Sarah frowned when she received such a hostile greeting from Paul, "I know and I'm sorry. I've never been here before and I don't know my way around this side of town and ended up lost in some weird one way system. Where is she?"
Fully aware that she was probably talking about Lucy and not Stephanie he didn't care that he would be misleading her as she was the one who made the assumption and in his mind anyone who makes assumptions deserves to look like an ass, "she's in the lounge."
Taking that as an invitation inside Sarah walked right past him to find her way to the lounge.
Sighing he shut the door behind her and turned around frowning when she went to walk past it he shook his head, "you're passing the lounge. Next time wait for an invitation in."
Tensing a little at the knowledge that Sarah was about to enter the lounge she didn't think she would be terribly pleased when she saw her sat there. Looking at the doorway she wasn't surprised when Sarah burst in and stopped dead when she saw that Lucy wasn't in the room, "hello Sarah."
Turning around to face the woman from her previous meeting with Paul she glared at her, "you?! What the hell are you doing here? This is between myself and Paul about our daughter."
Having followed his ex-girlfriend to the lounge Paul leant on the door frame immediately bristling at the way Sarah spoke to Stephanie, "she is here because she is my girlfriend, she has been one of few women who have been a constant in Lucy's life and she has her best interests at heart. I also believe that she deserves to be here because Lucy calls her 'Mom' and sees her as her 'Mom' so she knows more about your daughter than you do."
Paul brushed past Sarah and took a seat next to Stephanie on the couch resting his arm on the back of the couch behind her, "so if you're serious about this then I suggest you take a seat otherwise you can walk out of the door and will only get to see Lucy if you go through the courts."
Stephanie was surprised by the hard approach that Paul was taking but he knew Sarah better than she did so he would obviously know the best way to handle her. Her surprise got even bigger when Sarah actually took a seat on the chair opposite them.
Sarah was not happy with the way Paul was speaking with her but if she played nice enough she would get out of this everything she wanted and her life would be perfect all over again.
Looking at his ex Paul tried to read her but her eyes were kind of glossed over and vacant, "so what is it exactly that you are expecting Sarah?"
Things were going smoothly and she would use it to her advantage, "I want to spend some quality time with my daughter to make up for the time I have missed."
He rolled his eyes, "practically an entire year of it. You have a lot to make up for."
"I can do it though. I have changed, my life has changed, everything has changed and I really want to make it right with my daughter."
Shrugging his shoulders he decided to bite and believe the words that were coming out of her mouth, "I guess if you're serious about spending time with Lucy then you'll agree to anything won't you?"
Sarah frowned, "exactly what are you saying Paul? You won't let me see Lucy without some strict rules?"
"I wouldn't say strict rules as such but there are certain things that I expect you to adhere to."
Rolling her eyes she crossed her arms over her chest, "what things do you expect me to adhere to?"
Stephanie placed her hand on Paul's thigh and squeezed it gently giving him the encouragement to say what he wanted and needed to say.
Feeling the encouragement from the touch of his girlfriend Paul was ready to do this, "okay let me put it this way, if you want to spend time with Lucy then you do it on my terms. You will spend time with Lucy under mine or somebody else who I trust's supervision and you will spend time with her when I say you can on a consistent and regular basis."
Frowning Sarah glared at Stephanie, "this is all your doing bitch. If it wasn't for you I would have my family and would be able to spend as much time as I want to with my daughter."
Paul's jaw tensed, "don't you dare talk to Stephanie like that because if you do you'll find that the offer I just put in front of you will be taken back and you will have to go to court. If you must know though, if it wasn't for Stephanie you wouldn't even be given this chance. She is the one who convinced me that you deserved this opportunity so it may be in your best interest to thank her rather than blaming her for not getting what you think you deserve."
Stephanie shook her head, "she doesn't need to thank me. As a Mother myself I know what my child means to me and I just hope that what lights my fire also light hers."
Rolling her eyes Sarah shook her head, "Lucy isn't your daughter so back the fuck off."
Having had enough of Sarah's anger Paul got up from his seat on the couch and went over to the mantelpiece and picked up one of the early family photos and handed it to her, "take a look at this picture and then re-think your approach."
Looking at the picture in her hands Sarah took notice of Paul and Stephanie with their arms wrapped around each other and the fact that each of them had a child on one of their hips, "who's the boy?"
Stephanie sighed softly, "my son. You're not the only person in this room who has given birth to a child so do you now understand why I thought you deserved a second chance?"
Knowing that she wasn't going to win this one Sarah nodded her head and decided to get things back on track, "okay fine I get it, thank you. So when will I get to see Lucy? Is she upstairs or something?"
Shaking his head Paul sat on the edge of the couch, "she's not here. If you are serious about it then you can see her for the first time next Saturday. I will expect you here at eleven o'clock on the dot and you can spend one hour with her to begin with."
"One hour?! Are you serious? That is nothing."
Rubbing his temples he frowned, "I'm deadly serious. Sarah she doesn't know you, I don't want to overwhelm her so we will start with one hour and then we will increase the time you get to spend with her once she knows who you are. Do you have a problem with that?"
Sighing she shook her head, she couldn't argue with him if she didn't want him to take it back, "no, no problem. I guess I will see you and Lucy next Saturday then Paul."
Paul stood up, "you will see Stephanie next week also. Do not argue with me about it, you will not win."
Nodding her head in acknowledgement of what he had said she stood up and followed Paul to the door.
Once she was out of the door and he had shut it behind her Sarah pulled the phone from her pocket frowning that she had twelve missed calls. Looking through the call log she groaned when she saw who was calling. Before she could put her phone away again it started ringing in her hand and the name on the screen was the same name as the person who had been ringing her for the past half an hour.
Reluctantly she answered the phone, "yes Kevin." Walking down the drive she rolled her eyes as he kept talking without taking a breath until she was finally able to talk, "I'm sorry, I was trying to get you your money . . . yes I know I owe you thirteen grand . . . no I haven't gotten any money yet, the stupid bitch is painting herself out to be a Saint but I promise I'll have some money for you next week . . . trust me, he's rolling in it, you should see the house he is living in now . . . I'll call you next week once I have money to give you I swear . . . okay, bye."
Hanging up the phone she slid it back in her pocket, next week she had to get money out of him otherwise she'd probably end up in hospital. Climbing back in her car she started it and drove away to work out how to get money out of him.
