"Sooooooooo….." She said, drawing out the word waiting for Will to make the introduction.
Will sighed. Could him mother get any more annoying? He thought.
"Mom, this is Paul Narita." Will said, pointing to Paul who had just closed the door and turned around to face them.
"Paul, this is my mom." Will said.
Paul walked over and extended his hand. "So you're the famous Sami that I have heard so much about?" he asked. "It's very nice to finally meet you."
Sami reached out and took his hand, shaking it firmly, "UH-OH." She said, "That can't be very good."
"What do you mean?" Paul asked, playing dumb.
"Don't be coy with me." She said, "You think I don't know that I have a notorious reputation in this town." She chuckled.
"I haven't heard a thing that would be anything less than flattering." Paul fibbed smoothly.
"Well then stick around a little longer." Sami laughed, "I am sure you will eventually."
"I like to form my own opinions about people." Paul said.
"Me too, so I can respect that." Sami agreed, "So how long have you known my son?" she asked.
"Just a few weeks." Paul said, taking a seat in the chair beside the couch.
"Well that explains why I didn't know you existed, it's been at least that long since I have seen Will, I was beginning to think he was avoiding me actually, but I see now he has just been… busy." She said.
"We've spent a lot of time together." Paul agreed.
"So how did you two meet?" Sami asked, looking between the two of them.
"Actually Sonny introduced us mom." Will said, hoping she would let the subject drop.
"You know Sonny?" she asked, looking at him in surprise.
"Yeah we have known each other for a few years." Paul answered.
"Do you have family here?" she pressed.
"Not here, no." Paul said, "My mom lives in San Francisco."
"Then what brought you here to our town?" she asked intrigued.
"I had surgery on my shoulder, and now I am going through therapy." Paul said, There was no way that he would say anything that would cause Will any sort of embarrassment.
"That's right, Lucas said that you play ball… basketball, football, soccer, something….?" she asked.
Will giggled.
"Nooo." Paul said shaking his head. "Baseball actually, I was a pitcher in the major league."
"You must have been pretty good then." She said, "Wait… you said WAS… what do you mean was?"
"Yeah, unfortunately I won't be able to pitch anymore since the surgery." He answered.
"Why not?" She asked. "Is your therapy not working?" she pried.
"Mom." Will said, "Why are you grilling him?"
Sami looked over to Will, "What?" she asked. "I am just trying to get to know him."
"Then can you ask him something a little less… invasive." Will said. "He may not want to talk about that."
"Sorry, was I being too nosy?" She asked. "Fine, we don't have to talk about why you can't play ball anymore."
"It's not that big of a deal, actually." Paul said. "I don't mind telling you, I can't play ball anymore because my arm has just given out, the surgery was so that I can still do normal day to day tasks. But they were not able to repair enough of the damage to allow me to continue playing."
"Oh, well I'm sorry." Sami said, "Did you enjoy playing?"
"Yes of course." Paul said, "I loved every second that I got to spend on the field."
"So what will you do now?" She asked.
"I haven't really figured it out yet." Paul said. "There are a lot of things that I could do actually."
"How long have you and Will been together?" She asked, moving along to the next topic.
"A few weeks, mom." Will jumped in, exasperated.
"So you have basically been dating since you met?" She asked.
"I asked Will out, the first day I met him." Paul confirmed.
"Well since you are here," Sami said, indicating the apartment, "I am assuming that you know Arianna."
"Of course he knows Ari, mom, I can't just hide her under a rock when I want to have someone over or go out." Will groaned.
"No, of course not." She said, "I know that, I just know how you are with Arianna."
"Yeah, well Paul has developed quite a relationship with her." Will said, "Arianna adores him."
"Well that's good." Sami acknowledged. "It is important for her to like whoever you are spending your time with. It will make things easier in the long run. Remember the hell you put me through the first time I was with EJ?"
"Ari more than likes Paul." Will reiterated. "This situation is a whole lot different than our situation was back then."
"You're right about that!" She agreed. "Has my mother met him yet?" Sami asked.
Will groaned…. He had prayed she wouldn't ask that question.
"Actually yes." Will said, "But only because he volunteered for that baseball camp that John did." He rushed to assure her.
"Oh." Sami said, taking it better than he had dared to hope.
"So do you plan on moving to Salem for good?" She asked, turning her attention back to Paul.
"Maybe." Paul answered, "It kind of depends on what I decide to do for a career."
"That makes sense." Sami said.
Will sat down on the couch beside his mother. "How's EJ?" Will asked.
She looked at him. "He's fine.. and you aren't going to distract me." She answered.
Will looked at her innocently, "I wasn't trying to distract you." He laughed.
"So Paul." She said, "Lucas was telling me…" her phone began to ring. "Hold on." She said, going over pulling it from her purse. She looked at the caller I.D. and then at her watch.
She pressed the answer button…. "Sorry, I am on my way right now." She said into the phone.
She stuffed the phone back into her purse. "I have to go, Johnny is done with practice and I have to pick him up." She said, kissing Will on the cheek. "Your dad was right, your eyes are twinkling, and I like him so far." She whispered. Then she turned to Paul, "I am not done with you yet." She teased. "I have a million and one more questions, that I want to ask."
"I will look forward to it then." Paul answered.
"Good answer." She praised before she rushed out of the apartment.
As soon as the door was closed behind her, Will covered his face with his hands…. "I'm soo sorry." He said. "Two in one day, that's just my luck."
Paul shrugged. "It wasn't bad. She wasn't really bothering me."
"That's because she didn't have time to get really obnoxious." Will said. "Just wait."
Paul laughed…. "Everyone keeps saying that."
"That's because it is true." Will said. "Trust me, if you stay with me long enough, you will see what everyone is talking about."
"I was thinking, I have to go over to the hospital for a therapy session this evening." Paul said. "Do you want to come with me and then we can get some ice cream or something afterwards?'
"Sure." Will said, "I will get Arianna up and change her clothes."
Will went into the nursery and changed her clothes, while she groaned and whined in her sleep, as he twisted her this way and that way to get her clothes situated. He picked her up and carried her out into the living room and laid her on the couch, while he packed another bag for her incase he needed anything while they were gone.
Once they were ready to go, Will carried her out and strapped her into the car seat in the car. Paul brought along the stroller stowing it in the trunk.
Will drove them over to the hospital, and when they got there Arianna was still sleeping. "Why don't you go ahead in for your therapy, so you won't be late. Arianna and I will be in a few minutes." Will urged.
"Are you sure, I can wait." Paul said.
"No go ahead." Will said. "It will take me a few minutes to get her out and situated, and if she wakes up before she is ready she is going to be a handful."
"Okay, see you in a few minutes then." Paul said, leaning over kissing Will quickly.
Will smiled and nodded. Paul got out and hurried into the hospital.
Will sat there for about 15 minutes before he got out and gathered her things. Then he carefully lifted her from the car seat and carried her into the hospital. He decided that he would just go to the nurses lounge and lay her on the couch, so she could be more comfortable.
He was almost there when an office door opened and Abigail stepped into the hall. "Hi Abigail." He said, smiling at her.
"Hey Will, what are you doing here, Is Arianna sick?" she said reaching out touching her back.
"Oh no, not at all. We are here with Paul, he is having his physical therapy." He explained.
"Oh good." Abigail said. "I was worried that she had that virus that has been going around."
"No, we are fine." He said, as his phone began to ring. He had shoved it into his back pocket and he struggled to maneuver her around so he could answer the call.
Abigail watched him struggle awkwardly for a minute before she reached out to help. "Here, why don't you let me take her." She said, taking Arianna into her own arms.
"Thanks." Will said, gratefully.
Abigail moved her around, trying to get her to a comfortable position. Arianna roused up, looking around. She blinked a couple of times and looked at Abigail, then she promptly started to cry.
"It's okay Ari." She soothed softly. "I've got you."
Arianna only cried louder.
Will pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw that it was his dad calling, probably to apologize for his mother showing up on his doorstep today, Arianna's cry got louder and he stuffed it back into his pocket, he would have to deal with his dad later.
"Okay let me have her." He said, taking Arianna from Abigail.
As soon as she was back in his arms she quieted almost instantly. "What's the matter baby girl?" he asked. She snuggled down closer to his chest, sniffling. "It's okay daddy has you." He crooned.
"I had better get going." Abigail said. "I will see you later on."
"Bye, thanks again." Will said.
He walked on down the hall, whispering softly to Arianna. He was s caught up in talking to her that he wasn't paying a lot of attention to his surroundings. When he finally looked up he had passed the Physical therapy suite and had made it to the nurses' station in the middle of the hallway. Patient rooms stretched down one corridor and the gym, and therapy suites were on the other hall. Near the nurses' station there was a small seating area. It was deserted and Will went over to have a seat.
He sat Arianna in the chair beside his and dug through the diaper bag, fishing out her cup and a small snack. He handed them to her and she took the juice, but refused the crackers. Will was busy texting his dad back when he heard a familiar voice.
"Will?" Sonny asked.
"Hey!" Will said, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I just came by to see Chad for a few minutes. He was here for a business meeting or something and I needed him to sign some paperwork for me." Sonny said.
"Oh cool." Will said. "Haven't see you in a while."
"I know, I've been insanely busy." Sonny said.
"I know that feeling." Will said. "You look rough. You need to get some rest."
"It's been a rough few weeks." Sonny said.
Arianna was finally calming down, her continuous sniffles reduced to one every once in a while.
Sonny looked down at Arianna. "Hey Ari." He said, "I haven't seen you in a while, I missed you." He said, picking her up. She whimpered a little. "Did you miss me?" he asked.
"No." she said quietly.
"What?" Sonny said, "Not even a little bit?"
Arianna shook her head no… squirming to get down.
Sonny held onto her, "I can't believe you," he teased.
"Down.." She said, "Want down." She started to cry again.
Will reached out to take her, but just as he was about to lift her back into his own arms, when Paul came out of the weight room where he was having therapy. "See you in a couple days." He said, closing the door behind him.
Arianna looked up, and squirmed until Sonny finally relented and put her down. He held onto her long enough to make sure that she was steady on her feet. Once Sonny finally released her, she took off down the hall toward Paul. She threw herself into his arms, and he picked her up instantly.
Sonny and Will watched as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Paul hugged her back just as tightly.
Paul walked over and stopped next to Will. "Everything okay Babe?' he asked.
Will shrugged, then nodded. "Yes, I mean I guess." He said. "Looks like she really missed you."
Paul grinned. "I sure hope so, I missed her."
Then Paul seemed to notice Sonny standing there. "Hey, Sonny." He said. "I almost didn't recognize you."
Sonny's hand went to his face, rubbing the thick growth that had grown there. "It's been a busy few weeks." He said. "Speaking of, I really have to go, I will see you both later he said.
Sonny rushed off, not even waiting for the elevator. He pushed through the door that led to the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time. His heart was literally breaking in two as he walked out of the hospital.
Paul was leading his life, the life that he was meant to live. If only he hadn't been so stubborn, Arianna would have been running to him, instead of away from him. She would have hugged him happily, instead of crying to get away from him.
Will looked good….seemed… happy. How had that happened? He had once thought that seeing Will happy would bring him closure and help him to let go of that last hidden hope he had in his heart. But it was the opposite. Seeing Will with Paul only brought him sorrow for what they could have had. He had to talk to Will, to make sure that there was no chance. He had to hear Will say it was over for him, that he could never love Sonny again… then maybe he could let it go.
Sonny pulled out his phone and texted Abigail. "Please meet me at the club ASAP." He pressed send and then hurried over to the club to wait for her.