Page 76 of Securing Samantha
“I’ll see you after New Year’s. I love you. Merry Christmas, LJ.” She squeezed him tight.
“I love you, Mom.” Her son squirmed from her grasp and took Whiskey’s hand.
“Merry Christmas, Whiskey,” she told him softly.
“Merry Christmas, I hope the new year brings you everything you wish for, lass. Most of all, I hope you find peace.” Whiskey ushered their son out the door.
Tears pooled in her eyes as Kassie called out to Bryan to join the game at the table while Chase handed her a tissue. He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Come with me,” he whispered.
She followed him to the back deck. Christmas lights and garland occupied every space. “Kassie got carried away,” he chuckled.
She laughed as she crossed her arms and gripped the tissue in her hand.
“I thought you might need a moment. I never thanked you for helping me with Kassie. I watched you this evening and it occurred to me; I never really told you how grateful I am for all your help when I brought her to the mountain.”
“She’s my friend,” Samantha easily dismissed him.
“Am I your friend?” Chase leaned against the rail.
“Of course, what a silly question.” She shook her head.
“You’re making a mistake. I’m not saying Bryan’s not a good guy. He’s great. I want to tell you how I felt when Kassie pushed me away. I was livid. Anger filled me. I chased her. I played with her child while she sat in a house, refusing to speak. We called doctors in from all over the country only to watch her refuse to see them. I brought her here and watched as she sat in a closet suffering a panic attack and knew she’d refuse any comfort from me. I listened to her scream bloody murder when she dreamed of Roger coming after her. I heard her cry out her rage, anger, and grief at her sister. I listened as she wept and confessed she wasn’t good enough for me. Kassie pushed me away at every turn. She even refused to ask me for butter, and it broke my heart. My daily chant turned into ‘Ask for the butter, Princess.’”
“I know you stood by her,” she began.
“No. I walked away. She hurt me. There’re things Kassie doesn’t know she confessed to me while she struggled through the trauma. I want to walk through hell and kill the bastard all over again each time. She still has nightmares and talks in her sleep occasionally. But if I was forced to choose between her walking away and hurting me because of what happened, or me enduring her secrets until she’s ready to tell me herself, I’d choose her each time. The life we created here, getting a daughter, and this extended family, makes it all worth it. Because love is worth fighting for. Take a moment and get some air.”
Did she give up on Whiskey too soon? No. He gave up first. He didn’t want her until he learned about Bryan. Tomorrow she’d go home and start a new life. Even if it hurt her to walk away.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Her heart felt heavy as she hugged her friends.
“Of course, we’ll call when we arrive home,” Samantha told everyone. She watched out of the plane’s window as the plane took off down the runway and lifted from the ground, leaving Seattle behind.
Bryan held her hand and brought it to his mouth. She smiled at him. She grabbed her neck pillow and pretended to doze. In reality, all she thought about was Chase’s admission. She argued with herself. Whiskey forced her to this decision. She needed a new chance at life. Bryan offered her an opportunity to start fresh.
When they arrived at the penthouse, Bryan took her bags as they exited the elevator. She opened the door, and he put the luggage inside.
“Aren’t you coming in?” she asked.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow. We’ll go out for dinner. You’re tired and I think you need some time to yourself.” He kissed her and walked back into the elevator.
She did feel tired. A hot shower, her new steamy book by Lainey Reese, and a glass of wine to relax her, might put her in a better mood. The penthouse felt empty without her son. She missed her friends. She pulled out fresh pajamas and started the shower.
She stepped in letting the water wash away her worries. Whiskey kept intruding in her thoughts. His apology and plea ran through her mind like a movie on instant replay. She turned off the shower, dried and slipped into her cozy clothes.
She texted Whiskey’s phone.
Please have LJ call me to say goodnight.
A few minutes later her phone rang. “Hi, Mom. Whiskey said you’re tired, and I need to say goodnight. I’m going sledding tomorrow with my new sled. Ladybug, June bug and Nugget agreed to come. Whiskey tried to make the marshmallows,” he whispered. “I didn’t want to hurt his feelings but they’re gross.” Samantha smothered her laugh.
“He tried his best,” she used her mom voice on her son.
“He can’t cook French toast either, he burned it this morning,” her son whispered. “We went to Aunt Kassie’s. She made us good food.”
“Remember kindness and patience, and I’ll see you soon. I love you, baby.” Samantha adjusted the phone.