Another new fic... lol... Still suffering writers block on the others. Hope you like. Please read and review.
x Leanne x
Innocent?
Chapter One
"I have to go babe," Sam whispered, untangling herself from Phil and wrapping the sheet around herself as she stood up.
Phil sighed, following suit. "Can't you stay a bit longer?" He asked, kissing her gently.
Pulling away, she ran a hand tenderly down the side of his face before kissing him back. "I can't…" She said regretfully. "Stuart will be wondering where I am, and anyway…" She added hastily, noticing the look on his face. "I promised Chloe I'd be home in time to read to her before she went to bed."
"What did you tell Stuart?" Phil asked.
"That I was going out with a few mates."
"Sam…"Phil began hesitantly. "Things can't go on like this forever…you've got to work out what it is you want!"
Phil looked at her sadly as he spoke. "That it's me or him I guess!"
There was an awkward silence, Sam turned away from Phil, trying to refrain from crying. "Fine!" She said in a voice barely more than a whisper. "If you're forcing me to do this then I'm sorry Phil but I choose him."
Phil nodded slowly. "Okay," he said, trying to take it in. "Can I ask why?"
Sam started gathering her things together and getting dressed. "I have to…" She said simply. "For Chloe's sake, but it doesn't mean that I don't love you, because I do…"
"Don't do this Sam…" He took her hands, tears blurring his vision. "I love you… I love you so much!"
She pulled her hands away and began to button up her blouse. "I love you too…you mean the world to me…you know you do." She choked out. "I just wish I'd had the guts to tell you sooner – before Stuart asked me to marry him…before Chloe was born…" She reached for her bag, quickly reapplying lipstick with shaking hands. "You understand why I'm doing this…don't you?"
Phil wiped his eyes roughly. "I understand," he replied. "You just want what's best for your daughter…I guess I should have seen that one coming," he said. "Good old Samantha Nixon, always putting other people's happiness before her own – that's a very admirable trait!" He said trying to smile but not quite managing it. He sat down on the edge of the bed and put his head in his hands.
Sam picked up her jacket, before bending down beside him and kissing a tear stained cheek. "I wish this could have worked out for us." Phil didn't reply. "I'll see myself out," she finished quietly.
Phil looked up and nodded. "Yeah, I guess I'll see you Monday!" He said hollowly. "Have a good weekend!"
"You too!" With that Sam turned and without turning back to face him… without giving herself the chance to change her mind, she ran out of the house in tears.
As she drove home, she tried to convince herself that she had done the right thing in ending her affair…but she couldn't. It was Phil she loved…Phil she wanted to spend the rest of her life with – not Stuart. What was she doing?
Pulling into her drive she wiped her face and tried to compose herself as she got out of the car. Taking a deep breath, she walked into her house. "I'm back," she called loudly.
Sam's six-year-old daughter, Chloe came running into the hall. "Mummy!" She shrieked, throwing herself at her.
Sam picked her up and hugged her tightly, burying her face in a mass of blonde curls. "Hey baby!" She said through sudden tears. "You had a good day?"
Chloe lifted her head off her mum's shoulder. She nodded. "Me and daddy made cookies!"
"That's nice darling!" Sam said brightly. "Where is daddy?"
"In there!" She pointed to the kitchen.
Still holding Chloe, Sam walked in the room to find Stuart standing washing up. "Hey!" She said.
"Hi!" He said, turning round. "Did you have a good time with your friends?"
"Yeah!" Sam answered uncomfortably, not meeting his eyes.
Stuart dried his hands on a towel. He walked over to them and spoke to Chloe. "Bed time for you I think!" He said, kissing her on the forehead. "Night sweetheart, I love you!"
"I love you too Daddy!"
"I'll take her up," Sam said quickly, trying to put off being on her own with him. She carried her daughter upstairs and tucked her in bed. She read her a short story and soon Chloe was tired.
She yawned. "I love you mummy!" She said sleepily. "More than daddy!"
Sam smiled and kissed her gently. "I love you too darling." She said before switching out the bedroom light. "Night baby, I'll see you in the morning." She whispered softly.
When she went back downstairs, she found Stuart, in the sitting room waiting for her. "Is she asleep?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah…" she said.
"We need to talk!" He said abruptly, standing up and closing the door before leaning against it.
"Do we?" Sam asked nervously. She could guess what was coming.
"I think you know we do, I know Sam!"
"Know what?" Sam said, playing for time. She folded her arms defensively.
"I know about you and Phil…" Stuart looked at her, his eyes narrowing.
"Me and Phil? There is no 'me and Phil'!" Sam said. ' Well not anymore…' she thought, trying to keep from crying.
"You're lying!" Stuart raised his voice.
"No I'm not…Stuart, why would I lie to you?" Sam answered, almost pleading. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Where is this coming from? I love you!" She told him.
He shrugged her off. "Don't touch me!" He snapped.
"Please Stuart, she looked up at him. "I swear that nothing has happened between me and Phil!" She said.
Stuart looked her up and down and seemed satisfied. "Fine!" He said, turning to leave.
Sam let out a breath, relieved that the confrontation was over and that her secret was still safe. Suddenly Stuart turned back towards her and slapped her hard around the face. She was left reeling. "What was that for? I'm telling you the truth."
He leaned towards her, forcing her up against the wall, causing a pain to shoot through her chest. "Maybe you are, but this is just a little reminder of what will happen if I find out you've been lying to me!" He said. He was close enough to her for Sam to be able to smell alcohol on his breath.
He grabbed her arm violently and twisted it behind her back. "Stuart… let go, you're hurting me," she whimpered in pain.
"Good!" He said, sharply, glaring at her. Striking one final blow at her chest, he turned and stormed out of the house… the door slamming shut behind him.
Sam moved across the room and collapsed on the sofa in tears, failing to notice Chloe, glancing around the living room door. "Mummy!" She said quietly.
Sam looked up, wiping her eyes. "What are you doing up baby?" She said trying to smile. "You should be asleep."
Chloe ran across the room to her and climbed onto her lap. "I had a bad dream!"
Sam wrapped her up in her arms and rocked her gently. "Try not to think about it anymore, sweetheart, go back to sleep."
Her daughter's head rested against her chest. "Mummy?" She said a few minutes later.
Sam looked down at her. "Yes honey," she said.
"Do you love me more than daddy?"
Sam closed her eyes momentarily, trying to keep a lid on her emotions. "Yes, I do!" She said finally.