surprised, huh?”
“Yes, yes she was. She said you never said a word about Sam. How long have you too known each other anyway?” She was suddenly rather serious.
“Oh we go way back Aunt Patsy. Sam and I have known each other a long time.” Jake swallowed hard. He looked down and picked a cookie crumb off his shirt. He hated lying especially to his family. It wasn’t like acting at all. When you act you’re telling a story to entertain. When you lie you’re telling a story to deceive.
Aunt Patsy relaxed a bit. “I’m glad, ‘because too many young people rush into marriage nowadays. Of course, I don’t really know the whole story about Sam’s marriage, but I think she rushed into that one and I’d hate to see you get hurt. I truly believe that a marriage should be based off of a close friendship. When Albert was alive…”
Jake relaxed in his chair. Once Aunt Patsy started talking about Albert she was lost to a world of memories. He quickly recapped what he knew about Sam. She’s been married twice. She lives with girls. She has a brother. I really don’t know a lot. He sighed. Patsy thought it was about Albert. She continued on with her story wiping a tear from her eye.
Jake spent the rest of the day with Patsy. He helped her cook the pot roast, listened to her talk about Albert, and above all avoided questions about his relationship. He listened intently for more clues about Sam. He was able to decipher that she was a schoolteacher which led him to wondering when she would get home. The apartment next door had been quiet the whole day. He convinced Patsy to eat dinner on the patio looking out on the lake so he could eavesdrop for sounds and watch the neighboring apartment for movement. He didn’t want to ask Patsy about Sam’s schedule because as her fiancé shouldn’t he know.
By nine o’clock Jake was sitting at the dinette with Patsy playing cards. “Well, look at the time.” Patsy suddenly said. “I had better get that pot roast wrapped up for Sam.” She jumped up and went into the kitchen. She pulled out a slew of Tupperware containers until she found one that was the right size. She had barely finished packing the meat when Jake heard a car engine outside.
“There she is.” Patsy said. Jake gulped and followed Patsy out the door.
Chapter 11
Sam pulled up to her parking space. Lexi and Ellie had both fallen asleep at her mom’s house. With help they had been transported to her car, but now she had to get them inside by herself. This was the normal routine. They fell asleep at grandmas then Sam had to wake them up to bring them into the apartment. Once they were awake they would want a snack then they’d stay up goofing off. By the time Sam could settle them down and back to bed it was eleven. Sam usually fell asleep on the couch trying to wind down with her favorite syndicated sitcoms. It totally defeated the purpose of putting them to bed at her mom’s earlier, but they had argued about this many times and Sam had thrown in the towel. Just as she opened her car door she saw Patsy’s door open.
Great. Sam tried to think quickly. Even if she closed the door now the dome light would stay on exposing her. There was no escape. No one else she knew had recognized her from the televised proposal, but Patsy would know it was her. She had given her the tickets.
Patsy came out of her apartment with a Tupperware container in hand. Sam stepped out of the car and braced herself for the barrage of questions.
“Oh honey, I’m so happy for the two of you.” Patsy pushed the container into Sam’s hands and wrapped her in a tight hug. Sam stood there shocked.
She couldn’t possibly believe it was for real. She thought. Just then over Patsy’s shoulder Sam saw the silhouette of a man in the frame of Patsy’s door. Her heart skipped a beat and she was sure her face was a bright red though the sunburn would make a color change difficult.
“Well,” Patsy said as she pulled away from Sam. “I’m going to leave you two alone. You probably have a lot to talk about.” She held Sam by her shoulders. “I just knew the two of you were perfect for each other. I can’t believe you never told me you knew him. All this time I was going on about him. Welcome to the family, sweetie.” Patsy turned and walked back towards her apartment. As she passed Jake she kissed him on the cheek and said good night. The door closed leaving Sam and Jake illuminated only by the car’s dome light.
“I can explain.” Jake started.
“I hope so.” Sam answered. Jake took a step towards her and she automatically stepped back.
“I’m sorry.” He said.
“For what?”
“It was a bad joke and now,” he scratched his head. “She was so happy, you know.”
Sam swatted at the bugs flying towards the light.
“I have to get them to bed.” Sam indicated the girls sleeping in the car.
Jake felt himself shrinking as though he had just drunk the potion in Alice in Wonderland. “The girls” he thought. Now I get it she has kids. Sam’s car was full of groceries and two sleeping girls.
“Can I help?” He offered.
Sam’s choked down her initial reaction. She would have normally said no. How often am I going to have a movie star carry in my groceries? She thought. In her mind she could picture the scene and it made her laugh.
“Sure.” She answered. She walked to the apartment door to unlock it and turn off the alarm. When she turned back around Jake was standing behind her cradling Lexi. Her head rested against his chest and his arm muscles flexed under her weight. She looked tiny and Sam could not remember the last time she had been able to hold her that way.
“I’ll wait here while you get the other one.” Jake said.
Sam robotically approached the car. She was struggling with inner turmoil. A man she barely knew had just picked up her daughter and was poised to enter her personal space. Even if it was Jake Jameson she was not comfortable with this scenario at all. She set the pot roast down in the car and gently picked Ellie from the back seat. Jake was waiting at the door as she carried Ellie to the apartment and switched on the light with her elbow. Jake surveyed the small space. The floor plan was the mirror image of Patsy’s apartment, but Sam’s was very tastefully decorated. She had a brown leather couch, a coffee table, a small entertainment unit and a dinette. Sam walked into a bedroom with Ellie; she quickly reemerged and trying hard not to struggle too much took Lexi from his arms. Sam walked into the girl’s bedroom once again. They had both slept through this transfer just as they had at her mother’s. She quickly tucked both girls into bed and stared at herself in their dresser mirror.
Jake Jameson is actually in your apartment. Come on Sam turn on some charm. Who am I kidding? I don’t flirt with regular men how could I flirt with him? Then don’t flirt, just be you. Her inner argument was not resolving itself. She found some cherry flavored lip-gloss on Ellie's desk and applied it. That’s a little better. She hurriedly tried to brush her hair, which was standing on end due to the incessant Miami humidity. That’s when she heard the front door close. Great Sam, you blew it. He left. Sam rushed out of the bedroom. Jake was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn.” She muttered.
“Sorry, I hope I didn’t wake them.” Jake called softly from the kitchen. He came into view.
Sam stared at him. Her mouth dropped open. He was actually better looking in person then on the screen. He was so real. He stood slightly over
