Generation 2, Chapter 11 - The Bad Lady

It's been almost a week since Heath saw the 'bad lady' looking in through the window. Adam was looking forward to when his Dad would be home and he could make the move. Normally he enjoyed the weekends and the extra time he had to spend with Heath but today wasn't going so well.

"Heath stop that!" Adam said crossing his arms in frustration as he watched his son thrashing about on the floor, screaming so loud his ears hurt. This had been going on since Heath spotted the 'bad lady' in the window. Adam was at his wits end trying to figure out why he was doing this. He couldn't wait until his Dad was home tomorrow, this among other things, were at the top of his list of what he needed help with.

"Heath, honey Daddy isn't going to work today," Adam said hoping this would calm the toddler down. Momentarily what he said grabbed Heath's attention. Standing up, Heath walked over to him and swung his little hand and hit him.

"Hey little man what's up with the hitting?" Adam asked bewildered as Heath had never done anything like this before.

"Bad Daddy," Heath said swinging again.

"Whoa there little man, that's enough of that," Adam said stepping away from him. Bending down to be on the same level as his son, he caught his little fist before Heath was able to strike again. "Heath what's the matter with you? Why are you mad at me?"

"Bad Daddy," Heath repeated looking at him reproachfully before going to the other side of the room, curling into a ball and crying.
 

Sighing loudly Adam walked over to his son. "Heath, please tell me why I'm a bad daddy." The only response he received was a high pitched whine.  Throwing his hands into the air Adam was at a loss as to why his son was acting this way. Adam was sure he was acting this way because of Windy. Somehow she had upset his son's sense of safety and he was taking it on him. Adam was so angry at Windy he could just strangle her for doing this to their son. The sooner they could move the better, he needed to restore Heath's sense safety and well being. Something that he couldn't do in this house, that sense of safety was gone for both of them.

So deep in his thoughts, Adam didn't realize the whining had stopped until he felt a small hand patting his leg and a quivering strained voice say "Daddy up?"

He looked down to find his son reaching up to him, tears drying on his chubby cheeks Scooping his son up into his arms, Heath immediately snuggled close to him, whispering into his Daddy's ear "luv's you Daddy." Holding his son tightly Adam knew he had to do whatever it took to protect his little boy.

"Let's get you cleaned up and dressed so we can go outside and play."

"O-tay Daddy."

A half an hour later Adam was walking around the yard with Heath clinging to him, refusing to be put down.

"Over there Daddy," Heath directed and Adam would walker in the direction he pointed.

"Do you want down?" Adam asked as they came up the flowering bush that grew along side the house.

"No," Heath whined shaking his head. Pointing at the bush he demanded "Look Daddy look."

A little confused Adam wondered "What am I looking for?"

"Bad lady," Heath said pointing at the bush again.

"Do you think the bad lady is hiding in there?" Heath nodded his head burying it into the crook of Adam's neck. Sighing Adam wondered how Heath figured out that Windy had used the bushes to hide in. Pushing aside the branches and flowers to create a little hole in the middle he said "See little man no bad lady."

Heath turned to look then pointed to the next bush along the house. After repeating this with every single bush they finally made it around to the front of the house.

Giggling a little Heath demanded to be let down. Adam smiled as he lowered Heath to the ground. Evidently checking each bush for the 'bad lady' eased Heath's fears enough that he felt confidant to be down on his own. Sitting on the front steps Adam watched Heath run around the yard. Adam stood and called to his son as he neared the edge of the yard "Heath that's far enough. Come back here to Daddy."

Heath looked back then continued on. Stopping suddenly he shrieked and ran back to cower between Adam's legs.

"What the ..." Adam began looking down wondering what happened. At the look of fear on his son's face Adam asked "Heath what's wrong?"

Clinging to his Dad's leg Heath timidly pointed towards the road "bad lady

With those two words fear shot up through Adam's body like electricity. He looked where Heath was pointing to see Windy walking along the sidewalk. She stopped briefly, looking straight at them. Adam's phone began to vibrate, ignoring it he continued to watch Windy. She smiled in their direction before she turned and ran across the street. Adam stood there feeling his son clinging to his pants leg as he watched Windy's figure disappear out of sight down a side street. Bending down to pick up his son, Heath said once again 'bad lady."

Smiling sadly Adam hugged his son close. "Time for bed little man." Later that night, Adam looked at his phone wondering when he had received a text. Looking at the ID and seeing it was from an unknown caller a shiver ran through him as he remembered it was from Windy as he read "See you soon."

Monday evening after work Adam made an impromptu visit home. Dropping Heath off to play with his young aunties, he went downstairs to the lab to speak with his Dad.

"How was your trip?" he asked his Dad.

"It was great. Next time you should come with us," Peter said happily. Frowning slightly as he noticed the troubled look on his son's face. "Did something happen while we were gone?"

Nodding his head, Adam slumped into a chair. "Windy's been doing a peeping tom on us."

"She's what?" Peter asked incredulously . "How do you know?"

"Heath saw her in the window. Now he's having nightmares and throwing tantrums every morning before I go to work."

"Have you explained to him who the 'bad lady' is?"

Shaking his head Adam said "I haven't the heart to tell him that the 'bad lady' of his nightmares is actually his mom. It's bad enough that every time we go outside I have to take him around the house and show him she's not hiding in the bushes."

Sitting in the chair opposite him, Peter sighed "Son it might help him if he knew who she is. Give her an identity then she might not be so scary."

"I can't do that! I don't want her anywhere near him."

"Adam you don't have a choice. She is his mother," Peter said sternly. "It's better that he here the truth from you now instead of hoping Windy will drop out of your life forever. That's an unrealistic expectation considering who you're dealing with. You know full well that Windy won't stay out of your life. It'll save you a lot of heartache if you tell Heath who she is instead of waiting for Windy to do it for you."

"Oh god Dad, you're right. I don't know what I was thinking. I just want to protect him from her," Shrugging Adam ran his hands through his hair. "I guess I should have thought of that before having a kid with her. She's always going to be lurking on the edges of our lives, isn't she?"

"I'm afraid so son. Now is the time to lay the groundwork for Heath. If your honest with him from the start it'll go better for both of you. He'll always know you were there for him."

"It's going to be hard explaining all of this to him. I'm not sure he'll even understand."

"Most likely not. You'll have to build on the little he does understand as he get's older. But at least he'll know he can come to you with questions. Right now he doesn't have that security. You can give him that."

Laughing a little in relief Adam got up and gave his father a hug. "How did you get so wise?" Adam asked as he pulled away.

"From years of dealing with Vallari," Peter said sadly. "But seriously son, don't underestimate Windy. I pray to god that she won't be as dangerous as Vallari was." Peter said pulling Adam close again giving him a reassuring hug. "Have you given any more thought to moving home?"

"Yeah I have," Adam said looking into his fathers eyes. "I'm going to take you up on your offer. Heath needs to feel safe again. Thanks to Windy his whole world has collapsed around him."

"I'll tell Jean and we'll get things arranged here for you. Would you like some help packing this weekend?"

"Yeah I could use some help," Adam agreed hugging his father again. Another thing he was thankful for in his life.

That night after talking with his Dad Adam entered the house, Heath comfortably asleep in his arms. Not turning any of the lights on, Adam started for the stairs when a noise startled him. Turning he saw a flash of light glinting off of something flying towards his head. The impact reverberated through his head, he was vaguely aware that he was falling and Heath was screaming for him. The last thing he heard as darkness overtook him was "That'll teach you to ignore me."