Chapter -2 7
“Mommy, what’s wrong with them? What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” Lucas answered. “They are just being silly. Ignore them.”
This earned another snort from Alan. Lucas glared at him as he tried to marshal control over himself. With a frown Lucas shook his head and glanced in Sarah’s direction. Surprisingly she was actually looking at him. More surprising than that was her expression. There was no revulsion or anger. If anything she looked… grateful? And maybe…amused?
Their eye contact was brief and she quickly looked away. Yet as brief as it was it.made his heart skip. Certainly it meant something. Somewhere, somehow she still had feelings for him. She had to…he hoped.
“Grandpa Tailor!” Zoe happily exclaimed as the lawyer made his appearance.
Chuckling he sat down on the remaining empty seat glancing around the table, “Well, it seems-you are having
a good time.”
“Ah-huh. We saw Auntie Ava.”
“Ah, good. Good.”
“Here you are,” the server brought water setting it in front of Tailor. “Would you like to see a menu?”
“No. No. That won’t be necessary. I’ll have the fish fillet with rice and sautéed asparagus.”
“Garlic or lemon pepper?”
“Garlic,” Tailor nodded. “With sweet tea.”
The server nodded before departing.
“You must eat here quite often if you know the,menu that well,” Lucas.commented.
“Oh, I stop by once a month or so,” Tailor said. “It’s good to get out every now and again. And the food here is good.”
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The conversation stagnated until Tailor’s food arrived and he tucked in quite comfortably despite the tension
around the table. He looked at Zoe eating her burger contentedly between her parents who barely touched their own plates. Yet there did seem a bit less tension than in the hotel room. He wondered if Sarah was relaxing over time or if something happened in his absence. Zoe mentioned Ava making an appearance. That
could only mean Avalynn Prescott. He wondered…
“Here you are, Mister Stanton,” Tailor said after a moment taking a thin document out of his briefcase. “Read
it carefully.”
Lucas accepted the two-page document. In it the terms and conditions of the agreement were clearly stated
along with all the stipulations including the ones he made. This would ensure he could spend time with Sarah and Zoe but it gave him a strict time limit: two weeks. He had two weeks to somehow break the wall he had placed between him and Sarah. If he didn’t somehow manage it he would lose everything.
It was all…or nothing.
With a deep breath he signed. He wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. Tailor accepted the paper back with a nod before handing it to Sarah for her review and signature. She seemed to hesitate even longer than Lucas but also signed.
“Very well. I shall keep this in my vault.”
“And Sarah and Zoe will come home tonight,” Lucas looked at her hopefully..
“We…we missed checkout,” Sarah hesitated.
“Actually, you shouldn’t checkout,” Tailor said. “As long as Rosemary is on the reservation books people won’t look for her elsewhere.”
“But…The publisher is paying for the reservation. It would be a waste of money.”
“Oh. I wouldn’t worry about that,” Ruth waved off her concern. “For this stunt it’s well worth it. Besides…Donna has been whining about needing a vacation.”
“You mean she’ll stay in the suite? Would that really be okay?”
“Of course. Just sign the Rosemary books for her and she’ll be thrilled.”
Lucas stared at Ruth in confusion. Was the appeal for Rosemary really that great? Was he underestimating
how much people enjoyed those books? Perhaps he needed to do more research. Alan liked the books so he would start by asking him.
Sarah hesitated at the news. She seemed unnerved by her character’s following. Perhaps she kept herself far
enough apart that she wasn’t used to fame?
“Then you’ll come home tonight?” Lucas asked hopefully. “I’ll have Ulima make up your rooms.”
“…Ulima,” Sarah repeated recalling the housekeeper.
At least it meant she couldn’t be staying with him alone. Not that she was afraid he’d try anything. If their marriage was anything to go by he had absolutely no interest in her body…at least as long as he was sober and certainly not with Tailor keeping a close eye on him. And given the way he kept staring at Zoe it was very clear he was eager to know the daughter he only just met.
“I’ll help you and Zoe pack when we return to the hotel,” Tailor said. “And Mister Stanton can inform his housekeeper to have the rooms ready.”
Lucas nodded. Everything was decided but now he felt even more anxious.
***
Ulima was understandably confused when Lucas arrived and instructed her to prepare two of the guest rooms. She looked at him as if he had suddenly grown two heads but complied. Her opinion didn’t improve as he nervously paced the hallway. The rooms were only just finished by the time their guests arrived.
Shaking her head Ulima answered the door only to breakdown at the sight waiting for her. Tears shimmering in her eyes she stepped forward pulling Sarah into a desperate hug.
“Cariño! I’m so glad to see you! You look beautiful! You must have gotten out of the city for awhile. I told you
OLA
…fresh air. OH!” Ulima hesitated as her gaze fell on Zoe who studied her closely. “And this is?”
“Oh, this is Zoe. Zoe this is Ulima. She’s the housekeeper. She keeps everything tidy and does the cooking.”
“Hello!” Zoe smiled. “This is my puppy, Daisy!”
“Conejita!” Ulima immediately stooped and enveloped the little one in her arms. “You are as beautiful as your mother.”
Zoe giggled snuggling into her embrace. The older woman reminded her of Grandma Ya-Ya so she knew there was nothing to fear.
Ulima wiped away her tears realizing they were still standing at the door, “Oh, come in! Come in!”
She hurriedly ushered them inside. Sarah helped Zoe out of her coat and shoes casting a slow glance around the interior. It felt so strange to be back. The walls were the same neutral tone but artwork had been added. The furniture had been updated and changed. There was a lived-in feel with random items left out where they had last been tossed. The smells from the kitchen were fresh and appetizing.
Sarah noticed the lawn was well cared for as well. It seemed Lucas hadn’t been lying when he said he was living there now. In a way she was glad. The house was beautiful so it was nice to see it being appreciated.
Tailor helped bring in their luggage looking around the house with a nod. It seemed he had the same thoughts as her. With a gentle smile he hugged her, “Try to get some sleep. If you need me for any reason call
- It doesn’t matter what time.”
“All right. Thank you.” Sarah nodded still nervous.
“Come here, sweet pea. Give grandpa a hug.”
Zoe eagerly ran up to him throwing her arms around him as Tailor scooped her up with a laugh. He kissed her
forehead before setting her down.
“Bye, bye Grandpa Tailor!” Zoe waved skipping into the living room with Daisy on her heels.
They both hopped onto the couch looking out the window at the rather large backyard for New York.
“Oh! Zoe, don’t let Daisy on the couch,” Sarah admonished after seeing Tailor out.
“It’s fine,” Lucas said from where he watched their arrival
Sarah flinched hesitantly looking at him. He stood leaning against the wall trying not to look intimidating. She wasn’t sure how to describe the look in his eyes: fearful, desperate, unsure, longing…
It was so intense she had to look away. Her own contradictory feelings certainly didn’t help. For years she
had done things on her own deliberately avoiding any thoughts to the life she left behind. She didn’t want to
dwell on the past. She was determined to look forward but in looking forward she hadn’t really dealt with her
past struggles, just ignored them. Now her past was staring at her seemingly desperate to hold onto her.
But why?
She needed someone to talk to but aside from Ruth the only other people who knew the truth and could offer
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sage advice were several hundreds of miles away.
“Okay, Zoe. Time for bed. Let’s go.” Sarah finally announced.
“Ah! Do we have to?”
“Well if you don’t want to see the Statue of Liberty tomorrow…”
“Okay! I’m coming!”
Alan and Lucas shared a chuckle at her enthusiasm.
“Oh, let me show you to your rooms,” Ulima gathered up their bags and headed upstairs to the bedrooms.
Sarah hesitated, “Zoe, go say good night.”
Zoe paused and ran to Lucas. Startled he knelt accepting her hug, “Good night, daddy. We’ll talk tomorrow. Good night, Uncle Alan.”
Then she ran back to her mother and headed upstairs. Lucas stared at Sarah in shock barely managing a wave as she headed upstairs after their daughter and the puppy.
“Mommy, before bed can I talk to Ya-Ya?”
“Ya-Ya? It’s getting late.”
“I know. But it’s important.”
“If you call Ya-Ya there won’t be time for a story.”
“Maybe Ya-Ya will tell me a story on the phone.”
“All right. I’ll see if she’s up once you get into your pajamas.”
“Well, this isn’t going to be awkward at all,” Alan sighed.
Lucas glared at him but couldn’t disagree. This wasn’t how he imagined Sarah returning home after four
years but he was determined to make it work. He had to find a way to talk to her. He refused to lose her
twice.
