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

by Clanton, Barbara L.

  “Your chariot, my dear.” Lisa smiled and slid over on the seat to make room. Lisa’s devilish grin threatened to melt Sam to the core.

  Sam couldn’t help the smile bursting from her. She grinned at Lisa and then tore her eyes away to say hello to Marlee and Susie. She was about to hop into the van, but had second thoughts.

  “Hang on a second, you guys.” Sam walked to Helene’s car. Helene was putting on her seatbelt. “Are you sure you’re okay driving an hour and a half by yourself? I feel bad.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Helene pointed to her massive purse on the passenger seat. “Somewhere in there I’ve got the Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack.”

  Sam’s jaw dropped open. “How did you know?”

  Helene narrowed her eyes. “I have my sources.”

  “Who?”

  Helene patted Sam on the arm. “Susie.”

  “That little sneak.” Sam turned around and pointed an accusing finger in Susie’s direction. Susie held up her hands innocently. Sam turned back around to face Helene. “I’m still not sure if I’m trying out for the play.”

  “Of course you are.” Helene grinned mischievously.

  “C’mon, muchacha,” Susie called from the van, “we’re burning daylight. You’re the one who wanted to get there before dark.”

  Sam headed toward the van and wagged her finger at Susie. “You’re in big trouble.” She hopped in the backseat of the van and slid the door closed. “Why is everybody so sure I’m going to try out for that stupid play?”

  “Because you are, baby,” Lisa said with a grin.

  “Yeah,” Sam laughed, “maybe I am.” Sam wished she could give Lisa a hug but didn’t want the security cameras to record them. “Hey, Marlee?”

  “What’s up, Two?”

  “I know how to get there, but it’ll be easier if you just follow Helene, okay?”

  “You got it.” Marlee put the van in drive and followed Helene’s lead car down the Payton driveway.

  “I missed you,” Sam said low to Lisa.

  “Me, too.”

  “You know I wanted to come over yesterday, but Mother and I had to do that grand opening at the new hair salon.”

  “I can’t believe people pay your family to make appearances,” Lisa said. “It’s kind of weird.”

  “I know, but they don’t really pay us. They gave us coupons for free haircuts, hoping we’ll come back. We won’t, but Mother says it’s our community service obligation to go to grand openings like that.”

  “To help the poor and downtrodden, right, muchacha?” Susie butted in.

  “Yeah, something like that.” Sam rolled her eyes and felt her cheeks burning. It was kind of embarrassing being paraded around East Valley like some kind of celebrity when she hadn’t earned it.

  “Hey guys, guess what I did yesterday?” Susie didn’t wait for anyone to guess and said, “I set up a lab in the science center. Professor Harwood said I know more about rocks than most of the college students. I laid out all kinds of rocks on these long lab tables. There was quartz, calcite, gypsum, hematite, pyrite—that’s fool’s gold, sulfur, and—“

  “Sus,” Sam interrupted, “you’re a rock hound. I bet you’re going to tell us what kind of rocks we have at the lake, won’t you?”

  “Si, claro, mi amiga.”

  Marlee chuckled. “Welcome to my world.”

  Sam laughed and sat back against the bench seat. She turned toward Lisa and her heart did a flip-flop. Even though Lisa’s smile hadn’t been specifically for her, it was an amazing sight. Sam desperately wanted to put her arm around her, but didn’t dare. Not inside the Clarksonville County limits anyway. She settled for holding her hand instead.

  “Oh, and guess what else?” Susie said. “I checked into that queer group. The Rainbow Council.”

  “Yeah?” Sam said. “What’d you find out?”

  “They have a pride festival in October.” Susie lowered her voice as if the forest might overhear. “They’re having carnival games, face painting, gay movies, and speakers and stuff. They’re having a band in the quad that night, too. I think.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Marlee said.

  Sam wasn’t sure what to think. There was no way she could go to an event like that.

  “The flyer said the theme was gay marriage.” Susie grinned.

  Marlee used her fist as a makeshift microphone. “Gay marriage— now legal in a state near you.”

  “And Washington D.C., too,” Susie added.

  “Geez,” Lisa said, “that’s so awesome. You know? To be able to get married? Legally. No hiding.”

  Sam grinned at Lisa. God, to be able to have a life with Lisa, legally sanctioned by the state they lived in, to have children like Aunt Fran and Aunt Margaret, to say that Lisa Ann Brown was her wife. Her wife!

  “Sam,” Lisa squeezed her hand tight, “where’d you go?

  “Somewhere nice.” Sam took a slow breath. “Somewhere really nice.”

  “Okay, get this,” Susie said. “There’s this national Coming Out Day on October eleventh every year. And it’s not only in the United States. A lot of countries join us in the celebration.”

  “Why October eleventh?” Sam asked.

  “There was some kind of big gay pride march on Washington on that date.”

  “When was that?” Marlee asked.

  “Late eighties, I think.”

  “They’ve been having this Coming Out day every year since then?” Lisa said. “How come we’ve never heard of it?”

  “I don’t know, but we’re supposed to wear rainbows or something that shows your pride. I don’t have anything like that, but maybe we could buy something at the festival. Do you guys want to go?”

  “Not me.” Sam shook her head. “You know I can’t be seen anywhere near a place like that.” Sam felt, rather than saw, Lisa deflate. “But you guys should go. Text me pictures and stuff. It’ll be like I’m there.”

  “It won’t be the same,” Marlee said, “but we understand why you can’t go, right guys?” She looked at Lisa in the rearview mirror.

  “Yup,” Lisa said tight-lipped.

  Sam looked at Lisa’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry, baby. Maybe I can go with you when I’m in college. Maybe by then I’ll be out to my parents. I just can’t right now.”

  “Dios mio, muchachas,” Susie said. “It’s getting heavy in here, so let me change the subject and tell you what I’m cooking us for dinner tonight.”

  Leave it to Susie to gauge the situation and lighten the mood. They passed the first part of their journey listening to Susie describe the meals she was going to make for them. Flan apparently played a big part in the plan.

  The sun was fairly low in the sky when Marlee pulled the van alongside Helene’s car in the driveway of the Payton Family lake house. Sam smiled as her friends oohed and aahed over the three-story house with its wrap-around porch and big picture windows. Lisa especially liked the outdoor fireplace overlooking the lake.

  “C’mon, everybody.” Sam leaped out of the van the moment Marlee put the gearshift in park. “We’re just in time.” She beckoned for her friends to follow her past the canoe and kayak rack down the sloping lawn leading to the lake shore.

  “Sam,” Lisa said, “your house is beautiful.” Her face softened when she looked at the lake. She reached for Sam’s hand and squeezed. Sam squeezed back, but then let go. You never knew who was watching.

  “I’m glad we got here in time. I wanted you guys to see the sunset.” Sam glanced over her shoulder. “Are you coming, Helene?”

  “I’m trying to keep up. You girls are twenty years younger than I am, remember?”

  “Dios mio, I see why you wanted us here before dark,” Susie said.

  “The sunsets are incredible.” Sam was happy that their first moments at the lake house were accentuated by Mother Nature’s amazing beauty. Yellows and oranges topped the trees on the far side of the lake.

  “Sunsets are weird,” Susie said.

  �
�Let me field this one,” Marlee said to Sam, Lisa, and Helene. She turned to Susie. “How so?”

  “The sun’s not actually moving. The earth is, but we can’t feel it.”

  Marlee put her arms out and stumbled as if she’d lost her balance.

  Sam and Lisa snickered. Helene smiled.

  “Aay, shuddup, you guys,” Susie said.

  “Hey, Susie. Marlee.” Sam pulled out her iPhone. “Let me take your picture. Turn around and I’ll get the sunset behind you.”

  “Cool.” Marlee moved closer and linked arms with Susie. They both grinned at the camera phone.

  “Okay, girls,” Sam moved to get the now red and orange sky in the background behind her friends, “say ‘East Valley Rules!’”

  “No way, man.” Marlee frowned, but had a twinkle in her eye. “If I remember correctly, we beat you the last time we played. Or did you guys conveniently forget that?”

  “Are you kidding? Coach Gellar won’t let us forget for a minute.” Susie rolled her eyes. “We’ll say ‘cheese,’ so I don’t end up getting divorced tonight.” She flashed a lopsided grin at Marlee.

  Sam took the few more pictures and then handed her phone to Susie, who took photos of Sam and Lisa.

  Helene put her hand out for Sam’s phone. “Okay, all four together.” She motioned with her hands for them to squeeze together. After taking a few pictures, she held the phone out for Sam to take back, but Lisa grabbed it instead.

  “Sam and Helene now. Hurry before the pretty colors disappear.”

  Sam put her arm around her nanny and smiled. Lisa snapped a couple of pictures and started to hand it back. “Wait,” Sam said, “take one more, okay?” She glanced at Helene. “Rabbit ears?”

  Helene chuckled. “Of course.”

  Sam spread two fingers behind Helene’s head, and Helene did the same to her. Helene chuckled which made Sam chuckle, too, and it wasn’t long before everyone was giggling.

  “Your parents would be appalled at our behavior.” Helene gasped trying to catch her breath.

  “Who cares?” Sam blew out a sigh. “They’ll never see these pictures, anyway.”

  Lisa kept taking pictures until Helene said, “Okay, girls, let’s get the cars unpacked. The mosquitoes are attacking.”

  Reluctantly Sam and the others followed Helene back up the sloping lawn to the driveway. Within minutes they had the van and Helene’s car unpacked. The suitcases were stacked in the front hall and the grocery bags were on the kitchen counter.

  “Sam,” Helene said, “why don’t you get the girls situated upstairs while I put these groceries away.”

  “Okay.” Sam grabbed her bag and directed her friends to grab theirs. Sam only needed one small bag, since she already had a lot of clothes in her room. She slung it over her shoulder and helped Susie with her massive suitcase.

  “What have you got in here, Sus?” Sam lifted the back while Susie pulled it from the front.

  “I brought my igneous rock collection,” Susie said with a straight face.

  Sam let her end of the suitcase drop. “You did not.” She whipped her head around toward Marlee. “Tell me she didn’t.”

  Marlee rolled her eyes. “You never know with this one.”

  “Aay, muchacha, I didn’t bring my rocks. I just need a lot of things.”

  Sam sighed dramatically and picked up her end of the suitcase again. After several minutes, the slow moving parade finally made it up the stairs.

  “You two are in this room right here.” Sam pointed to the room at the top of the stairs. “You’re right above Mother and Daddy’s bedroom, but since they’re not here, you’ll have complete privacy.”

  “Thanks, Sam.” Marlee opened the door and carried her bags into the room. Susie dragged her mammoth suitcase through the doorway by herself. They closed the door behind them.

  Sam turned to Lisa. “Okay, our room is way at the other end of the hallway. Unfortunately we’re right above Helene’s room, so, uh, you know.”

  “Gotcha.” Lisa nodded. “She might be able to hear us. C’mon. Hurry up. I need to kiss you.”

  “Ooh, c’mon.” Sam broke into a run.

  Once they got Lisa’s suitcase and Sam’s bag into the room, Lisa shut the oak door behind them and pushed Sam against it. She moved to within inches of Sam without touching her.

  Sam’s breathing quickened. “Oh, my God, you are such a tease.”

  Lisa smiled devilishly and leaned closer, but still didn’t make contact. Sam felt Lisa’s breath on her lips.

  Sam couldn’t take it anymore. With a moan, she pulled Lisa to her. Their lips met in a fury of need. Sam wrapped her arms around Lisa’s back and was about to move her hands lower when Helene call for her.

  “Sam?”

  Sam groaned. “Bad timing, Helene.” Reluctantly she pulled away from Lisa, and opened the door to her bedroom. “Yes?” she called down the stairs.

  “Come on down for a minute.”

  “Okay, be there in a sec.” Sam turned to Lisa. “Why don’t you unpack? You can put stuff in my dresser. Just move my clothes over.”

  “Okay, but when you come back, I want to pick up right where we left off.”

  There was no mistaking the gleam in Lisa’s eye. Sam’s stomach flipped. “I’ll,” she cleared her throat and tried again, “I’ll be fast.”

  Sam raced out the door and down the stairs.

  “What’s up Helene?” Sam figured her nanny needed help with her suitcases, so she headed to the front hall. “Do you want help with these?” She picked up the bigger of the two.

  “I do actually,” Helene said. “You can put them back in my car.”

  “What?” Sam put the suitcase down.

  “I’m not staying here with you girls.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that mon petit hibou is all grown up and deserves this weekend with her friends without her nanny ruining the fun. I have a reservation at the Seagull Inn up the road. Your parents don’t know about this new arrangement, so don’t spill the beans, okay? I’ll call you later on tonight to make sure you’re all right.”

  “Okay,” Sam said tentatively. As much as her insides were doing double and triple happy dances, she was confused. “Are you sure this is okay?” Sam thought about how big the house was. She didn’t know anything about the hot water heater or the central air conditioner or what to do if something went wrong.

  “Honey,” Helene cupped Sam’s chin. “I see the worry in your eyes. You’ll be okay. You and your friends can solve any problem that comes up. And you can always call me. I’ll be two miles away. Okay?”

  Still stunned, Sam nodded.

  Helene pulled Sam into a hug. “It’s about time somebody treated you like you could think for yourself.”

  Sam hugged her nanny back, trying to wrap her mind around the amazing turn her weekend had taken. “Uh, Helene?”

  “Mmm?”

  “You’re suffocating me.”

  Helene laughed and kissed Sam on the forehead. When she pulled

  back, Sam saw a gleam of tears in her nanny’s eyes. Without another word, Helene grabbed both of her suitcases and headed out the door. Not quite sure what was happening, Sam watched the door close. She raced to the window and watched Helene drive away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alone At Last

  SAM RINSED THE last plate and put it in the drying rack. Lisa wiped the countertop, rinsed out the rag, and dried her hands on the dishtowel draped over Sam’s shoulder.

  “I like doing dishes with you,” Sam said grabbing Lisa’s hands.

  “Me, too.”

  Sam pulled Lisa closer and looked through the open doorway into the living room. Satisfied that Susie and Marlee were out of eye shot she wrapped her arms around Lisa’s waist. Lisa snuggled into Sam’s embrace.

  “You know what else I like?” Sam said.

  “What?”

  “You.”

  “Get a room you two,” Susie called from the livi
ng room.

  “Shuddup, Sus.” Sam laid her head on Lisa’s shoulder and whispered, “I didn’t think they could hear us.”

  Lisa smirked. “It doesn’t matter, because we actually have a room.” She looked up at the ceiling toward Sam’s room.

  “Mmm.” Sam squeezed Lisa tighter. “I love you.”

  “Same.”

  Sam, still holding Lisa’s hand, led her into the living room. Susie and Marlee were sitting so close together on the couch that Marlee was practically in Susie’s lap.

  “Look who’s talking,” Sam said. “You’re the ones who need to get a room.”

  Susie grinned. “Thanks to you, we have one.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Lisa sat on the carpet with her back against the loveseat and patted the spot next to her for Sam to sit down. Sam put a finger up to indicate she’d sit in a minute. She turned the dimmer switch down lowering the lights in the room, and then put the gas fireplace key in its slot and turned it. With a flick of a switch on the wall, the fireplace burst into soft yellow and blue flames.

  “That’s nice,” Lisa said.

  Sam’s heart warmed at Lisa’s come-hither smile. “Oops, wait,” Sam said. “I forgot the most important thing. I’ll be right back.” She ran back into the kitchen and threw open the refrigerator door. She rifled through the groceries on the bottom shelf and found the bag she had stashed way in the back after Helene left. She pulled out her prize, hid it behind her back, and headed into the living room.

  “Guess what I have.” She held the bag out in front of her.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Lisa asked, her eyes getting big.

  Sam nodded and pulled the bag off. “If you thought it was a bottle of white zinfandel, then you’re correct.”

  “Ooh, Sam. I don’t know.” Susie gestured toward Marlee.

  “Oh, my God,” Sam said. “Marlee, I’m so sorry. I totally forgot about...”the drunk driver that killed your father. “I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.”

  “No, it’s okay,” Marlee said. “Nobody’s driving. Right?”

  Sam shook her head.

  “It’s only one bottle, so it’s not like we’re going to get piss drunk.” Marlee looked at Susie. “Are we?”