A Time to Love

Chapter 13

      'I've been thinking' Sarah began as they drove to the college later that day. 'Maybe I should tell my lot about us.'

Zander kept one eye focused on the road and another glancing at Sarah 'It's up to you' he agreed, stopping precisely as the light became red.

'Because I have been staying over a lot recently. So, they're bound to start asking questions, especially mum.'

'Yeah well, it's up to you' he repeated forcing Sarah tightly against her seat as though she was on a rollercoaster and he slammed onto the accelerator and raced up the road.

'Well thanks for the input' she answered.

'Sorry, I was miles away' he stopped, waiting in the silence for Sarah to fill it but when she didn't, he went on. 'Does erm, does Lucy know. That we've made up I mean?' One at a time, he wiped his hands on his shirt to clean the sweat from his palms.

'I think so, I didn't tell her but she must have noticed. I mean, we haven't exactly been subtle'

'Do you think?' he asked, suddenly panicked that Lucy was about to carry out with her threat and expose their alcohol induced passion.

His attention was dangerously diverted away from the road as he kept his eyes firmly on Sarah. 'Because I wouldn't want everyone to know about us. I mean, not that I don't want people to know, I just...' it was only when he swerved carelessly, causing the car behind them to beep it's horn aggressively, that he remembered he was driving and returned to concentrating on the road.

'Relax' Sarah declared coolly 'I'm not expecting you to shout it from the rooftops. I just think there's people who need to know before Lucy.'

'Yeah' Zander agreed as he expertly pulled the car up outside the college entrance 'like Donna' he made a point of waiting for her to unfasten her seatbelt and unlock the passenger door before they exited the car together.

'And there's no time like the present' he continued, spotting his agent park up her own car and begin to enter the building.

***

'As in "a couple?"' Donna questioned as she stood in the rehearsal room as Zander broke the news to her.

Zander looked to Sarah, who had gone along with him so that his telling Donna would be more believable. Sarah smiled and nodded her encouragement in his direction.

'Exactly like that' he finally answered and waited in the silence that followed. His fist clenched until his knuckles whitened as he nervously wondered about her reaction.

'We just thought we should tell you' it was Sarah who relieved some of the tension.

'Yeah, so it didn't complicate things' Zander agreed.

'Well, I don't know what to say' Donna realised 'Congratulations, I suppose' she shortly decided.

It was only a few minutes later that Sarah remembered she should be next door in the costume room. The dress rehearsal was only a few days away and Lucy was due in at any second for a run through in preparation.

'I'll see you at lunchtime' Zander reminded her. He never hesitated when he pulled her into his body and kissed her.

The touch of his lips made her knees weaken so much that they would have given way if he wasn't holding her.

'So, when did this happen?' Donna asked when Sarah had finally left the room.

'About two months ago. It was all a bit rocky to start with but then the day after my birthday, well, we made it official.'

Donna pushed off the table she had been leaning against and gathered all her paper work that she had brought with her, shuffled it together. 'Just be careful. Remember what happened last time.'

***

A similar response was met for Sarah later in the day as she informed her mother of her new relationship. Only being sure to add 'Why don't you invite him round for coffee?'

So that's how Sarah came to have Zander standing on her doorstep the following day, waiting for the ring of the doorbell to be answered. 'Hello' Sarah greeted him 'Well don't just stand there, come in' she grabbed his hand and dragged him inside before he was able to change his mind.

'They're just through here' she was pulling him along like a mother coaxing her child into school on the first day of term.

'Wait' Zander stopped following and placed his feet solidly against the floor. He looked over her shoulder, trying to see through the gap in the door but all that was there was light.

'Don't look so worried. They're nice really.'

The family all got to their feet as Zander approached, treating him like a visiting dignitary, they each held out their hands to welcome him. 'I've never met anyone famous before' her mother squealed which made Sarah cringe but Zander just chuckled.

'Of course, you've met the twins already' Sarah remembered as they reached the end of the line.

'Oh' her mother adjusted her head only just realising that this was a new piece of information she hadn't been aware of.

'Yeah, em, it was a while ago..' Sarah began to explain carefully and from the beginning, but it was her brother who excitedly shouted.

'He nearly knocked me down'

'Brad' Sarah silently cursed and the deadly silence that followed was, she believed, a signal that her relationship was over before it had had a chance to develop.

'It was an accident' Sarah followed up as she tried to divert the staring eyes of her family away from Zander's now crimson face.

'Well, there's no harm done' Debbie chuckled friendly and looked to Zander. 'Well, have a seat' she pulled a chair out from under the table 'how do you like your coffee?'