“I know. It’s the safest place I know of. If you want to unpack the cars, I’ll gather some firewood. There’s also a lake down that trail. It’s been quite a long time since we’ve been here, but I know there is a caretaker that keeps it up.”
The two men headed into the cabin, where Sam was removing all the sheets from the furniture. “Luke, will you be staying, too?”
“Just overnight. There’s three rooms, right?”
“Yeah, I’m going to open all the windows and air this place out,” she said.
“I’ll get the firewood and Parker is unloading the car,” he said, as he headed out.
Sam looked at Parker. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
“For what, babe?”
“Being here. I know this is not what you planned. I’m sorry this isn’t so fancy.”
“This place is beautiful,” he walked over to the mantel. “Is this Dylan?”
“Yeah, all-star football player. Oh, Damn, Dylan. He is all right, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, babe, one of my men is keeping him safe. He went in as an orderly at the institute. He’s fine. You can even call him if you want to check on him.”
“Thanks. I doubt we get reception up here.”
Luke walked in the room. “I bought an extended wave antenna so the cellphones will work,” he said, as he dropped the firewood into the box near the fireplace.
“Oh, good,” she said, as she loaded some wood into the fireplace and opened the flute.
Parker and Luke left the cabin and Sam opened all the windows. She walked into the kitchen and started to wipe down the counters. She stared out the window and sighed. “Mom, I wish you were here. I need you,” she closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face.
“Sammy?” Anna called.
Ten-year-old Samantha hurried into the kitchen. “What is it, Momma?” “I’m going to make some cookies. Do you want to help?” she smiled, as she
wiped her hands on her apron.
“I can’t do it.”
“You can help. Don’t worry.”
“Momma, I’ll never learn,” she said, as she sat at the table. “It’s all right. Someday, you’ll marry a man, who can cook for you,” she
smiled.
“Is that why daddy married you?” her dark eyes lit up.
“Partly,” Anna laughed. “Now, we need chocolate chips, eggs, butter and
flour.”
“I can get them,” she hopped off the chair.
“Where are your brothers and Luke?” she asked.
“Playing by the lake with Daddy.”
“Why aren’t you with them?”
“Because they said I was a girl,” she frowned as she opened the cabinet. “Yes, you’re a girl, but you can do whatever boys do.”
“Do you do what boys do?”
“Well, let’s see,” she smiled, as she placed the large mixing bowl on the
counter. “I do things that people do. I cook and clean and take care of you kids, but I also work, when we’re not on vacation.”
“You do everything, Momma.”
“Yeah, I guess I do,” she kissed her daughter’s cheek. “And when you grow up, you decide what you do and don’t want to do. Don’t let anyone make you do what you don’t want to.”
“I won’t. I want to be strong like you.”
“You will be. Stronger. One day, you’ll be able to kick your brothers’ butt,” she laughed.
“You said butt, Momma. That was funny,” Sam laughed.
“Let’s just make the cookies,” Anna said.
Sam wiped her tears. “Mom, I failed you. He made me do what I didn’t want to do in the first place … at least notthatway. Maybe at one time I did, but, Mom, you know the story,” she cried, as she dropped to the floor.
Parker stood in the doorway and watched as she cried. He wanted to take her in his arms and make her better, but he didn’t want to crowd her. “Um, Sam?”
She looked up quickly. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you need something?”
“Where do you want these?”
“Just set them on the counter. I’ll start putting the food away,” she said, as she slowly stood up.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Just thinking about my mom, that’s all. It’s nothing. We used to come here every summer for a month or so, well, until I was about nineteen or so,” she smiled slightly.
“I am here if you need me. You know to talk or anything.”
“I know and I’m sorry I’ve been withdrawn. I still need a little time to myself. I’m not trying to push you away,” she said, as she walked over to him. “I really just need a little time.”
“I understand. I’ll give you as much as you need. I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too,” she lightly kissed his cheek. “Well, we better get to work. Do you want to start in the kitchen? After all, you’re the cook. I’ll go get the bedrooms ready,” she said.
“Oh, about the bedrooms…”
“We can share our room if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Um, yeah, I didn’t want to crowd you. If you change your mind, I can sleep in one of the other rooms.”
“Well, Luke will have the boys’ room. We’ll take the master. The third room was mine, well, when I was little,” she smiled, as she went into the other room.
Luke was stoking the fire in the fireplace. “Hey, how’s the kitchen turning out?”
“I have PK doing it now. I’m going to make the beds,” she said.
“Why don’t you just relax? I already made the beds. I didn’t know if you and Parker are sharing a bed or not but I put both of your stuff in the master.”
“That’s fine. He’ll be sleeping with me, yes,” she smiled. “Thanks, Luke, for everything.”
“You are so welcome, honey,” he smiled, as he sat down on the sofa. “So, what do we do now?”
“I smell something good…” she grinned.
“He must be cooking. You know, you found theperfectman,” Luke said.
“What do you mean?”
“A man who will love you andcookfor you?” he laughed. “Yup, love his food. He didtrymy cooking…”
“I heard. How many times did Anna tell younotto make eggs?” he laughed.
“I guess I thought if I kept trying, I’d finally get it,” she laughed.
“You know what I found in your old room?” he smiled, as he opened the drawer under the coffee table.
“My album?”
“Our album, remember that summer, I think we used fifty rolls of film that summer,” he opened the book. “Best friends forever,” he laughed.
“Yup and we still are,” she said, as Parker came into the room with three plates.
“I just made hot sandwiches. Hope you don’t mind. The steaks are still frozen,” he said, as he set the plates in front of them.
“Wow, hot sandwiches. Could’ve just had cold,” Sam said.
“Cold is what you can make. I’ll do the hot stuff,” he laughed.
“Very funny,” she laughed.
“So, what’re you two looking at?”
“Oh, it’s an album of us … I found it in Sam’s old room. We took pictures of everything that year,” Luke showed Parker the page of photos.
“How old were you?”
“Sixteen,” Sam said. “We were the coolest,” she laughed.
“Hmm, nice bikini,” he laughed.
“Hey, it was cool … back then.”
“Yup, red and yellow polka dots,” Luke laughed.
“Well, look at your plaid shorts,” Sam laughed.
“Yeah, such a fashion statement,” he said, as he took a bite of his food.
Parker smiled at Sam and knew that she was slowly healing. This trip would do wonders for her and hopefully, the two of them.
Sam noticed him looking at her. “What?”
“Nothing. The smile looks good on you,” he beamed.
“Thanks. I do feel a little better. After we eat, I’ll take you for a walk and show you the lake. It’s beautiful out here.”
“It sure is. I’ve never really been out of the city.”
“Oh, you grew up in the city?” Luke asked.
“I grew up in Long Island. My main apartment is in Manhattan now.”
“Manhattan?” Luke asked.
“Yeah, the penthouse that we have was not my real home. I haven’t really been back home in a long time.”
“Sounds better than my dumpy apartment,” Sam laughed.
“Yeah, that’s what I don’t get. Your parents were rich and you lived in that building. I mean, it wasn’thorrible,” he laughed.
“My parents were rich, not me. They didn’t act rich, though. They had a nice brownstone on the Upper East Side,” she said.
“Well, since they’re gone now, aren’t you and Dylan rich?” Parker asked.
“And Luke. My parents practically raised Luke. Oh, we all are, I guess. I never talked to the attorney or anything.”
Luke smiled. “I took care of that already for you. Your mother namedmeexecutor. Remember?”
“Oh, right. I can’t even balance my checkbook,” she laughed. “I’m not good with money. I canspendit, I just don’t budget too well.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Parker asked.
“Nope, she’s not. I go to her place every month and help her pay her bills,” Luke laughed. “So, Parker, you have money?”
“Not really. I mean, we do have the money we got from Morrison, but as far as I know most of that’s in the safe at the penthouse.”
“Part of it is,” Sam said. “The other money is in my bag. So, if you’re not rich, how’d you get an apartment in Manhattan?”
“My gram and I lived there. She always had it. It’s bought and paid for, I just have to pay the co-op fees and my other bills. That’s all. Yeah, I lived with my Gram until she passed last year.”
“You two must’ve been close,” Sam said.
“Probably like you and your mother were,” he said. “Um, how about that walk now?”
“Sure,” Sam stood up.
“I’ll clean up here. I’m kind of tired. I’m going to lie down for a while,” Luke said, as he picked up the plates.
Sam took Parker’s hand and the two of them headed out the door.