We got out of the car and headed up the walk to the Christensen home in Thornhill.
I had once been a frequent visitor here as well and knew the family well.
Hayden looked over and smiled at me as he rang the doorbell.
Alie came to the door and her eyes brightened.
"Hey sweetheart!" she exclaimed, enveloping Hayden in a warm hug.
"Hey Ma," he said, returning her hug.
Her eyes shifted over to me and her smile widened.
"Adrienne!!! It's so good to see you!!" she said, releasing Hayden and turning to hug me.
I hugged her and smiled. "It's wonderful to see you too, Alie!"
I looked over at Hayden who was beaming.
The truth was, Alie and I always gotten along very well.
Hayden said she was always asking about me when we had been dating.
David, Hayden's father came to the door and we greeted him in much of the same way.
"Come in, come in," Alie said. "We're just finishing up dinner but I'd be happy to fix you guys a plate."
Hayden grinned sheepishly. "I ate on the plane and just had coffee, but you know I can't pass on your cooking."
I grinned and accepted the offer as well.
Alie led us into the warm kitchen where Kaylen and her friend Kim were finishing up their food.
Kaylen stood up to hug me and introduced me to Kim who was visiting from L.A.
"I'm surprised we weren't on the same flight," Hayden commented.
Kim explained that she'd had an earlier flight that had been delayed, explaining the same arrival time as Hayden's flight.
We all sat around the big table, eating our alfredo and talking. Hayden was telling us a few stories about some of the people he'd had meetings with for Forest Park.
"One guy had actually requested that no one look him directly in the eye," Hayden said, with a smile.
Kaylen looked confused, "Why?"
"...because apparently, he's got a few problems with paranoia and thinks everyone is always staring at him anyway," Hayden replied.
Kaylen winced.
"That's one thing I've definitely learned about this industry," Hayden said. "There are more than a few people with oddities."
"There have been many creative people who suffer from mental illnesses -- its almost as though their creativity comes along with it," Alie said. "Look at Van Gogh - he was plagued with delusions and psychotic attacks."
"Maybe that's what's wrong with Hayden," Kaylen smirked and Hayden threw a napkin at her.
"It's definitely a different life - but I think its pretty empty for the most part -- not my scene," Hayden said, looking over at me.
I had a moment of shyness and looked away to find Alie smiling over at me.
"So, Adrienne, how have you been?" Alie asked.
I told them stories about the restaurant and classes.
"I hope to get into Hotel/Restaurant Management at a major resort....that's what I'd really like to pursue," I said.
"That does sound like fun," Alie replied.
"Where would you want to go?" David asked.
"I don't know - maybe California or Florida - or even the Bahamas."
Hayden looked over at me in a moment of surprise. Almost as if he'd never quite thought about the fact that I may eventually leave Toronto. I was waiting for him to speak, but he remained silent.
"Well I think that's wonderful," David spoke up in response.
We finished our meal and visited for a little longer.
A while later, the family was in the living room watching a video of Kaylen's trip to Europe when Hayden went out to smoke and I joined him.
"I hope this hasn't been weird or anything --I mean, my bringing you here," Hayden said, taking a drag from his cigarette and exhaling the smoke.
"No, not at all," I replied. "It's been really nice seeing your family again."
"They love you, you know that right?" Hayden grinned. "I don't know if I told you this but right after we broke up, my mother barely spoke to me for a week."
I laughed, partly in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah - she said I was making a big mistake and that I'd regret it," Hayden said, taking another drag from the cigarette. "...and she was right --about all of it."
I looked at him for a second.
We had been sidestepping everything since he got back -- and I didn't understand why. He wasn't bringing it up but I wasn't exactly anxious to either. I think I was scared that talking about it would somehow ruin the evening -- for once I just wanted things to progress the way they would without analyzing and talking everything to death.
Hayden put his cigarette out and narrowed the gap between us on the deck.
"So, what do you want to do now?" he asked me in a husky tone.
The mood had suddenly changed drastically.
I could see the change in his eyes - they had darkened a bit and were staring right into mine.
"Are you staying here tonight?" I asked him.
"That's going to depend on you," Hayden said, never breaking the eye contact.
My breathing became a little shallower although I didn't notice it at first.
If there was one thing we never lacked - it was an attraction to one another.
"Maybe we should just head to my place," I said to him almost in a whisper because I couldn't manage to find more of a voice at that moment.
Hayden only nodded silently.
We walked back into the house - the family was just finishing the video when Hayden walked into the room.
"Well, I'm gonna see that Adrienne gets home alright -" he said, walking over to give his mother a hug.
"Alright - we won't wait up then," Alie said, looking at Hayden.
I could feel my cheeks flushed with embarassment.
I guess it would be obvious that Hayden was staying with me if he didn't come back for the night -- even though his parents were very liberal about that sort of thing, it still didn't make me totally comfortable.
We said our goodbyes and headed out the door.
We drove the 10 minute distance to my apartment.
I got out of the driver's side and walked around the car as Hayden was getting out of the passenger's side. I was opening up the backdoor for him to retrieve his bag when he pinned me against the frame of the car.
Within seconds, he'd crushed his lips to mine in a kiss that became intensely passionate.
After a few seconds, he pulled away and it was evident we were both breathless.
"Maybe we should take this inside," Hayden said, his eyes boring into mine with a hunger that I hadn't seen in quite a while.
We went into my apartment, then to my room, where we remained for the rest of the night.
~~~~
The next morning, I woke to find Hayden's arms wrapped around tightly around my middle.
It was warm and cozy under the covers and I didn't want to get up.
I looked over at the clock to see that it was 10AM.
Luckily, I was off work until that night so I wasn't in a rush to leave the warm retreat of the bed.
Hayden nuzzled my neck, only stirring a moment from my movement as I turned and then drifting back to sleep.
I watched his face as he slept.
It was ridiculous how good looking one person could be, even in the morning and while asleep....or perhaps it was more ridiculous that I was watching him while he slept...
I then decided that coffee would be necessary if I was ever getting out of bed. I managed to head to the kitchen to brew a pot.
A few moments later, my apartment was filled with the delicious aroma of Starbucks Breakfast Blend.
Hayden walked in, his hair tousled and his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Good morning," he said sleepily and leaned over to kiss me.
"Good morning," I replied with a smile.
"I smelled that coffee and had to have some," he said with a grin.
I poured a cup for him and one for myself and got the sugar and milk to add to both cups.
I was standing up looking at a newspaper that was on the counter when Hayden put his arms around my waist and snuggled against the back of my neck.
We talked for a few moments about the day ahead.
"I want to take you to the park," Hayden said.
I smiled, "Alright, I haven't been there forever."
"I'm gonna go take a shower and we'll talk more....we can spend the whole day together. That is, unless you had other plans...."
"No, no plans," I said, trying not to show that I was beaming inside.
Hayden smiled, "Alright-- well, I'll be out in a few minutes."
He gave me a kiss and walked back into the bedroom.
I smiled, truly feeling like things were headed in the right direction.
I continued to drink my coffee a few moments until my peace and quiet was interrupted by the doorbell.
I was confused -- I didn't get many visitors at 10AM on a Friday morning.
I opened the door and was shocked when I saw Todd standing there with a bouquet of fresh flowers.