Sara woke up bright and early that Saturday morning in readiness of her visit to Lucas' mansion. This was the first week after their supposed arrangement on Monday. They had agreed weekends were best for the mother-son bonding, as Lucas was pretty adamant about Freddie getting the best education. The agreement had been written and signed such that she was to keep the nature of her relationship with Freddie secret. Her presence in his life was temporary and Lucas was very much unyielding.

Yesterday, she had been too nervous about today so she ran off to the mall to pick up a few candies and chocolate bars. Lucas wouldn't tell her what he liked or not, purposely making her work harder but she admitted finding it out on her own was probably best. She had also bought coloring pencils and books and a few superhero comics. He was either like her or her ex-husband she decided. Then she had picked up a Spiderman sling bag and stuffed everything she bought inside. Now as she stared at the bag, doubt made her wonder if her gift had been too small or unnecessary. Would he like her gift or not?

According to their arrangements, a Toyota highlander Jeep from CAPPEL would come pick her up at her apartment and drive her to the mansion. The same jeep would then take her back when they were done so she hurriedly went to prepare. She didn't want the poor driver to be waiting for her when he arrived.

Thirty minutes later, she was ready and eager to go but was dismayed when she saw no jeep parked outside. Dispelling a nervous breath, she busied herself with worrying about her look. She wore a grey knee-length gown with cap sleeves, black pumps and added minimal makeup. Her curly weave-on was packed up in a bun leaving a few curls to frame her face. She was meeting her son officially for the first time, so she wanted to make a great first impression. A knock sounded on her door and she opened it to find a middle-aged man stood at her door.

"Sorry to be a bother but I'm looking for a Miss Amadi. I'm here to pick her up. I was told this is her address," he explained.

"Yes, I am Miss Amadi but you can call me Sara." She nodded eagerly with a smile. "Since you'll be taking me back, perhaps I can know your name?" She asked, trying for courtesy.

"Gbenga, ma," he replied curtly, flashing her a benign smile. "Let's go if you're ready." He invited and Sara quickly left with him.

Less than an hour later and they were on their way into the mansion's driveway. This time, Sara knew he wouldn't humiliate her like before. He was here to introduce her to her son and that was all. At the thought of her son, her doubts crept back in with a vengeance. Would he love to meet her? Would he like to spend time with her? Did he miss his mother? She shook her head rapidly to dispel her reservations.

Tentatively, she climbed down from the car and walked up the steps, the same steps she had climbed two weeks ago that led to her humiliation. The door was opened by the doorman who ushered her into the house. Instead of the massive living area where he had hosted his party, she was led up the steps on familiar routes until they stopped at the double doors that housed his second floor living area. The doorman pulled open the double doors and allowed her to enter. She walked in to come face to face with a scene of near disarray.

Pillows of various sizes were thrown carelessly around the room, stuffed toys and cars decorated the glass table at the center of the room. At the west end, a train track was set in motion and Thomas the tank engine was moving about. Two people were running round the setup, making train noises and laughing loudly. Freddie was running around, shrieking and flying his arm about with Lucas at his heels, chuckling at his antics. It was obvious they were having fun, despite Lucas being dressed in an red blazers and white pants. He didn't look very businesslike, she thought.

He saw her first and paused midway, breathing hard. Freddie came skidding into him at full speed and before he could fall, Lucas reached out quickly and grabbed him, effectively breaking his fall.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly, barely letting him go.

Freddie looked up at him and grinned, nodding his head. Then he noticed Sara standing at the door and beamed once he recognized her.

"Hello," came his greeting, strolling to come stand in front of her. "Where is Harmony?" He quizzed, looking past her into the hallway.

Sara stifled her disappointment that he assumed she was here because of his friend.

Lucas was quick, however, to pick up on it. "Harmony? Your friend?" He asked but directed the question at her. Somehow it unsettled him that his thoughts were putting a filial relationship between Sara and Harmony.

Freddie answered instead. "Yeah. Harmony and she always came to school together. I saw them yesterday too."

Lucas's' brows furrowed at the information. "You go to his school? I should be in charge of dropping you off at school again. It seems there are so many things I know nothing about."

This was her cue to step in. "It's hardly what you think. I assure you it's all coincidence that he is in the same class as Harmony or that they are best friends."

"How do you know Harmony?" was the question.

She noticed he was scowling but decided to ignore him. He was always a pain in the neck. "My neighbor's daughter. I help her mostly during school runs."

"I see." Lucas nodded, moving to come stand in front of her.

Feeling sad, Freddie piped up. "Is Harmony not with you?" He asked, studying her critically. In his opinion, she shouldn't be here if his friend wasn't.

Sara smiled forcibly. "No, she had homework to do at home. But don't worry, you'll see her at school on Monday."

He nodded, turning to go back to his toy railroad. Lucas effectively managed to stop that, linking his arms with his. Squatting down, he leveled his gaze to his son's.

"I believe that a certain five year old boy should be doing his homework also."

Freddie pouted, looking at his shoes. "Do I have to?"

Lucas nodded, quite sad. "Yes. But the good thing is Sara here will be around to help you. I have asked her to be your new art tutor. She's pretty good at drawing and painting stuffs and she'll teach you how to be as good as her. What do you think?" He explained, glancing briefly at Sara in admiration.

Freddie's attention was raised on hearing that, so he gaped at Sara in astonishment. "Really, daddy?"

Lucas nodded, with a smile. "Really."

Freddie grinned from ear to ear at the news.

"You know the best part?"

"What?" He demanded eagerly.

"She's really pretty and nice and is nothing like your music teacher back at grandpa's place." Father and son made a face at the memory and burst out laughing uncontrollably.

When they quietened down, Lucas stood to his feet and let Freddie run off to go pack up his toys. He strolled to come stand in front of her again, giving her a full stare.

"That will be the backstory and I expect you to abide by it. He has the full day, every Saturday to do whatever he likes unless he has to go visit his aunt Amanda or my parents in which case I'll inform you on a Friday. For now, he's to stay here in the house, perhaps later we can discuss if you can take him around town. He has a sweet tooth so be careful on how much sweets and candies he coaxes you into letting him have." He paused to watch a shadow of smile flicker across her face. Like mother like son, he thought oddly before continuing.

"I gave his nanny, Mathilda, the day off on Saturdays whenever you'll be around so your job also includes looking after him the whole day. Mathilda or I will usually be around in the evening to relieve you of that job. He has a schedule and he's familiar with it already. So also have that in mind."

Sara digested all the instructions, immensely grateful that he was allowing her so much liberty to be with her son. This action really earned him a name in her good book.

"The cook, Camilla, has been instructed on the nature of your stay here so if you have any questions, talk to her. Do not call me unless either of you are dying, got it?" He stated with a frown and Sara recoiled at his words.

"You can't be serious!" She cried out.

He glanced at his watch and smirked before replying her. "I'm glad you got the point."

Freddie strolled to come stand beside his father, pulling with him a mini hand truck that contained all his many toys. "I'm done, daddy."

Lucas nodded, smiling at him. "That's good. Now, daddy has to go get ready for his busy day while you do the same. First, it will be nice if you showed Sara around the house as she'll be your friend for the whole day. Alright?"

He nodded vigorously, his head bobbing dangerously at the action. Moving towards Sara, he held out a palm which she took hesitantly and he pulled her along with his mini hand truck, saying. "Come on. Let me show you around the house. You're going to love it here!"

Sara peeked behind her to find Lucas' features set in a grim manner. The poor man was probably doubting the smartness of this arrangement, she thought ruefully.

This was the second time she was having a tour of his house but she was pleasantly surprised to see father and son had added a familial feeling to it. There was no single picture of their wedding day anywhere. She supposed the memory was too much pain to remember, which also explained why Freddie had no knowledge of her. Picture frames of their adventures together as father and son adorned the walls at strategic places along the hallways. In each of the pictures, it was clearly evident the tight bond between father and son and the melancholic feeling of missing out in all of his formulating years squeezed hard at her heart.

Soon though the tour was over, Freddie being more eager to get to his playroom which was directly opposite the library on the second floor. His bedroom was on the third floor directly adjacent to the masters' bedroom which Lucas occupied. Once they got to his playroom, Sara remembered she had bought him a gift. Exhaling a deep breathe, she watched him dumped his hand truck in a corner in his play room before coming stand in front of her.

"When are we starting our art lessons?" He asked, hopping from one feet to the other. It was clear he had inherited her artistic side among other things.

"Soon," she said, glancing around the massive playroom. It was painted various shades of blue, even the carpet too. At the far right was a desk and chair with a mini children's library and at the opposite end was a bed made in the shape of a red plane with an overhanging massive poster depicting numerous red fighter jets. She had seen the concept online and fell in love with it and hence opted to use it here.

"But before that I bought something for you and I hope you'll like it," she finished, producing the sling bag. She watched apprehensively as he accepted the bag and began to unravel it methodically. Once he peered in and saw what it contained, he crouched to sit on the floor in front of her as he emptied the contents of the bag. He surveyed the various items critically before asking.

"Did you get this for our art lessons?"

Sara squatted down in front of him and smiled. "I did. I thought you might like them if you were interested in art like I am."

He grinned at her, showing her his missing molars. "I love drawing and painting stuffs. Daddy lets me get all my art supplies whenever we go to the mall. My Aunt Amanda also gets me coloring paints and crayons sometimes too," he explained, pulling open the coloring book.

Removing her shoes, Sara sat on the carpeted floor, just as he had done earlier. "I'm glad they appreciate your talent."

Then suddenly, he stood up from the floor and ran to the chest of drawers attached to the desk. Sara watched him pulling open the top shelf and collect a set of books then he ran to come dump them in front of her, then he repeated the action with the second drawer. Soon enough, the floor was littered with all the various art supplies he had told her about. There were even glitter pens, drawing papers, a painters colour palette and drawing inks to boot. Then he had coaxed her into helping him draw various items and they had set off busy at work.

Thirty minutes later, she looked up from her action of drawing a horse, to find Lucas standing at the door, smirking at her.

"I see he's held you hostage in his artistic castle," he said in mock appraisal, because he was better at Technical drawing, and could barely understand her freehand or abstract paintings.

She glared at him. "Says the one who spent an hour changing his suit."

He grinned, satisfied that she had noticed his wardrobe change. He now wore an olive green suit with brown Armani shoes. "I had to. You were looking at me as though I were the garbage man."

She was incredulous. "When? I did not do such thing," she denied vehemently, avoiding her eyes at the deadbeat lie.

"You did. And since I have a very important meeting today, I cannot afford to look like I was thrown out of my own house," he stated, moving to go squat next to his son. She giggled at that.

"Won't you say your goodbyes or am I out of the picture now that you have a new painting partner?"

Freddie looked at him and beamed before reaching out to tug at his tie. "You look okay. Bye daddy."

He nodded, standing up. "Bye, my little musketeer. Be good and have fun," he called, strolling out of the room, not before stopping to wink seductively at Sara before finally exiting the room.

The day went by quickly and soon Mathilda had returned to take over. She and Freddie had spent the first two hours drawing various things and painting them. Then it was noon, and they had gotten hungry. They went down to the kitchen and Camilla, the fifty-five year old woman whooped up spaghetti and meatballs which they demolished in seconds. As in accordance, Freddie had reached into the top cabinet using the kitchen stool to pull out the candy box. And despite Lucas' warnings, she had joined her son in having a taste of the chewy goodness. But that turned out to be a bad idea, because Freddie was automatically supercharged afterwards and she spent the greater part of the afternoon ensuring he didn't get hurt falling down the stairs or drowning in the pool. It was already late, that by the time he managed to pass out, she was ready to throw in the towel as well. All in all, she had had a really good day with her son and she was grateful to Lucas for letting her have that opportunity.

Now as the car drove out of the mansion, Sara felt a peaceful aura at having met her son and discovered what she did about him. Although it saddened her she would have to wait a whole week to see him again, she was albeit hopeful this arrangement would suffice. For the time being.

The next day, Lucas called her to comment on her Saturday visit and she had practically winced when he reiterated about her blatant disregard of his instructions. But seeing that she had borne the consequences of her neglect quite ably had his anger dissipating. He ended the call by agreeing to the same arrangement next Saturday.

Then Harmony and Jules came over, bearing rice and chicken and she spent the rest of the day laughing at Jules office gossip and her bad luck with romance and the opposite sex.

+++++++++++++++

Lucas strolled into his son's playroom later that night, with the aim of finding out what the pair had been up to the whole day. Humming to himself, he bent to pick up pieces of drawing paper strewn carelessly over the table in the room. Pulling out the green binder at the top of his book shelf, he opened it and set it on the table. Grabbing the Hole punch from the bottom drawer, he made holes on the drawings of a horse, obviously Sara's work but he had his doubt when he saw the amount of glitter on it. Trust Freddie and his king Midas touch. 'Everything must bling' was his mantra.

The next drawing was a house, which was this particular one, considering the numerous windows it contained and the huge blue rectangle by the side indicating the pool. He smiled, loving the attention to details. The last drawing had his breathe catching in his throat. It was a self-portrait of Freddie. Sara had done it, and seeing that the portrait captured Freddie's face when he was focused on the painting he was doing showed she had drawn it without his knowledge and he smiled dimly at her talent. Moving to file the drawings, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she pushed her talent forward instead of working as an interior designer because she had to make ends meet, and then told himself strictly a minute later, that it was none of his business.

Satisfied after packing the various art supplies into their respective drawers, he strolled out the room deep in thought. He reached his bedchamber and moving to his closet, he pulled out his pajamas and went to take his bath. Once he was inside, his mind wandered to what she did to get him to agree to this arrangement. Remembering that night hardened his member instantly and he reached immediately to set the shower to cold settings.

By the time he stepped out, he felt refreshed and proceeded to wear his clothes. He turned to the bed to find his son snuggled up under the covers. Smiling at the action, he climbed into bed and reached out to stroke his Afro hair.

"You're keeping me company tonight, huh?" He asked rhetorically, pulling the covers over them.

He laid on his pillow, his mind reviewing the events of the day.

"Daddy?" Freddie called in the stillness of the night.

Turning to look at the sleep deprived face staring at him, he hummed "Yeah?"

"I like Sara. She's nice." was his response.

Lucas nodded, agreeing with the statement, for both their sakes. I like her too. He admitted to himself right before sleep enveloped him in its hands.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is one of those long chapters I warned you about. But Sara is making progress and that's most important.

I know I said Saturday but I couldn't resist. I got nearly 300 reads, more votes and comments for my book. I even got new followers, (friends if you ask me) 😍😍. So this update is in appreciation of that and them.

Let's not forget our pact of commenting and voting. It means a lot to me, really.

Thank you😍😘