself?" I asked

"Born in Brazil but moved here when I was a kid cause of my dad's job," he said

"Oh, you miss Brazil?" I asked

"Sometimes but I go visit when I can," he said

"Ya that's nice," I said keeping my eye on Kyle who was throwing the ball for Lido who ran after it and returned it to Kyle.

"What do you do if you don't mind me asking?" He asked

"Medical practitioner and you?" I asked

"Wow big leagues you're in, I'm just a chef at a small restaurant," he said lightly

"No shame in that, who doesn't love food I mean I love food," I said

"Thanks," he chuckled

"Don't mention it and if you want to thank me even more bring me one of your best dishes," I joked nudging his arm

"Will do, do you live around here?" He asked

"Ya I do just a couple blocks from here," I said

"Cool so do I," he said catching my eye and may the gods have mercy on my stupid heart but I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my stomach.

"So how old is your son?" He asked me

"Oh he's not my son, he's my nephew but I'm just babysitting for her this weekend," I said with a small smile

"Oh sorry to assume I just thought-" he began

"No need to worry it's alright" I quickly said, "You have any kids?" I asked

"Unfortunately not, haven't found the right one to settle down with yet," he shrugged his shoulders sadly

"Sorry," I said, not sure what else to say because I was never the best at counselling people when they were sad. It just made me uncomfortable and feel out of place.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," he reassured me with a dazzling smile that nearly blinded me, damn this guy was perfectly modest, kind and handsome he had to be a serial killer or something along those lines because no guy was this perfect.

"Well this is us, it was nice meeting you Harley we should do this again perhaps over coffee next time?" He asked hopefully

"I'd love that," I said giving him my number

"Keep being you little dude," he said ruffling kyle's hair

"Yes sir," Kyle said with a salute making us laugh

"Later Harley," Randle said with a wave

"later," I said waving back

"Bye Lido," Kyle yelled, waving enthusiastically, I felt I was walking on cloud nine as we left the park, both of us in high spirits.

"That was so fun," Kyle said once we got home,

"It was," I chuckled, removing his jacket and leading him to the bathroom to clean his face and hands.

"I want a Lido," he said

"I too buddy but you have two dogs already you have to ask your mommy for that," I said drying his face and hands.

"Ug mom always says later but later never comes," he whined with a pout making my heart drop

"Sorry about that, how about this once I move out of here into something bigger I'll get a Lido and you can come over whenever you want to play with him," I said with a warm smile, as I knelt to his height.

"Really?" He asked excitedly

"Really," I said kissing his head and got up, "Now I believe I gave you homework to finish," I said

"But I don't wanna," he whined

"No more of this I don't want to, go do your homework I'm sure once you get all those questions right your mom will be very proud of you," That sure got his attention as he rushed to finish them. While he was busy with that I called Sarah to check on how the store is managing with no manager.

"Hey," I said

"Hey, how are you?" She asked

"I'm alright thank you and yourself?" I asked

"I'm alright thank you and so is everything here if that's what you're wondering," she answered my unspoken question.

"Thank you for the reassurance I was just getting a bit worried is all," I sighed

"No need to stress yourself for nothing," she said

"Thank you, do call me if anything changes," I said

"Of course I will, before you go there was someone here looking for you they left their phone number here," she said

"Oh, a patient?" I asked

"No, a friend of a friend she said," she said

"Ok send me their number and I'll give them a call when I can," I said

"Will do enjoy your day," she said

"You too," I said and hung up, not a minute later she sent me the number. I dialled the number and didn't have to wait long before a woman voice answered

"Hello," she said

"Hi, this is Harley Glenn speaking I've been told you want to speak with me," I answered

"Oh yes please but I'd prefer it in person if that's alright," she said

"Of course no problem, can I get your name?" I asked

"Diana Barbosa" My heart froze, she couldn't be?

"Any relation to Veronica Barbosa?" I asked

"Oh, you know my sister?" She asked, shit.

"Yes I di-I mean do," I quickly said panic overtaking me as I began to sweat like a waterfall

"Alright then how about later this afternoon if you're available?" She asked

"Name the place and time," I said

"How about that internet cafe on Bree street I think it's called Fast Net," she said

"Ya I know the place," I said

"Great, how about say two?" She asked

"That's perfect, see you then," I said with a cringing smile

"See you then," I hung up with a groan

"God why," I cringed burying my face in my hands in frustration I was hoping I was done with that family now what did her sister want from me. The gods weren't in my favour, after all, I did curse their existent to hell last night, honestly why was life so complicated for no apparent reason. It was like someone was playing dollhouse with our lives and when they got bored they flipped our stable lives into a complete disaster in a mere couple of seconds.

Fortunately, I still had a few hours to prepare, time was in my favour for the day, unlike most days. And so I prepared myself for the toughest questions she could throw at me about her sister. I was sure she was going to ask me about our fight. Maybe she wanted to file an assault charge on me after the damage I did to her sister and no thanks to Michi who took pictures and probably videoed us so that was clear evidence to put me away for years to come. Santa Maria what have I gotten myself into now, it was all smooth sailing till that no good useless Liam decided to cheat on me, I mean men they baffled me why be with me in the first place if I wasn't what you wanted to begin with.

While I waited for the clock to strike two I paced over and over. It was a surprise I didn't burn my carpet with my constant pacing.

"Auntie I'm done," I heard Kyle yell excitedly running into my room holding the paper in the air with his outstretched hand. He was a good distraction for me and so I stopped my pacing to pay my full attention to him and solely him alone.

"Wow well-done buddy," I said getting down to his level

"Did I get them all right?" He asked hopefully

"Mhm let's see," I hummed taking my time to check the questions even though they were all right

"Awe you didn't get one right," I faked a pout

"No," he pouted looking down in sadness

"Just kidding you got them all right," I excitedly said with a wide smile picking him up in a hug and twirled us around.

"Yay," he cheered, wrapping his adorable arms around my neck. These are the times that I look forward to whenever Kyle comes over, these joyful moments when everything else goes to the backburner of my mind and Kyle is my only focus. To celebrate his amazing work we ate some ice cream and binge-watched his favourite show and all too soon two o'clock was round the corner so I had to drop Kyle off at my mom's for some time.

"Behave," I told him with a kiss on the cheek

"I will," he said running into the house with his backpack

"Don't think you can turn my house into a nursery no matter how much I like the rant," Ma complained

"Ya I know Haley and I are a disgrace to all parents yada yada I know the speech ma I'll see you later," I said leaving the grumpy old lady to curse my name out of existence, with a sigh I started my car and headed to Bree street.

When I arrived I was surprised to see Lila there as well and immediately my blood boiled. Next to her stood a beautiful slender woman with silky blonde hair, seafoam eyes, and fair skin tone.

"Glad you could make it," she said her voice delicate

"Likewise," I said, shaking her smooth soft hand with well-manicured nails that made my nails look like Shrek's toenails.

"Harley," Lila cleared her throat awkwardly extending her hand for a shake to which I just looked at and ignored,

"Why don't we sit down," Diana said, clearly feeling the tense tension in the air.

"That sounds like a great idea," I said following her inside the fairly busy cafe. We sat at a quiet corner with four seats so I sat with no one besides me while Diana sat next to Lila.

"Anyone want anything it's on me?" Diana asked gently as the waiter came to ask if we wanted to order.

"Whiskey thanks," I said

"I'll have what she's having," Lila said

"Make that three, good way to start the day as I always say," Diana said making the waiter smile

"Indeed," the waiter said and left us with the menus

"Harley listen you know I feel absolutely te-" Lila began

"I'm just going to stop you right there, I don't need your pathetic excuse of an apology and if you truly felt bad about what you did you could've come to me alone and apologised not ambush me here to guilt-trip me about not forgiving you just cause you brought someone else to look out for you," I bitterly said just the sight of her made me want to strangle her

"That's a bit harsh don't you think?" Diana asked

"Don't start with me lady because this two-timing slut was supposed to be my friend but I guess I was only good of a friend because you were sleeping with my man behind my back," I angrily said throwing daggers at Lila who shamefully looked down, Diana seemed surprised to hear this like this was the first time she heard this.

"Lila, is this true?" Diana asked in shock but Lila didn't answer, just nodded her head slowly and looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry Harley, I didn't even think it was going to end up being something more. It's just Veronica invited me to her place one night only to find out she was drunk and offered to have a threesome with Liam and I said no at first because I knew it was sick and cruel to you," Big crocodile tears were streaming down her cheeks as she sniffed and wiped them away with the back of her hand,

"Yes, play the victim card, why don't you," I said, rolling my eyes, not believing a word she was saying.

"Let her finish," Diana said irritably by my interruption, who does she think she is but for the sake of us all I kept quiet and gritted my teeth.

"She told me she was joking and we laughed it off. I had a couple of drinks with them and one thing led to another and the next thing I know is I woke up naked with them in bed. I felt repulsed with myself honestly I did and I made sure to let them know how terrible what we did was but they just ignored me and I left but a couple of nights later Veronica called me and I just couldn't resist and this continued for days, god I hate myself for what I did Haley truly I do but please trust me when I say I didn't want to hurt you in any way," I was livid to the point of grabbing the knife and stabbing her to death in plain sight, I truly want to end her there and then but I took a deep breath and composed my homicidal side.

"Well, Harley, do you have anything to say to Lila," Diana asked with her angelic voice that made me want to rip her voice box out.

Did I have anything to say to Lila? Ha, I had a million things to say to her in the form of my fists pounding her face repeatedly.