This time, she didn’t let go. “Good to see you, too, Nadine.” She lifted her chin and looked her right in the eye. It didn’t seem to bother Nadine one bit. Her smile only grew bigger. Sam felt even more flustered. She had been expecting Nadine’s disapproval, but this reaction from Nadine was something else.
“I hope you’re hungry.” Nadine turned toward the kitchen and motioned for the two of them to follow her. “Because Sophie is with her dad, I seem to have cooked way too much food.”
Sam looked at Alex with bewilderment. Alex shrugged and followed her mom into the kitchen, tugging Sam along behind her.
Alex never let go of her hand again. She didn’t let go when Tim Weaver came from the backyard to wrap Sam in a giant bear hug. She didn’t let go while they stood chatting in the kitchen, exchanging the usual pleasantries about the weather and common acquaintances. She didn’t let go when they finally sat down to dinner. Only when Nadine started dishing out food did Alex loosen her grip. Between bites, she would gently let her hand rest on Sam’s leg. She became progressively bolder the longer they sat at the table. The hand started at her knee, but toward the end of dinner, it now came to rest at the top of her thigh. Sometimes, Alex placed her hand along the back of Sam’s chair or even dropped it along her shoulders for periods of time.
And neither of the Weavers said anything about it. It was surreal.
“So, Sam,” Tim began, with his mouth full of food. He gave his wife a look when she swatted him for talking with his mouth full. Sam grinned. This had been a thing between them ever since that first dinner so many years ago. He just rolled his eyes and continued. “How’s it going with your mom’s house?”
Alex’s hand on Sam’s leg stilled slightly, then squeezed.
“I think it’s going well,” she said. “Brad and his guys have been such a great help.” She looked over at Alex, watching her with a gentle smile. “I have Alex to thank for reaching out to them. I really couldn’t do this without any of them.” She ticked off her fingers, “Roof is done. Painting is done. Most of the cleaning is done.” She sat back in her chair, feeling satisfied. “I just have a few little things left.”
Tim shook his head, still chewing, while reaching for another serving of corn. That man could put away some food. “What happens after that?” He reached out for another biscuit. “Are you putting it on the market?”
Sam pushed back her plate. She was so stuffed she couldn’t move, but she knew there would be dessert. Nadine was famous for her desserts. “That’s the plan,” she answered. She felt the grip onher leg tighten, but chose to ignore it for the time being. She knew she would eventually have to address what was happening between her and Alex, but for now, she just wanted to enjoy the feeling of Alex beside her.
“Well, I wish you luck.” Tim’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “That’s a huge undertaking. Let me know how I can be of any help.”
Before Sam could respond, Nadine rose to her feet and began clearing the table. Automatically, Sam jumped to her feet to help. She shot Tim a hasty “Thanks, I appreciate that” over her shoulder as she grabbed a stack of plates to take into the kitchen.
After she turned the corner, she chastised herself silently. Now she and Nadine were alone for the first time that day. For a few minutes, the two women worked in silence. Nadine packed the leftovers while Sam prepped the dishes for the dishwasher, scraping and rinsing them before loading. She could hear murmurs from Tim and Alex in the next room, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. When she finished, she closed the dishwasher door and leaned back against it, arms folded across her chest. She silently watched Nadine putting things in the refrigerator. Nadine closed the door and turned to face Sam when she was done. She stood, mimicking Sam, with her arms crossed over her chest. The two regarded each other silently in a moment that felt like forever to Sam.
Finally, Nadine broke the silence. “I don’t presume to know what is going on with you and my daughter,” she began. Sam braced herself for impact. “And frankly, I don’t want any of the details.”
“That’s fair, Nadine.” Sam tried for humor. “I really don’t want to give them to you.”
Nadine tsked and swatted at Sam with a towel. “But what I do know,” she continued, her expression turning serious, “is that you’re good for her, Sam.” She inhaled deeply. “You’re good for her.”
Sam’s face froze in shock. Was Nadine Weaver—the woman who had kicked Sam out of her house a dozen years ago and spread rumors that Sam corrupted her daughter—now telling Sam that she was good for Alex? Sam wasn’t typically at a loss for words, but shewas struck silent this time. Sam opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Nadine waved her hand. “I told you, I’ve had years to think about this.” As she spoke, she crossed the kitchen and walked over to stand in front of Sam. “And ultimately, I want what is best for Alex. And for Sophie.” She reached out and placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “And if that’s you…” She shrugged. “Then that’syou, Sam.”
Sam shook her head, still unsure of what to say. She had imagined herself on the defensive regarding Nadine for the past decade. She didn’t know how to adjust to this new reality.
“But…” Sam stilled at Nadine’s tone. “Please take the time to think about what is happening between the two of you.” Her lips thinned into a firm line, and the edges of her mouth drew tight. “I don’t want to see either of you hurt again.”
Suddenly, Sam felt hot. For the past few weeks, her mind had been circling around her feelings for Alex, never fully admitting them to herself. Now she finally found her voice and spoke the words she knew were true. “I love her,” she said. “I don’t think I ever stopped loving her.”
Slowly, a smile spread over Nadine’s face. She reached up and placed a hand on Sam’s other shoulder, eyes locking onto Sam’s. “Then tell her,” she said. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “She needs to hear it from you.”
Sam swallowed the lump that had been forming in her throat and started to cry. Nadine reached out and pulled Sam into a tight hug. It had been years since Sam felt the comforting embrace of Nadine’s hug, and she sank into it. She nodded against Nadine’s shoulder. “I will,” she whispered. She gently pulled back and looked into Nadine’s eyes. “I promise.”
Alex chose that moment to round the corner into the kitchen. She stopped abruptly, sensing the tension in the air. She looked from her mother to Sam and then back again. “What’s up?” she asked slowly, brow furrowed, concern written on her face.
Nadine stepped fully back from Sam, dropping her arm from her shoulder. She turned to Alex. “Nothing’s up, honey.” Nadinewalked over to the refrigerator, patting Alex’s arm on the way. “It’s just time for pie.” She opened the door and rummaged inside. When she turned around, she held a perfectly baked pie, and a bright smile lit her face.
Despite her confused state, Sam felt her stomach grumble in anticipation. She tried to wipe discreetly at her eyes.
“Why don’t you girls take your pie outside on the porch?” Nadine shot a wink at Sam. “I’m sure you want some alone time.”
Sam’s mouth dropped open as she gawked at Nadine. She turned her stunned gaze to Alex as if to sayWhat’s going on here?She felt like she was in an alternate universe, but she knew she needed to snap out of it and act like a normal person. She shook her head to clear it and looked over at Alex.
Alex had her hand over her mouth and was trying her best to smother a grin. “Pie would be great, Mother.”
Nadine turned around and began gathering plates from the cabinet and a knife from the block on the counter. “You all head out,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll get this ready for you and bring it out.”
