Page 36 of A Constant Love
A hush fell over the table as if everyone was taking a moment to reflect on their own favorite memories of their mother.
Our food arrived, and we ate with everyone sharing some of those wonderful memories.
Jessie talked about how she would always take the time to make the best snacks for his little league football games no matter how depressed she was that day.
Luke talked about how she would set up a tent out back for just the two of them, and they would roast marshmallows and look at the stars.
John talked about her insisting on reading to each one of the kids while they were still in her pregnant belly.
And Sam talked about how they would go into town for ice cream sundaes and people watch for hours.
It sounded like Dina Flemming was a hell of a mother before she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It made me wonder how differently Sam’s life would have turned out if her mother remained healthy and was still alive.
We finished our meal with some more memories and small talk and got up getting ready to leave. I pulled out my wallet to cover the check, but John held up his hand.
“Son, put that away. I don’t know what you’ve been doing to my daughter to help her, but whatever it is, it’s working. She came into town. This is a damn celebration, so I’ve got it covered.”
I wanted to argue because I knew that my wallet was much flusher than his, but I wasn’t about to do anything to remove that proud look from his eyes.
As we walked out of the restaurant, a woman came storming up to Sam. She had bleach blonde hair that had enough hairspray in it to make it flammable and wore a tight red dress with matching stiletto heels.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged back into town. Samantha Flemming.”
Sam whipped her head around to stare at the girl. The look on her face said this wasn’t going to be as pleasant as the reunion with Benny.
“What do you want, Melanie?” She asked.
“I heard you were back in town, and I just had to come see it for myself.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Well, now you have seen it, so why don’t you just leave me alone?”
“Why all the hate?” Melanie threw her hand over her heart as though she was seriously offended.
“Don’t play dumb with me. I know you were fucking James while he and I were dating. And I know you led the charge to crucify me instead of him after what he did to me.” Sam was right up in her face now despite being a few inches shorter thanks to Melanie’s heels.
“Oh, you mean how you let those boys run a train on you and then cried rape? James was a good man. We were in love, and your accusations ran him out of town.”
I could practically feel the heat radiating off of Sam. The thought crossed my mind to step in and defend her, but it looked like she had it all under control.
“Okay, Melanie. If that’s what you want to think, go ahead. I’m done defending myself.” She took a step closer. “But let me ask you this. If he loved you so much, why didn’t he take you with him when he left? Maybe he didn’t love you. Maybe you were just his whore. Maybe you were just as much of a whore as I was.”
Before Melanie could process the words, Sam turned to walk away, but the bleach blonde hadn’t had her final word.
“Yeah? And maybe you are just as crazy as that fucked up mother of yours.”
In one quick motion, Sam turned and swung her arm back, using the force of her whole body to punch Melanie right in the nose.
“You bitch!” She screamed touching her now bloody nose.
Luke screamed, “Holy shit! Sammie IS back!”
The wide-eyed look on Sam’s face showed that she was just as surprised by her actions as everyone else.
“Let’s go,” she whispered while walking toward the passenger door of the car.
When we were safely buckled in and headed back towards her family home, I looked over at her as she stared silently out the window.
“So…” I began. “Now, I can say I have seen that right hook that everyone keeps raving about.”