Page 13 of Silk & Bones Reunion

Melora shrugged. “I just wanted you to know something about me that I never told you before. The way I grew up wasn’t easy, but that’s life sometimes. I survived and that’s what matters. We all have secrets Sam, even you. There are also some things you never want to talk about. Things that are painful in your past and you just can’t talk about them.”

Sam nodded. “I get that honey, I really do. But I also know you’re hiding something from me and that is something I don’t understand. For the first time in my life, I found a good woman and I stayed rather than run when she told me she was having my baby.”

Melora shook her head. “I would never use a child to trap a man into marrying me. I told you that before and I meant it.”

Sam agreed, “Yeah, you did and you stuck by that, I remember. You told me then all you needed to know was that I loved you as a woman. Well, I did back then and I still do today.”

“But you don’t know if you can trust me. Is that it?” Melora asked. “You don’t know if you can trust me to keep my wedding vows.”

“There’s something going on here and you won’t tell me about it, woman.” Sam seethed.

“It isn’t my secret to share Sam,” Melora told him. “I told you I wasn’t cheating on you and you didn’t believe me. That’s what hurts the most.” Shaking her head she added, “I don’t know what kind of woman you’re used to dealing with, but I’m not like that. I can’t share my secrets with you because they aren’t only my secrets. Some things you have to take on faith. You decided you didn’t trust me and you chose to leave this house. That’s on you, Sam.” She rose from her patio chair and looked down at him. “You hurt me Sam and I have to live with that, but you also hurt those two babies we brought into this world and I don’t know if I can forgive you for that.”

Then she walked into the house.

Sam sat there as he heard the click of the lock shutting him out, loud and clear.

Out of the house and out of her life.

Chapter Seven

When Melora went into the house, she felt so hollow inside. Her stomach was even upset. She had tried, but she couldn’t seem to reach him at all.

She went around turning the lights off before proceeding to the bedroom and changing into her pajamas. Lying in bed, she listened for his truck to start up. When she finally heard it turn the corner, a lone teardrop rolled down her cheek and soaked into the pillow under her head.

After not sleeping well at all, she was up early the next morning. Standing at the back door, she watched the sun rise over the horizon with a heavy heart. She had been thrilled when Sam joined her last night, but her joy went to hell and disappointment filled her heart when he didn’t listen to what she tried to tell him.

She couldn’t tell him all of her secrets as she’d told him. It wasn’t her secret to tell. Damn it, it wasn’t her story to tell and that should have told him something, but he hadn’t listened to that at all.

Hopefully, this would be over soon and she would be free to tell everyone what was going on. But she knew if she told them now, two lives would be lost forever and she just could not do that. She had to keep this secret for a little while longer.

Resting her head on the cool glass separating her from the outside, she had to wonder about the outcome. She still wanted Sam, still loved him so much and this separation was slowly killing her.

Then she thought about how her mother must have felt after Mountain rode away. Had she loved him like Melora loved Sam? Had she died a little bit more each day when he didn’t come back for her? Melora didn’t know. She hadn’t thought about her mother in years and now here she was, wondering about how her mother felt when she watched the man she loved ride away from her all those years ago.

Just then, Melora had to smile as she heard small feet running down the hall. She turned and saw TBone standing in the hall.

With the same grin Sam had, he whisper-yelled, “Morning, Mama!”

“Mornin’, baby boy.” Melora smiled as she swiped at the tears she hadn’t let fall. She opened her arms and TBone launched himself into them. She hugged him close and snuggled into his neck. “You’re up early this morning, kiddo.”

TBone laid his head on her shoulder and whispered, “I sure do miss Daddy.”

“Me too, baby boy, me too,” Melora whispered back. Then she raised his head with her hands and looked him in the eyes. “You and Shaw didn’t do anything wrong, you know that, right? I didn’t either, but Daddy’s going through some hurt feelings right now. I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings, but he thinks I did. That’s why he’s not here. Somewhere along the way, he lost his faith, and he has to find it in order to come back to us. I sure hope he finds it soon.”

“So this is Daddy’s fault?” her son asked.

“No baby, it is not daddy’s fault either. He just has to find his faith again, that’s all. I’m hoping he finds his faith sooner rather than later.” She smiled at her son.

“Me too, Mama,” TBone told her. “Maybe I can help him find it.”

Melora shook her head. “Oh sweetness, he has to find his faith himself. Either he believes in himself or he doesn’t. He has to believe in himself before he can believe in anyone else.” Shaking her head she added, “Only your dad can do that, honey.”

TBone thought about that for a moment then said, “Maybe he just needs to be reminded. Like my friend Jackie.”

Melora nodded as she already heard from him about this Jackie kid a few times. “Maybe.” She glanced at the clock on the wall and found it was close to seven now. Turning back to her son she asked, “How about pancakes with chocolate chips for breakfast?”

TBone’s eyes got huge in his face as he smiled and nodded. “Yes please, Mama.” He called out a little too loud.

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