Where the Heart Is Episode Three

Where the

Heart

Is

Jean Lauzier

Award winning author

Episode #3

Where the Heart Is

Episode Three

Saturday morning, Sam rolled over and fell off the couch, her blanket, and pillow landed on top of her. She stretched then groaned. Time for her to get the day started. With another groan, she got off the floor, folded the blanket, grabbed the pillow, and carried them to the hall closet. Pausing outside Emily's room, she opened the door and peeked in. Still sleeping, maybe she had time for a quick shower. Sam tiptoed to Brad and Jules' room, went in, and opened the bag she’d left there. Mom had suggested she spend the night here instead of on the couch but she just couldn’t. She grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the attached master bath.

Someone had remodeled and updated it since she’d been gone. Pale ivory ceramic tile covered the walls and a modern Jacuzzi/hot tub combination filled up the far corner. A shower stall surrounded by frosted glass stood next to the closet. She turned on the hot water, stripped off her clothes then stepped into the shower. Sam closed her eyes and let the hot water soak the tightness out of her aching muscles. Too soon, she heard Emily. Giving her hair a quick rinse, she dried off and dressed. Mom had reached Emily first so Sam continued to the kitchen.    

Sam strolled into the living room and stumbled on a stuffed pony. She pushed a strand of damp hair out of her face as Emily toddled through the kitchen door carrying a lidded cup and cracker of some kind.

Emily rushed across the room and wrapped her arms around Sam's knees. Sam reached down, picked her up. Vanilla wafer and apple juice mingled with the smell of baby powder. She offered Sam her wafer.

Sam wrinkled her nose. "Thanks sweetie," She smiled at Emily. "You keep it. I'll get my own." Sitting Emily by the toy box, Sam stepped into the kitchen.

Her mom sat at the small kitchen table sipping a cup of coffee. Her eyes were red and she held a tissue in one hand. Emily's high chair sat next to her, the tray covered in cereal pieces.

"Don't worry mom, we'll get through this." Sam leaned down, put her arms around her mom's shoulders.

"I know, Hon." She reached up and patted Sam's arm. "I just miss them so much." She picked up her cup, and took it to the sink.

Emily came in the door, went to her high chair and grabbed a fistful of cereal then turned and grinned at Sam.

"She looks just like Julianna did at that age." Mom sighed then gazed at Sam. "Do you still not eat breakfast?"

Sam shrugged. "Most mornings, I just grab a protein bar and munch that on the way to work." She stepped over to the cabinet, opened the cookie container, took out two chocolate chip ones. "These will do for now." Taking a glass from the cabinet, she poured herself a glass of milk to go with the cookies. She sat at the table and watched Emily grab another fistful of cereal from her tray.

"I can't believe Jules wanted me to have Emily. I don't know anything about raising kids." She glanced over at Emily then back to her mom. "I can take her to work with me, we have a nursery there. But I only have a one bedroom apartment. There's no way I can fit in more furniture."

Emily toddled over to Sam, held up her arms. Sam swung Emily up and into her lap. "Well, Emily, I guess you're stuck with me. We'll just have to adapt." She ruffled Emily's hair then looked at her mom. "What do we have to get done today?"

Sam laid the sleeping child in the crib and wished she could take a nap too. Shopping with Emily was tiring. She had taken over most of the child care duties from her mom and even though it was time consuming, she enjoyed being with Emily. She lifted the side rail on the crib and it locked into place with a quiet click. Resting her arms across the top of the rail, she looked down at Emily.

Marcus had called her Em last night. What was she going to do about him? She shook her head. Not think about him today, that's what. "Sweet dreams, Em," she whispered then tiptoed out of the room. She pulled the door almost closed then headed to the living room.

Sam halted at the piano and ran her fingers lightly over the keys. "Remember how I hated piano lessons?" She turned to her mother. "I thought it more fun to clean stalls or work in the hay field with Dad." She laughed then picked up a picture of Julianna.

Her mom joined her at the piano, took the picture from her hand, wiped off imagined dust. "Julianna hated the outdoorsy stuff." She placed the picture in its spot and put her arm around Sam's shoulder. "I had problems getting her to stop practicing."

Her mom raised her head. "Was that a car?" She went to the window, looked out, then opened the door.

Sam turned to see Marcus walk in. A wave of longing washed over her. She turned back to the pictures and took a breath.

"Come on in, Marcus." Her mom closed the door behind him. "Emily is down for her nap but you're welcome to wait. Would you like something to drink, a snack?"

"Thanks, but I came to talk to Sam.”

Sam sighed, turned to face him. They might as well get it over with.

Mom looked from Marcus to Sam. "I'll go check on Emily and give you some privacy." She started across the room.

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary. We'll walk down to the gazebo and chat there." He opened the door gave Sam a look that meant business.

Sam sighed again, turned to her mom, and kissed her cheek. She glanced back at Marcus, then strode out the door. Marcus caught up with her at the bottom of the steps, placed a hand on her elbow, and turned her toward the gazebo.

They walked in silence, his hand warm on her arm. As they passed the old oak that shaded the majority of the yard, Sam stopped, went to the tree, and examined the trunk.

Marcus watched her a moment, then strolled over. He took her hand, led her to the barn side of the tree. "It is still there." He pointed to a faint heart with initials in it. "Remember how mad you were when you saw me carving on your tree?"

Sam smiled and traced the heart shape with her finger. "I almost decked you. Good thing you moved and I saw what you were really doing." She touched the number four that went with the ever. "That was a long time ago though. Things have changed."

"Have they changed that much, Sam?"

She shrugged and looked around. Marcus first kissed her at the gazebo, better not to go there. She strolled over to the split rail fence and leaned on the top rail. Gazing across the pasture of cows, she heard Marcus come up beside her. He stood next to her, his arm warm against hers. She took a deep breath, smelled the faint scent of his aftershave and the lingering aroma of the hay that had been baled last week.

Marcus let out a breath and cleared his throat. "I know you are Em's guardian now." He rested his arms on the top rail next to hers. "Brad told me about it when they set up their wills."

"And?" Sam looked at him then back across the pasture.

"And..., Brad and I were partners. He owned half of Keller Construction, now Em does. When they redid their wills not long ago, he set her half up in a trust until she’s twenty one." He turned to face her. "I need to know your plans for Em."

“I'm taking Em back with me on Thursday. I have to be at work Friday.” Sam shrugged. “We have a nursery; she can stay there while I work."

"No. You can't take her away." He gripped the rail, just what he was afraid of. "Your mother loves her. She would be lost in that house without Em. It’s going to be hard on her as it is without Jules and Brad."

"I don't have a choice." She looked up at him. "I can't stay here. I have a life in Dallas. Mom will adapt."

"Still thinking of yourself?" He grabbed her shoulders, forced her to turn and look at him. "You are not taking Em from here; she belongs with people who care about her, not with strangers. Jules wouldn't like it and I'm not going to let you."

She wrenched away from him. "You don't have any say in the matter."

"Brad and Jules made me her godfather. I don't take that lightly." He took a step forward, reached out for her.

She backed away. "I'm the one stuck with her and I'll do as I damn well please, whether you like it or not." She turned and ran toward the house leaving him by the fence.

"Sam...I'm not finished. This conversation is not over." He slammed his fist on the rail and watched her run into the house. "This isn't finished Sam, not by a long shot."

WATCH FOR EPISODE FOUR COMING SEPTEMBER 2012