Chapter 7

                                    

                                          
Sarah never asked people for favors, but whenever duty calls, she has no other choice. She knocks on Richard's door and waits until he opens it. Impatiently she looks at the time around her arm then up when the door opened. Richard has a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair is soaking wet.
"Sarah," he greets her with a smug smile on his face.
"Have a moment?" she asks scanning his naked chest.
"Sure," Richard smiles and steps out of the way. She enters the kitchen and looks around. Richard closes his front door and look at Sarah. "Want something to drink?"
"No, actually I came on short notice to ask you if you could be my escort on Thursday night for a meeting," Sarah says and look at him. "There's a show coming up which I've decided not to attend."
"Alright, what's the occasion?" he asks.
"A meeting," she says and inhales deeply. "I asked Nixy and Sammy if Ray can stay with them. It's something like dinner and I'm...honestly not keen on going on my own. Everyone will have their spouses and I...will be alone. Like always."
"Sure then," he nods and scans her face. "What should I wear?"
"Tux," she replies and shakes her head awkwardly. Her eyes took a few places she didn't think would make it obvious. "Can you just get dressed please?"
"Alright," he chuckles and goes up to his room. Sarah inhales deeply and takes a seat at the kitchen counter taking out her phone. She scrolls a bit through her messages nearly throwing the phone away when it rang.
"Hello?" she answers it.
"Sarah, where are you?" Lilly asks through the phone.
"At Richard's house," she replies and sits up straight worried. "Just around the corner of my house. It's the house with a green fence. You'll see my car."
"Okay," Lilly replies and hangs up. Sarah looks worried at the phone. Lilly didn't even make conversation. She sounded urgent.
Within a matter of five minutes, Lilly came knocking on the door. It took Sarah no hesitation to open up for her.
"Hi," Lilly greets her and enters the house. "I need to talk to you."
"Sure," Sarah nods waiting for her to start.
"I want to go see him," Lilly says. Sarah keeps quiet and just stares at her. She inhales deeply and steps closer to Sarah. "I'm going to see dad. I need to face him."
"Okay. Are you ready to see him after what has happened? What if he tries something again?" Sarah asks concerned and touching Lilly's shoulder. "Lilly, I can't let you go if that will happen again."
"That's the thing. I want you to come with me," Lilly says and takes her hands desperately. "He owes you an apology, Sarah."
"I don't know, Lilly," Sarah says unsure, and looks relieved at Richard that cane down wearing jeans and a black T-shirt.
"What's the matter?" he ask when he saw the look in her eyes. She looks so delicate.
"Lilly wants me to go with her to face her dad," Sarah says and pulls her hand gently out of Lilly's.
"To do what?" Richard asks so protectively all of a sudden. He looks at Lilly that can't even face him. "No. There's no way."
"He owes Sarah an explanation and an apology. Besides, I just want to see him," Lilly replies and shrugs her shoulders looking hopelessly at Sarah.
"She can't go alone," Sarah says looking desperately at Richard.
"My answer is no," Richard says strictly like a parent would and look at Sarah. "I'm sorry, I love you, but my answer is no. Lilly, I won't let Sarah go with you. You have to understand that your father is a terrible person and if Sarah walks in there, he's as good as dead. She's not going without me and I'm not going either because trust me, I WILL KILL HIM."
the two woman keeps quiet and just stare at him. Richard hives Lilly a serious look and places his hand on Sarah's back.
"I'm sorry, Lilly," Sarah says to Lilly and inhales deeply. "What good will it do anyway?"
"You know making things right with you was a hopeless case after all," Lilly says pissed off at her, and rushes out. Sarah sighs and looks at Richard.
"Rich, I can't let her go alone," she says to him.
"Sarah, how can you even trust that woman after what she's done?" he asks her angrily. "She's up to no good. Do you think that her shit will stop just because you've made peace and she's opened up to you? That's bullshit, Sarah. Lilly fucked you up once, she'll do it again."
Sarah remains quiet and looks down. Richard looks worried at her and touches her shoulder.
"I'm only doing this because I care, okay? If it's wrong to care so about you, then I'm sorry, but I won't stop. I won't stop until you understand," he says. She nods her head with a little smile and folds her arms.
"Rich, why was it so easy for you to leave Lilly when you came back here, but you couldn't do it before?" she asks. He raises an eyebrow and smiles.
"I was scared, Sarah," he says and puts her hair behind her ear. "When I saw you, I realized that I have nothing left to fear."
"Okay," she smiles and looks down with a blush.
"I'm very sorry, Sarah Leigh Dixon," he says. She nods and looks up at him.
"I know, Richard. Me too," she says and inhales deeply. "I was very happy that you came back, to be honest. Actually, more angry than happy, but I felt that somehow maybe it will help give me closure. The thought of someone else in your arms, washing your clothes, cooking your meals, making your bed, and making love to you after a long day of hard work killed me slowly. Then you came here and I somehow knew that my world will be disrupted completely."
"Yeah, I always imagined meeting you again and seeing you finally found your true love and one of us would just be the one that got away," he whispers back and looks down.
"Even if we were, maybe in another life things could've been different," she smiles assuredly at him. The look on her face is delicate. He likes her looking at him this way. She inhales deeply and starts walking out slowly. "See you around Dixon."
"You too," he replies after her and leans back against the table just staring ahead of him. He gets all types of signs, but his favorite is still her being this comfortable towards him again.
                          
***
Do you think Richard spoke a little sense in Sarah's head?
                          
What is Lilly up to? Surely the excuse must be too lame.
                          
I'll update the next chapter asap.
                          
Thanks for the comments and votes. Each vote and comment is an inspiration for me to keep going.
                          
Love.
BabyDol2001 // Jaundri