"Savannah your father is going to leave without you," I yelled from the stairway.
"Hey Reese, if you don't put that bowl in the dishwasher you will be doing all the dishes by yourself after supper tonight," I said from the doorway and Lucas honked the horn from the car.
"Savannah," I yelled again. "Reese now," I said to him as he hopped off the stool and put his dish in the dishwasher. Reese grabbed his backpack from the couch and ran out the door as the phone started ringing.
"Savannah you will be walking to school," I yelled as she ran down the stairs.
"Relax mom," she said running out the door as I went to get the phone.
"Yes Kyle I am just about to leave," I said. The years had flown by fast Savannah was now 14 and Reese was 7. We found out I was pregnant about a month after getting back from the trip we took with Nathan, Haley, Julian and Brooke. I ran out the door hoping to catch Lucas who was backing out of the driveway. He rolled down his window and I looked at Reese in the back.
"Hey don't forget Kole is coming for the weekend and the week, so make sure you stop at his house before you drop the kids off here and please make sure he grabs his bags this time," I said looking at Reese.
"I thought you were picking them up after school?"
"No you said you could. I have meetings all day Luke," I said.
"I'll figure something out," he said annoyed.
"What do you have going on?"
"Nothing, it's fine," he said rolling up the window. I waved goodbye as I went in the house grabbing my bag as I headed out the door to work.
"Brooke call me when you guys land okay? Otherwise I am going to worry sick," I said as I entered the office.
"What if she doesn't like me?" She said back into the phone.
"Honey who wouldn't like you," I said grabbing papers from Grayson and heading to my office. He followed me in my office while I continued the conversation. "Haiti wouldn't give you a child if they didn't think you were a good fit. She is going to love you and Julian and I'm going to spoil her rotten," I said laughing into the phone before we said our goodbyes and I got to work.
"You have a conference call on line 1 in about 2 minutes. Conference call on line 2 at 10 and a band is coming in at 1," Grayson said. Once Grayson was done with high school, went to college I told him I would offer him an internship and then a job if he were still available. "What would I do without you?" I asked.
"I'm not sure, oh," he said walking out of the office and came back with my coffee.
"You're a life saver," I said taking it from him as my phone line rang.
"Does that mean a raise is in the future?" he asked. I laughed as I took the call and started my day from hell. After the phone calls and meeting with the band I headed back to the house. Lucas just dropped off the kids as I was pulling into the driveway. "Hey," I said getting out of the car.
"I got to go," he said.
"Where?" I asked.
"Nathan and I are going to go work out. By the way Savannah brought Grace home so she's going to have to go to the gymnastics meet with you tomorrow," he said.
"Luke she's grounded, did you not understand what grounded is and don't you mean us, as in you and me going to the meet tomorrow," I said as he tried to speed up the conversation.
"I'm taking the boys to Charlotte with Nathan and our nephews to watch the basketball game," he said.
"And when were you going to tell me about this?"
"I just did."
"Honey this is the second meet that you've missed and I'm starting to wonder if you're going to miss every one she has," I said irritated.
"Not now Peyton okay I will talk to you when I get home," he said rolling up the window and driving away. I heard a loud bang coming from the boys room and went in there to see the boys jumping from the bunk beds.
"No," I said in the doorway. "Last time you did that Reese you got a cast on your arm, do you want that again?"
"Yeah," he said his eyes lighting up.
"No. If I catch you again we wont get pizza, movies or ice cream tonight," I said which made them stop.
"Fine can we go in the pool then?" Reese asked.
"Yes, but just the shallow end," I said to them before I went in the kitchen.
"How many times do I have to tell you that the counter is not for your butt Savannah," I said taking the candy bar from her and handing her an apple. I threw the candy bar away as I said hi to Grace and got the number for the pizza place.
"Mom can we go see a movie tonight?" Savannah asked.
"Well I was thinking we could go rent movies," I said.
"I know but there is a bunch of people going and we just want to go," she said looking at Grace.
"Savannah you have a meet tomorrow morning," I said.
"I know and I promise we will be home by 9. It's an early movie and we will be back I promise."
"Have you forgotten you're grounded?"
"Well I was thinking since Grace is over that you and dad kind of gave that up?" She asked innocently.
"Fine. If you're not home by 9:00 sharp, you will be grounded for a month and I mean it this time," I said as the girls raced off to her room.
"What kind of pizza?" I yelled.
"Any," they screamed running up the stairs.
"Reese and Kole come on we need to go to the video store and pick up pizza," I said from the kitchen.
"Mom can we get a game and a movie?" Reese asked coming into the kitchen with Kole behind him.
"I thought your wii broke?" I asked setting the mail down and getting a zip up from the closet.
"Dad said he was going to buy another one before he came home tonight," he said. I exhaled getting irritated that we needed another game system in our house when the other one broke. Lucas had been acting strange lately, he wasn't really telling me things and we haven't been communicating easily lately. Everything was very hectic at this time. Savannah was in Gymnastics which pretty much took up the whole week from Monday through Sunday and Reese's' basketball was every other weekend with Lucas.
"Fine, get your shoes on," I said as the boys went to the front and I went upstairs.
"Hey were going to get movies and pizza. We will be back in an hour or so, keep the doors locked and the alarm on," I said to her.
"Okay," she returned to my statement turning the music back up.
"Let's go," I said grabbing my purse and turning the alarm on as I locked the door and went to the car.
"Okay guys one movie and one game," I said as we entered the store. The boys ran inside going straight to the video games and I went and got some movies from the new release shelves, not knowing what Lucas would want to watch. Who knows if he would even be there. As I paid Reese grabbed my keys and went back into the car with Kole I paid for the movies and ordered the pizza as I hopped into the car. I went in to pick up the pizzas and headed back to the house. The boys jumped out when they saw Lucas' car in the driveway and ran inside.
"Dad," Reese screamed at the top of his lungs when he went inside. I grabbed the pizzas from the passenger side as Lucas came out of the house.
"You could have informed me that you were buying him a new Wii," I said to him as he grabbed the food from me.
"I knew you would say no," he said.
"I wouldn't say no, but I wish you would have told me," I said. He kissed me on the lips and said, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, but can you please talk me about these things first," I asked him.
"Yeah," he said as we went back in the house. We called everyone to the table to eat before the girls went out and the boys were in Reese's room the rest of the night. I was taking out my earrings in the mirror and washing my face when Lucas came in to brush his teeth.
"When are the girls coming back?" He asked putting toothpaste on his brush.
"They should be home soon," I said looking at the clock.
"You shouldn't have let her go out, she has a meet tomorrow," he said spitting out the toothpaste into the sink.
"Well you shouldn't have let Grace come over. Lucas she's 14 years old okay we cant keep her in the house locked up all the time," I said to him.
"Why not," he said putting the toothbrush in the holder.
"She's growing up," I said to him.
"Way too fast. What are we doing tonight?" he asked me.
"I rented some movies, I thought we could just do some popcorn and cuddle. We haven't done that in a while and I miss you," I said looking at him through the mirror. He wrapped his arms around me and buried his head in my neck.
"I'm sorry," he said. I reached my hand and wrapped it around his head taking in his scent.
"What's going on with you Luke?"
"I went to the doctors today," he said and I quickly turned around to face him.
"What? Lucas why didn't you tell me? What's going on?" I asked question after question.
"Nothings wrong, I just wasn't feeling myself and they did test but found nothing, they think it was just a bug. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to worry you if nothing was wrong," he said. I grabbed his face and replied, "You have to tell me when you're not feeling good. I thought we were losing each other again Luke. You were gone all the time and I wanted you and you weren't here, I just thought you found something better to do then be with your family, especially me," I said leaning against the counter as he picked me up and set me on it. I wrapped my legs around his body pulling him closer to me while I wrapped my arms around his body.
"I'm not leaving you Peyton if that's what you've been thinking. I love you and our kids I would never do that. I've been just really stressed with work. I got a call from California asking me to take the Head Basketball coaching job at UCLA a few days ago and I didn't know what to say and I asked for a few days to think about it."
"Luke do you have anything else you would like to inform me of, since I apparently know nothing about your life and I'm your wife."
"I know okay but with everything that has been going on with your work, I knew I couldn't take the job. Our life is here. Brooke, Julian, Haley and Nathan, and our nieces and nephews, honey I couldn't take you and the kids away from it all," he said. I knew he was right, I wouldn't want to move, but it was his dream and Red Bedroom Records had grown so much in the past 7 years that I established on in California where Mia had taken charge over there.
Lucas this is your dream. You got a college coaching job at one of the nicest colleges ever. We would have sacrificed for you," I said as I leaned my head against his.
"And I love you for that, but I couldn't ask you to give up everything here," he said as I kissed him slowly.
"Do you want the job?" I asked him
"I don't know Peyton," he said rubbing my back.
"Well what if we didn't have to move? I mean basketball season is what, in October till April? What if you spent weekdays and weekends you have games there and come home when you can and if that doesn't work we can fly there some weekends and you will be back for 6 months in April, I mean it could work," I said before I was interrupted by his lips crashing into mine. I grabbed the back of his head pulling him closer to me to make the kiss mean more then it was intended to.
"I can't. I can't be away from you and the kids for that long, I don't know what I would do if you weren't in my life everyday. I wake up to you everyone morning sleeping on my chest and I go to bed with you the same way. Peyton," he said lifting up my chin so I could look at him in the eyes. "I can't leave you." I kissed him again as I had to use my hands to steady myself on the counter.
"Aunt Peyton," we heard a voice in the bathroom doorway where I saw Kole looking at us as Lucas pulled away quickly.
"Whats up buddy," I asked hopping off the counter.
"Mom is on the phone," he said looking between me and Lucas then handing me the phone.
"Did you land?" I asked.
"Yes safe and sound, we are just heading over to our hotel and will finally get to meet her tomorrow.
"Oh that's awesome, I am so happy for you. Oh and if your son says anything about me and Lucas kissing we totally didn't," I said laughing as Lucas grabbed my stomach and went out of the room. We talked a little bit more before I hung up the phone and went into the kitchen where Lucas had made popcorn and was separating into different bowls.
"Boys," he said handing it to me as I walked down the hall and put it in the boys' room as they were yelling at each other playfully due to their game.
"Not too late," I said but felt like they didn't hear me as I shut their door and walked back into the kitchen and saw the front door open. I looked at the clock to see that it was 9:04 and the girls just walked in.
"How was the movie?" I asked Savannah and Grace.
"It was awesome," she said handing me back the money I had given here. I put it in my purse as they followed me into the kitchen. I handed them a bowl of popcorn and the movie I had rented for them.
"Thanks mom," Savannah said as they walked up the stairs to her room.
"Did you rent our movie in the adult only section?" Lucas asked and I hit him on the arm.
"No I didn't," I said popping some popcorn in my mouth. We went into the living room and I grabbed a bottle of wine and glasses from the wine fridge taking a seat on the couch. I poured wine while Lucas put in the movie. Taking a sip of the wine Lucas took the cup from my hand bending down to kiss me.
"I love you," he whispered before taking a seat.
"Do you love me enough to get the remote control you forgot on top of the TV," I asked as he groaned. I laughed getting up and grabbing it as I took the bowl of popcorn from him. I cuddled next to him after he ate all the popcorn and fell asleep in a few minutes into the movie.
"Hey, babe let's go to bed," he said as he muted the TV and I slowly rose from his chest. He turned off the TV while I folded the blanket and put it back on the back of the couch.
"Check on the boys, make sure their game is off and they are in bed," I whispered. I grabbed the glasses from the counter along with the empty bowl and brought them into the kitchen. Putting the bowl in the dishwasher and the glasses in the sink, I washed them right away. My hands were so slippery from the soap one of the glasses fumbled out of my hands and I heard it break and fall into the water.
"Great," I said reaching for it but knick my fingered and I pulled away quickly as blood was starting to form around my index finger. I ran it under cold water and reached for a band-aid.
"What did you do?" Lucas asked helping me reach it on the top shelf.
"One of the wine glasses broke," I told him as he stopped the water and grabbed my hand.
"Not too bad," he said wiping the blood with a napkin before placing the band-aid on. I looked at him as he threw the wrapper away and came back over to me.
"What?" he asked me.
"Nothing," I said as we walked upstairs. I looked to see that the girls were in bed already but the TV was just playing snow and I stepped over Grace to turn it off. I pulled the covers over Savannah, moving her bangs and placing a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you," I whispered as she mumbled it back turning over to the side and going back to sleep. I saw Lucas coming out of the bathroom and crawling into the bed as I pulled back the covers crawling in next to him. I brushed my hand across his chest leading down to his sweats as he lay on top of me. I watched the clock change every minute for the last hour 3 hours. I was wrapped in Lucas' arms and looked up at his sleeping face. I traced my fingers from his forehead to his chin flowing all the way to his neck. He moved and pulled me closer to him without opening his eyes.
"What's on your mind," he said so low I could barely hear him.
"I want you to take the job," I said and he moved again as I crawled away from his arms and onto my own pillow. He rubbed his face opening his eyes to look at me.
"Peyton it's 3 in the morning can we talk about this later," he said.
"Luke you got offered a college basketball job," I told him.
"If I take the job we wont be able to do what we just did a few hours ago," he said giving me a smile.
"It's not about sex Lucas. You've been saying you wanted a college coaching job for 3 years and it's finally here," I told him.
"But it's not in North Carolina let alone South."
"Honey this is a dream come true. Why don't you try it? We've gone through so much together I don't see how this would affect our relationship. When do you have to give an answer?"
"By Sunday," he told me.
"How about this, we will go to a late dinner together when you get back and I'll ask Haley to watch the kids for a few hours so we can talk and have dinner," I said.
"That sounds good can we just go back to bed now," he said pulling me into him and we fell asleep. My alarm went off a few minutes later and I took a shower before I had to wake up the girls.
"Vannah, it's time to get up. So take a shower and get in warm up," I said rubbing her back.
"Okay," she said slowly rolling over and opened her eyes.
"Grace, honey it's time to get up, do you need a shower?" I asked her.
"No, I will take one at my house," she said.
"We have to drop her off before the meet, her mom has plans with her grandma today," Savannah said.
"Okay, so get up Savannah make sure your hair is wet so I can do it," I said to her as I went downstairs to make breakfast. As I let the waffle maker heat up I walked upstairs to our room to wake Lucas up. He grabbed me pulling me down as I started laughing.
"Stop, I have to get breakfast ready," I said getting up fixing my top so my bra wasn't showing.
"Well I'm going to shower and then wake up the boys," he said as I left the room to continue breakfast.
"Mom," Savannah said as she took a seat and handed me her hair bag setting it on the table.
"Ouch," she said holding her head.
"Sorry, your hair is just so longs and it needs to be tight," I said to her.
"I know but if you keep pulling I won't have anymore hair. Where's dad," she asked me.
"Showering," I said putting her hair into her tight bun.
"Is he coming today," she asked me and I didn't have the heart to tell her the truth. "I'm taking that as a no."
"Savannah he wanted to okay," I said as I finished hair spraying her hair.
"Just like he wanted to last week but didn't?" she asked grabbing her bag off the table and headed upstairs as I told her to get Grace for breakfast. We all sat down at the breakfast table and ate while the boys explained to me about the big game today they were seeing.
"Let's go," I said as I finished the dishes and we headed to the car. Savannah went upstairs to grab her bag and Lucas came to the front door. Grace headed to the car and Lucas gave me a kiss goodbye. Savannah came down the stairs when Lucas tried to wish her luck and say goodbye but she bolted out the door without even looking at him.
"Shit," he said running his hand through his hair.
"I'll try and talk to her in the car." I told him kissing him one last time. "Don't forget to make reservations for tonight," I told him.
"Where," he asked as I headed to the car and turned around.
"Surprise me," I smiled putting my sunglasses.
"Keep me updated," he said before I got in. I waved goodbye as we drove to Graces' house and then to the gym. Savannah warmed up while I talked to some of the parents of the other girls. I saw Savannah fall of the balance beam and my heart stopped but she got up right away laughing as she did. It always killed me to see her fall because who knows if it would be the last time she would walk or do gymnastics again.
"Mrs. Scott?" I heard my name being said as I looked up to see a man I didn't recognize.
"Yes," I said confused.
"Hi I'm Coach Cory from UNC gymnastics," he said holding out his hand for me to shake, which I did while I stood up.
"Hi, I'm Peyton," I said.
"I've been watching your daughter since she was 12 and I have to say she is amazing and has something that I haven't seen in 14 year old in a long time," he said.
"Thank you," I told him.
"Has she thought about continuing gymnastics through college?"
"Well she is only a freshman in high school so we haven't really talked about it," I told him looking at her as she was looking at me excitedly which I had a feeling she knew who he was.
"I understand. I was wondering if she would be interested in training with some of the gymnasts at our gym on the days we have practice," he asked me.
"Wow, that's an honor that I would have to talk to her about and along with my husband," I told him.
"That's all I ask. Here is my card, if you could call me and let me know that would be great." He said handing it to me. "Do you have one by chance?"
"Yeah," I told him opening my purse and pulling out my card for Red Bedroom Records.
"I look forward to hearing from you Peyton," he said before leaving and taking a seat by the other people he was with. Savannah was doing her personal best on everything but the uneven bars. She always had trouble with them since she was younger and her routine was pretty easy for someone who was so good in all the other activities. I watched as she stumbled a little as she landed on the mat and her score went down, but was still in first until the results for Kaylee Becker came in and she took over Savannah's spot. Savannah still had floor routine, which was one of her best. I watched her talking to the coach who seemed to be giving her advice as she looked at me and I smiled.
"Good job today," I said hugging her when she came over to me after her team meeting and the competition was done.
"I'm so hungry," she said as I handed her a Gatorade I had bought right before the end.
"Well I will stop at a drive thru on the way home for you and your brother," I said grabbing one of her bags from her and we headed to the car. We talked about the NC coach and what he wanted which she was very excited about. We drove to Subway getting food for everyone and headed back to the house. Savannah ate in the kitchen and the boys came rushing with food from McDonalds into the kitchen. Lucas came in talking on the phone as I held up Subway and he mouthed, "Sorry." I put the sandwiches in the fridge and hugged him. He went over to Savannah kissing the top of her head and congratulating her. She nodded her head as she ate and Lucas sat down on the chair next to her as he hung up the phone.
"Boys can you go out on the deck and eat I need to talk to Savannah," he said as I helped the boys move outside.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there today," he told her reaching for her hand, which she pulled back.
"It's fine," she said.
"It's not and I'm your father and I can tell that it is bothering you," he said. "I promise I will be at the next one."
"Like you promised to be at this one?" She said getting up from the table.
"Sit down." She reluctantly sat back down folding her arms across her chest.
"I don't care if you're there anymore, you can choose to be there or not it's your choice dad not mine," she said getting up and leaving this time.
I wrapped my arms around him bending down so my face was next to his. "She's a teenager and this is how they are, you'll be forgiven tomorrow, I promise," I told him. The doorbell rang and saw Jaime coming in the hall with his mom behind him.
"Savannah is upstairs Jaime," I told him as he went back the way he came.
"Thanks again for taking them Haley," I said.
"No problem, " she said holding Quincey in her arms.
"Hey cutie pie," Lucas said taking Quincey out of Haley's arm and threw her up in the air as she giggled. Quincey was born about 3 years ago and was an exact picture og Haley when she was little.
"She's gotten so big," I said hugging Haley.
"I know, she got my looks and her dads height," she said laughing. The kids left with the other Scott family as Lucas and I got ready for dinner. We had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants on the pier and just talked about everything. Anything that could be a bad idea about going and also the good things about going were discussed. I had told Lucas about the NC coach and he was thrilled for Vannah wishing that he could have been there, but agreed that she should practice with the coach.
"I really think you should go out there look at it and decided from there," I told him on the way to Naley's house to pick up the kids.
"I can't imagine leaving you," he said holding my hand while he brought it up to his lips kissing it.
"Lucas I could do my work in California too if we ever needed to see you. We would be there when the kids don't have school and on breaks, I mean we can make it work and if there is anyone who could it would be us," I said to him.
"I hate to say it but you're right. What if it doesn't work?"
"Then you come back home, be on the next flight out and I will be waiting here for you," I said to him.
"How do we tell the kids?" He asked me.
"Tomorrow during breakfast," I told him grabbing his leg as we picked up the kids. The boys went into their room right when we got home and Savannah went up to hers. I knew the next morning was going to be rough for both of us but especially for Lucas. We had made breakfast and were sitting at the table when Savannah came in. We had discussed before going to bed last night that we wanted to tell Savannah and then Reese. Reese we believed wouldn't care as much as Savannah would and Savannah was going to have a harder time understanding. We ate breakfast and the boys went to play in the pool while Savannah and I did the dishes. Lucas took a seat at the table and I looked at him to reassure that this was the right time and he said, "Savannah we want to talk to you about something."
"Okay whatever Reese told you I swear I didn't do," she said wiping her hands on the towel that was sitting on the counter and I followed her to the table.
"No it's nothing about that thing that Reese thinks you did," I told her confused.
"Okay, well what is it then?" she asked me and then looked at Lucas.
"I got a coaching job for a college team, for basketball," he told her.
"Really dad that's great," she told him.
"It's a UCLA Savannah," he said and her smile turned into curiousness.
"Well you're not taking it right?" She asked him and then turned to look at me.
"Savannah, honey this is a huge opportunity for your dad," I said grabbing her hand.
"So what that means we have to move away from here to California?" She asked angrily pulling her hand out of mine.
"No that's the good thing about it. You and Reese along with your mom will stay here while I'm in California, I will come back when I have time off and you guys can fly down on weekends if you want," he told her trying to sound enthused about it.
"Oh so you leave us," she said sarcastically.
"Savannah I'm not leaving you, I'm going to see how it works out and if it doesn't then I will be back on a plane in a matter of minutes," he told her.
"So I'm just supposed to be okay with this. You were gone for the first seven years of my life and now you're doing it again," she started to yell and stood up.
"Savannah Sawyer Scott, you do not talk to your father like that, and it was my fault he wasn't there in your life when you were younger," I said to her.
"He left you mom, and know he's doing it again," she started crying walking out of the kitchen.
"Savannah," I yelled for her and she turned around.
"Next time you make a promise to me, I don't want to hear it. I'm guessing you won't be at my next meet either? I hate you," she said while tears rolled down her face and leaving the kitchen.
"You do not just walk out on us." Lucas said standing from the kitchen table.
"No that's your job," she said as she grabbed her purse from the table and left the house.