“Yeah. Three actually, and I have some editing to do before that, so… Busy week.”
“I’ll be back Saturday night. Maybe we could do something Sunday?”
“Sure,” Laura said, finishing her own coffee. “If you’re not too jet lagged.”
“It doesn’t really bother me anymore,” she said with a shrug. “We can have a quiet night in or go out? I don’t mind.”
“Okay. We can decide when you get back.”
“Yeah. I’m easy.”
“Oh I know,” Laura said without thinking, but Sam’s laugh put her mind at ease.
“I really should get going,” Sam said, glancing down at her watch.
“Still like to be early?”
“Yes. I’ve never missed a flight.”
Laura stood up while Sam gathered her things. “Well, have a safe trip.” She wanted to hug her, but she wasn’t sure if she should.
“Thanks,” Sam said, taking a step forward and wrapping her arm around Laura.
Laura hugged her back, inhaling her familiar perfume. “See you when you get back.”
“Definitely,” she said, giving her one last smile before she left.
Laura put on her coat, not really sure how to feel. Judging by Sam’s eagerness to see her, now, and when she got back, Laura should be happy, but Zach’s reaction to seeing Sam with a suitcase made that difficult. He knew her better than she did, and he thought Sam was leaving for good again.
Laura picked up her bag and left, knowing that Kate was right. She really just needed to talk to Sam, and she would, next week.
Chapter Nineteen
Sam put the last of the plates in the dishwasher. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cooked for more than just herself, but dinner had gone well. When she got home from Italy last night, she gave her mother a call and sent her sister a text to see if they were free for Sunday dinner. It was only a roast chicken, but she wanted to spend more time with her family while she was here.
“I don’t know why you asked us over right after you got back from Italy,” Natalie said, finishing her glass of wine, leaning against the kitchen counter. “You know how much Mom loves to remind us of the fact that we never bothered learning Italian.”
“I know. I didn’t really think it through, did I?”
“Well, I keep a few phrases ready so that I can at least pretend that I’m still trying to learn.”
“That,” Sam said, pointing at her older sister. “That is fucking genius.”
“Language,” her mother said as she came into the kitchen.
“Sorry, Ma.”
“I think we’d better get going,” Natalie said, putting her arm around her mother’s waist. “We drank all the wine.”
“And your poor husband has to play taxi,” their mother said.
“He’s opening the coffee shop tomorrow, so he very willingly said that he wouldn’t drink tonight,” Natalie said. “Thank you, Sam, for a lovely dinner.”
“Yes,” her mother said, kissing her on the cheek as she gave her a hug. “Thank you.”
“No problem. This might even become a thing, you know, until I have to move out.”
“I don’t think I could have agreed to that,” Natalie said as they walked into the living room and got their coats.
“Well,” Sam said, tilting her head towards her mother so that only Natalie could see. “It’s practically free, and I’m doing the couple who owns the place a favor so…”
“Yes,” Natalie agreed, giving her a wink. “You are. Night.”
“Goodnight,” her mother called as she left, oblivious to the conversation that was going on behind her.
Zach gave Sam a wave from the front seat of his SUV while Natalie got in the back and their mother took the passenger seat. Sam wrapped her arms around herself while she stood in the doorway, waving goodbye.
Winter wasn’t too far away. It was already dark outside at seven o’clock. She closed the door behind her and reached for her phone that was in her back pocket.
Laura had text her earlier, asking if she wanted to come over this evening, and when Sam told her that she was having her family over for dinner, Laura had said to let her know later on if she was still okay to spend some time together. Sam had sent her a text about a half hour ago, saying that she was still free. She hadn’t looked at her phone again until now. Laura had text back right away, telling her to come over whenever she was ready.
Sam went upstairs to get changed and touch up her makeup. She put on a deep green sweater and jeans, leaving her hair down. She grabbed a bottle of wine on her way out and made the short drive over to Laura’s house. She’d been tempted by a glass earlier, especially when she’d been cooking, but she decided against it when she thought there was a good chance she’d be meeting Laura.
Sam parked behind Laura’s car, double checking her reflection in the rear-view mirror. It was hard to believe that she was in Italy a few days ago, driving along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, and all she could think about was getting back here and seeing Laura again. Sam had taken the photos she went there for, but it was the least enjoyable trip she’d been on in a long time, and it had nothing to do with the surroundings.
Sam got out of her car, feeling a sense of déjà vu as she walked up the driveway and knocked on Laura’s front door. She hadn’t been here in years, but the butterflies in her stomach still awoke as she waited for Laura to answer the door, just like they had back then. At least now, she wasn’t worried about running into Anthony. Sam had to keep reminding herself that seeing Laura was okay, that they weren’t doing anything wrong.
“Hey,” Laura said, taking a step back to let her in. “What a difference a week makes. You must have got a shock when you landed.”
“I thought it was just me,” Sam said as she handed Laura the bottle of wine she was cradling and shrugged off her coat, hanging it on the rack that was still beside the door.
“No. I’ve had the fire lit every night this week,” Laura said, leaving the bottle on the coffee table. “Thanks for this.”
Sam followed her inside, her eyes drawn to the flickering flames and the crackling of timber. “No problem,” she said, sitting down on one of the gray sofas. “You’ve redecorated.”
“Yeah,” Laura said coming back from the kitchen with two wine glasses in her hand.
Sam tried to remember what the living room had looked like before. She thought the walls had been white or cream. Now they were a rich mocha. The plush cream carpet beneath her feet seemed new, too.
Laura uncorked the wine and poured them each a glass. “I needed a change when Anthony moved out. Almost everything is new. I did it bit by bit… Cheers,” she said as she sat down, lifting her glass. Her blonde hair fell across her shoulder as she got comfortable, and Sam struggled not to stare. Laura was beautiful in an effortless sort of way. She was wearing a black long-sleeved top that clung to her toned arms and a simple silver pendant that hung just below her collarbone.
“Cheers.”
Sam took a sip, savoring the taste of the smooth Merlot. “You could have a side hustle as an interior designer,” Sam said, sweeping her eyes across the room. “It’s straight out of a magazine.”
“Thanks.”
“So, is Anthony still living in town?”
Laura nodded. “Yes. He’s still the football coach down at the high school. His brother knew someone selling a fixer-upper and that’s what he’s been doing for the last few years, working on his new house. I don’t even know where it is.”
Sam nodded, taking another sip of wine. She crossed one leg over the other, draping her arm across the back of the couch. Today had been really nice. She’d woken up without an alarm and went for a jog at eleven o’clock. The afternoon was spent cooking and reminiscing with her family, and here she was tonight, sitting beside Laura. This could be her life. She could probably even go on the odd trip like the one she’d just been on.
Sam’s reputation as a travel phot
ographer was solid. She could pick and choose the jobs she wanted to take. She didn’t have to be on the road all the time. She’d probably need to come up with something to do while she was here. Bartending wasn’t a long term option.
“What are you thinking about?” Laura asked softly, taking Sam away from her thoughts.
“I was thinking about today.” Sam met her gray-blue eyes. “And wondering if I’d be happy, if that was what my life looked like.”
“And would you?”
Sam watched Laura bring her glass to her lips. “I think so.”
“I thought getting away might tempt you back into traveling.”
“No. Well, I love what I do. I’m just starting to realize that I don’t need to do it every day of the week. This week was great. I always love going to Italy, but I like that I had somewhere to come home to… Someone to come home to,” Sam added, daring herself to maintain eye contact with Laura.
Laura just nodded, licking her lips as she left her glass on the coffee table. “I don’t want to pressure you into anything… But I just want you to know that I’m ready for this,” she said, motioning between the two of them. “I know I made a mess of things before, but I’m in a much different place this time around and well,” she said with a sigh. “This is serious for me.”
Sam swallowed the lump in her throat. This is what she’d always dreamed of Laura saying, that she wanted this as much as she did. That this wasn’t an affair.
Sam leaned forward, putting her wine glass down as she reached for Laura’s hand. “I want this too… And I have to keep reminding myself that this can happen. There’s no reason for it not to. I just wasn’t sure if that was what you really wanted… If you could forgive me for leaving last time.”
“I want a fresh start. We both made mistakes last time, but it was an impossible situation. I guess what I’m worried about this time is holding you back… Of making you give up your career for me. I don’t want that.”
“I wouldn’t,” Sam said, lightly stroking her thumb across Laura’s palm. “I’ve had my fun. I’m ready to find a place to call home. I think I’d still like to go on short jobs like this one, but I wouldn’t be gone for weeks on end. I just need to find something else that I can do here,” Sam said with a smile. “I have no idea what that might be, but I can figure it out. I’m in no rush.”
“I’m not asking for a serious commitment,” Laura said, her hand on Sam’s leg. “I just wanted you to know what was going on with me. I never told you what I was thinking all those years ago. I left you guessing, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t do that this time.”
“We’ll figure it out as we go.”
Laura nodded, and Sam leaned in, letting her hand slip out of Laura’s so that she could cup her cheek. Sam brushed her lips across Laura’s. She’d only been here for fifteen minutes, but she’d wanted to kiss Laura since she’d opened the door.
Laura's lips parted against hers, her hand in Sam's hair, bringing her closer.
Kissing Laura was like nothing else Sam had ever experienced. They fit together so perfectly, and it was a struggle not to think about what might have been, especially after Laura had stayed at the cabin. Their chemistry, the emotion... It was more than Sam could ever have dreamed of, and they could have had all that so many years ago.
Sam found Laura's hand, interlacing their fingers. She needed to forget about the past and start being grateful for the future that was there for them. They were older, hopefully wiser.
Sam never forgot about Laura. She was always at the back of her mind, and Sam had often wondered if she was happy, if she was still here, in their hometown, if Laura ever thought about her.
None of that mattered now, because she was here, in Laura's home, kissing her, Laura's lips so soft against hers, and Sam had no intention of leaving this time.
Chapter Twenty
This time Laura wrapped her arm tighter around Sam when she woke up the next morning. She had no intention of running away from this, but that didn’t stop her from wondering if it could really work. She’d been worried about whether or not Sam was staying more than a few weeks, but now that Laura knew she was, she found new things to worry about.
There was always going to be their age gap. Sam wasn’t nineteen anymore. She was mature, but Laura wondered how it would work as they got older. In some ways fifteen years wasn’t a big deal, but for some reason, Laura felt like finding all of the potential flaws with this new relationship.
Laura didn’t even want to think about her awful dating history. She thought that once she’d gotten a divorce, the hard part would be behind her. She couldn’t count her marriage as being anyways successful. She pretty much married her best friend. It didn’t have anything to do with love or commitment, and since then, she’d never even been in a serious relationship.
Laura felt Sam stir in her arms, and Laura let all those worries slip away as Sam rolled onto her back, her hand resting on top of Laura’s on her stomach.
“Morning,” Sam said in a husky voice.
“Morning.”
“It’s strange waking up here,” Sam said, turning to look at her with tired eyes. “I never thought I would, I guess.”
“I know. I’m in the process of putting it on the market. There’s too many memories here.”
“Of Anthony?”
“Yeah,” Laura said, her arm still draped across Sam. “And you. Those times that we almost gave in… I had so many battles with my conscience back then, trying to figure out what was right and wrong, trying to balance doing the right thing for you, for me, and for Anthony. I redecorated to try and make it something new, but I think I need to sell it… Move on. I switched the master bedroom to my office. Swapped them one day a few years ago.”
Sam kissed her cheek. “I have a feeling it’s all going to work out this time.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“You were always optimistic,” Laura said, sliding her hand across Sam’s hip as she got out of bed. “I’m going to freshen up and then make us some breakfast.”
“Okay. I’ll put the coffee on.”
Laura put on a pair of sweatpants and a v neck t shirt. “The only thing about swapping the rooms is the bathroom’s down the hall now.”
“I’ll use the downstairs one,” Sam said as she put on yesterday’s clothes. “Take your time,” she said, kissing Laura on her way out of the room.
Laura brushed her teeth and washed her face, and as she stared at her reflection, she knew she needed to sell this house. It was something that she’d been putting off, not because she didn’t want to, but because of the work that was involved. Michelle had offered to show her a few places, but Laura had put her off, saying she was busy with work. Now, it was something she was going to make a priority.
This is what she thought would have happened four years ago, a fresh start, but it had taken its time coming to Laura. Things were definitely heading in the right direction though and having Sam back in her life gave her the motivation to move on from this house and find somewhere new to call home.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sam filled about twenty shot glasses with Jägermeister, trying not to gag as she lined them up on a tray for one of the waiters to take out to the table in the corner of the room. The smell always sickened her, and she knew it was from that one night in Madrid when she’d had too many and couldn’t remember half the night.
“Table twenty?” the waiter asked as he lifted the tray, glancing behind him at the loudest table.
“How’d you know?” Sam asked with a smile.
He laughed as he left. Sam couldn’t keep track of everyone’s name because she only did one or two shifts a week, and every time she covered a shift, she felt like she was meeting new staff. Natalie said that they had a high turnover rate, college students coming and going or people looking for part time work. Sam didn’t care. This was only temporary for her, too.
She’d fallen into an easy routine with Laura
in the three weeks since she’d woken up at her house. Laura worked almost every day of the week, but because most of it was editing and not actually taking photos, they saw each other at least three or four times a week. Sam knew almost every weekend was taken with weddings, but she didn’t mind.
Some nights their jobs overlapped, like tonight. Laura was finishing up, taking the last few photos of the couple enjoying their first dance, and Sam was serving her last customer. She poured her a glass of white wine, catching Laura’s eye as she did.
“Hey,” Laura said, coming over to the bar, looking professional in all black with her hair tied back in a ponytail. “I didn’t know you’d be working tonight.”
“I’m just finished,” Sam said, wiping the bar down one last time. “Are you?”
“Yeah. Do you want to go for a drink? My schedule’s packed next week. I’ve got a wedding in upstate New York and a lot of editing to do.”
“Sure... O’Reilly’s?”
“Yeah. I’ll meet you there.”
“Alright,” Sam said, smiling as she watched Laura leave.
The last three weeks had made her realize that she really could settle down and stay in one place. She was proud of where she was from, and despite traveling to some of the most amazing places on the planet, she could see herself staying here, in her hometown. It had little to do with the location though. She would probably be happy anywhere as long as Laura was there.
Sam slid into the booth across from Laura with two bottles of beer. She’d gone home to get changed and freshen up. Her hair was down now, and it looked like Laura had done the same. Her blond hair fell across her shoulders, and she’d swapped her black pants for jeans.
“Thanks,” Laura said before she took a sip. “Did you drive here?”
“Yeah. Why? Thinking ahead?”
From May to December 5 Page 18