A Time to Love

Chapter 18

               'No, I'm not ready for that yet' Sarah confessed as Zander dropped her off close to her home, after just inviting her inside Lucy's house so that the pair could reconcile. 'Maybe one day' she continued 'but not yet.'

'Ok ok' Zander held his hands up in defeat 'I'm just happy you've forgiven me' he went on as he exited, waiting for Sarah to follow before he walked on.

'What do you mean "I've forgiven you?"' Sarah interrogated when she caught up with him.

'I just thought...'

'Well you thought wrong' she hissed without giving him a chance to finish his sentence. 'You're the father of my baby and I'm giving you the option to be involved, that's all' she stopped when she noticed his eyes begin to well up and she squeezed his wrist gently as her tone immediately alleviated. 'I'd better get inside.'

Zander nodded agreeably and began to make his way across the road, Sarah watched sadly as he did.

Lucy answered the door to Zander's knock, she propelled her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek, as he entered, she took his hand and guided him inside.

'This is a nice surprise' came Lucy's chirpy reply 'I was just about to make some coffee' she placed her hand on her stomach 'this one seems to love it. Do you want one?'

'No' Zander answered and waved his hand to emphasise 'I can't stay long, I just dropped by because I was dropping Sarah off, she came to see me' he elaborated.

'Oh yeah' Lucy said with careless interest as she placed a mug in front of her.

'Yeah, she's keeping the baby so came to tell me. I'm going to be involved as much as I can.'

He shuffled nervously on the seat as Lucy reached out and gently squeezed his hand. 'Don't' he mumbled before snatching it away, watching as her eyes filled with water and she sniffled. Zander stood and walked round the table, he kneeled in front of her.

'I'm sorry Lucy. You're a nice girl and I'll help you raise the baby, however I can but I don't want to be with you in that way' he held her as she cried into him. 'The right guys out there' he soothed and stroked her hair.

As he pushed her off himself, he placed his finger under her chin as he lifted her head towards him. 'Listen, you and Sarah should make up. Your kids are going to be siblings, whether we like it or not and I should never have ruined your bond with each other.'

***

The urgent knocking on the door disturbed Zander as he dressed. It became more persistent as he changed into a shirt that he had no choice but to button up as he walked down the stairs.

'Have you seen this?' Donna burst her way in as soon as the door became ajar. In her hand, she held a newspaper and she slammed it onto the table as Zander followed her into the living room.

''Strife of Riley'' the front page headline read. Zander lifted it into his hands and read the section.

"TV star Zander Riley is alleged to have gotten two 18 year old women pregnant, the actor, 21, is currently rehearsing for William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' at St John's College in Greenwich, South London."

'What the?' Zander exclaimed, sighing heavily as he turned to page four for the full story, as instructed by the article.

"Neither women has, as yet, been named but a source close to one of them told us: 'Riley was having a relationship with one of them, whom he wined and dined at a posh hotel, where he later slept with her. I believe he slept with the other girl at his 21st birthday party after he had a row with his girlfriend.'"