Page 135 of Shattered

Unfortunately, it was Callum who then carried on.

“Kristin, I sincerely thank you for that. Best night of my life.” He winked at Sam, who in turn let out a groan.

This was not happening.

Kristin couldn’t hold in the laugh that bellowed from her as Micah sat there utterly confused.

A buzz from his phone caused Callum’s mood to suddenly change.

“Give me a second.” He kissed Sam on the forehead as he walked toward the front door.

“What’s going on?” she called out, confused at his sudden shift in demeanor.

“My mom just got here. I need to sign some papers. I’ll be right back.” And then the front door shut behind him.

“His mom,” Sam whispered to Micah and Kristin. “I haven’t met his mom.”

“She’s so sweet,” Kristin chimed in as she took another bite. “She used to come over to my parents’ place all the time, but my guess is since she and Mr. Barker are no longer a thing, she doesn’t feel the need to come play nice with my mom.”

Sam frantically looked between her friends and the window that faced the front yard. “Would it be weird if I snuck a peek through the blinds?”

Micah eyed Kristin with an amused smile. “I mean, yeah, maybe a little weird, but who cares? Go snoop on your future

mother-in-law,” Micah said with a laugh.

“Oh, shut up!” Sam whispered as she stood and crept over to the window.

Kristin started laughing. “Why are you whispering and walking like that? They are in the parking lot. They can’t see or hear you.”

“Shhh!” Sam said as she peered out from behind the blinds. She was desperate to sneak a peek at the woman who raised Callum. She wondered if they would look similar. Sam had met his father and siblings, and they all had the same dark hair and bone structure. But Callum had the brightest blue eyes which none of the others possessed. They had to have come from his mom.

She slowly slid open the blinds. Then immediately snapped them shut.

Sam couldn’t breathe.

It wasn’t possible.

She peeked out again, hoping her eyes were just playing tricks on her. When the second look confirmed what she knew in the first, she abruptly stood and jumped back.

“What’s wrong?” Kristin questioned from the dining room table.

Sam couldn’t speak. There was absolutely no way this was truly happening. She pinched her arm. It had to be a dream. But no, that pinch hurt. This was not a dream.

“Sam? What’s wrong?” She felt Kristin’s hand on the back of her shoulder.

“What’s her name?” Sam asked, tears filling her eyes.

Kristin furrowed her brow. “Who? Callum’s mom?”

“What’s her name?” Sam asked more urgently.

Kristin gave her a confused look. “Mrs. Ashlyn. Ashlyn Barker.”

“No,” Micah quickly amended. “She took her maiden name back in the divorce. It’s Ms. Ashlyn Clemmings now.”

Sam’s heart stopped.

Ashlyn Clemmings.

---