Moving on and moving in

                                    

                                          
I sighed as I put my phone down, after yet another frustrating phone call with the contractor that was supposed to have finished the attic a week ago. As usual when it came to contractors and building, it was far from being finished and the guy had just told me that it would probably take another month, maybe even more. I had yelled, pleaded and sighed, but nothing had helped, there was nothing I could do. I walked down the stairs again, telling Jude to turn down her music as I passed by her door. I was getting closer to the kitchen door when I heard them arguing, again. Less than a year ago Harry and I had been joking about Sam's puberty, and even though he had only turned 10 a couple of months ago, puberty had hit him hard alright. At some times there was nothing left of the bubbly, carefree Sam that we were used to, and he just turned into a terrible brat. We'd had a teacher-parent conference a few weeks ago, and apparently it was the same at school. I put my head in my hands, trying to prepare for what awaited me behind the kitchen door, silently hoping Harry would get it settled before I needed to step in. 
                          
We were officially dating for almost a year and a half now, and I'd talked to Harry about being a parent to the kids as well, right before we'd left on our holiday to Italy. Back then it had all been fine, all three of them were used to Harry being around all the time, and it was only natural to listen to whatever he had to say. He had been a bit uneasy at first, but after a few weeks he was used to his new role and I could tell he enjoyed being a parent. 
                          
"Sam, we've told you before you couldn't go to that party at your football club if you hadn't finished all your homework, and you've done nothing all weekend, so no, you're not going."
                          
"I don't have any homework due on Monday." Sam's voice sounded a little faint, a dead giveaway that he was lying.
                          
"You're not making this easier with lying to me Sam. I know for a fact that you have a history essay and two pages of maths exercises to finish."
                          
"I'm almost finished with that essay anyway, and I'll get that maths thing done tomorrow, I promise." he pleaded, trying his sweet sugary voice now.
                          
"No, Sam, we warned you up front. You're not going." I could tell that Harry had a hard time staying calm, so I sighed and prepared myself to step in.
                          
"It's not fair! All my friends and team mates are going, and it's supposed to be an end of season celebration, because our trainer has to leave just after the final match!" Sam was now yelling and stomping his feet.
                          
"I know, but you've caused this for yourself. We wouldn't even have this discussion if you had done your homework. There is no need for you to try and discuss it, it's final Sam. You're not going."
                          
"Who are you to tell me anyway, you're not even my dad! Just because you happen to be dating my dad doesn't allow you to boss me around." My head jerked up at this comment and I stormed through the hallway, pushing the door to the kitchen open in all my rage.
                          
"Sam Payne. You will apologize to Harry right this minute and after that you better disappear to your room because I don't want to see you for a while. You know damn well that Harry has every right to tell you what to do and what not, he's as much a parent around here as I am. And he is right. you could've gone to that party if you'd done your homework instead of playing computer games and football all day today." I was fuming and I could imagine steam coming out my ears as I kept my eyes fixed on Sam, who now looked torn between remorse and madness.
                          
"It's still not fair." he stated, glaring at me from under his eyelashes.
                          
"Sam. Apologize."
                          
"Yeah, whatever. Sorry." He muttered before he pushed past me and stomped upstairs.
                          
I glanced at Harry who was sitting at the kitchen table, peeling carrots for tonight's dinner and appearing calm, but I could tell he was all but calm inside. I sank down on a chair beside him and buried my face in my hands, elbows resting on the table.