"Mia, you are on the flight back to Tree Hill tomorrow at 9:00 am. Please don't be late again," I laughed on the phone.
"Peyton that was one time are you ever going to let that go?" she asked me.
"Nope, we will see you tomorrow. I am glad you are coming home," I said as my assistant Kyle walked in and I pointed him to sit down.
"Me too, although I am going to miss the concerts," she said.
"Well then we will be working on a new cd when you get back. Have a safe flight I have to run," I told her.
"Bye. Tell Savannah I said hello," she said and hung up the phone.
"Savannah will be done in about half an hour. Should I send someone to get her?" Kyle asked me as I got off the phone.
"No I will get her," I told him standing up and grabbing my coat.
"I just need you to sign these before you and I will be out of here," he said as I grabbed the pen from my desk and signed some forms for the records.
"Lock up when you leave," I told him and got in my car. Driving down Market Street I parked in front of my favorite store of all time. I opened the door to see a brunette looking women on the phone.
"No mother I am not signing those," she yelled and slammed the phone back into the holder.
"Bitchtoria?" I asked her.
"That women I swear to God will be the death of me," she said. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh I can go out you know. I thought I was your best friend but apparently not," I laughed.
"Very funny best friend," she said and gave me a hug.
"Here I made some things for you," she said walking back to her desk to grab a bag. I grabbed it from her and thanked her before I headed out the door.
"You're still going to Haley's tonight?"
"Wouldn't miss it," I said putting on the sunglasses I forgot were on my head.
"P. Sawyer please don't be late again," she said loud enough for me to hear.
"Well I might be, because it would mean I had to kill you first," I said back.
"Not funny," she said smirking as I waved goodbye and headed back to my car. As I parked the car in front of the school I got out of the car waiting for her. When the bell rang I saw kids running out of the doors either into the bus or to their parents car. I spotted a curly blonde girl walking towards the bus.
"Savannah," I called out as she lifted her head and turned towards me. She started running when she saw me and jumped into my arms.
"Mom, I didn't think you were picking me up. The office told me to take the bus," she said. I looked into her eyes smiling as I said, "Well I got done with work early and I thought I would surprise you." I couldn't help but look at her eyes. Other then her beautiful blonde curly hair her most interesting feature was her eyes. One blue and one green and every time I looked at her I saw him and I saw me. It was hard when I looked at her because it reminded me of what once was. It killed me to see her raised without him, but at the same point what I did and what he did killed me all together.
"Are you ready to go home?"
"Yes," she said and I opened the car door as she hopped in the back and buckled in. We drove home and as soon as we walked through the door, she dropped her backpack on the ground and ran into the kitchen.
"Excuse me Savannah I know for a fact your back pack doesn't belong on the floor," I yelled as I fumbled through the mail. I heard her slowly walk back and pick it up throwing it in her room and running back into the kitchen. I shook my head as I watched her skinny legs run to let out the dog. I watched as she opened the sliding glass door and ran out with our golden lab Jersey. I came upon a letter where the handwriting I recognized, the handwriting I didn't want to recognize. I put it in my purse as she came back inside and I headed into the kitchen where she grabbed a juice box and some crackers.
"Not too many, we're going to Aunt Haley's for supper," I told her.
"Hey mom do you think I could sleep over at Chelsea's this weekend?" she asked me as I grabbed her juice box and punched the straw in.
"Maybe. I will have to talk to her mom first," I said grabbing myself water from the fridge.
"Dad," she said and I looked at her confused. "Her mom died last year mom remember?"
"I forgot sorry," I said. "Homework?"
"Mom I'm six," she laughed.
"Well you act 13," I told her and I kissed her cheek.
"Mom," she whined as she wiped her cheek.
"I don't know what to do with it," I said showing Haley and Brooke the letter.
"Well technically you're supposed to open them," Haley said seriously causing me to smile.
"Thank you captain obvious," Brooke said in my defense.
"I know I'm supposed to open it, I just don't know if I want to," I told them.
"He didn't send me a letter," Haley pouted causing us to laugh again.
"Do you guys think I should have told him," I asked them looking out at the pool where Savannah was lifted up by Nathan to make a basket.
"I think you did it to protect her," Brooke said grabbing my hand.
"Or myself," I said.
"Peyton don't do this to yourself. You were young and you were scared and he left," Haley said.
"I know. But I see you with Nathan and Jaime and I'm jealous. I didn't want this for her. When the day comes where she asks about him I don't know what I am going to tell her," I said.
"That her dad loves her, but can't be with her because it's complicated and hard for you," Haley said.
"Mom watch," Savannah yelled from the pool as Nathan lifted her up again and she shot the basketball and made it in easily.
"Damn those Scott genes," I said as Brooke hugged me and Haley laughed.
As I tucked Savannah into her bed I headed to my bedroom. Trying to find the light I stubbed my foot into the end of the bedpost and let out a curse word that I was glad Vannah was sleeping. As I turned on the lamp on the dresser I caught a glimpse of my purse and contemplated about throwing the letter out. I grabbed it and sat on the bed starring at his name written across the top. New York. That's where he was. I wasn't surprised since he had published a few books since the last time I had seen him. I slid my finger underneath the envelope and opened the seal. In it was a piece of thin paper and I pulled it out. As I did a picture fell out onto my lap. I picked it up to see my dad next to the Eiffel Tower with him. I quickly opened the letter and started reading.
Peyton,
I was looking through some old photos of mine and came across this one. I traveled to Paris about 2 years ago and oddly enough ran into your dad. I'm sorry about your loss I know how hard that must have been. I'm mostly sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you. As I was going through the pictures I ran into a lot of us. What happened Peyton? We were happy and in love and everything just came crashing down. I know a lot of the reasons are my fault but it hurt to let you go. I miss you and I know that in a letter it doesn't mean as much but I do. It probably isn't fair either, but I would be lying if I said I didn't. If you're ever New York, call me. Or you can just call me if you want to talk, I would love to hear your voice.
Always,
Lucas
I wiped the tear away from my cheek as I looked at the picture of my father and him smiling at the camera. The hard part was the fact that I was there with Savannah. We had gone with him to the Eiffel Tower that day and I don't remember why I wasn't able to see him or the fact my father didn't tell me he was there. I understood though, he knew how hurt I was and the fact he didn't know about Savannah. As I folded the letter back into the envelope I grabbed the picture of my dad with Savannah who was smiling and laughing. It was my favorite of them, it was in black and white and her blonde curly hair with her hat was so perfect. He was looking at her as she tilted her head back laughing at something he had said. I heard my cell phone ring following the tone into the kitchen. I saw Kyle's name pop up on the caller id and answered the phone.
"Kyle what's going on?" I said grabbing the teapot and filling it with water.
"They want to record now. They are in town until tomorrow and they heard of Red Bedroom and want to meet you and record a song with you," he said extremely fast that I barely could understand.
"Kyle slow down, who wants to record?" I asked.
"Daughtry," he said and I literally almost dropped the teapot.
"He wants to record now?" I said looking at the clock on the microwave that read 9 pm.
"Yeah, he is here in front of me," he said.
"I will be there in 15 minutes," I said as I called Haley and asked if I could bring Savannah over for a while. I picked up Savannah and carried her towards the house when Nathan came outside to take her.
"No if she wakes up you know she will freak out and I wont be able to get to work," I said.
"It's okay I can handle it," he said trying to grab her as I entered the house.
"It's okay Nathan really I will just put her in the guest bedroom," I told him as I entered the house and saw Lucas sitting at the kitchen table. I was shocked to see him as Nathan grabbed Savannah from my arms. She clung onto him as he left my side assuming he put her in the guest room as I said thank you to Haley before I went out to my car making my way towards the studio. I entered the building and was greeted by Daughtry as I had them sign contracts so we could legally have their music.
"I really want to thank you for this," he told me.
"No thank you for coming here, it really means a lot to me," I told them.
"Is that your daughter?" He asked pointing to the picture of me with her on my desk.
"Indeed it is," I told him smiling at the little girl.
"She is beautiful, just like her mom," he said smiling to me as I lead him in the studio where his band was setting up. I took my seat behind the glass window and recorded him as Kyle came into the room taking a seat next to me.
"I was working late and the door buzzed and I saw him on the screen and pretty much peed myself," Kyle said adjusting volume controls. I couldn't help but laugh and tell him it was no problem. I pushed the intercom button and said.
"Okay Chris whenever you are ready." He nodded his head and we started. Recording one song takes at least 2 hours and we were out of the office by midnight. As I drove to Haley and Nathan's house I didn't know if he was still there. The bottom of my stomach was turning and I felt like I was going to throw up. I knew that at some point he was going to come back, I just didn't want that day to be today. To be honest I didn't want that day to be any. Seeing Savannah every day was hard enough seeing him in her and now the fact I had to see his face was going to be harder. I knocked lightly on the front door turning the knob as I entered the house. Nathan and Lucas were on the sofa watching a movie as I crept into the guest room to grab her. As she snuggled into my arms I made way out the door saying goodbye as I did. Lucas wouldn't even look at me and I knew he had a clue to who the little girl was in my arms. As I tucked her into her nice warm bed at home I tried sleeping but I couldn't and by the morning I was dead tired.