Sophie
"Please be careful, and if there is anything, and I mean anything you need do not hesitate to call me." Riley smiles and hugs me. There was certainly a lot that she made me think about. First things first, I need to find the perfect time to meet Logan and tell him the truth.
"I will, thank you, Riley, for...everything. And it was so good seeing you again, Ash. I'm glad you were still here to meet Nathan, before taking off to college." I said hugging Ashley as well. Riley took Nathan and picked him, he hugged her and placed his head on her shoulder. "Oh God, this kiddo is stealing my heart. I love you so much already, and I just met you. Nate, you have to come to visit me at my house soon as possible, ok? We'll make chocolate cake, and watch all your favorite movies, how does that sound, baby?" She smiled at Nathan making his eyes sparkle.
"Yes. Mom, can we go, please? I want to visit grandma at her house. Are you going to be there auntie Ashley?" he says looking at Ashley. She smiles, taking Nathan from Riley's arms and hugging him tightly, twirling him around. Nathan giggles, grasping tightly around her neck. "Me? Of course, I will be there kiddo, I will be there for a few more weeks, so you better come visit soon. You can share my room when you go. Unless your dad gets all his old stuff out and lets us convert his room into a room for you, then you can stay in his old room."
"Oh, that would be a great idea. Logan hasn't used that room in so long." Riley adds making me feel awkward. I love the thought of him spending time with his grandma and Ash, but it was different to mount the courage to tell Logan the truth, even more, to make Logan's room into a room where my son can sleep. I'm so nervous just to think about it. How can I put it into words to him? I know one thing for sure....he's going to be so mad.
***(third-person pov- Riley and Ashley wave goodbye as Sophie's car pulls away. Riley sighs, and Ashley can't help but look at the pictures she took of Nathan while they were apple picking. "He truly does look like Logan, doesn't he?" Ashley asks, zooming into one of the pictures. "Are you kidding? It's like looking at Logan being reborn. He looks just like his dad at the same age. Plus the cute dimples of course." Riley replies making Ashley smile.
"And you're going directly to Amber's to confront her. Aren't you?" Ashley adds making Riley glance at her and snatching the phone away from her. She runs her finger across a picture of Nathan, smiling and kissing the screen, pushing the phone back to Ashley. "You bet your ass I am. Amber is about to get an ear full from me. That bitch will regret messing with MY SON! and my grand-baby. Let's go." she says, walking towards the car.)***
*****
A few Days Later
"Here you go sweetie, your brand new set of keys to your new studio." the manager of the building gave me my keys, congratulating me on my new office. It wasn't too big, but it was roomy enough for me to have my own office, and a few rooms for photo sessions, though most of them would be taking place outdoors. "Wow, this place is huge mom!" Nathan ran from room to room, excitedly.
"Do you like it, baby? It's nice isn't it?" I asked him, as he ran quickly and hugged me. "I love it. We'll be able to make more pictures in here. Can I help mom? Can I help?" I smiled at his excitement. I had no choice but to learn to develop my own pictures inside my restroom back in Los Angeles, the change of having my own office now will surely come on hand. "How about I teach you when you're a little older, ok? But, you can definitely help me take pictures and help mom pass the pictures back if you want?" I said, making his smile grow.
"What do you think of renting space out to me, too? We could share rent if you want if you give me office space. I can move back to town and work for Mr. Choi from here. I mean, most of my work is through emails and virtual signings, so I can do that here." my eyes went wide at Lexie's proposal.
"Are you kidding? That would be amazing, Lex! I love the idea. Plus, the house is not far from here, you can stay with me. You can permanently stay in the guest room as yours."
"Are you kidding? I'd love to live with you guys. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but with my uncles there, the house is too busy. I need the quietness that your house offers. Besides, this kid already won the heart of this gal here." she says hugging Nathan and pointing to herself.
"Then it's settled, we'll go halfsies on the rent for this place, and- I will certainly help you pay your mortgage since I will be rooming with you guys. You're paying the bills, right big man?" she asks Nathan making him giggle. He nods in agreement, biting his bottom lip.
"Good, now let's get out of here. I'm getting pretty hungry," she says grabbing her bag and holding Nathan tight in her arms. It must have been a few minutes past noon, my stomach began rumbling, and I knew Nathan would surely want to have some lunch as well.
We made our way down the hallway and towards the elevator. I stopped when I saw the sign of the realtor's office where Linda must work in. I recognize the logo on the front of the door from the card she had sent me. I went inside to say hi to her, gesturing to Lexie and Nate to wait for me, maybe she was up for a lunch date with us. I was greeted right away by the girl in the reception. "Hi, what can I help you with today?" she says, standing up and smiling. I made my way and smiled. "Hi, I'm looking for Linda Whitmore?" she smiles and grabs the phone to call her.
"Your name?" she asks looking at me, "Sophie, Sophie Patterson," I say. She presses the numbers and smiles. Soon, Linda comes out sprinting and smiles as she sees me, "Sophie, so good to see you, sweetie," she says hugging me. "Hi, did you have lunch already?" I asked her making her smile. "Linda, are you ready?" someone calls from behind.
My blood boils as I see Amber behind us. I know I shouldn't be mad at her, it wasn't necessarily only her fault, but his a well. "Just a second hun. Sophie, I was just on my way out to eat with Amber, would you like to join us? We'd love to have you there." I glanced at Amber, trying to contain myself and control my anger. "Thanks, Linda, maybe next time though, I should get going." I walked out of there, I didn't want to be in front of Amber for another second.
Just when I thought it was a good idea to get this office, and it ends up being on the same floor as Amber's office. Just. Freaking. Great!
"Sophie wait, please." Amber walked behind me, though I tried to ignore her, she caught up to me, pulling me back from my arm. "I have nothing to talk to you about Amber," I say pulling my arm and walking a few more steps. Most of the offices seemed empty and Lexie waited for me by the elevator. "Sophie, please....hear me out. There's something really important I have to talk to you about, I'm begging you. Just five minutes, that's all I ask."
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say. You won Amber, you have a beautiful daughter by the man you so fucking obsessed over for so long. You both sure had me fooled, him pretending to love me and telling me I was his only one. And, you, sleeping with him behind my back. I got out of the picture so you could both be happy, isn't that what you wanted? To have him all for yourself?"
"I didn't know you were pregnant with Logan's baby ok? If I'd known, I... I never would have lied to you." my eyes began to fill with tears. I hated this woman so much. "Who told you my son was Logan's?" I asked her angrily.
"Mrs. Spencer, she came to me a few days ago. She told me your son Nathan is Logan's son. She was really mad at me. And she has all the right, I............I lied to you. I was angry because Michael, my daughter's dad had left for the Marines. I'm sorry Sophie, I am so, so sorry." I was so mad at hearing her words. Could it be she's being honest with me right now? How could she lied to me? I didn't think about it twice, I slapped her on her cheek making her head turn to a side and leaving a red handprint on her cheek. "You fucking bitch. How could you? I gave up everything I had with Logan to give your kid the opportunity to have a good dad in her life. But what about my son? What about all these years he has lived without a dad? I went through hell raising my son on my own, watched him cry time and time again when he was bullied by other kids for not having his dad around. Do you have any idea how bad I feel lying to him about why, and where his dad is? To hear him hoping his dad was there for every birthday, every Christmas, to see him tearing apart the fathers day cards soon as he gets home because it hurts him to have it around? He will never be able to get those years back. And all for what? Because you couldn't stand to see me with Logan? Is that it? Do you forget he was yours first? You treated him like shit and cheated on him anytime you had the chance. You hated to see how he had changed with me. To see us happy."
"I know that Sophie. Don't you think I know? And believe me, I regret it so much. There's not a day I don't think about you, and the way I deceived you. I didn't think anything of it at the time. We were young and stupid. I didn't know about your baby, I didn't know you were expecting, no one did. But then I saw you the other day at the park, and I've been wanting to talk to you since then, to apologize and tell you the truth. I'm sorry, Sophie. I know a simple excuse won't fix things. And you have all the rights to hate me. Believe me, I hate myself for ruining your life, for lying to you and making you and Logan break apart. And I'm sorry I made your son grow up without a father, it was wrong of me," she wept uncontrollably and tried to hold my hands, taking a step forward. I took a step back.
"Damn right you should feel sorry. But your stupid apology won't fix things between Logan and my son, will it?" I said, glaring angrily at her. "Do me a favor, stay the fuck away from me and my son, for good this time."
I turned on my heel and walked away. I was glad Lexie had thought fast and left with Nathan as soon as she saw me walk out of the office, followed by Amber. I pressed the elevator button, immediately opening. I went inside and pressed the last button to the parking lot. I wiped my face and sniffled, running my hands through my hair. How could I've been so stupid? I let myself be fooled by the queen of bitches. I wasn't sure if I was madder at her or myself for falling for her shit.
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