Sophia and Bella squealed at the same time, then hugged each other like Sam had said yes and not maybe.
Liam looked at Sam and mouthedThank you.
She could only imagine what Sophia was going through. Probably very similar to Bella’s experience when they moved to Renegade.
“Thank you again for everything today. Do I owe you anything for dinner?”
Liam shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head. “My treat.”
“Oh, well, thanks again.” She turned and herded Bella to the car.
There was so much to say right now, but Sam didn’t know how to go about it.
“Don’t think that we won’t talk about everything. I just want to wrap my head around it all. The more I think about you sneaking off, the angrier I get, and I don’t want to be angry when we talk.” She reached over and grabbed Bella’s hand.
“I’m sorry.” Bella squeezed her hand.
“Please don’t do that again. You can come to me for anything. I mean it. Anything.” She looked at her sister and made sure she heard what had been said.
Sam had made her fair share of mistakes in her life. She wanted better for her sister.
Bella leaned over, turned on the radio, and changed it to a station playing Christian music. Not Sam’s choice, but it could be a lot worse. It wasn’t long until she found herself tapping along to the beat on the steering wheel.
She pulled into Dean’s drive and put the car in Park. Even though Dean had given her a key, she still knocked on the front door before letting herself in.
“Nobody’s home.” Charlie giggled from underneath the coffee table.
“Okay, funny boy, it’s time for a bath.” Dean walked into the living room with a wiggling Bobby in one arm. “Hey, Sam.”
“Run, Charlie,” Bobby squealed from his position. “Save yourself!”
“Oh no you don’t.” Cass yanked Charlie from under the coffee table. “No stinky boys in my house.”
“Um, while you two take care of that…” She waved her arms at the commotion. “Do you mind if I hit the treadmill?” Cass was a runner just like Sam. It was one of the things that had bonded them.
“Sure. You know where it’s at,” Cass said as she and Dean carried the boys down the hall.
Sam and Bella followed behind, veering off into the room they were staying in. Sam changed out of her work clothes and into the department sweats she’d swiped the day of the fire.
“I think I’m just going to go to bed.” Bella flopped down on the mattress, spread-eagled.
“Sounds good to me, but save room for me in the bed, ’kay?”
“I’ll think about it.” Bella rolled over onto her stomach and rested her head on her arms.
Sam shut the door to the spare room behind her and hit the treadmill. The methodic pounding of her feet eased the tension she’d been holding in her body.
She focused on her breathing. In through her nose and out through her mouth.
Her life was spinning out of control.
There were so many questions that needed answers, and she didn’t have them. There was nothing she could do to fix the situation. Normally, when something went wrong, she could reason, plan, and create a solution. Sick or injured patient? Implement a treatment plan until EMS arrived. Building on fire? Implement a plan to extinguish the flames. Issues withinventory? Figure out the cause and correct it. What was she supposed to do about this? She couldn’t fix it.
Pain stretched from her calves and up her legs as she pushed herself further. Maybe if she pushed herself to the limit, she’d sleep peacefully tonight and not fitfully like she had been since the fire.
After three miles, she did a cooldown before she showered and collapsed into bed.
High-pitched giggling drew Sam from sleep hours later. She didn’t know how long it had been.
