Dime Store Cowboy @seanmichaelrothman - Tumblr Blog

celinaroth·:

“Alright, seriously though, why are all my packages delayed? I’ve bought a majority of my Christmas gifts online this year and everything is showing a January delivery date. Is FedEx not able to find this town or am I just unlucky?”

“You think this is bad, imagine northern Wisconsin in the winter. At least this is the middle of the country so Sahalie can be on the way to one of the coasts. Plus, the snow tends not to be as bad here. But--sorry about your packages.”

#( celina roth )

laylaxmorales·:

Larissa was going to murder her. Layla was aware of the thin line that she was walking and yet she couldn’t pull herself away. Perhaps it was being scolded like she was still seventeen years that managed to make her tuck her head in and walk away from it all. Or perhaps having to see the one man that she had ever opened up beside the woman that she had managed to let down in every way. Either way, there Layla was being held by Sean and feeling safe as if nothing had changed. As if he was not engaged to her sister. As if there was not a three year old mini version of both of them and as if they had not just finished a dinner where both of them had become villains for actions that were taken long before any of them got introduced into the story. That was thing about the second act, things were already in place and it was too late to stop the ball from going. “You act like they haven’t done that for my entire life, Sean. It is a losing battle. Trust me the best thing to do is to just grow some skin and just keep walking forward,” Layla had done that years ago, clearly she hadn’t remembered just how terrible her family members could get because she had forgotten to put her fighting suit on. She was aware of how this was all new to Sean. Larissa did these things – she would lure a man in with her looks – no one could deny the beauty that Larissa had been blessed with. Then her caring nature would show, you know the one that is reserved for just about everyone but Layla and Andrea and even Miguel at times. Before they even knew they were captivated and it was too late. Then Larissa would realize that the guy she had casted to play the main role in her life just could not live up to the expectations and set them aside. The woman was surprised to see that Sean had managed to make it this far. And yet she was not. Sean had a heart that just any woman would be able to consider themselves lucky to have access to and to be loved by. Not to mention that he seem to have a good head on his shoulders, the small allocated time that they had spent together he had spoken about his desire to be a father. As that small but vital fact managed to come back to her she felt another pang to the chest as she realized he damage her actions most likely had taken. “I have done the best I can. Even then I still feel like that is not even close to what she deserves.” More often than not she found herself feeling like an inadequate mother. “Let me tell you that those books about preparing you for motherhood don’t do jack. So don’t even waste your time on the father ones. Doubt they’re any better – after all they are written by man or females that don’t fully understand.” She joked because someone had to.

A new world was slowly unfolding before him, an entirely new life in fact. Or was it happening at the speed of light? He wasn’t sure sometimes. But he did know that tonight had opened his eyes. And now that they were open, he realized that he would need to be more than a father and more than a loving husband. He needed to make amends with Miguel, try to understand where Larissa was coming from, and begin to build a bridge so that everyone, most importantly Poppy could feel safe with this family. He didn’t want to even imagine what would happen if he couldn’t build that safety for Poppy here in Sahalie Falls. But he was never going to stop trying. His mind raced along, forgetting that Layla was there in his arms for a moment. “That doesn’t work for me Lay.” He looked down at her brown locks below him a certain sadness filling him up. No one wanted to see Layla take on the wrath of her mother and sister. It wasn’t right. Sean didn’t fault her in any way for letting them treat her this way. To fight might only leave her worse for wares. For Sean though, he didn’t see it as any sort of fight at all, but instead a journey. No one was at fault, but pain was clouding all of their vision. “Why do they treat you like this?” If Sean was going to walk this road, he would need to start to understand what built it in the first place. He was nervous to have this same conversation with Larissa. Sean knew that she would not take kindly to his less than acceptance of her actions. She was a proud woman who worked hard to meet everyone’s expectations so falling short in Sean’s eyes would hurt her tremendously. He’d seen the way she could lash out when she was hurt, as opposed to opening up about it. Tonight had been no different of course, but that didn’t excuse her actions either. Again, his attention turned to the one in his arms, the one he wasn’t nervous with. The one who held burdens on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone and soldiered on, something he could relate to in so many ways. “I don’t think any parent can feel like they’re doing enough.” At least, that was what he had read anyway. Because yes, despite Layla’s protests, he’d bought all the books he could find. He hadn’t read any, but skimmed a few chapters here and there. Focusing on reading was a lot to ask of Sean, but he knew had to try for Poppy. “Oh I already bought all the ones I could find. I mean, I am jumping into this with zero mental preparation so you know, all I have is books. But honestly I just end up falling asleep when I start reading them. So I’ve definitely gotten off to great start.” He continued. To finally be able to feel like he could open up about Poppy with Layla was so incredibly welcomed. It was creeping up on him too and he was well aware of it, that there was the thinnest of lines between his fiancé and the mother of his child. But he stayed the path and stuck to his guns no matter where they led. After all, he was a man of his word. But could he keep up both of these words at once?

#( layla morales )

georgie-wallace·:

“Seeean….” Georgie pouted as soon as she saw her favorite neighbor coming to save her day again. “You are like a magnet for ‘Georgie in compromising situations’, you should just accept it by now.” She shrugged, looking down at the drain as she tried to spot her keys anywhere, knowing that it would completely be in vain. “I am not completely useless, because I do have one. But it is at home…and my house keys are in the car….”

The making’s of a smile attempted to peak through he scoffed at her. As much as he wanted to be frustrated with Georgie for these silly situations, he honestly couldn’t be. It wasn’t like they were her fault of course, but there was also something about it that was somewhat endearing. Plus, it certainly kept him busy. “See, I feel like I accepted it but then I didn’t really know what I was accepting at the time.” He offered a joke, impressed with himself for finding the energy to joke at all given the state of his life. But really, what did he have to complain about. He was about to get married and had a beautiful daughter, if only that were the half of it. “No problem. I’ll give you a ride back to your place. I’m sure I can jimmy a way through your window or something. Otherwise, we can head to the hardware store and get the locks changed. Usually doesn’t take too long.”

#( georgie wallace )

nacmiowens·:

“Hey honey, what can I get ya?” A subtlesmile touched at Naomi’s lips, tugging them upwards as she waited for the command to jot down whether she was going to fetch a latte or a slice of that cherry pie her mom whipped up that morning. Helping her mom out with PAMELA’S CRUMBS wasn’t that bad ── especially in the afternoons where she was free from the high school and her mom was craving some Melody time. In fact, Naomi actually enjoyed the brief break it brought and a constant change of scenery. This week her mom’s bakery truck was stationed a to the main drag and attracted a handful of customers. “Something new? Or the regular?”

Sean embraced the colder months in Sahalie Falls. He was on a walk through town, something he often did, especially to quiet his mind. Though what needed quieting during this walk was certainly brand new. Alcohol had started to become more of a crutch than it previously had been which was a problem since he was a dad now. So when he saw Naomi at the truck it was easy to make his way over there to not only serve a vice, but warm him up from the cold. Plus, Naomi was always good for a bit of conversation as well. “Coffee, black please. Do I have a regular?” He cocked a brow, not having been that much of a consistent customer of Pamela’s Crumbs but he still made his way there on occasion. “Because if so, then you know more about my PC habits than even I do.” He chuckled softly, running his hands together to warm them up as he removed them from the pockets of his Carharrt jacket.

#( naomi owens )

laylaxmorales·:

A small tug on her lips revealed her smile. One that she was trying to give to Sean so he didn’t overburden himself with everything that was taking place. Unlike Layla Sean had no idea what he had signed up for when he had gotten engaged to Larissa. He didn’t know how her broken family worked, how there was a monarchy among them that they just respected because it was what it was. Nothing about the situation brought her great joy and yet there she stood. “It is what it is.” Her family life was perhaps the only aspect of her life that she held a defeated mode. There was no point to fight back and right now everyone was just handling the shock that was the news that had managed to be unraveled. “Everything is handled to Larissa.” She mumbled under her breath, not even wanting to speak ill of her sister because at the end of the day she was her sister but the charity her father had started had been given to her, as if to remind Layla that even in his eyes she had ended up just being a disappointment. Larissa had gotten the title to the lands and her father’s car, just like that. Without a struggle and even the letters that were hers it had been Larissa’s decision to donate them to the corporation archives as exhibits. Once again she felt like that young girl whose father was taken and she was expected to stand on her own two and accept all the changes and loss as they were. She couldn’t think about the hole in her chest, she had less than twenty four hours to get it all together and be the mother that Poppy deserved. “Trust me, it’s best to just let them come to terms with things than to shake anything up. Larissa will have a plan and it’ll work out.” Or Cameron would, or maybe just maybe Layla could just leave town again. How many times could she take Poppy away from Sean before he called foul? She moved towards him as she hesistated but ultmately decided to lay her head on his chest, her hands placed against his chest as the final tears slide down her chest. The warmth that she found himself managed breathe oh so slightly just again, “I am glad it all came out though.” For that she wouldn’t apologize, not once through the night did she ever say she was sorry for Poppy or for telling Sean. “Poppy deserves to have you in her life. I took a lot of time from you just cause I was scared and I will never be able to make up for that, for that I am sorry.”

Sean did understand that when one got engaged to another, to a certain extent the significant other’s family would go along with that. He just hadn’t been privy to the extent of how Larissa’s family operated. But not only was there a bit of a shock factor going on, but also, he couldn’t believe that Larissa had actually participated in all of it instead of putting an end to it. The way that Layla just accepted it was pulling back from the brink, realizing that she was indeed right, it was what it was. Sean was surprised that he’d found himself on Layla’s couch gently holding her, instead of trying to calm and talk some sense in Larissa. But his instincts had led him here. Something about what they’d had in common made him feel safer here. It was quieting his mind and letting him breathe for the first time in what felt like ages. Sean liked to think he knew Larissa better than he knew himself but he’d never looked at it from Layla’s perspective in that she was handed anything. His eyes were opening to a world that he had no idea even existed and so much of him wished he could just close the curtains on the window and never look back. But he knew that his eyes were opening to it because of his daughter, Poppy. He looked down at the hand that was not holding onto Layla’s shoulder, imagining Poppy’s teeny little hand within it. “I guess I never saw it that way. But,” He paused for a moment as he gathered his thoughts, “Regardless of all that though, they can’t treat you like that. And I’m not going to stand for it.” His head shook softly for a moment, recalling the promises he’d made when Layla had told him that Poppy was his. He was going to watch out for her and protect her, just like he was going to do the same for Larissa. The kind of anger that was directed towards Layla, hurt Larissa too. “I’ll talk to her Layla. It’s going to get better.” He offered her, apparently making it his job to repair the years worth of anger that had built between the two sisters. But in the end, that truly was his job now wasn’t it? One, his fiancé, the other the mother of his child. This was his burden to bare, he just hadn’t fully realized the severity of the distance between the two sisters until now. Though he’d been deep in thought as he tried to process the night, Layla pulled his attention back to her directly when she mentioned Poppy. His head dipping down at her with a soft smile, “Thanks.” He began, pulling her in closer as he gave her a squeeze. The man always wanted to remind her that he was there, a fear of her running from him again terrified him. He wanted to be worth staying for. Her apology managed to begin healing a wound that she’d opened not a few weeks ago. Sean appreciated it immensely, “You’ve done an amazing job with her.”

#( layla morales )

laylaxmorales·:

He couldn’t let her be alone and she had no will to push him out, what a perfect recipe for a disaster. Layla had never thought for once that Sean would leave Larissa, nor did she want that. Not truly, but she hadn’t completely accepted the notion that he would be married to her soon. It was a in between place that she was in regarding the entire situation. “They will. Once you marry Larissa and they see I am not out here trying to ruin her life again then everything will fall into place. You kind of have to see things from their side.” Her entire life she had been taught to see it from their side, from how things affected them and rarely justified her own feelings. Layla had grown used to this and it wasn’t till she had left she realized how toxic that entire mindset was. Now here she was sliding back to old habits, and as long as it meant that she would survive she didn’t care to fight back. “I left and everything fell onto Larissa. She’s had to deal with a lot and then knowing you fathered someone,” A bastard, cause clearly right now that was how Poppy was being labeled as. Though legally correct the heaviness of the title left bitter taste in her own mouth. “It’s not what the family imagined for darling Lar.” This was not the white castle and white horse carriage that had been arranged for her sister. “We will. It’s just the worst before the best – or something like that” More like he would but why would she fight about it right now? As she inhaled and exhaled, she just kept looking at him, a small chuckle falling from her lips as she wrapped her arms around herse. The years hadn’t been kind to either one of them and yet they were still standing. “Would a hug be inappropriate to ask for?”

His head was quick to shake as he heard her words, “I thought you were supposed to be the one that lives in the moment.” Sean actually managed to crack a joke which felt like the first one that’d come to his mind in absolute ages. Again a smile peaked through which was quick to remind him of the nights quick hitting toxicity. The man pushed out a breath, “No one deserves to be treated that way, much less by their own family Layla. And I really don’t have to see it from their side at all. They seem to care far more about a wedding than they do you or Poppy. And I won’t support that.” He was mainly talking about Poppy when he said he couldn’t support that, at least that was what he told himself. But Sean refused to just sit idly by and allow such absurd behavior to go unnoticed. While he was engaged to be married to Larissa, it didn’t mean he had to stand behind how their family treated their own daughter, let alone the mother of his own daughter. So no, he would indeed not support that. Though apparently he was too afraid to stand up for Layla when the moment called for him to do that most. He was here now though, and he wouldn’t dwell on what he hadn’t done, but what he could do now. Darling Lar, he knew she saw it too. Which only made it all the more sad to watch her become a shell of herself at the hands of their wrath. “Nothing is handed to you in life, not even a perfect wedding.” He muttered, still unsure about how much he should reveal about how he was feeling towards Larissa after what he’d witnessed tonight. Sean didn’t want to be hasty. “I’m usually good about that sort of thing, waiting for things to sort themselves out--patience and all that. But it doesn’t excuse how they treated you, and me for that matter.” He reiterated, unwilling at this time, to let any of them off the mat despite Layla’s attempts. It bothered him too, the way she managed to defend them. Sean’s eyes raised slightly in a warm sort of surprise, his head again quick to begin shaking though the movements back and forth were decidedly slower. He lifted himself up off the couch, side stepping her coffee table as he made her. Sean huffed as he caught her eyes, feeling the sadness that both of them shared. His arms moved to wrap around her as he pulled in her petite figure, one hand resting on the small of her back, farther up towards her neck as he found himself cradling her. Sean really needed their family to be okay and he only just now realized how much he needed that hug too.

#( layla morales )

laylaxmorales·:

She ended up closing the door behind him and following him in. The place was a lender, her grandfather had been kind enough to leave her something in town. He always suspected that Layla would eventually come back home even if she screamed at the top of her lungs at every given chance that she would never settle down here. “Could end up losing an engagement,” she ended up offering, not even in the hopes to spite him but just to remind him that he still had something at risk. Layla didn’t, family had never been a forte ever since her father had passed away. Andrea would always be there so that was never at risk and she knew eventually Cameron would come around once he got over the initial shock, lifting her finger she pointed to his left eye, “Let me guess, Miguel? Don’t take it to heart. He tends to say more with his hands than with words when it comes to speaking to other males,” She wasn’t half surprised that Cameron had been walking around with one a couple of months ago. Tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, she looked over at Sean silently shaking her head side to side, “No. I am sorry. I should’ve done so many things differently. My mother is right about that. I live too much in the moment.” That’s how she had gotten lost in Sean’s presence. Why she loved chasing storms because you got to see the beauty right then and there and then they were gone but that beauty, it was priceless. “I wrapped you in this mess. I should’ve just never come back home.”

Sean licked his lips but before he could let the bottom one return to its normal place, the man bit down on it hard. Not because of the pain in his eye, but because her words had left a mark. Layla was never one to sugarcoat which the man appreciated though it could certainly be difficult being on the other end of it as well. “I couldn’t just let you be alone after all of that.” He admitted. And that was why he was here. “Your family needs to get over it and realize that Poppy needs us more than anything. Guess you’re the only I can really relate to about this.” Sean also admitted, wondering if that was a bit too much. While he was a man who wasn’t much for putting on airs just to placate those around him, he knew this situation required a delicate hand. But tonight it was hard to be delicate after anything but a delicate hand was dealt to the family of a young child who never asked for one single bit of this. “I’m fine. Miguel was standing up for his family as he should.” He definitely did not hold it against Miguel, however he maintained that the worst thing he’d done was have a one night stand with Layla. And if Miguel wasn’t having one night stands, maybe he should be with all the shiners he was offering about town. “Don’t be sorry. What’s done it done--” But he was cut off as she continued. And if he thought he’d been hurt before, well, her next words cut him the deepest. “Please don’t say that Layla. We will get through this, I promise.”

#( layla morales )

laylaxmorales·:

The brunette wished she could say every insult that had been thrown at her she could take, but something about literally doing nothing wrong and still being tossed to the flames managed to cut her deeper. Perhaps because it was Larissa that had offered her up to the lion and her mother hadn’t hesitated to prance on the new information. Layla found herself being thankful that Nancy had suggested a sleepover for the girls, and that Poppy hadn’t been around to hear the insults. Kind had a funny way of sneaking into places they didn’t need to be and overhearing information that they should never have access to. Coming back home, she couldn’t remember if she had ran out of the house when the chance had been given or if she had driven here. It truly was an entire blur. The burning sensation of tears on her cheeks was perhaps the only reason she knew she had been crying. They were not even due to the cuts that the words had done but pure anger. Anger that Larissa couldn’t see that Layla hadn’t done this on purpose. Anger that they couldn’t embrace that out of the mess there was Poppy who was an innocent and perhaps the best thing to happen to the family. Anger that no one had lifted a finger to defend her till everything had been said and done. As she sat on her sofa in the darkness, without any intention of being as emo as the scene was her phone ended up vibrating. Parf of her told her to ignore it, he should be with Larissa not here. Then that familiar tug of familiarance and safety – the same emotions that had gotten her in this mess managed to overcome her and before she was aware she had pulled her cardigan over her, slipping her hands in and opening the door, “You can come in. Poppy is at a sleepover and at this rate I’m sure Larissa has hired a private eye to follow you.”

Sean looked up at her, catching her face in the porch light only briefly. But it was long enough for Sean to see the puff in her face and strain in her eyes. His brow furrowed in general frustration over the entire thing. “Don’t think she could manage to be more angry with me than she already is so, suppose I have nothing to lose.” He cracked a small smile, which only led to his face suddenly pang in pain. But Sean took it in stride at this point, knowing it was coming though the smile was worth it if provided her any sort of comfort. To him, all of the family’s issues were trivial in comparison to the care they should be showing Poppy. If they all focused on Poppy, everything else would fall into place. At least, that was how Sean saw it. He suspected Layla held some similar views, at least in the case of focusing on Poppy for sure. Sean slipped inside her warm home, sliding off his jacket which he placed over a chair. His hand rubbed along the scruff of his jaw as he took a seat. “I’m sorry, for everything Layla.” Well, not Poppy, because he’d never be sorry about his little ray of absolute sunshine in this never ending storm.

#( layla morales )

Luckily Larissa was aware that Sean needed his alone time. It was why she’d never managed to get him to move in with her. Sean knew that they’d have their own place after the wedding of course, but still, they were looking for a place with a shed or a detached garage where Sean could find solace and get his mind right. In this case however, it was still his home. And so, that was where he intended to head when he left the Morales house after the mess that had ensued that night. His eye was throbbing but he was numb to it by now. Sean didn’t really think he’d done anything wrong, but anger and frustration had to be taken out somewhere and Sean would rather it be him than Layla. But unfortunately, he was worried that the words slung at her had cut far deeper than the cut above his eye right now. Hell, he wasn’t sure which had cut him deeper at this point. And so, instead of his legs carrying him home, they managed to bring them to Layla’s house where he darkened her door. He wasn’t sure if Poppy was at a sleepover or not so he knocked on the door lightly before shooting her a text, “Hey, I’m outside if you want to talk. I understand if you don’t but I’m here if you want to.”

@laylaxmorales

#( layla morales )

georgie-wallace·:

Georgie was clumsy. There was no real denying in that. But this time she really outdid herself.

A quick run inside to get a cup of coffee on her way home, how wrong could that go, right? Parking her car close to the coffee shop, she made the brilliant decision to leave everything inside the vehicle and just get out with her keys and wallet, something so simple that wouldn’t take her more than five minutes to do so, and she was right! Before she even realized, she had paid for her drink and was on her way back to her car, already dreaming of her sweats and comfy couch, and holding her coffee to go in one hand and her wallet in the other, she was fishing for her car keys in her pocket, distracted by a car honking on the street that she didn’t see the crack on the floor, tripping on her own feet and dropping her car keys, which graciously decided to fall into. the. drain.

“Fuck.” She was in so much trouble now.

Sean made his way to the coffee shop, his pounding hangover calling for some caffeination. One vice on top of another was probably the best way to deal with the way his life had just turned completely upside down. Was he handling his new found sense of fatherhood well? The answer he felt barreling down on him in that moment was a resounding no which only served to lead him back into his fridge for another beer. Larissa was no help whatsoever. Sean knew that Poppy was his and he didn’t need a piece of paper to tell him that. But the fact remained, Larissa’s denial only prolonged her acceptance.

Getting out of his car to head into the coffee shop he caught Georgie Wallace out of the corner of his eyes, “It is a wonder how you always manage to find yourself in situations like this.” He sighed, putting his hands into his jacket pockets as the midwestern cold was begin to settle in. Now normally when he caught Georgie Wallace in a compromising position, that is, one where she just managed to plop herself right into some sort of silly predicament, Sean would just laugh gently and offer a helping hand. Still he found himself unable to stop from offering that helping hand in the end, despite his pounding headache, “Do you have a spare key anywhere Georgie?”

#( georgie wallace )

laylaxmorales·:

S. ROTHMAN.

He nodded, feeling confirmation that she understood that when he made a promise, he meant it. That was important to him in life generally, but now felt like the most important thing, a foundation for them to grow their family from.

Sean knew trust went way deeper with her than the way she spoke of it in that moment. He found himself so immediately coveting that level of trust with her. Was it because he still had something for her? Yes. He wasn’t daft enough to believe that just because he fell in love with Larissa didn’t mean he didn’t still hold a candle for the one that got away. That was the tricky part about the one that got away wasn’t it? But he also wondered if it was because she was the mother of his child. A brand new feeling that he didn’t have much of awareness of at the moment.

But when she brought up calendar’s and visitation, the man was utterly silent. It wasn’t because the gravity of being a father was shocking him once again, no. He felt ready to be a father. A part of him was truly thrilled that Poppy was his. And even more so, that Layla was her mother. She had such a fire that he’d want any daughter of his to have. It was also clear that she’d been doing an amazing job. So why then, was he growing so frustrated as she spoke of visitation, home schooling, weekends, and long distance?

What was dawning on him, was not fatherhood, but the lack of control over his role as Poppy’s father. It was clear that she had put thought into how this would actually work which was nice to hear. But what about what Sean wanted, and even what Poppy might want?

“Okay.” He echoed her sentiment from earlier. He too, didn’t know what else there was to say. This was a case in which Sean knew that this was not the time nor place to discuss these things in depth with her. He had to hope that everything would work out between the three of them in the end. But he’d be lying if he didn’t say he wasn’t scared. Scared that he wouldn’t be allowed to be the father he’d always dreamt of being.

Sean removed his hat as he listened, running a hand through his hair as a touch of liquid kissed his eyelids. He’d wanted to be a dad for so long and he couldn’t help but feel so much pain at the loss of time with Poppy. He folded his hat in his hands as he placed it on his lap, looking down. “Please just, make sure she knows that–I always wanted her. And I always loved her. That I never wanted to miss out on these last few years with her. That’s all I ask Layla.”

The woman had to listen to him, the feelings that were stirring in her stomach had to be ignored. The questioned that threatening to leave her mouth had to stay forever unheard. This was not a position she had ever thought that she would find herself being in. This entire situation just took place because of small mistakes here and there. Maybe she should’ve fought more to locate him. Maybe she should put her job on hold till she located the father.

These are thoughts that had crossed her mind when everything was unfolding, but never had they been given enough notice and that was mostly due to the fact that Layla didn’t know how to handle the bomb that had been her pregnancy? What if Sean wanted nothing to do with her or with Poppy? Would that not hurt more than if just never heard from him? What if he wanted full custody and took her to court and eliminated her from the picture? With the description of her job, it wouldn’t take much for a judge to believe that Layla was unfit to be a mother. She was not being irrational, at least she didn’t think that she was.

“Sean…” his name sounded to foreign on her mouth. As if she hadn’t mouth his name in the darkness with their bodies pressed onto each other. Almost felt like she was trying to hide any sentiments she still held to the man in front of her. At the same time there was an apologetic underlying tone because hearing his words, she knew the weight of her actions had taken more from him than she had ever truly wanted. Saying that she had tried would ultimately be met with it not being enough; and how could she ever fault him for feeling like that?

Her hands clasped together as they laid on the wooden table, her lower lip rolling into her mouth as her teeth grazed the skin, thinking of how to be – be herself in this entire situation. “Poppy is going to love you and she will know the truth.” That was the best that she could do with what she was being given. Layla knew when she was in the wrong and could easily owe up to her mistake if her emotions were not triggered; which was not often in such a heated and delicate topic but as she sat there in front of the father of her daughter, and perhaps who could’ve been the love of her life she found a way to swallow her own pride.

“She will know that it was I that left the town without moving dirt and water to locate you and the moment that you found the truth you didn’t hesitate.” That would be the only thing that she would have to hear from her father to forgive him if this was happening to her. And Poppy had a even bigger heart than she did, “I guess the next time I see you it’ll be with Poppy,” the brunette could not imagine how his conversation with her sister would go but she wished him well, without realizing she reached over and gave a slight squeeze on his left hand, “I am sorry. I know Larissa loves you and she’ll still want you.” Who wouldn’t?

#( layla morales )#end

laylaxmorales·:

“Okay.” What else was there to say? This was what Layla had asked for and now they were meeting in the middle. They were going to be honest and tell Larissa the truth and then they would both watch how everything would unfold the next day. A part of her felt secure because at least she knew that Sean felt the same when it came to Poppy, she was first and they would both put their daughter first. That was all that mattered, all the complications that came afterwards – that derived from them would be figured out later.

“I trust you with her, Sean. You’re engaged to Larissa so you’re not a serial killer. I know that you are going to do the best with her and that is all that needs to be between us. We can come up with a calendar for visitation.” Now that was the problem that they’re going to need to figure out. Maybe not right then and there but at least now they had something to think about till the next time they met. But for the trusting element, it wasn’t often that Layla found herself confessing her insecurities to someone she had just met. Not to mention that Sean was her one and only one night stand, the others usually consisted of a bunch useless dates and dead end conversations, at least with those she would’ve been able to contact them right away unlike Sean.

“I just need three days top before you can meet her again. I want to be the one that tells her about you and you know she is going to want to know the story of how it happened – I mean the meeting cue – her friends have told her about their parents love story – I’ll just explain it as something else.” How was a almost four year going to understand what was happening now? And would she get backlash if she started to call Sean father in the middle of the town – what would people think? What would the gossip be? The brunette ran her fingers through her hair as the complications started to arise in her head.

She just wanted one night where she didn’t overthink or over analyze life. “She is homeschooled monday through friday, but that is only a couple of hours. You can have weekends if you want. My sister usually gets her – Andrea,” she felt the extra need to clarify which sister she was referring to. Though it was obvious, and if he remembered from that night it was Andrea that she was the closest with. “You can also have first call when I get called away to work. I don’t see myself staying in town past the wedding so we will have to come up with a long distance plan.”

However, they had time to do that one. So the brunette found herself not being too stressed out about that one just yet. As she licked her lips she realized how many emotions she had managed to go through in such a short amount of time and how little answers she had managed to get back. “So I can give you a text around Friday? Maybe if you have time you can come and meet her – the park, the first time it can be us two. Just so she is not overwhelmed.” Was he willing to work things with her and come up with a plan that could work for everyone.

Sean removed his hat as he listened, running a hand through his hair as a touch of liquid kissed his eyelids. He’d wanted to be a dad for so long and he couldn’t help but feel so much pain at the loss of time with Poppy. He folded his hat in his hands as he placed it on his lap, looking down. “Please just, make sure she knows that--I always wanted her. And I always loved her. That I never wanted to miss out on these last few years with her. That’s all I ask Layla.”

#( layla morales )

larissamorales·:

As Sean made his way to bed, she moved over to settle her head onto his chest. It didn’t take a genius to know that he was stressing out, these were the moments she wished she could read his mind and be able to put him to ease. “Then we won’t talk about it. Just know that I am here,” She always would be, in many ways Sean managed to be an escape from her life and the life she had thought she had wanted. What they had together – the world they were able to create with each was the most precious thing she held, more than the pension plan she had started when she was a teenager with the start of her own company. His words raised confusion in her, tilting her head just at the perfect angle to catch his gaze, “What are you talking about? Thank you for coming into my life. I honestly, think you moving here was perhaps your brightest idea.” she explained the thoughts in her head as she rested her chin onto his chest and turned over, “I know.” Which perhaps would be the closest thing she would say indicating that she felt the same way.

Sean’s jaw clenched when she took his words as literally as ever. And why shouldn’t she? She was going to make him say it. At this point she could understand that whatever he was about to say was going to be bad. Fending that off, pretending it away, that sounded like a great idea. And normally, he would be keen to do just that, knowing that with time, most things managed to blow over. But this was far from one of those times. He never in his life had felt so lonely with a wonderful woman in his arms, Larissa. His Larissa. The girl he was readied to marry. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as his entire face scrunched. She was making it so incredibly difficult for him to even open up his mouth. Hell, facing the words were hard enough for him alone. “No, I mean, this is--this is different.” Sean stared up at the ceiling, looking at the way the white walls came together at a peak just biding his time for the last few moments he’d have. “Larissa, I’m about to tell you something that is going to be really hard. Please, please know that no one ever meant for this to happen. And that I promise we are going to figure to this out. I love you, okay?” He reminded her, looking down when he said those words. “Poppy--is mine.”

#( larissa morales )

larissamorales·:

She pushed herself to sit up straight as she glanced over at Sean, ever since their engagement party he had been acting strange. For the most part she had assumed that it was because of her parents, she knew that they could be a bit intense, yes that was the word. But they were harmless and just wanted the best. After all Larissa was probably the only one that was going to get married in a way that they could celebrate with a giant wedding to invite all their friends, and the friends of their friends. After all who would want to come to Layla’s? Everyone knew that she had a child out of wedlock and then Andrea – considering how she had managed to fuck up things with Cameron she doubted that either of them would get their shit together for their parents standards. Being the golden child was not as easy as people liked to assume it was, “It’s ok, want to talk about it? I have heard somewhere that spouses talk to each other and resolve issues and stress – get this – together.” She teased as she patted a spot beside her on the mattress. “Was it my sisters? They can be bother be something but once you get to meet them you start to find them adorable – now the only one you have left to meet is Miguel.”

He nodded, a soft smile that actually did reach his eyes this time managed to pull up on his cheeks. Sean laid back into her silken sheets, opening his arms up to her to settle on his chest if she so chose. A part of him felt as though he was almost cheating on her, like he didn’t deserve to have her in his arms. And he didn’t. He knew. “I don’t want to talk about it actually. At all.” And why should he? Why should he want to talk about something that was going to hurt her? Sean never wanted to hurt his loved ones. He sighed, his hand pulling up to his eyes as he drew his fingers in towards the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for--for I don’t know moving here--coming into your life.” The man bit his tongue, the words he spoke already wrong. “No--I don’t mean that. I just--I don’t want--I need you Riss.” She was the one person he was allowed to lean on right? “You know I never willingly admit that--but I really need you.”

#( larissa morales )

larissamorales·:

Getting ready for night was always an entire ordeal. The facial routine that she had managed to perfect for the past twenty years was one that she never went to bed without completing. It was because of that, that she had not even taken note of how absent Sean had been today. Not to mention that the wedding details were taking her time up on top of the other weddings she had to be on top of considering her job. Once the maids took the dirty basket out she heard Sean’s entrance, quickly putting the last minute details in her email to her coworkers regarding the workload for the next day she pressed send, before placing her device down beside her before looking up, “You know these past couple of days you’ve been operating on ghost mode, something up? Was it mother? Has she been trying to get your size for the tuxedo? She did text me to tell me you still have not sent those measurements to her.” @seanmichaelrothman·

After leaving the conversation with Layla, Sean made his way over to the pier. It wasn’t even a choice, he needed to be out on the water after all of that. It was where he and his father had spread his mother’s ashes, sure that had been in Wisconsin. But still, he’d always felt connected to her. He felt connected to himself on the water too. He didn’t have his own boat but he had connections and favors he could pull. But no amount of time spent on the water could prepare him for what he was about to face. His hair was matted down by his hat, the part that was under it anyway. The rest of his hair, windblown by the coastal waters of Alabama. He sighed at her words, the weight of the world truly feeling as though it were on his shoulders. Calling him a ghost was probably the perfect description of him. “Sorry about that, I’ve been in my head all week. But no, she’s been fine--just very excited about her daughters wedding as she should be.” He smiled, though it was a meek one. Sean shrugged the jacket off his shoulders and removed his hat, placing it on her vanity.

#( larissa morales )

laylaxmorales·:

There were about a thousand things that were being left unsaid. Had he even looked for her? Had he tried to locate her? Had that night meant more than just a one night stands? The more the question lingered in her head the more she knew that they did not matter because at the end of the day they were all moot. The answers did not matter. Poppy was the most important person in this equation and she had to make sure that when she came of age she knew that Layla, as her mother, had done the best she could to ensure she had a stable relationship with her father. The world did not need another woman to be walking around with daddy issues.

“That is between you and them, I will not be there.” She already had enough sconing when it came from them. The woman didn’t need her stepfather to drop his head and mutter some more words that basically summoed up how the youngest had never gotten her shit together. All that her parents knew about Poppy’s father was that it was a one night stand and that by the time she realized that she was pregnant that she was way past the point of returning. “She’s the only one that has to count on you.”

Which triggered the other worry that she had. How was she going to end up telling Poppy about her father? Ever since she had managed to put her in day care and preschool the questions of her absent father had arisen. How could they not? Her classmates were picked up by two individuals most of the time and then there was Poppy, always waiting for Layla or for Andrea. It all depended. Perhaps that was one of many reasons as to why she had taken her out of public school and was now homeschooling her daugther. Of course, her parents had told her to enroll her in a private school because what kind of education is she getting on the road? As if on the road education was not perhaps the most diverse and educational method of exposing children to different realities.

Layla’s hues dropped over at Sean’s as they locked. He was willing to do this – something that she knew he didn’t want to do. Sean was not the type to be a villiain, and Layla couldn’t help but feel like she needed to step in and say no. Biting her lower lip, she gazed her upper teeth across her lower as she leaned once again forward. Wrapping her arms across as she leaned forward before lifting her gaze up to meet his once again,

“Don’t lie to Larissa. My relationship with her is complicated as is. Lies isn’t going to make it better. I wanted more time because I don’t want to deal with everything,” she sighed, defeated as she came to terms with everything that was just about to unfold. “Logically, no one should get upset. Life happened – but it’ll be ok. With time Larissa will start to understand that Poppy doesn’t change a thing when it comes to the relationship you two have. There is no threat to the wedding or the happy life that awaits you two.”

He nodded. Again, Layla’s words were veiled in feelings he’d become privy to on that fateful night that had led them here. He understood that her response held her own insecurities towards her parents. Had he known these were the parents in question, well, that may have changed things. And frankly, it already had. Did she have any idea of the influence she had over him?

“You asked me to do something. I intend to follow through.” He asserted now. Only trying to remind her why he’d said what he’d said in the first place. Because his intention to follow through with her direction was important to him. He needed her to know that she could count on him. Because counting on him would be utterly paramount to however they decided to coparent.

His head was quick to shake when she claimed that Poppy was the only one that had to count on him because it was not that simple. He had only been a father for about ten minutes, but in order for Poppy to have the life she deserved, the two of them would have to work together and count on each other. She’d been raising Poppy alone for far too long. And it wasn’t that he didn’t think she could do it on her own, but that she didn’t have to. And he didn’t want her to. But there was a lot of trust they will be required to build with one another. “That’s not true. You’re her mother and you have to trust me. I want you to trust me. And I want you to know that you can lean on me.”

Sean swallowed. He didn’t know how much thought had gone into the conversation they were currently having on her part. Was she actually prepared to genuinely share the duties of raising their daughter? Did she know how much he needed to be in Poppy’s life? “We are in this together now.”

He listened to her, knowing that they had made it past the anger now at this point. They needed to figure out how to navigate this tricky situation. It was their first battle as parents together and it was a mighty one. But he wasn’t ready to fully do this with Layla yet either. He needed time to process all of this. Yet the fact of the matter was, he would head to Larissa’s tonight. It wasn’t like he could feasibly keep this a secret. His head was quick to shake again, “It is not that simple.” He spoke as he took in and released a deep breath, annoyed that she had decided to make such light of it when she knew that was far from the case. But he realized it was her own self preservation.

To be frank, Sean had become mad with Layla again. But he didn’t want to release any of that because he was out of energy. The roller coaster of emotions he’d just experienced had effectively, zapped him. The one safe haven he had in this town was Larissa and now Larissa was the most dangerous part of his life. In reality, Sean was the foreign invader here, ruining all of their lives. If he’d never come to Magnolia Springs, none of their lives would be upended in such a way. He couldn’t lie to Larissa when it came down to it anyway. “I won’t lie.” He offered now, heeding her request again.

#( layla morales )

laylaxmorales·:

Clearly, she should’ve started to drink before this meeting. It was strange how this was playing out. When it had just been the two of them it had been the first time she hadn’t need any vices to feel like she was alive and now she needed it after all these years just to tone down the anxiety nerves that were building underneath of her. “You don’t know me to know what I think.” She answered, knowing that if she kept this up the two of them were going to end up finding themselves in court to argue vistation, which would only affet Poppy in the worst way possible. Yet her emotions had taken the driver seat and logic had left the car.

The more he talked, the more she knew for the most part he was right. Larissa would have to find out eventually but that Sean didn’t truly know the judgemental high society class he was about to marry into. Which managed to give her some happiness because then it meant that laid back fisherman that valued the simple things had been real. It posed thousand of other questions though – how was he still dating Larissa – no how was he engaged to her sister? But that no longer was any of her concern. One thing was to have a child with your sister’s soon to be husband it was another crime to harbor any emotions towards him.

She drowned her water, as she decided to make a decision right then and there. Placing the glass down she leaned back, Interlacing her fingers as she laid them on her lap and nodded; the woman was going to concur here with Sean. Mostly because this would be the wake up call he needed to know who his in laws were and how her mother was going to now treat Poppy as the worst thing ever because it interfered with her golden daugther kodak marriage. “Ok. Tell Larissa. While you’re at it, please be there when she tells our parents. Maybe when your baby blues you can deter the venom that will come out.”

“Lets make it clear. Poppy is first for me so I will not expose her to a toxic environment. Larissa is your future wife so I am sure you can hold her on a short leash.” Unlike her mother and her sister Layla was not going to teach Poppy that she had take the comments and show up to places where her name was in the middle of every gossip bit. “No one is the bad guy.” she admitted as her shoulders dropped, “We had a one night stand and my birth control didn’t do it’s job. It happens, Sean. You and I – it wasn’t a bad thing. Because that night gave me the best thing in my life. So don’t make Poppy’s father a bad guy. Life happened.”

Sean’s head cocked the side, his lips curling in on one another as he leaned back in his chair now, letting her have that one. Even though he whole heartedly disagreed. Sean did know her, or rather, he knew what he remembered about her. And he knew that Layla would want her daughter to have both of her parents because of how the loss of her father had affected her. But this wasn’t the time to hash all of that out. It was a conundrum though, because though she’d said that she’d tried, nothing would feel like enough to him to cause him the loss of this many years in Poppy’s life.

But Sean knew he had to let that go for now. First, and foremost, they needed to ensure that Poppy was going to be safe with her family and the mess that had been made. “I promise to be there when we tell your parents.” He promised. As the anger subsided, it was being replaced with a deep sort of pain that he could feel starting to build. He wondered just when and how it would manage to crush him. He thought he was prepared for any kind of pain life could throw at him, but this was too much. And he knew he’d have to bare the burden all alone.

Sean would beg to differ on her assertion that ‘no one was the bad guy’. He could easily argue that the sole reason they were in this mess is because she didn’t wait for him. She prioritized storms over Poppy having a father. But he couldn’t bring himself to be so cruel to her. That wasn’t him and it never would be. If he was going to truly man up to the job he’d been wanting to do most for so many years, it was going to start right here.

“That’s not what I mean. I don’t believe Poppy is a bad thing, and please don’t ever think that of me. I promise that I will put everything I have into being her father Layla. You can count on me.” He asserted. Sean needed her to know that right now. In fact, he was surprised that it’d taken him this long to let her know how much he cared. There wasn’t just Poppy to worry about, but she was a mother and a human too. And there was Larissa as well. There was no way to make them all happy. He’d already accepted that, though without the consequences raining down on him yet, that the was easy part. But in this moment, he needed to step up and let Poppy’s mom know that he had her.

“What I mean is I think this will go over better if I make myself the villain in this. That way, she and your parents can spend their energy being angry with me. I said I wouldn’t lie to her, but in this, I don’t think there’s a better way to protect Poppy. And even if the lie comes out, at least that will allow for more time to have passed and I’ll already have been the villain anyway.” Sean licked his lips, soldiering up in a way he never thought he’d have to.

#( layla morales )

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