「 stay with me 」 — open, books

[HAYLEY]

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☁  the lodge's library had a pretty good collection going on. classics, cheap harlequin romances, and one too many cheesy young adult novels. hayley had read enough of the latter to know that by the time hope was old enough to be able to read chapter books, they'd all need to be burned. there was not a chance in hell that her daughter would be allowed to get hooked on the cheesy nonsense the pages preached.

that evening though, she had her daughter on her mind with her quest for books. she'd never had bedtime stories growing up, not that she could ever remember, but it seemed like something sweet and wholesome that she'd want hope to have. maybe one day, heavens forbid hope ever got a boyfriend, hayley would be able to have the duty of embarrassing her, pulling out everybody poops or some other humiliating children's book and announce that her young mind was shaped by it. but, truth be told, hayley didn't really want to spend her time reading some dull book with pictures the infant's eyes couldn't even see yet.

❝would it be too weird for me to read a newborn to kill a mockingbird?❞ she said aloud, to no one in particular, but simply thinking with her mouth.

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[tomorrow]

JUST STANDING WAITING FOR THE PUNCHES

A library was something he hadn't had the joy of enjoying for quite some time, and it was an enjoyable place to spend some time until he got sick of the four walls seemingly bearing down on him and he had to head elsewhere.

But today that feeling hadn't started yet, and for once he was sitting alone. He was sitting on the chair nearest the window, a favorite spot of his and many others; luckily his claim to the spot was undisputed today, though he had been bullied out of it before or willingly given it up to avoid confrontation.

He turned his attention up from the book he'd chosen at random - a truly terrible romance novel which the Lodge seemed to have in excess - and settled his gaze on Hayley, a friendly smile spreading over his features. He could hardly call the two of them friends, but Hayley was kind and forgiving where others were not.

"I wouldn't think so, it's the amount of words spoken to them is what matters at this stage of development." Tomorrow answered softly, not realizing she'd been speaking to herself. Someday he'd understand these social cues, but not today.

[HAYLEY]

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clearly, from tomorrow's words, he knew a hell of a lot more about parenting than hayley did. or, at least child development. and here she was, thinking that hope would be subconsciously storing the words hayley uttered, shaping her personality. she was sort of glad for the news, considering children's books were an absolute bore to the woman, and on second thought she returned the book in her hand to the shelf, instead pulling out of mice and men.

❝if it's just a matter of words, mineaswell get something mama's interested in.❞ she jested, letting the hand holding her book fall to her side. her gaze shifted to the book tomorrow had selected, half smile starting up as her gaze shifted to the male's features. ❝i didn't really peg you as the type to read crappy romances.❞ she mused, now fully grinning at him.

out of the corner of her eye, however, she spotted brendan slipping about the shelves, seeming intent on his search. brows furrowing a bit, head tilting off it's axis, she let her gaze focus directly on the teenager. ❝looking for something specific?❞ she inquired, loud enough for him to hear. maybe she could help.