A new face after the race
Chapter 23
Sunday came around sooner than Lucky thought. He borrowed Elizabeth's room at Kelly's she used if she closed up to get some rest. Elizabeth didn't use it that often anymore because Emily took it upon herself to close up. He had no problem with it, but he was scared for her safety even though he knew she could take care of herself, but after that last encounter with Mark, he wasn't too sure about that anymore. Sure normal Port Charles guys weren't that strong, but he was still worried nonetheless.
He wouldn't speak of it openly though, but he suspected Emily figured it out early on. His coming around after closing time with the excuse he just wanted to see her was good, but Emily knew him better than that. She didn't mind though, she liked the occasional ride; they spent little time with each other as it was with her schooling and their work schedules. Anytime they had even five minutes together would be considered a blessing.
That time maybe ending though. He didn't want to think so, but it was a possibility. If this plan of his didn't work out and there was always a possibility of that happening. Elizabeth might have been wrong for all he knew, but he asked himself, what did he have to lose? His parents didn't trust him anymore, his job was still there, but this was his social life he was talking about. Then there was Emily, she couldn't get anymore angry at him and that was saying something. She could get angry at a pin falling if her patience was incredibly thin. He tended to keep his mouth shut if it was, but it didn't happen that often thank goodness. If it did, Emily would have been a lot less popular.
But what did he care of that? Emily didn't like big crowds and get-togethers as it was. One of the main reasons they didn't go out and eat often though she had the occasional need to get out. He wasn't complaining though, it made his paycheck a lot heavier and when she did, he could spoil her rotten. Though he might have to do that for a while to get out of the current hole he was in.
He wasn't going into thinking of it though. It just made him angry and he lost good judgment when angry. He couldn't lose his head, not now; when everything was on the line.
The lunch crowd was starting to come though. He would get out of it soon enough, he had to or else he wouldn't make it through the lonely nights.
Emily sat in Liz's car as she drove her to work. She didn't want to come even though the money was needed, but she found she didn't care anymore. She just wanted to curl up in her bed and hide from the world, cowardly she knew, but she couldn't show her face. If Sarah's baby's father was spread, she just would get pity and if she got too much, she would scream, literally.
Emily wanted to believe Lucky that Sarah was lying, but what was she to think? He definitely had the urge because it wasn't happening between them and he was a guy with needs.
She knew from personal experience that for a man to deny the act would be almost impossible. Even for Lucky. It hurt too much to think of that though, so she quickly pushed the memories and thoughts away and settled for studying the scenery.
A blue two-story house attached with a small garage was recently put up for sale and Emily remembered a small family lived there before. They had decided to move to a busy city though because it offered more opportunities.
Maybe she would do the same after she graduated with her degree in journalism. There certainly wasn't anything holding her here. Sure she had Jason and Melissa, but they would be fine without her. The boyfriend status was to be announced, so the only thing really keeping her here was school, her job which would keep until she got her degree, and that was it. Sure she had her friends, but she didn't see that as a reason to stay. They could stay connected by phone and email.
So why didn't she just transfer to another school and get another job and get a place of her own as many kids did? She didn't know, but she suspected that something was here that she couldn't leave behind. That something was probably her heart and soul which belonged to Lucky. Always would. She knew there would be no one else for her, no doubt she could try, guys were always flirting with her and interested so that wasn't a problem. She would just compare every guy to Lucky, her first love and that wasn't right. The other guy deserved more than that.
Which led her to her problem in the first place, but luckily she didn't have to think of it since she saw Kelly's growing bigger in the distance. Work would keep her busy and wouldn't let her mind wander. This was one time she wished for a big crowd despite the pain she would be feeling later. But that would take her mind off her problems as well.
Sarah sat in the chair, eating some fries waiting for her grandmother to show up. Her gram said she would take lunch off so that they could have a talk. About the baby no doubt which was big in her grandmother's mind.
Personally she didn't know what to do about it. A part of her said to abort it, but even wicked she couldn't find the courage to do so. She didn't know how she would take care of it either. The child was a living thing and not one of those plastic dolls she had to take care of in high school. That didn't go too good as it was. Apparently she wasn't fit for being a mother. Which enlightened one option, she would have to give up the child and hope he and she would be taken care of by a nice couple looking for a child.
It would hurt her to do so, but inside she knew it would be better for the child. She would have to sacrifice herself for her child though. It was what parenting meant. Her parents sacrificed themselves multiple times for her brother, sister, and herself. She had to return the favor.
Her original plan of saying Lucky was the father blew up in her face. She thought Lucky would accept the child and play along, and probably would if it was Emily. So it was her. Why hadn't she seen it? There had so much hatred towards her, but what did she expect? She was infatuated with him and took it a bit far, even evil her.
She ignored the rejection, but the anger and total rejection he gave blew it away. She blew any chance she had with him the first time around. She didn't know how to make him like her though. So she blurted out his name, hoping that lucky would go with it. She believed he would, but now she was in even more trouble.
She could deny what she said, but a part of her couldn't. It somehow kept her silent. The more talk of the baby, the more she would want to spit it out though and she guessed she would have to face reality. It just wasn't inviting at the moment.
Her grams took that moment to show up. The bell rang and Audrey approached the table. She sat down. "Sarah how nice of you to join me for lunch today. That room must have been too inviting to come out." Sarah had hid in her room yesterday, saying she wasn't feeling well. That was correct in the morning though so it wasn't a total lie.
"I thought I needed some fresh air and why not get some in the process of having lunch with my grandmother and landlord?" Sarah asked supposedly, with a simple gesture.
"Why not indeed." Audrey echoed Sarah's words and looked through the menu absent mindly.
Elizabeth came to take their order at this time and Audrey ordered a turkey sandwich with some water. She expected Emily, but apparently she was working the cashier today. Sarah saw she looked unaffected as usual, but was a bit off. A pass of guilt passed through her. That was because of her.
She didn't know anything of Emily, but she really knew now Emily didn't deserve to go through this mess either. She felt the lost love and despair in her, but could do nothing. She knew now that the love Emily and Lucky was stronger than she thought and she would have to live with it. She was setting herself up for a fall when she went after him anyway. Her heartbreak was a result of a relentless pursuit that was caused by her and only her.
"So, the reason you really invited is...." Sarah started, motioning for Audrey to answer as Elizabeth left, a smirk on her face when turned away.
"The child as you probably guessed. We have to talk about what you are going to do." Audrey replied, facing her directly.
Sarah sighed deeply. "I don't know what I am going to do yet." She admitted openly, finding her appetite gone.
"That's why we have to talk. It's up to you to decide your child's path, but I can be here to help you decide. I know Friday night I said some things I shouldn't have, but you have to understand my shock and anger." Audrey said, straight to the point and Sarah took the second part as an apology.
"That's okay, I got my self into a mess, I admit. Some things needed to be said." Sarah, said, not placing blame on Audrey for once.
Audrey nodded and spoke up. "Okay, now that's settled what's on your mind with the child?"
"I'm thinking adoption. I can't abort it, but I can't see myself raising it either. I don't have the maternal instincts others have." Sarah replied.
"That's always wise, but can you really see the child off after you went through the pain and misery of pregnancy and labor?" Audrey responded, knowing the connection the child and mother share after those long months and hours.
"I might have to, parents sacrifice for their children, and this would be the only sacrifice I can make. The child deserves better." Sarah revealed her thoughts.
"It's good you realize that; its one step towards motherhood. But whatever you decide to do, know I'll stand by you no matter what." Audrey smiled and offered her comfort, laying a hand on Sarah's. Sarah gave a small smile.
"Thanks, gram. I'll take that to heart." Sarah said as Elizabeth came back with Audrey's sandwich. The crowd was a big larger than expected, so Kelly's wasn't as fast as it usually was.
They ate their meals in a comfortable silence. It stayed like that until a big crowd of young men entered. To the naked eye it looked like a little get together, but Sarah knew better and immediately paled, staring in horror. It was all the men she slept with during the times of conception. Sarah checked a look to Elizabeth, the only person who could do this though Lucky was a likely suspect.
Elizabeth didn't hide her doing and gave a bright smile to Sarah, but Sarah understood her actions. She had this coming and they did have a right to know if they are the father. She shrunk down, hoping they wouldn't notice her. No luck, they spotted her and made their way to where she and Audrey were sitting.
"Sarah, Audrey." They all greeted politely.
Audrey got up from the table. "I need some fresh air." She excused herself and did so, walking out of the entrance of Kelly's.
Sarah inwardly groaned. Great, she didn't need this now. She wanted to decide what to do with the child before talking about the father, which is thought as Lucky, and would, for the moment at least. She would tell the truth when she was more stable minded.
She put up a smile that might have been a little too bright to be real. "Brad, Scott, Chris. What brings you here?" She asked acting clueless.
"You know what brings us here, and we don't have much time, so tell us if what we hear is true." A young, dirty-blond haired boy named Brad cut to the chase.
"Depends on what you heard. A lot of talk has been happening about me." Sarah replied, not exactly lying. A lot of stuff was going on about her.
"We're talking about the pregnancy, Sarah." Another young man asked. He had brown hair though. His name was Scott.
"We want to know who the father is." The final man identified as Chris said gravely serious.
"Haven't you heard? Lucky Spencer is. All of you are off the hook." Sarah played along with her charade.
"There's one problem with that rumor Sarah." Brad pointed out and continued. "You told me yourself that he wasn't interested and complained about it to us all. We highly doubt he's the father if he finds you repulsive, if what you say is true."
"It is true." Sarah argued.
"Then how can he be the father?" All of them challenged her with annoyed voices. Sarah stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.
"A good question, I would like to know as well." A voice announced. Sarah looked up, assuming to see Elizabeth, Emily, or Lucky. But it was none of the above. It was a middle aged woman dressed in a suit with a briefcase in hand.
"Do I know you?" Sarah asked trying to place the woman, but found she couldn't.
"No you don't, but you will soon enough. I assume your Sarah Webber. Am I right?" The woman asked, arousing her suspicions. She looked like a professional from the looks of it.
"Yes." She said cautiously knowing someone will tell her lie if she did.
The brunette gave a sigh of relief. "Good to know, I feared I would confuse you with your sister Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's head flew up with her name mentioned. The woman smiled and turned back to Sarah. Elizabeth's gaze flew to the stairs, where Lucky was hiding. He gave a smirk and lifted his shoulder to another person. Emily. Emily was currently going to the back to get something. Elizabeth caught the message and rushed over.
"Emily, didn't Bobby say to stay at the cashier?" Elizabeth questioned her.
Emily gave her a confused and skeptical glare. "Yes, but she said it was okay to leave if I needed to get something from the back."
Elizabeth frowned, knowing she wouldn't win. She needed Emily to stay at her designated post. "I'm heading back there to get this order; you don't need to do an extra trip." She insisted, knowing Emily was suspicious.
"What is this about Elizabeth?" Emily asked, wary and slightly annoyed.
"What is this about?" Elizabeth played innocent, echoing Emily's question.
"Yes, what is this about? Your insisting I stay here while you get what I need, which you don't even happen to know, nor asked." Emily said, not backing down until she got her answer.
"I'm just reinforcing Bobbie's rules." Elizabeth pleaded.
"Reinforcing Bobbie's rules, right." Emily said, impatient and turned away to go to the back.
Elizabeth shared another glance to Lucky. He made a couple motions that clued in to do what she had to. She stepped in front of Emily and the door and blocked her from going back there. She smiled, but Emily gave her a fierce look and turned to use the back way, not letting Elizabeth stop her.
It was Elizabeth's turn to motion to Lucky. He nodded and Elizabeth returned to her job.
Lucky shifted into his hiding as Emily came by. Boy, can she be stubborn. He thought and grabbed her when she came close enough. He covered her mouth so no scream would come and held her close though Emily resisted his hold. Desperate times, call for desperate measures, he chastised himself as Emily tried getting away from his hold. He wouldn't let go no matter what though. She needed to hear this.
"My sister's a brunette if it helps any." Sarah said, trying to make a peaceful conversation.
"I see that now, but your files had no pictures so I had no visual." The woman announced and gathered a chair near hers.
"You do now." Sarah remarked incredulously.
"So I do, won't happen again, I assure you." The woman said, making some notes. "Did I come at a bad time?" She gestured to the three men surrounding the table.
"No, we were just talking about the current rumors, I'm sure you've heard them." Sarah replied stiffly, wishing everyone away.
"Yes I have actually. From the accused father's own mouth too." The woman informed her.
"You spoke to Lucky?" Sarah said apparently surprised.
"Yes I have, he is my client as well as a friend's employer." The brunette clued Sarah in further. Sarah gave a confused look that she couldn't hide. "Oh, look at my manners. I'm sorry; you don't even know who I am. I am Alexis Davis, Lucky's lawyer if you haven't figured that out." The woman now identified as Alexis responded.
"Lawyer?" Sarah stuttered nervously.
"Yes, lawyer. But if you don't mind, this is on my lunch break and I have a case in a few hours I need to refresh on, so could we make this fast?" Sarah made no disagreement, so Alexis continued. "Lucky has been accused of being your unborn child's father, am I correct?"
"Accused? He is the father." Sarah argued, standing by the fact.
"There is no proof on that." Alexis disagreed. "You are aware that you hold the reputation of a bed-hopping playboy bunny, which means there could be a chance he isn't the father, seeing the number of possible men you slept with within your conception date."
"I am aware, thank you." Sarah spat angrily, hating being called that.
"Good, so were on the same level." Alexis breathed another sigh of relief and fished through her briefcase noisily. She pulled out a thick sheet of papers and plopped them on the table, pushing it towards Sarah.
Sarah gave one quizzically look to it and looked at Alexis. "What is that?" She asked.
"Many things technically, let me run it through for you. The vocabulary is more for the judge and lawyer to understand anyway." Alexis replied, and pointed towards the first piece of paper in the stapled packed. "This is a court order..."
"A court order? Saying what?" Sarah interrupted her.
"Yes, a court order and to answer your second question, I'm going to get there in a second. Will there be anymore interruptions so I can continue?" Alexis asked her patience thinning.
Silence ensued and Alexis took it as a yes. "As I said before this is a court order that says the accused father might be fighting for sole custody of the child you carry. I say might because a paternity test is the determining factor and on the next page it orders you to get him tested. If what you say turns to be true, you'll find yourself in court in about a week after the results come in and a judge will determine where the child goes; with the mother or the father in this particular case."
"Sole custody? The child isn't even born! Won't be until next year!" Sarah argued.
"What you say is true, but the earlier you get these things done, the faster I can move on to another case. Would you like to know what happens in the case, which would likely happen considering the ammo I can and will use in court, you lose your child?" Alexis, said not backing down. She has handled many cases like this. Anger is a common emotion.
"Go ahead; the papers will say it anyway." Sarah shrugged indifferent.
"Okay, in the case, no make that, when Lucky wins the custody case, the minute you give birth, the child will be taken from you and you will be banned from seeing the child until it is of eighteen years of age. Any objections?" Alexis asked, giving Sarah a chance to speak her mind.
"Yes one, what if I put it up for adoption?" Sarah asked, thinking she had Alexis caught.
"In that case, I will track down the child and my client will get custody of the child without the court case, making this process much easier for us." Alexis explained full on.
"What about abortion?" Sarah asked.
"That is against the law, but if you want an answer, I'll give you one anyway. In that case, I will have you arrested and sentenced for a possible five years of prison." Alexis said sternly.
Sarah paled at the thought of her in prison. She wouldn't look good in an orange jumpsuit. She grabbed the packet and looked at the court order. "How is Lucky going to pay for the paternity test if a restraining order is given?" Sarah asked, seeing triumph come her way. Lucky wouldn't win, she would see to that.
"Simple explanation really, he's not. On page four, paragraph three, it states that the accuser pays for the test, not the accused." Alexis pointed out.
"Wait a minute! I'm the accuser." Sarah realized.
"Yes, that is quite right." Alexis bit back the urge to roll her eyes.
"How am I going to pay for a paternity test? Those things are expensive. I'll never be able to afford it." Sarah complained.
"I doubt that, how can you have a three hundred dollar diamond bracelet, but not be able to pay for a small test? And you can fight the order, it's in your interest and right to do so, but with those kinds of clothes and jewelry, you'll lose easily and then there are those legal bills. They're nasty these days." Alexis shook her head dramatically.
Sarah realized she was beaten. Alexis was right on all accounts. Lucky would win and she'd have a worse life than now. There was only one thing she can do, come clean and hope for the best.
"What if I said that Chris, Brad, and Scott are right and that I never slept with Lucky?" Sarah surrendered with a deep sigh, but no one cared. They used all pity up for her long ago.
"Then that would make yourself clear of this court order and no legal trouble for you unless the possible fathers make some." Alexis motioned toward the three young men who, secretly giving them some clues to do so. She was all for lying, but about something like this, Sarah needed some to get into some trouble. You don't name a father that isn't a father. A child's paternity you do not mess with, as Sarah was doing. Sure she was still young, but old enough to know better.
"Then their right, okay? Lucky isn't the father, couldn't be." Sarah admitted, louder than she liked. All heard, even the struggling woman in the man's arms near the stairs. Elizabeth gave a sigh and Lucky grinned. That taught Sarah to mess with a Spencer and a child's father. She needed this long ago. Victory was good.
"Then we have no trouble then. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a real court case to get to." Alexis replied, insulting Sarah a bit, she left and Sarah found everyone looking at her. She looked away to find another observer that stuck out as important.
"So Lucky was telling the truth." Audrey responded, almost sneering. Sarah paled, now she was caught in a mess of all messes.
Elizabeth watched, feeling a little pity, but told herself Sarah had this coming. Elizabeth smiled, Lucky had a good plan, and she had to admit. She didn't like him literally attacking Emily to stay though, but she knew he was desperate, maybe beyond. But the pair was gone. No doubt Lucky took her upstairs so they could talk after the truth came out.
Sarah was in a different position. All were staring. More rumors would be started, but she's the one who got herself in this situation. She saw that now.
Audrey waited for Sarah to say something, but she was speechless, unable to figure out what to do. "Care to tell me who the father is? Or should I say possible fathers?" Audrey asked. Sarah stayed quiet. "Nothing? I hate to do this Sarah, but you are no longer welcome at the house until you figure out who the father is and until I know you are taking this pregnancy seriously. Lying about the father definitely shows you aren't. You don't joke about these things. And if you have any dignity left, apologize to Lucky and tell the Spencer's the truth while you're at it. You turned a whole family against Lucky in this process, I hope you realize that." Audrey announced and left without another word.
Life got worse when Sarah realized that Audrey didn't pay the bill and she had no money on herself. She ended up washing dishes to pay for it and her just reward was glares and evil, cold looks, that started spreading the news that she didn't know who the father of her child was. Her reputation was now at the highest it can be; now she will be totally shunned.
The Spencer's were a good family and to make the family look bad meant you were beyond evil. Now the town slut was pregnant, alone and homeless, not knowing who the father is. No one gave pity.
Soon she would be given more court orders to do a paternity test and all possible fathers took upon Alexis's services, seeing she was a good lawyer and would win at no cost except the child's. And those three weren't even half the possible fathers, and the numbers continued to grow daily. Sarah was in deep trouble all caused by herself.
Elizabeth was shocked, but Audrey announced that threat earlier, so Sarah just prolonged the inevitable. All calmed and she went back to work. Lucky had requested some time with Emily, so she wasn't working until later.
Upstairs it was deadly quiet. Emily stood at the window, looking out while Lucky hanged around the door.
He frowned and paced. She hadn't said a word since she had heard the truth of Sarah's child's paternity. That scared him. Something wasn't right. "Emily, say something, anything. Please." He begged.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly. Silence ensued.
Lucky took her apology as for not believing him. "It's alright. Sarah was pretty convincing and it's hard to believe my organs wouldn't jump up to a chance. I'm a guy after all."
Emily said nothing, not even the laugh he expected. He wished for a laugh. Emily was so down and depressed. He took it upon himself to make a move. He walked up to her and touched her shoulders, but wanted to hold her close, but didn't. She was reviving something and that something was the past and when thinking of it, she was reluctant to be touched. So he settled himself with that small touch. It was all he could get for now. "You can tell me anything you know that, don't you?" He said requesting her honesty.
"I know, but I can't speak of it. Not yet." Emily said and Lucky agreed. Emily would break and tell when she felt comfortable enough about talking about it. He had to accept that no matter how much he wanted to know what was hurting her now. She had too much of that. He just had to be patient and it was hard.
She wouldn't talk anytime soon though, despite his asking and curiosity. He would learn of what it was about, but not from her mouth. She should have told him then though, or else the risks and costs wouldn't have been that high and would have saved more lives. What could have been a simple truth became a complicated finding that could save a life.
Author's note: Bad ending, I know. I had trouble in ending the long chapter, so this is what it came to be. Have nothing to say, except to review, as you would expect. They will always be appreciated. Next update questionable, small writers block in figuring out how to get it where I want it. Writer's block evil.