AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sam thought about that and realized his mother was right. Jack had always gone for the one-night stand kind of woman. The kind who hated commitment as much as he did himself.
“You had that courage once, Sam. When you married Lacy and began to build a life together.” She sighed a little and stared into his eyes. “You walked away from that, and I’m not going to say now whether that was right or wrong because it’s done and can’t be undone. My question is, do you still have that courage, Sam? Do you still want that life with Lacy?”
The question hung in the air between them and seemed to reverberate inside him, as well. He looked at his mother, then at his father. At the room around them and the memories etched into the very walls. His life was here. It was time he picked it up and claimed it once and for all. He did want that life that he’d once been foolish enough to throw away. He wanted another chance to build what his parents had built.
He wasn’t Jack. Sam wanted permanent. He wanted the everyday with the one woman who would make each single day special. All he had to do was find the way to make Lacy listen. To make her understand that he damn well loved her, and she loved him, too.
“Yeah, Mom,” he said softly, reaching out to pull his mother close. “I do.”
She hugged him hard—no more wary caution from her—and for the first time since he’d come back to Snow Vista, he really felt as if he was home again.
* * *
“You’re pregnant?”
“Yes, and don’t tell your brother.”
“Not a word,” Kristi swore, fingers crossing her heart, then flying up into a salute of solidarity. “How far along are you? Never mind. Can’t be far. He’s only been home a month. It is Sam’s, right?”
Lacy gave her an exasperated look.
“Right, right,” Kristi said, using both hands to wipe away her words, “it’s Sam’s. The idiot.”
“That about covers how I’m feeling about him right now.”
Lacy had been ranting about Sam for the past hour, and when news of the baby had slipped out, she’d had to swear her friend to silence. But she couldn’t regret sharing her big secret with her best friend. It had felt too good to tell someone.
Lacy was still so furious she could hardly see straight, but mostly at herself, for falling for Sam’s stories again. Seriously. If you’re going to make mistakes, she thought, at least have the good sense to make some new ones along the way. But how could she have avoided letting herself be sucked back in? She still loved him. Though she was going to find a way to get over it. Maybe she should start reading those self-help books that Kristi was so addicted to. What she needed was a book called How to Wipe That Man Out of Your Life.
“What’re you going to do?”
Lacy dropped into the closest chair and stared at the fire in her hearth. “I’m going to have a baby and never speak to your brother again.”
“Hmm...” Kristi leaned into her own chair. “I applaud the sentiment, but it’s gonna be tough. What with you both living here and all.”
“He won’t stay,” Lacy muttered. “Soon enough, he’ll be gone again, chasing his dead brother’s dreams.”
“I used to think Jack was the dummy, but I’m sorry to say,” Kristi mused, “turns out Sam’s the lucky winner there.”
Lacy cringed a little. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be dumping all of this on you. He’s your brother. You shouldn’t be in the middle.”
“Are you kidding? In matters like these, it’s all about girls versus boys as far as I’m concerned.”
She smiled. “You’re a good friend, Kristi.”
“I could be better if you’d let me go kick Sam.”
“No.” Anger was now riding hand in hand with misery, and the two were so tangled up inside her, Lacy could hardly breathe. But she did know enough to realize that giving Sam any more attention at all would be just what he wanted. So she was going to ignore him. Forever.
Oh, for heaven’s sake, how would she ever be able to pull that off? It wouldn’t be long before she’d be showing and Sam would know about the baby and...
“Maybe I’m the one who should move.”
“Don’t you dare,” Kristi countered in a flash. “What would I do here without you to talk to? Besides, you’ve got my niece or nephew in there—” she waved one hand at Lacy’s tummy “—and I want to meet them.”
