Page 97 of Without You, Scotch and Sammy 2

“Speaking of which,” Ed adds without reacting to the two man standoff in front of him. “I just spoke with Mr. Turner. Nice guy…”

“Umm.” He just spoke with him?

I turn to the final whirring of the automatic doors. My breath hitches and my eyes flood and blind me to the group of people walking in.

Sam, handsome as ever, walks in front, then Luc and Ang and Juliette, then that whole group of women I met that time Britt wanted to beat me up, then a whole bunch of very large, very sexy men follow. Off to the very side, Sam’s mom and dad and Alex standby. Sam’s mom smiles shyly at me.

I can’t breathe. I can’t see. I can’t… anything.

Ed winks and taps me on the arm. “I’ll see you in there.”

– Scotch –

The Final Act

We walk through the main doors, and I stop when I find Marc standing at Sammy’s back, and another man practically sandwiching her in at the front. Marc’s looking out for me, but who the fuck is that other guy?

I take a deep breath and continue to walk. I stare at my daughter and wife, and I ignore everyone around us. I brought them here today, but I can’t deal with them right now.

I stop in front of Sammy and basically shoulder barge that other guy out of the way. He grunts in annoyance, but he moves. Marc smiles blindingly behind Sammy, drawing my gaze momentarily, then to my daughter.

Jesus, she’s grown. It’s been ages since I saw her in the hospital with wires and terrifying machines surrounding her. Even longer since she was in my home, squeaking in the next room while I held her mama in my arms and breathed her candy scent deep into my lungs. I reach out for her, snatching her away from Marc like a starving man might steal the crust left behind on a plate in a restaurant. I press her to my chest and almost sob as her perfect candy smell fills my nose. Like mother, like daughter.

“Hey, Rosie. I missed you so much, baby.” Daddy missed you. Daddy loves you so much, it’s almost more painful than how much I love your mommy.

“Sam…”

I hold Lily against me, but I look up at my wife’s beautiful voice. “Hey Ricci.” I look her up and down, and though I note her nervously wringing hands, I also notice the wedding ring on her left hand, and the promise ring I gave her so fucking long ago I almost wondered if I’d made it up, on her right. Sammy’s wearing a power suit and perfect hair. She’s ready to go to war for her daughter. “You look beautiful.”

She smiles shyly. “Thanks. What are you doing here?”

I look around the crowd surrounding us, and swallow down the anxious lump in my throat. I was hoping for a little more privacy to do this.

I turn back to her, and before she can escape, I shoot my arm out and snatch her pinky finger with mine. Our wedding bands clang together. Her eyes flare wide with panic, but I challenge her to get her hand away. She’ll have to break her finger to pull loose.

“No matter what happens to us, I’m here to make this happen for you.”

Her head tilts in confusion, so I clarify. “Lily. I’m here, as your husband, to make sure she comes home with you. No matter what happens with us, no matter what happened in the past or whatever happens in the future, I’m here to make sure she comes home with you.”

“Sam--”

“And I brought a bunch of people who’d like to see her go home with you, too. We’re here so you’re not alone. You’ve spent too much time alone, Ricci.”

A tear escapes as she studies the group behind me. “They don’t even know me.”

“They know me.” I lean forward, bravely kissing away the errant tear as it dangles perilously on her jaw. “They know me, and they know I love you. So now you’re theirs too.”

“Just like that?” she whimpers. She shakes her head softly, sending icy fingers over my spine. “Sam. I can’t-- It’s not that easy--”

“We’re the easiest thing there ever was, Ricci.”

“Don’t do this to me, Sam. I can’t survive you again.”

She’s a survivor. She can do anything. “I’m adopting Lily today, and I’m not walking away from here until she’s yours. Ours. I’m making sure she has a home and a family, then you and me… Well, that’s separate.”

Sammy continues to look at just about every feature of my face, but not at my eyes. She refuses. Marc stands close behind her, and I think if it was any other man standing on her flank, I might be seeing red, but it’s Marc, and he’s smiling at me.

“So I guess you and Marc are buddies again.”

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