Stealing Second: Sam's Story: Book 4 in the Clarksonville Series

by Clanton, Barbara L.

  “Yes.” Sam’s mother turned to Susie and nodded. “It’s nice to see you again, dear.”

  “Likewise,” Susie said.

  “This is Marlee,” Sam continued. “She’s that awesome pitcher I was telling you about. She and Lisa go to Clarksonville High School.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Payton,” Marlee said.

  Sam’s mother nodded. “Yes. It’s nice to meet Sam’s friends.”

  “And this is Lisa,” Sam continued, “our catcher. Well, she was our catcher, but now she’s not because the season’s over.” Sam shut up because she was starting to ramble.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Sam’s mother said to Lisa. “We’re having lunch on the pool deck. I’m sure you’re starving after your match.” She turned and headed toward the back of the house.

  When her mother’s back was to them, Sam blew out a nervous sigh. Lisa patted her on the back for reassurance, but Sam could tell that Lisa was just as nervous as she was.

  “Go ahead, you guys.” Sam gestured for her friends to go first.

  “Did you girls win your match?” Sam’s mother looked back at them.

  “Yes,” Lisa answered. “Sam made an amazing catch in the last inning to win the game.”

  “That’s nice.” Sam’s mother turned back around.

  Lisa paused at an oil painting hanging in the hallway. She smirked back at Sam. It was Sam’s debutante portrait. In the portrait Sam wore a white gown with pearls that contrasted nicely with her tanned skin, even though the ball had been on her sixteenth birthday in January. Her hair had been pinned up into a low loose bun with a few tendrils falling gracefully against her neck.

  “You look like a bride,” Lisa whispered.

  Sam grunted and nudged her along.

  Sam’s jaw dropped open when she saw the elaborate lunch spread on the pool deck. Two caterers in cooking whites stood behind tables laden with cold cuts and cheeses, bags of chips, and a mind-boggling assortment of breads. A cooler overflowing with drinks sat next to the table. There was enough food to feed an army.

  “Mother,” Sam said, “did you do all of this?”

  Her mother put her hand to her neck. “Do you like it, dear?”

  “Of course I do. Thank you so much.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Lisa added. “It looks wonderful.”

  “I’m glad you’re all pleased.” Sam’s mother gestured toward several chaise lounges. “You may place your things there. Steve and—” She looked at the nametag pinned to one of the server’s shirt. “Steve and Jarvis will take your orders. Take as much as you want.”

  “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Susie said and gave her order to Steve, the older of the two servers.

  Once the girls had their sandwiches, chips, and drinks, they sat at one of the concrete poolside tables. Although it was late in the afternoon by this time, the August sun was still strong, and they needed the oversized umbrella to keep them in the shade.

  “Oh, man,” Marlee said, “this is awesome. I’m starving.” She took a big bite of her turkey sandwich and then rolled her eyes heavenward as if in rapture. “Mmm, so good.”

  “I hope we won’t have to wait an hour to go swimming.” Susie took an equally big bite.

  “House rules say swim whenever you want.” Sam looked toward the pool. “Nobody else swims in it anyway.”

  “Your family doesn’t go in the pool?” Lisa asked.

  “Helene does laps sometimes, but the rest of us are too busy with other stuff.”

  Lisa leaned toward Sam. “I like your mom. She’s nice.”

  “Thanks.” Sam felt her cheeks get warm. “Hey, how does my face look?”

  Susie recoiled. “Aay, don’t scare us with that thing.”

  “Ha ha, Sus.” Sam turned her cheek toward Lisa.

  “It’s still a little swollen, but you should be okay. I’d keep dodging your mom if you can.”

  “Yeah, I think I will.”

  They ate heartily, including Sam, who kept waiting for her mother to give her the evil eye about her huge roast beef sandwich, but she never did. She kept a respectful distance away from their table.

  Once lunch was devoured, Sam directed her friends toward the pool house to change.

  “This is a pool house?” Lisa asked. “It looks like a log cabin. I love the detail.” She ran a hand along the birch bark and twig welcome sign.

  “My dad wanted an Adirondack theme.”

  “That’s so cool,” Marlee said.

  “Susie, you can change in there.” Sam pointed to the private changing room on the left. “Marlee, in there.” She pointed to the other. “Lisa and I’ll hang in the rocking chairs that no one ever sits in either.”

  “Will do.” Marlee entered the right-side changing room.

  Sam’s mother wandered over. Luckily Sam was able to keep the injured side of her face pointed away. “Samantha Rose, dear, Helene left your bathing suit and cover-up on the right side.”

  “Thanks, Mother. She told me she was going to do that. I’ll be sure to thank her later.”

  Sam’s mother nodded and turned to go, but Lisa stood up. Sam’s nerves jangled. What was Lisa going to do?

  “Mrs. Payton?” Lisa said.

  Sam’s mother turned around. “Yes, dear?”

  “I wanted to tell you how lovely your roses are. Those are Comte de Chambord roses around the fountain out front aren’t they?”

  “Yes, they are.” Sam’s mother seemed impressed.

  “They’re outstanding. I don’t know how you get them to bloom so heartily.”

  Sam covered a smile with her hand. She could tell her mother was eating up the attention.

  Before Sam’s mother could respond, Lisa pointed to a trellis covered with roses near the tennis courts. “Are those Don Juan climbers?”

  Sam’s mother nodded. “They are.”

  “How in the world do you get them to do so well up here in zone four? My mother has tried and tried to get them to grow, but she gave up and planted lilacs around the door instead. I can’t wait to tell her about these.”

  “Would you like to see more of the flower gardens?” Sam’s mother asked.

  “I’d love that.” Lisa fell into step with Sam’s mother.

  Sam wasn’t sure if she should get up and walk with them, but decided it might be easier to hide her face if she stayed seated. Lisa seemed to be handling herself okay without her.

  Lisa walked with Sam’s mother around the gardens surrounding the pool and tennis courts for several long agonizing minutes. Sam overheard them talking about flowers, ground cover, fertilizer, watering schedules, winter regimes, and a dozen other things Sam didn’t comprehend. She was in awe, actually. She had no idea her mother knew so much about her own gardens. She always figured the gardening staff took care of everything while her mother took the credit.

  “Hmm,” Sam said out loud.

  “Hmm what, muchacha?” Susie had come out of the pool house.

  “That.” She nodded her head toward Lisa and her mother squatting to examine some kind of low-growing plant.

  “Aay, magnifica!” Susie shook both fists in the air in victory. “That’s a great sign.” She sat in Lisa’s abandoned rocker.

  “It is at that.” Sam nodded.

  “What’s a great sign?” Marlee asked as she emerged from the pool house.

  Both Sam and Susie pointed toward Lisa and Sam’s mother heading to another section of the garden. Apparently, Lisa was getting the full tour.

  “See? It might not be that hard to, you know, come out to your parents.” Marlee whispered the last five words.

  “Yeah, I don’t know about that.” Sam shrugged. “Hey, why don’t you guys go in the pool? I’ll wait for Lisa.”

  Susie didn’t need to be told twice. She dropped her bag on the concrete deck and took a running leap. She landed in the water cannon ball style sending a tidal wave onto the deck. When she surfaced, she said, “C’mon, Marlee. It’s awesome.” She floated on her
back with a huge smile on her face.

  Sam laughed as Marlee made her way to the ladder and slowly, inch-by-inch, eased herself into the cool water. In some ways Susie and Marlee were very different.

  At long last, Lisa walked back. Sam’s mother had gone to have a sandwich made from the caterers.

  “Thank you,” Sam said.

  Lisa blew out a sigh. “I think that went well. Your mom is an amazing gardener. We have to get our moms together, so they can compare notes.”

  “Someday,” Sam agreed. “C’mon, let’s change.” And change the subject, too.

  Sam and Lisa changed in the pool house and met back on the porch. Lisa wore a light blue one-piece bathing suit that fit her perfectly. Sam tried not to stare at Lisa’s curves and long legs, but it was hard not to drool over her firm athletic body. She didn’t have to ask what her own white bikini was doing to Lisa. One look at Lisa’s melting expression told her everything.

  They joined Susie and Marlee in the pool and playfully splashed around for a while. Once they were cooled off sufficiently, they claimed four of the chaise lounges and sunned themselves. Sam closed her eyes and, after a while, could have sworn she heard Susie snoring lightly.

  “Did you win the second game?” Helene said.

  Sam opened her eyes. “Yes, we did.” She adjusted the back of the chaise into a sitting position.

  “Sam made a diving catch to end the game,” Lisa said.

  “I’m sorry I missed it.” Helene frowned. “That’ll teach me to leave early.” She looked back at Sam. “You didn’t hurt yourself again, did you?”

  Sam laughed and reached up to touch her cheek. “Nope. Not that time.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  Helene turned to Marlee and Susie. “I hope you girls saved room for dessert.”

  “Ooh,” Marlee said. “Always.”

  “This is Marlee.” Sam gestured to Marlee on the last chaise.

  Helene walked over and put her hand out. “Sam’s told me so much about you. It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”

  Marlee shook Helene’s hand and then shot Sam a sidelong glance. “Good things I hope?”

  “Always,” Sam said with a laugh.

  “A little birdy told me that someone out here is bonkers for flan.” Helene looked straight at Susie.

  Susie sat bolt upright. “No way! You made flan? Dios mio, I am so moving in.”

  Helene laughed. “I’ll bring it out in about fifteen minutes, okay?”

  “Yum,” Marlee said with a grin.

  Helene headed back toward the house, but then turned around. “Sam? Your father just got home from playing golf. He said he’d come out in a minute.”

  “Thanks, Helene.”

  True to Helene’s word, Sam’s father walked out a few minutes later. He still had on his pink Ralph Lauren golf shirt and white pants. His skin was tanned from playing golf and tennis all summer. He ran a hand through his boyish blond hair and strode toward Sam and her friends.

  Sam started to stand up, but her father put a hand out. “Don’t get up, girls. I came out to say hello and see how your party was going.”

  “We’re fine, Daddy. Let me introduce you. You know Susie. And this is my friend Marlee.”

  “Hello.” Sam’s father nodded at Marlee and Susie.

  “Hi, Mr. Payton,” Susie said.

  “Hi,” Marlee echoed.

  “And you remember my friend Lisa.” Friend. What a cop out. Sam’s heart was pounding in her chest, and with good reason. Her father had almost caught them in bed together.

  “Nice to meet you again, Mr. Payton,” Lisa said.

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you girls, too. I hope you’re enjoying yourselves.” He glanced at the sandwich spread. “I think I’ll go get a roast beef sandwich.” He waggled his eyebrows and headed toward the catering table.

  Sam let out a slow breath. “Well, that was short and sweet.”

  “For a second contact,” Lisa said, “it went okay.”

  Sam nodded and took a breath to calm her pounding heart. Her throat felt dry. She needed water. “Anybody need another drink?”

  “Sure,” Marlee said. “How about a Coke?”

  “You got it. Anybody else?”

  “No, thanks,” Lisa said. Susie shook her head.

  “Be right back.” Sam got up and put on her cover-up. No sense getting Steve and Travis worked up any more than they probably already were with four teenage girls sunning themselves in bathing suits.

  Sam’s father ate his sandwich heartily at a stone table near the door to the house. Sam’s mother sat down next to him. They were speaking in low tones, but Sam could just make out their words from her vantage point at the drink cooler.

  “She doesn’t have many friends,” her mother insisted. “We should let her do this, Gerald. Dr. Boyle says—“

  “I don’t give a flip what Dr. Boyle says,” Sam’s father interrupted, the irritation in his voice obvious.

  Sam took her time at the cooler, hoping to hear what it was her mother wanted him to let her do.

  “They’re nice girls,” her mother continued. “See the strikingly pretty girl with the braid?”

  “Lisa.”

  “Yes. She told me she knows first aid. She has three younger siblings, for goodness’ sake, so if anyone got hurt, she could help them.”

  Sam’s father didn’t respond. He simply took another bite of his sandwich.

  Sam’s mother sat back and folded her arms. “What if Helene stayed with them?”

  Sam took a quick breath. The lake house. They must be talking about the lake house. C’mon, Daddy, let us go. Sam reached for a cup and filled it with ice, one slow cube at a time.

  Sam’s father dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “Can they all swim?”

  “Yes. I’ve watched them all afternoon. They’re good swimmers.”

  Sam could feel her father’s eyes on her. He took a deep breath. “All right. I guess it will be okay.” He stood up. “Let’s go tell them.”

  Sam’s eyes flew open wide. She scurried back to her chaise lounge with Marlee’s Coke and a cup of ice. She tried to appear nonchalant as she handed them to Marlee. She’d completely forgotten to get water for herself, but she didn’t care. Her parents were headed right for them.

  “Girls?” Sam’s father said. “Sam’s mother and I would like to offer you the use of our lake house over Labor Day weekend. How does that sound?”

  “Really, Daddy?” Sam asked calmly, even though she wanted to leap up and yell her head off. “We can go?”

  He nodded. “Sure. Mother says you can all swim.”

  Sam smiled at how quickly her friends nodded in agreement.

  “Well, good.” He turned to Sam. “We’ll have Helene call their parents to make sure it’s okay.”

  Ahh, ever the businessman, Sam thought. She wouldn’t be surprised if he made them sign waivers, too.

  “Thanks, Daddy. We’ll be safe.”

  “I know you will.” He turned to go.

  Sam’s mother hesitated a brief moment and then grinned. “This is so exciting, Samantha Rose. We’ll make a shopping list for Helene tonight.” She turned away, the grin still big on her face.

  “Impresionante, muchacha,” Susie said, her eyebrows raised high. “How’d you pull that one off?”

  Sam shrugged. She had no idea. And she didn’t care.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Lake House

  SAM SAT ON the top step outside the mansion trying not to be nervous about the long weekend ahead. Waiting five whole days had been pure torture. All week, she expected her father to call her into his study and tell her he’d changed his mind, but he hadn’t, thank God. Sam tapped her foot and looked past the meticulous flower gardens and the manicured lawns toward the eastern white pines surrounding the front gate. Even though they lived in one of the biggest towns in the North Country of New York State, it was oddly quiet. It was so quiet that Sam could hear the bees buz
zing in the flowers and the crows cawing in the pines.

  Helene came out the front door and sat down. She cradled the remote control that would open the gate once Marlee, Susie, and Lisa pulled up in Marlee’s van.

  “Are you excited?” Helene said.

  “Oh, my God, yes. Thanks for coming with us. There’s no way Daddy would’ve let us go without you chaperoning.” Sam put air quotes around the word chaperoning.

  “I think your parents realize you’re not a child anymore.”

  “I wish.”

  “Having your friends over Saturday opened their eyes, I think. I know your mother was more than impressed with Lisa.”

  “Eee,” Sam squealed. “Too bad I can’t tell them about me.”

  “You’ll know when it’s time for that, honey.” Helene patted Sam on the knee.

  Yeah, like never. Sam cleared her throat. “Where did they go this weekend, anyway?”

  “Syracuse. A Republican fund-raising gala. A thousand dollars a plate.”

  Sam shook her head. “My parents are conservative Republicans. How am I ever going to come out to them?”

  Helene shrugged and stared toward the front gate. She had a faraway look on her face.

  Sam watched her nanny out of the corner of her eye. If her parents didn’t think she was a child anymore, did that mean Helene was leaving them soon? Leaving her? Was she at least going to Switzerland with them over Christmas break?

  “Helene?”

  “Hmm?” Helene turned her head slightly.

  “Are you going—“

  Before she could get the question out, the buzzer to the front gate rang in the house.

  “There they are.” Helene pressed the button on the remote control to open the gate. She stood up and headed toward her Prius.

  Sam also stood up, her stomach fluttering at the thought of spending a long weekend, not exactly alone, but with Lisa.

  “Oh, honey,” Helene said, “what were you saying?”

  “Nothing.” Sam waved her hand in dismissal. “I’ll ask you later.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I just want to know when you were leaving me.

  Marlee pulled her van around the circular drive and stopped in front of the granite steps. Lisa slid open the side door.