Page 46 of Securing Samantha

“Yeah. I got a kick out of my boy. Thank you for helping Samantha raise him. I owe all of you. I saw the pictures in the hallway,” Whiskey told Leo.

“We didn’t do anything you wouldn’t have done for one of ours. How’s things going for Samantha? Catherine mentioned Samantha isn’t accepting any more clients. Is she planning on not styling hair anymore and concentrating on the skincare line?”

Whiskey thought for a moment. Realizing the focus remained on him the majority of the time. He didn’t really ask Samantha anything concerning her company. Today was the first time she volunteered any information. He made a mental note to ask her more about herself and learn about his wife all over again.

Samantha’s attorney sent back the paperwork. His stomach sank as he found Samantha’s signature scrolled across the line, indicating the end of their marriage. He tried to sign them, but something held him back. Whiskey still loved his wife. He focused on starting a relationship with LJ. With the success of the weekend, he wanted to move Samantha to his to do list. He frowned. Things felt tilted and disorientated when he came home. Now Whiskey saw how much his wife brought light in bits and pieces to his life. She should’ve come first, and he made her last.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Samantha stayed in the back working on orders until the store closed. She saw Becky sending weird glances in her direction. She couldn’t muster the strength to hide the feelings Whiskey stirred in her. It seemed as if they started great on one track of the roller coaster they rode on and the wheels on the other side jumped over the sides.

Her phone rang as she contemplated her feelings. Not even glancing to check who’s calling she hit the answer button.

“Samantha O’Neil speaking,” she answered.

“Hi, Samantha, it’s Maddie. I know you and Catherine brought items up while Kassie and Chase went on their honeymoon. I didn’t want to disturb you when I learned of your husband’s returning. I can’t seem to find some of them and wondered if you’d mind coming up to help me figure this mess out. There’re more patients coming in and we need those supplies,” she sounded urgent.

Samantha sighed. She and Saint took turns picking up the kids and tonight, he mentioned Victoria and Ivan invited the kids for a movie night at the local theatre. She knew how much LJ missed playing with Em. Kassie most likely worked, and she agreed to let him go. She didn’t have an excuse not to help sweet Maddie.

“I have a haircut scheduled in a few minutes, but he shouldn’t take long. It might take me a half an hour and then I can drive up,” Samantha informed Maddie.

“Oh, thank you. I appreciate the help. I stopped at Kassie and Chase’s cabin. I think some of the items must still be here. It’ll save me a bunch of time. She’s in Seattle with Chase for the evening.”

Samantha sighed with relief. At least she didn’t have to worry about running into Kassie. Catherine recently married Leo, most likely she rushed home to her new husband. She saw them the night Bryan picked her up. Part of her wanted to run and embrace them. The other half didn’t know what to say. She isolated herself to allow them to help Whiskey. He preferred the help of Kassie and Claire more than her anyway. She felt relieved when she stopped the counseling sessions with him. He always glanced guiltily in her direction. He said she suffocated him when all she cared about was helping him like the others. Didn’t he know how badly it made her feel?

When she finished, she held the door for Becky and locked up the shop. She got in her car and headed toward the mountain. She missed driving up and laughing with the girls over a cup of tea or a glass of wine. She missed outfit planning and fixing their hair and makeup for special events. She missed Catherine’s wedding. The invitation slipped through the door of her temporary shop. She didn’t have the heart to throw it away. It sat in her cabinet at work.

She parked the car and climbed up the familiar steps of Kassie and Chase’s home. Her gaze slid to the swing where she and Kassie sat while watching the girls and LJ playing in the front yard. She knocked on the door. A smiling Maddie allowed her entrance.

A pale Kassie sat at the kitchen table with sad eyes next to an outraged Catherine. Claire stood, completely confused. Carol sat behind them on the barstool. Samantha turned to leave when Victoria blocked the door. She smiled widely as she wiggled her fingers back and forth in a ‘don’t you even think about leaving’ gesture.

“Samantha, I ask you to give us fifteen minutes. It’s important,” Victoria asked but Samantha knew she really demanded. She gestured for Samantha to join the women at the table.

This day kept getting worse. She longed for a long hot shower and a glass of wine. From the expressions on her ex-friends’ faces, they seemed as shocked as her.

She sat next to Claire while Victoria guarded the exit.

“I know you’re wondering why I called you all here. Claire didn’t know anything about this. I asked her over under false pretenses to help keep everyone calm,” Maddie rushed to explain. “For those who don’t know, Catherine’s pregnant and we need to keep her health in mind as we hold this discussion.”

Kassie refused to lift her gaze from the table. Catherine reached over and grabbed her friend’s hand and Samantha sat by herself.

“We called you girls together because this feud has gone on long enough.” Carol gently scolded. “Maddie and I have watched you two walking by Samantha’s yearning to go in and Samantha we know you’ve avoided the girls as well.”

“Thank you, Carol, for clearing my name. For the record, I agree with you, but I won’t force any of you to talk.” Claire informed them.

Kassie raised her head and focused on Samantha. “I wasn’t aware of any of this. But since we’re here and you refuse to talk to me, I want to apologize. I thought once Whiskey healed physically, between me and Claire, he’d realize how much he loved you and want to see you. I never imagined things turning out this badly. Don’t feel forced to stay here, regardless of what they say.” Kassie nodded toward the older women.

The boiling anger she felt at getting trapped by the older women into this discussion simmered at Kassie’s admission. She didn’t respond as Catherine rushed to her friend’s aid.

“Kassie, don’t blame yourself. We’ve talked about this. You made a promise and kept it. Samantha, there’s a lot you aren’t aware of. Part of the reason for the secret of the men involved Ash, my husband at the time,” Catherine assured her friend.

Claire cleared her throat when Samantha said nothing. “This might be a good time for Kassie to start from the beginning. Maybe if we have her view of everything, we can understand why she kept everything secret and move forward from there.”

“It started when I brought Nugget home to live with us. When I thought the team perished in the accident. The men returned and when Chase found me in our spot, I insisted he take me to see Saint. I?—”

“She said from the beginning,” Samantha gritted out. When Kassie turned her confused expression toward her, Samantha seethed. “It started when you walked out of the room while some lunatic held me and my child hostage.”

Kassie blanched. “If you felt that way, why did you still do my hair and makeup for my wedding? You said you didn’t want to stay in your home, Carol offered for you to stay at her and Catherine’s rental. I immediately moved your stuff and arranged the counseling sessions. This is the first time hearing of you feeling like I walked off and left you.”

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