Her body went rigid. “I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with our loan application?”
“It’s nothing like that,” Craig said. “Our numbers don’t add up. It happens all the time. We just need to consult with Roy Cook, the loan officer at the bank. I’ve left a message for him to call me, but I have no way of knowing when he’ll get back to me. Does it work for you and Eli to schedule the closing for two o’clock tomorrow?”
Sam’s mind raced with the logistics of Eli’s schedule and her staffing situation at the market. “We’ll figure it out somehow. We need to close on this house, Craig. We’re having our wedding reception there on Saturday.”
Jamie appeared at her side. “What’s wrong?” he asked, when she ended the call.
“We’ve postponed the closing until tomorrow at two.”
“What about the sellers? Aren’t they from out of town?”
“They’re not coming to the closing. They’ve already signed and notarized the documents. Mom has a doctor’s appointment at two thirty. I don’t want her to cancel it, but I can’t leave Faith and Annie here alone.”
“I’ll cover for you.”
Sam nodded at Sophia. “What about her?”
“She’ll survive being alone for a couple of hours.” The empty cooler caught his eye. “What happened there?”
“It went out over the weekend,” Sam explained. “I finally got ahold of the repairman. He should be here any minute.”
“Did we lose much merchandise?”
“A fair amount,” Sam said. “Roberto will have to work until midnight to make up for what we lost.”
The front door swung open and a throng of customers ushered in a blast of cold air. “You need me here.” Jamie took Sophia by the elbow. “She wants to take a nap anyway. I’ll run her home and come right back.”
Jamie dragged Sophia out the front door before Sam could argue with him. He returned fifteen minutes later, just as the refrigerator repairman arrived. Sam had forgotten what a hard worker her son was. With his help, Roberto was able to replace the stock lost from the cooler failure and get a head start on the large number of holiday orders.
Mother and son were both exhausted when they arrived home after work. “What’s all this?” she asked when she saw the moving boxes stacked along the walls in the kitchen.
Jamie beamed. “I knocked out most of the packing this morning, every room except your bedroom.”
“I knew I could count on you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Let’s say a prayer that we have a house to move into.” She set her bag on the island and dropped to the nearest bar stool.
“Don’t worry, Mom. You’re gonna love the new house. Just think. We’ll get to watch the sun set over the water every night.”
She smiled up at him. “How is it that you can always sense how I’m feeling?”
“Because I feel the same way. For so long, it was just you and me, making our way through life together. Those years bonded us in a special way. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled Eli is joining our little family. But I will never forget the happy memories that belong only to us.”
Tears pooled in Sam’s eyes. “What a beautiful thing to say, son. And just what I needed to hear.”
He kissed the top of Sam’s head. “I’d better go check on our houseguest.” Jamie left the kitchen and returned a minute later. “Sophia’s not here.”
“What do you mean, she’s not here? Where could she have gone?”
“I don’t know. But I just checked the whole house and she’s not here.”
“Maybe she went for a walk.”
“It’s freezing outside. Sophia is not one for roughing it.”
“No surprise there.” Sam slid off the bar stool and conducted her own quick survey of the house. “I don’t see her purse in her room anywhere. She probably went off with one of her friends.”
Jamie removed his phone from his pocket and thumbed a text. When Sophia didn’t respond right away, he tried to call her. “No answer.” He set the phone down on the bar. “Maybe if we’re lucky she won’t come back.” He grinned as though he was joking, but the grim tone in his voice implied otherwise.
Sophia returned ten minutes later. “Where have you been?” Jamie asked.
“Rachel and I drove out to the beach.”
That explains the pink cheeks and windblown hair, Sam thought.
Sophia crossed the kitchen, heading for her room. “Come on.” She motioned for Jamie to follow her. “We need to get changed. We’re meeting Rachel and some of her friends at Angelo’s in fifteen minutes for pizza. There’s talk of a movie afterward.”
Jamie crossed the room to her like a dutiful husband.
She smiled up at him and then sniffed his shirt. “On second thought, you’d better shower first. You stink like fish.”
FIFTEEN
Sam ate a bowl of cereal for dinner before retiring to her room to start packing. She organized her clothes and folded them neatly in the boxes Jamie had left her. She didn’t wait up for Jamie and Sophia, but the sound of water running in the bathroom woke her when they came in around eleven.
Jamie was waiting for her in the kitchen the following morning with a skillet of scrambled eggs. “Sophia wants to sleep late, so I figured I might as well go in early.”
Sam didn’t argue. She needed his help. “What’s she going to do for the rest of the day?”
He shrugged. “She made plans with Rachel. They didn’t talk about specifics, which is fine by me as long as she’s entertained.”
Sam decided not to question the weary tone in her son’s voice.
When Eli came to pick her up a few minutes before two, Jamie placed an arm around each of them and walked them to the back door. “Run along now, you lovebirds. Go buy us a new house. Feel free to christen it while you’re out. Just spare me the details.”
Sam and Eli were rushing to the Jeep, their heads ducked against the cold, when she received a call from Craig Smalls. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re not going to be able to close today as planned.”
She unlocked the car, slipped inside, and slammed the door. “What the hell is going on, Craig?”
“I can’t get Roy Cook to call me back. I’ve left six or seven messages for him. His secretary understands the urgency of the situation and has assured me she’s given him the messages. I don’t know what to tell you.”
She inserted her key into the ignition. “I’m already in my car. I might as well drive over to the bank and find out what’s going on. I’ll make sure he calls you immediately.”
“These things happen when you try to close a property too quickly,” Roy Cook explained when Sam and Eli stormed into his office.
Eli’s face flushed red. “That’s not what you said when you were salivating over our loan application. We are holding our wedding luncheon in this house on Saturday. We need to take possession of it as soon as possible. What is so hard about calling our attorney back?”
Cook dropped to his desk chair with a heavy sigh. “I apologize. I don’t know what to say except that I’m short-staffed. I can barely keep my head above water. I will take care of it right away.”
Sam rapped her knuckles on his desk. “If my attorney doesn’t hear from you within the hour, I’m pulling my business from this bank, including the Sweeney’s accounts. Is that understood?”
He flinched. “Yes, ma’am.”
She turned on her heels and stormed out of his office. “This is ridiculous,” she said once they were back in the car. Because he’s too lazy to make a phone call, we may not be able to get married.”
“Oh no!” Eli’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “We are so getting married on Saturday. As long as Pastor Paul is alive and the Creekside Chapel hasn’t burned down, we are getting married.”
“What are we gonna do for a reception? Serve our guests DoubleDees barbecue and baked beans in my living room surrounded by boxes?”
“Or we can have the reception another time. T
he ceremony is the most important thing.”
Sam felt her anger melt away. “Worse case scenario, we can make the Christmas Eve party out at the farm our reception. I would hate to do it, because my family is always taking advantage of Jackie’s generosity in sharing Moss Creek Farm. But we can at least consider it an option.”
“See, there you go—viable backup plan number one. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll come up with something else.” Placing his hand on the back of her neck, Eli drew her to him and kissed her hard on the lips. “As long as we have the license to prove we’re married, we can make all the whoopee we want.”
They realized their mistake at the same time.
Sam smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. “We forgot about the marriage license. How could we have been so stupid?” She slumped back in her seat. “That’s it then. We have no choice but to postpone the wedding.”
“Not so fast.” Eli pressed his phone to his ear. When the person on the other end answered, he said, “Officer Eli Marshall calling for Chief Andrews.” Andrews came on the line and Eli explained the situation. He listened for a few seconds before thanking him and hanging up. “Are you up for a road trip to Charleston? The probate judge is a friend of Chief Andrews’s. He’s calling him now. Chief thinks there’s only a twenty-four-hour waiting period for the license, but he’s gonna confirm that and let me know. We don’t need a blood test, just one form of identification. A driver’s license will work.”
Sam put the Jeep in gear and peeled out of the bank’s parking lot. “What about your shift? Aren’t you supposed to be at work at four?”
“The chief is getting someone to cover for me until we get back. What about you? Can Jamie stay awhile longer at the market?”
“I’m sure he can. Sophia has plans with Rachel today. But we should text him to let him know.”
Eli typed a quick text into his phone.
“All of these things are bad omens, Eli. The problems at the bank with the closing. Us forgetting to apply for a marriage license. Having SoDiva in the house is added stress when things are already so chaotic at the market. We should’ve waited until spring to get married. Maybe we shouldn’t be getting married at all.”
She sensed his body stiffen, but she kept her attention focused on the road so as to avoid seeing the disappointment on his face.
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” he asked in a low worried tone.
She shook her head.
“I didn’t think so.” He ran his finger down her cheek. “No way I could have waited until spring to marry you. We’ve encountered a few bumps in the road, but come hell or high water—with or without a reception at the bungalow, even if we have to fly out to Las Vegas—we’re going to exchange our vows on Saturday.”
She smiled over at him. “That sounds perfect. Except the Las Vegas part, of course. I don’t need a party or a house. I just need you.”
SIXTEEN
The process of applying for a marriage license took longer than expected. The staff had already closed the market by the time Sam and Eli returned from Charleston. She let him off in the parking lot, to retrieve his cruiser for duty, and drove straight home. Jamie and Sophia were sitting at the island in the kitchen when she arrived.
Sam gave her son a quick hug. “Thanks for covering for me. I owe you one.”
Frown lines crinkled along his forehead. “Please tell me you got the marriage license.”
“We filled out the paperwork and paid the fee. Eli is going back Thursday morning to pick up the license.” Sam opened the refrigerator and surveyed the contents. “Can I interest the two of you in some dinner?” She removed a pound of crabmeat and set it on the island. “I can throw together a crab casserole in no time.”
Jamie cleared his throat. “We’re—”
“We’re going to eat at Rachel’s.” Sophia jutted out her chin and looked Sam dead in the eye. “I hope that’s not a problem for you.”
The muscles in Sam’s shoulders tightened. “That depends. Are her parents home from their trip yet?”
“They, um—” Jamie started.
“They got back last night,” said Sophia. Seriously, Sam. Are you always this protective?”
“When it comes to my son’s safety and his reputation, you bet I am. Especially after what happened Saturday night. You narrowly escaped a minor in possession charge. You may be in college, but you are still underage.”
“Whatever.” Sophia hopped off the bar stool and slipped on a short fur coat the color of aged brandy.
“Whoa.” Jamie’s jaw dropped to the counter. “Is that real?”
“Yes. It’s mink.” She held her arm out to him.
He stroked the sleeve. “I’ve never seen you wear it.”
“I bought it today when Rachel and I were in Charleston. It’s a Christmas gift from my parents to me.” She performed a pirouette. The plush mink swung out from her torso and settled just below her hips. “I deserve it, don’t you think? Since they abandoned me at Christmastime.”
“Russia is the mink capital of the world,” Sam said. “Won’t you spoil their fun if they were planning to bring you a surprise?”
“Not at all. A girl can’t have too many fur coats. They would want me to have it now anyway, since it’s freezing outside.” She pranced across the kitchen and opened the back door. “Let’s go, Jamie. Rachel is waiting for us.”
“I promise we won’t be late,” Jamie said to Sam as he followed Sophia out the door.
After her hectic day, Sam was relieved to have a quiet evening to herself. She heaped a generous amount of crabmeat onto a plate, grabbed the cocktail sauce from the refrigerator and the Saltines from the pantry, and sat down at the island. She was still picking at the crab when Jamie returned home alone thirty minutes later.
Sam looked up from her plate when he came through the back door. “Where’s Sophia?”
“She’s spending the night at Rachel’s.” Still wearing his coat, Jamie popped the top off the container of crabmeat, picked out a juicy lump, and sucked it between his lips. “I didn’t want to stay. It was mostly girls.”
“Did you see her parents?”
“They weren’t there,” Jamie said, avoiding her gaze.
The skin on her neck prickled. Something at the Bennett’s had made him uncomfortable. “I’m glad you decided to come home. I was feeling a little blue.” She walked her plate to the sink. “Why don’t I make you a proper dinner? I have some leftover chili I can heat up.” She removed a bowl from the refrigerator and dumped the chili in a pot.
“Do you realize we only have three nights left in this house, Jamie? If those idiots at the bank can get our documents straightened out, that is.” Sam made a mental note to check her inbox for an email from Craig. “Since this might be our last night here alone, I think we should do something special.”
“Like what?” He tugged off his coat and tossed it onto a nearby moving box.
She thought about it as she stirred the chili. “I know. Why don’t we play Monopoly? We could have a marathon. I might even let you win this time.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “I always beat you fair and square, and you know it.”
“We haven’t played in years. I deserve a chance to redeem myself.”
“I don’t know, Mom. Monopoly sounds kind of lame.”
She filled a Dixie paper bowl with chili and slid it across the island to him. “Don’t be such a Donnie Downer. It’ll be fun. Beats sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves.”
He plunked himself down on a nearby bar stool. “Whatever. Since there’s nothing better to do.”
After Jamie ate his chili, they set up the board game in front of the tree. The flames from the gas logs flickered and Christmas carols played softly in the background. Sam chatted on about the wedding and the new house, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not drive Jamie out of his funk. Whether SoDiva had rejected him or whether he sensed trouble brewing, he was not okay with leaving h
is girlfriend to spend the night at the Bennett’s.
Jamie had obtained all the real estate on the Monopoly board and Sam was nearing bankruptcy when Eli called around ten thirty.
“Please tell me Jamie is at home with you.” The grave tone in his voice alarmed her.
She smiled at Jamie. “He’s sitting right here. Beating me at Monopoly as usual.”
“Phew! What a relief. I’ve never loved that kid more than I do right now.”
“What’s wrong?” The sound of sirens pierced the air on Eli’s end of the line. “You’re scaring me, Eli. Where are you?”
“Brace yourself, Sam. I have some disturbing news. There was a bust at the Bennett’s house tonight. I’m on my way to the station with Sophia. I’m charging her with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.”
Sam sat up straight. “Hold on a minute, Eli. What controlled substance?”
“Cocaine.”
Sam threw the dice on the board and fell back against the chair cushion. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Cocaine? Where would she get something like that around here?”
“Apparently she and Rachel bought it from one of their sorority sisters when they went to Charleston today. Drug use is a national epidemic amongst kids this age. We’ve seen some in Prospect. But not much.” Eli let out an audible sigh. “There’s even more bad news, Sammie. An ambulance just rushed Rachel’s younger brother to the hospital with an apparent overdose.”
SEVENTEEN
“I knew something was wrong at Rachel’s,” Jamie admitted on the way to the police station. “Sophia made it obvious she didn’t want me there. Now I know why. She knows how much I hate drugs.” He raked his hands through his dark hair. “A little weed is one thing, but cocaine? That blows my mind. I know kids at school who have tried it. I never guessed Sophia would be one of them.”
Sam paid close attention to the road as she navigated the back streets to the police station. “I need to know, Jamie. How much do you care about this girl?”
“I don’t care about her at all, Mom. I don’t even like her.”
“Then why did you invite her for Christmas?”
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