LITMIR.BIZ

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every table top and shelf. Everywhere they traveled Patsy bought a souvenir. Each knick-knack held an invaluable memory. Finally, she stopped and pulled up a chair directly across from Jake. “Where are my manners? Would you like something to drink?” Jake nodded and she rushed to the kitchen. While she pulled glasses out of the cupboard, filled them with ice, and poured in fresh squeezed lemonade, Jake desperately tried to come up with a story about how he met Sam.

      “Go ahead honey, I’m listening.” She called from the kitchen. Jake stayed quiet. Soon Patsy emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray with the two glasses of lemonade and some cookies. She set the tray down on the coffee table and watched Jake expectantly. Jake quickly reached down and took a bite out of one of the cookies. He tried to swallow, but found it rather difficult with his throat feeling as tight as it did. He picked up the lemonade and tried to wash down the cookie. A piece of the cookie went down the wrong pipe and he began coughing. “Are you all right?” Patsy jumped up and patted him on the back.

      “I’m fine.” He managed to choke out. After a minute he was able to suck in a deep breath. “Have you talked to mom?”

      “Oh yes. I told her all about Sam. She’s such a nice girl. She works so hard too. I don’t know how she does it. You know I cook for her and the girls sometimes 'cause they’re all so thin. She seems to live off of junk food, too. So once in a while I make them a nice home cooked meal. The girls often eat at their grandma’s, but by the time Sam comes home its way past dinnertime so she eats my meals. I don’t mind really. I mean I can’t really eat leftovers all week now can I. That reminds me I was making some pot roast for tonight. Sam loves my pot roast. That is one thing I do like about her, that girl can eat. We also share her dog, because she doesn’t want him to be lonely during the day.” She pointed to Spot who was lounging in a corner and smiled at Jake. Jake quickly decided to ask another question before she did.

      “How are the girls?” She had mentioned “the girls” before so hopefully this would provide some more information on Sam.

      “You have met them haven’t you?” Patsy asked.

      “Sure, it’s just I’ve been so busy lately.” He took a sip of lemonade hoping Patsy bought his excuse. Who exactly are these “girls” anyway? Are they roommates, sisters?

      “Of course dear, oh Lexi seems more and more like her mother everyday and Ellie is just a little ball of sunshine. I hear them sometimes at night laughing and giggling.” She smiled sweetly. “You’ll make such a good father.”

      Jake almost spit out his lemonade. That was an awfully random comment. Well, I guess if they think I’m getting married they must think children will be next. “I guess mom was pretty surprised, huh?”

      “Yes, yes she was. She said you never said a word about Sam. How long have you too known each other anyway?” She was suddenly rather serious.

      “Oh we go way back Aunt Patsy. Sam and I have known each other a long time.” Jake swallowed hard. He looked down and picked a cookie crumb off his shirt. He hated lying especially to his family. It wasn’t like acting at all. When you act you’re telling a story to entertain. When you lie you’re telling a story to deceive.

      Aunt Patsy relaxed a bit. “I’m glad, ‘because too many young people rush into marriage nowadays. Of course, I don’t really know the whole story about Sam’s marriage, but I think she rushed into that one and I’d hate to see you get hurt. I truly believe that a marriage should be based off of a close friendship. When Albert was alive…”

      Jake relaxed in his chair. Once Aunt Patsy started talking about Albert she was lost to a world of memories. He quickly recapped what he knew about Sam. She’s been married twice. She lives with girls. She has a brother. I really don’t know a lot. He sighed. Patsy thought it was about Albert. She continued on with her story wiping a tear from her eye.

      Jake spent the rest of the day with Patsy. He helped her cook the pot roast, listened to her talk about Albert, and above all avoided questions about his relationship. He listened intently for more clues about Sam. He was able to decipher that she was a schoolteacher which led him to wondering when she would get home. The apartment next door had been quiet the whole day. He convinced Patsy to eat dinner on the patio looking out on the lake so he could eavesdrop for sounds and watch the neighboring apartment for movement. He didn’t want to ask Patsy about Sam’s schedule because as her fiancé shouldn’t he know.

      By nine o’clock Jake was sitting at the dinette with Patsy playing cards. “Well, look at the time.” Patsy suddenly said. “I had better get that pot roast wrapped up for Sam.” She jumped up and went into the kitchen. She pulled out a slew of Tupperware containers until she found one that was the right size. She had barely finished packing the meat when Jake heard a car engine outside.

      “There she is.” Patsy said. Jake gulped and followed Patsy out the door.

      Chapter 11

      Sam pulled up to her parking space. Lexi and Ellie had both fallen asleep at her mom’s house. With help they had been transported to her car, but now she had to get them inside by herself. This was the normal routine. They fell asleep at grandmas then Sam had to wake them up to bring them into the apartment. Once they were awake they would want a snack then they’d stay up goofing off. By the time Sam could settle them down and back to bed it was eleven. Sam usually fell asleep on the couch trying to wind down with her favorite syndicated sitcoms. It totally defeated the purpose of putting them to bed at her mom’s earlier, but they had argued about this many times and Sam had thrown in the towel. Just as she opened her car door she saw Patsy’s door open.

      Great. Sam tried to think quickly. Even if she closed the door now the dome light would stay on exposing her. There was no escape. No one else she knew had recognized her from the televised proposal, but Patsy would know it was her. She had given her the tickets.

      Patsy came out of her apartment with a Tupperware container in hand. Sam stepped out of the car and braced herself for the barrage of questions.

      “Oh honey, I’m so happy for the two of you.” Patsy pushed the container into Sam’s hands and wrapped her in a tight hug. Sam stood there shocked.

      She couldn’t possibly believe it was for real. She thought. Just then over Patsy’s shoulder Sam saw the silhouette of a man in the frame of Patsy’s door. Her heart skipped a beat and she was sure her face was a bright red though the sunburn would make a color change difficult.

      “Well,” Patsy said as she pulled away from Sam. “I’m going to leave you two alone. You probably have a lot to talk about.” She held Sam by her shoulders. “I just knew the two of you were perfect for each other. I can’t believe you never told me you knew him. All this time I was going on about him. Welcome to the family, sweetie.” Patsy turned and walked back towards her apartment. As she passed Jake she kissed him on the cheek and said good night. The door closed leaving Sam and Jake illuminated only by the car’s dome light.

      “I can explain.” Jake started.

      “I hope so.” Sam answered. Jake took a step towards her and she automatically stepped back.

      “I’m sorry.” He said.

      “For what?”

      “It was a bad joke and now,” he scratched his head. “She was so happy, you know.”

      Sam swatted at the bugs flying towards the light.

      “I have to get them to bed.” Sam indicated the girls sleeping in the car.

      Jake felt himself shrinking as though he had just drunk the potion in Alice in Wonderland. “The girls” he thought. Now I get it she has kids. Sam’s car was full of groceries and two sleeping girls.

      “Can I help?” He offered.

      Sam’s choked down her initial reaction. She would have normally said no. How often am I going to have a movie star carry in my groceries? She thought. In her mind she could picture the scene and it made her laugh.

      “Sure.”

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