Page 9 of Securing Samantha

I’ll bring Bryanna’s scones.

I like chocolate eclairs. It’s me again.

I’ll see if she has any.

It’s the closest he’d come to asking for anything from her.

“LJ,” she called. “Do you want to play with Nugget?”

The sound of thundering feet proceeded her son, “Can I take my new puzzle?”

“Yes, go get it and your shoes,” she reminded him with a smile.

She waited while he got situated in the car and buckled himself. She drove to the bakery.

LJ bounced in front of her. “May I please take a treat for me and Nugget? Oh, and Miss Edie?” LJ begged as his eyes glazed over the sugary bounty before him.

“Yes, my sweet boy. You may take something with you.” Samantha tousled her son’s hair.

Bryanna came around the corner and gave her a hug.

“You lucked out today, I made a new dessert and wanted someone to try it,” Bryanna knelt beside LJ. “What do you think you’ll be wanting to try today?”

“I’m playing at Nugget’s and taking a treat,” he exclaimed.

“I have the perfect thing.” She pulled out two small brownies topped with their favorite cartoon characters. “What do you think?”

LJ’s eyes rounded as he nodded his head, making the women laugh.

“Do you have any chocolate eclairs?” she asked.

“I finished a few in the back. Let me grab them.” Bryanna came back a minute later with a small tray.

“I’ll take two of those and two of the scones,” she ordered as she pulled out her purse.

Bryanna rung her up. “Have fun today,” she called to LJ.

Samantha smiled as her son hopped from one foot to another in impatience. She took the box from her friend and opened the door for her son.

She drove up the mountain to Saint’s home. Edie’s visits were becoming lengthier, and she guessed Edie decided she enjoyed Serenity Mountain and planned to move there soon. Samantha hoped the woman stayed. Maddie and Carol adopted her into their older circle. She loved all the kids and they thought of her as another Gram.

She dropped off LJ who abandoned her immediately at the sight of his new friend. Miss Edie stood on the porch and waved her on, “I got ‘em you enjoy some alone time,” she called.

If only Edie knew she felt more alone than ever. She drove around to the other side of the mountain and parked next to Leo’s truck.

Upon seeing her, he walked out to meet her at the car. “I put your stuff in your rooms, here’s the keys and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call,” he instructed.

She took the keys and checked her phone. Enough time for her to plait her hair and touch up her makeup. A few minutes later, she picked up the box of sweets and a few boxes of Irish Breakfast tea. She included her own version of chamomile. She headed to Liam’s cabin.

At precisely fourteen hundred hours, she rang the doorbell. The door swung open, and Whiskey greeted her. His overgrown hair stood up on end as if he raked his hands through it. A nervous habit of his. His beard hung scraggily in places, needing a trim.

She thrust the box of bakery goods into his hands. “I brought the snacks.”

“Thank you.” He stood to the side to let her in. The teapot near the electric kettle and from the steam rising, she knew he readied it ahead of her arrival.

He walked to the bar, and she noticed the perfectly placed teacup and coffee cup. Bear’s honey sat next to them with spoons and a small pitcher of milk.

He rubbed his hands nervously across his jeans. “The water’s boiling. Did I forget anything?"

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