Through the Open Door || Change My Mind Sequel || SP

Decisions

The Next Morning

6:30 AM

Sam woke up bright and early to her alarm. She had to get her kids up since Britt's house was in the opposite direction of the kid's school. "Zeekie, come on. Go potty," Sam tiredly said, getting out of the crowded bed. "Girls, get up. It's a school day," Sam called. Britt lightly knocked on the door, and opened as Tank the Bank and Whitley barged in.

"Oop! Guys, get out!" She called. The kids giggled as the puppies played on their bed. "Sorry. I just came to tell you that my bathroom is open," Britt announced. Sam pulled on her glasses and opened the kids duffel handing them their tooth brushes.

"Thanks Britt. Girls, teeth! Ezekiel, bathroom," Sam frustratingly yelled. Britt could see she needed to step in and held her hand out.

"Zeekie, let's go potty and get your teeth brushed," Britt said ruffling his long, wavy, dark brown hair. "Can I put your hair half up?" Britt asked, allowing the girls out and shutting the door behind herself. Samantha took a moment and pulled her hair into a bun.

"Alright, Sam get it together," she whispered. "They didn't do anything. They are just as much a victim as you are."

7:01 AM

Sam pulled up to her kids school and handed them their lunch boxes. "Have a good day!" Sam called. "Zeekie, remember to tell your teacher when you have to go potty. Girls, I don't want your teacher calling me that you two are fighting. If you guys can't share, you two will be separated next year," she warned. The girls dramatically looked at each other and grabbed each other's hands. "Goodbye! Get out! April is picking you guys up today," Sam called. Naomi suddenly couldn't watch the kids anymore, so Sam had to scramble to find a former worker of the Hive who also lived in her building and worked for Gene.

"Ooh, I hope April has cookies. She always has cookies!" Zeek called, leaving the car and hopping out of the SUV.

8:26 AM

Matt stood outside the door as Sam came down the hall. "Oh my god," Sam said, tossing her things on the inside of the door and sliding them towards her friends. "What do you want?"

"Did I do something? You and the kids didn't come home last night," he said. Sam rolled her eyes.

"I don't know, ask the bitch you've been fucking in our bed," Sam grumbled. Matt looked at her weird. They were starting to draw attention to the other actors coming in for work.

"What do you mean? I never had anyone in our bed," Matt said. Samantha scoffed, shoving him into a less busy and quiet corner.

"But you fucked her. Okay," Sam concluded. "I have to go to work. You can go to hell."

9:47 AM

Zeek ran around the playground with his friends. While running he tripped over his laces and dropped to the concrete. The four year old started to cry. "Oh Zeekie, you're okay," the teacher smiled, dropping down to her knees. She slowly rolled the child over to see a bruise forming on his knee. "Can you bend your leg, Zeek?" Mrs. Harris asked. Zeek nodded, but when he tried Ezekiel screamed. "Okay, okay," she said, waving over another teacher.

10:25 AM

Sam picked up her ringing phone during their five to see her kids' school calling. "Hello," she breathlessly asked.

"Ms. Pauly?" A kind voice asked.

"This is she," Sam asked, taking a sip of her water.

"Zeek got hurt and we advise that you or your husband come down to take him to the hospital," she said. Sam ran her hand over her face and took a deep breath.

"Okay, thank you. I'm on my way,"

12:28 PM

Sam sat in Britt's home with her son in her lap asleep. He was on some painkillers for his dislocated knee. While waiting for her son's lunch to warm up, a knock on the door pulled Sam from the couch. She opened the door to see her second production manager , Kelly Haines. "Hey, Kelly," Sam said, allowing her entrance.

"Hey, Sam. I won't be long, but I wanted to check on Zeek and let you know some things we have decided going forward," she said. Sam allowed her to take a seat at the kitchen table.

"Zeek is doing okay, he's sleeping right now," Sam said. "But umm, what do you mean decided going forward?" Kelly sat and placed her briefcase on the table.

"Well, congrats. We heard about the baby on the way. And we have no intentions of stopping you from performing for as long as you can or as long as you are comfortable. I came to talk about it after. Since you are technically under contract for 18 months and you'll be going on maternity leave, Lucy and Toby agreed that we are going to continue to pay as principal role post baby throughout your entire contract," Kelly smiled. Sam's breath caught in her throat.

"Are you serious?" Sam asked, tears dropping down her cheeks. Kelly nodded.

"Sam, Britt told us what was going on. You're a part of the SIX family. We've got you," Kelly smiled, leaving some paper work with Sam. "These papers are just for maternity leave and the number of how long you plan on being in the show and when you're coming back is a formality. It's not set in stone. You may go over, you may be under. Just fill it out and bring it to rehearsals when you come next," Kelly smiled. Sam took the papers as the oven went off.

"I'll let myself out. Take care of the kiddos."

4:46 PM

Regina came to the apartment without knocking. She saw the mess all over the place in disgust. While picking up some things for her sister, she heard a noise come from the back. "No way," Regina mumbled. She barged into the back and slammed the door open, but her shock almost cascaded her into Zeek's door. "That is a child!" Regina yelled. Matt and Naomie hopped out of the bed scrambling to get dressed. Regina pulled her phone out and recorded the tail end. She couldn't wait to tell her sister.

6:17 PM

Sam sat at a restaurant with her kids, having dinner. "Guys, things are going to be a little different, right now," Sam started. The girls ate their pasta as Zeek devoured his chicken tenders.

"Where's daddy?" Ellanie asked. Sam pushed her daughter's hair behind her ears.

"We are taking a little break while daddy gets the help he needs," Sam answered.

"Are you daddy going to get a diborce like Hayden and Maia's parents?" Elora asked. Sam didn't have an answer. She could only take so much and she wasn't sure if she had enough love for Matt to trust him again. At least for a while.

To Be Continued.