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Sam snarled but didn’t want her to hear him, so he moved away and sat back down. He thought about what he just heard. Who the hell was Danny? How had he helped her in the past? How could she say he had better things to do than be here with his family? She and the kids were his life.
Shaking his head, he sat there long after she hung up the phone and shut off the lights. Getting up, he went around to the front door and let himself in with his key. He quietly made his way to TBone’s room and opened the door.
His son looked sound asleep. Sam went over to his bed and leaned over him to kiss the boy goodnight. He left silently, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Heading on silent boots to Shaw’s room, he crept inside. His daughter too was fast asleep. Sam leaned over her crib to kiss her goodnight on her little cheek. He watched her for a while and she just slept, so he finally turned to leave.
Melora stood in the doorway. Turning away, she left.
Sam followed her into the darkened living room.
When he got there, she turned and said softly, “They missed you tonight.”
“I was asleep.”
Melora nodded and didn’t pursue that subject. “My dad stopped by this morning. I didn’t know what to tell him, so I didn’t answer the door.”
Sam snorted. “Yeah, he stopped by the shop this morning and wanted to know where you were. He came by yesterday morning before you and Shaw got back and was demanding to know where you were then too. I told him it was my business and he had to keep his nose out of it. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Deke said the same damn thing and I told him to butt out. Not what he wanted to hear either.”
Melora shrugged. “I’m not sure I want them to know that you think I’m cheating on you. It's not true and I’d resent the implication like hell.”
Sam just glared at her. After what he heard her saying on the phone, he felt angry all over again. Before he let that anger out in words, he knew he’d better leave. He walked over and went out the front door. He then strode away without looking back.
Chapter Five
Sam stared at his ceiling the rest of the night. Then again when the sun came up, he got up and got dressed in silence. He went to work early because he couldn’t stand the silence in his own home anymore.
When he got to the shop, Bones opened the door and turned on the lights as he went inside. He got his tools and sat down to finish the work he started yesterday.
At seven, the others got there and everyone just started working rather than trying to talk to Sam. He felt glad for that small favor at least.
It was just after eight when the door opened again and everyone looked up.
Sam growled beneath his breath. Yes, this was to be expected as he found himself looking at Melora’s best friend Izzy. She was also Mountain’s wife and he knew she was here to find out what she could about what was going on between Sam and Melora.
Sure enough, she walked over to where he was trying to get something done.
Sam looked up at her. “What are you doing here?” He knew already, but he wanted to get this crap over with. His life seemed to be a fucking soap opera that everybody wanted to watch.
Izzy shrugged but she didn’t say anything yet. She wrung her hands instead. She hesitated then began talking to him, “Sam, I know it's none of my business but—”
Sam held up his hand and shook his head. “Then why are you sticking your nose in this? Can’t a man and his wife sort out their own problems without everyone and their brother or sister sticking their nose into what’s none of their business?”
Izzy hung her head for a moment then looked back up at him with tear filled eyes. “There might be something you need to know about Melora and me. Something that you and Mountain might not realize. As kids, we went through hell before we found each other and got to be friends. My dad wasn’t the greatest dad of the year, while she never knew where her dad was. She didn’t know much about her dad at all. And all I knew about the man who claimed to be my dad was that he was a drunk and a gambler who liked to blow his paycheck on a card game rather than make sure his family had a roof over their heads or food to eat.”
“We all have our own story, Izzy,” Sam reminded her gently. “But this isn’t about dads is it?”
Izzy shook her head. “Yeah, we do have our own stories and I’ve heard most of Melora’s stories but I haven’t heard them all. She got some doozies too.”
“What are you trying to tell me here, woman?” Sam stared at her.
“It might be something from her past?” She shrugged. “Melora went from a happy home into the system at a time when she just lost her anchor in life. Some of the places she was in were okay but not what she expected. She was treated more like a pain than a child who needed to be understood. It was hard for her to make friends in most of the places she was at. Some of her foster parents treated her like a paycheck, rather than the kid she was. She was so lost for so long. It wasn’t easy for her to open up and be a friend, even when I met her, there was also a period before she could trust me and vice versa. I didn’t know if I could trust her either. But once we decided to trust each other we were fine together.” She shrugged. “We were so in tune with each other that it became unreal. One thing about Melora is her loyalty. I never doubted for a moment she would have my back. And she always has from then until now. She is loyal to the max.”
Sam snorted and shook his head.
Izzy let out a sigh. “Sam, you must be dense if you think for one moment she doesn’t have your back in all things. That woman loves you. She wouldn’t have let you in, if she wasn’t in love with you. If you don’t love her back, then at least do the right thing and let her go.”
“If I don’t love her? Is that what you just said?” Sam snarled. “She and those kids are my life. My heart beats in hers.”
“Then why aren’t you there anymore?” Izzy snarled. “She told me that much. She said you left her and she’s barely making it. I don’t know what went on between you two, but she’s really hurting Sam, and right now, I want to hit you with a two-by-four just to get your attention then I’d hit you again and again. You say you love her but your actions don’t match your claims.”
