Sunday night --
Hayden was getting settled in at Tove's place when he remembered what he'd wanted to do since he was on the airplane- he picked up his cell phone and dialed.
"Hello," a voice answered.
"Hey Kristen, its me. I just landed in L.A. and wanted to check on ya," Hayden said.
Kristen laughed lightly, "well, not much has changed since you flew out today."
Hayden smiled, "I know, I'm probably overprotective...but I can't help it. Even though I'm away for now, I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Don't hesitate to call me if you need me to come home -- if anything happens. I'll get on the next flight out."
"I know and thank you....but I'm sure I will be fine. The baby is fine too," Kristen said.
Hayden was quiet a minute. He didn't know what to say or how to say what was on his mind. Kristen sensed the silence. "Is everything alright?" she asked.
Hayden shut the bedroom door so Tove wouldn't be able to overhear the conversation. "It's just Tove...everyone else seems happy for us- but he's very...." Hayden didn't know how to finish the sentence without offending Kristen.
Her instincts took over and he didn't have to finish his thoughts. "He's just worried about you. He's very protective and this is a very precarious position," Kristen said. "...he's probably pretty skeptical of me."
Hayden was taken aback - it had never occurred to him that she actually would assume Tove thought this about her. "Well, I don't know about that--" he replied weakly.
"Hayden, I'm not blind. I've seen the way Tove looks at me...he clearly doesn't care for me all that much since you and I broke up....I can't say I blame him....I mean, we did break up and then I come back into your life with this kind of announcement."
Hayden shook his head in total amazement. He thought he would have to find a way to explain all of this to her but her perception had discovered what he didn't have to say.
"You have to understand, Kristen. I don't share his skepticism ok? I believe you."
"I know but having your family wonder about me...that's not something that sits well with me," Kristen said.
Hayden was starting to feel bad. Kristen had a lot going on without the weight of her brother's skepticism on her shoulders.
"What do I need to do to prove to Tove that I'm not out to hurt you again?" Kristen asked.
Hayden knew it was time to be completely straight with her. "I think Tove is having trouble with the fact that you so definitively know that the baby is mine," Hayden just blurted it out.
Kristen was quiet for a moment. "I understand....how about we take a paternity test then?"
Hayden exhaled the breath he had been holding.
She was complying 100% with all of this - a notion that gave him a great sense of relief.
"Are you sure?" Hayden asked.
"Hayden, I can't blame him for wondering....and if that will solve the problems here and clear up any possible fears or misunderstandings then I think we need to do it. This baby doesn't need to be born under a cloud of suspicion and I don't have anything to hide."
Sometimes it amazed Hayden how sensible and wise Kristen could be, even in times of extreme stress and pressure (like this).
"Kristen," Hayden spoke up after a moment.
"Yeah?" she asked quietly.
"Thank you."