by Lisa Powell
“Violet, Violet, I am so glad you’re okay. We have been worried sick about you.”
“We?”
Todd didn’t want to tell her, Sam. “Never mind, how have you been? What have you been doing? I would love for you to come for the holidays.”
“I am working two jobs.”
“Two Violet!”
“Yes Todd, I take care of an elderly lady, and I work at the restaurant.”
Todd kind of smiled “An elderly lady? That’s a change for you.”
“I needed a better place to live, and Maddy is great.” She tried to smile then thought, “You said we were worried who else?”
“Violet…”
“Tell me Todd.”
“Sam.”
“SAM! Why should he care? You know what he has done to me!”
“Yes, Violet I do. I know Sam, and well, he is beside himself, he felt so guilty about everything.”
“Good let that man suffer. I hope he suffers for the rest of his life!”
“Violet please, don’t you have any compassion left?”
“Not where Sam is involved. I am sorry Todd, but I have to go.”
“Okay Violet, please take care of yourself.”
“I will Todd.” Violet sat there she hoped and prayed Sam would suffer. He made a fool out of her. He used her, played with her heart. He deserves to be a miserable man that he is.
Maddy told Violet she was going to visit her bother for the holidays and she was welcome to come. But again Violet refused. The old woman was getting ready to leave when she noticed Violet had thrown away a picture. It was the picture of herself she ripped herself out of, of her and Sam. She looked at it and Violet looked so happy and loving in it. She picked it up and put it in her purse.
“Well Violet are you just going to stay here?” asked the old woman
“Yes,” was Violet only reply.
“Suit yourself,” and she left.
Little did Violet know Maddy was going to try and find Sam. She got information about him and where he was going to be. She already had a way into the party but she had to sneak in. The only thing is she didn’t know was what Sam looked like.
Maddy got to her destination and made her way in to the party. She was looking around the room. She took out the picture and tried to imagine what Sam would look like. But there was so many people there she was getting confused. Soon she was bumping into people and drawing attention to herself.
“Sam, do you know a Sam?” she would ask. Everyone thought she was crazy. Soon people were nudging Sam. They thought she was some woman’s grandmother wanting revenge or something. They grabbed the old lady and were hauling her out. Sam saw the ripped photo in her hand waving it around as she was saying. “I need to talk to a Sam anyone know a Sam,” as they hauled her away. She dropped the photo at the entrance and Sam picked it up. He hurried down the steps. “Wait!” he called.
They stopped and released her. “You dropped this.” Sam said.
She went up and grabbed the photo. “No wonder she left this place,” as she tried to straighten her clothes.
“You mean Violet?”
The lady looked at him. “Are you Sam?”
“Depends who is asking.”
The lady turned in a huff. “Nothing but a waste of my time,” she muttered as she started to leave.
“Wait!” Sam called again and rushed down in front of her to stop her.
“Can I see that photo again,” Sam said
The lady showed him the photo. She could tell by the look on his face he was Sam.
“She is very pretty isn’t she,” said the old lady.
“Yes very pretty,” Sam smiled.
“She isn’t like that anymore you know,” she said as she reached for the photo.
“Yes I know. Tell me how she is,” Sam looked at her.
“Maybe over a nice hot cup of tea,” said the old lady.
Sam snapped his fingers and the limo pulled up, “there is a nice café around the corner.”
He escorted her to the limo. The old lady just stared at Sam. “I can see why she fell in love with you,” and she smiled.
Sam smiled back. “Yes,” he replied.
They got to the café and were seated, “so tell me how is she?’ Sam asked again.
The old lady shook her head. “Not good, she is cold an Ice Queen. And it’s you Sam, that made her that way,” she glared at him.
“Yes, yes I know. But why come all this way to tell me something I already know?” he asked.
“Well maybe there is time to change her to how she used to be Sam. Back to this,” and she handed him the photo.
“I don’t know if that’s possible,” he stared at the photo she was so loving and sweet back then. So innocent and he destroyed it.
“Let me tell you a story Sam. Violet reminds me of me. I am a seventy year old woman now. I am alone, for 40 years I have been alone. I too was once an Ice Queen, because of a broken heart. I have no husband no family or children. I am tired of being alone. I put an ad in the paper for a caretaker just to have someone to talk to. That’s how I met Violet. I could tell she was broken like I was. But I saw something in her that I never had. Hope Sam. I don’t have much time left of my life but the time I do have left nothing would please me more to see her healed.” She looked at him
“How did you find out about me?” he asked.
She smiled, “A friend. I do have a couple friends and a nephew.”
Sam took a deep breath. “It was too late when I realized I loved her. Last time we saw each other she acted as if she didn’t know me.”
“Her heart is an ice block Sam. My heart never thawed. One day I was reading the obituaries. The man that broke my heart passed away. A few days later there was a knock on my door. He left me a gift and a letter saying how much he really loved me and how sorry he was he broke my heart. He tried for forty years to get me to forgive him Sam but I never did. And for that I suffered and lived alone. That day opened my eyes. I wasted my whole life with ice around my heart. Now I am old and my time is almost up. I don’t want Violet to end up like me.” She started to tear.
“What would it taken for you to forgive him?” Sam asked her.
“Nothing, nothing he could have done or said would have made me forgive him,” she looked at him
“Then how do you expect me to melt the ice?” Sam looked at her.
“Start with a spark Sam,” and she stood up.
“But she is so cold and you said she is a lot like you.”
“I also said I saw something in her Sam, hope. I never had that.” She turned and started to leave.
“But I don’t know where she lives,” Sam called.
“If you want her bad enough you will find her. Look deep Sam.” The old lady said.
Sam looked at the photo and went to look back up and the old lady was gone.
Sam went home he had a lot on his mind. He went up to the room all Violets stuff was in. He changed his mind about getting rid of it. He just left in there. The maid saw the light on and went in.
“Who is in here?” she called.
“It’s just me,” Sam said.
“Sorry sir didn’t know it was you,” she turned to leave.
“Wait, I need to ask you something.” Sam looked at her.
“Yes.”
“What did you think of Violet?”
The maid’s eyes lit up when he said her name but she then said “It’s not my place to say sir”. She saw Sam trying to put the photo together of them.
“How long have you been working for me?”
“10 years sir.”
“Out of those 10 years many women have come and gone…” he started.
“None of them were like Violet,” she looked at him.
“Yes none of them were. Tell me what was different?”
The maid smiled. “Violet treated all of us with respect. She picked up after herself. She helped where ever she could. She didn’t treat us as if she owne
d us like the rest of your women. She made you happy. We all thought she was the one for you sir. We all thought you loved her sir.” Her voice faded.
“Why did every think I loved her and she made me happy?”
“The way you treated her was different the way you looked at her.”
“Everyone could tell this but me?” Sam questioned.
The maid took a deep breath, “Come with me sir.”
Sam followed her. She opened a closet and took out some photo albums.
“Where did these come from?” he asked.
“Well sir, we always made bets on the side on how long each women would last.” she just sort of looked at him.
“Ah, I see.” Sam just looked at her.
The maid cleared her throat and started going through the books. “Look how you look at them.”
Sam looked. “I see nothing.”
“Now look at the way you looked at Violet,” the maid smiled.
Sam looked and he put his hand to his mouth then looked at the maid. He took the book and stared at the pictures. “I look like I am in love,” he said.
“Yes,” said the maid then continued. “We don’t know what happened that day Sir but it shook us all up. Let me ask you this. How long has it been since she has left?”
“Almost a year”
“How many have you been with since she has left?”
“A couple why are you asking,” he looked at her.
“Answer me this how many have stayed here since Violet has been gone?”
Sam thought about it. “None.”
“So you know how long she has been gone and no one else has been here since she has been gone. Can you say that about anyone else?” the maid asked.
“No I can’t say I can,” Sam said.
“Then what does that tell you sir?”
Sam just looked at her and shook his head. “Everyone else could see it but me. Violet saw it as well. But because of my distrust in women I destroyed it. Now she is a cold cruel person. And I made her that way.” Sam put his hands to his face.
“Was the price worth it Sam?”
Sam just looked at her. “How do you know…” he started.
“I have worked for you for 10 years Sam, I know how you think. You’re so used to having us around you speak your thoughts out loud sometimes.” She looked at him.
“I do huh?” he looked at her and kind of blushed.
“Yes Sam you do. Now I need to get some cleaning done. Are we through?”
“Yes we are through.”
Sam went back to the room and started looking at things. He chuckled when he ran across a bathing suit. Most women he had stay would just sun bathe but not Violet. She loved to swim. When she jumped in the bottoms came off and Sam laughed at her. She finally found them put them back on and told him to come in but he wouldn’t. He closed his eyes to relax. She quietly got out of the pool and stood over him dripping wet. She quickly sat on him. He got a little upset with her but she started kissing on him and moving back and forth. She started teasing him and soon he was full of desire. She jumped off him and shouted, “Catch me if you can,” and ran for the upstairs. She left him there he had to grab a towel and he went chasing her. He remembers the bed getting soaked because she jumped on it and she was wet from the pool and her hair was drenched. But the way she done it he couldn’t resist her or be mad at her. She did make him happy. She was always doing things to make him laugh and he felt so relaxed around her. He was such a fool to think she was after his money.
Chapter 4
Sam finally decided to go look for her. Look deep the old woman said. Sam went to where she had her business. Then he found the girl she used to live with. The girl told him where Violet worked. So Sam went to where she worked and when he saw Violet he couldn’t stop looking. He walked inside the restaurant and sat down. Violet was busy and didn’t see him come in. The other waitress went up to him and set him up. But he asked that Violet wait on him. Violet went over to take his order.
“Are you ready to order sir,” she said.
Sam looked up from the menu and said. “I would like to order an hour of your time.”
Violet froze when she heard his voice. “Sorry sir that’s not on the menu. I can see you need a few more minutes.” Violet said and she walked away.
Sam saw her talking to the other waitress and she nodded. Then he saw her walk in the back. Sam knew she was leaving. He quickly stood up and handed the waitress a 50 “Where is she going?” he questioned. The waitress pointed and Sam followed her out the back.
“Violet,” he called.
Violet stopped and turned around. “What else do you want to take from me?!” she shouted. “My car well you can have it!” and she threw her keys at Sam. “It’s that one” and she pointed.
Sam looked and his heart broke it was a rusty old beat up car. “Violet I don’t want to take anything from you,” he said as he started walking up to her.
“Why not you took everything else!” she shouted and she started to tear.
“Please Violet, hear me out.” Sam said. He was standing a couple feet from her.
Her eyes were so cold they chilled him. “Why? What do you want me to hear?”
“Violet, I am sorry for what I did. I didn’t realize that I loved you until after it was too late.”
“And when did you realize that Sam?”
He took off the watch. “The watch Violet. When they told me about the watch. How hard you worked to pay for it. How excited you were to give it to me. It opened my eyes Violet. And you put love Violet on the back.” Sam smiled.
Violet walked up to him she grabbed the watch. “This is nothing but a cheap piece of garbage from a high priced hooker!” and she threw it.
Sam stood there shocked as he heard the watch hit the ground. “Don’t say that Violet,” he looked at her.
“Why not Sam, you did!” she turned to walk away.
He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Violet please I do love you,” and he pulled her close and kissed her. For a second he saw her eyes change but only a second.
“I have heard that before. And I don’t love you!” she pushed him away.
Sam bent down and picked up the watch. “You would have never given me this Violet or worked so hard to give it to me if you didn’t love me,” he said. He glanced around her. He saw the old woman. When he glanced back she was gone.
He saw Violet grin, “I had you fooled Sam, I wanted you to think I loved you. I wanted to be the only woman that Sam, the Sam, rich Sam ever said he loved. And I did it and I played on it. I got more than any of your other women ever got Sam. I played you good.” She glared at him.
Sam heart was starting to crush did she play him? Then he thought about it she would have taken everything if that was true. And she took nothing.
“You say that but I don’t believe you. You didn’t take anything with you,” Sam looked at her.
She laughed. “I didn’t want to. I wanted you to look like the fool. All you’re loved poured out to nothing more than a high priced hooker,” she sneered.
When she said that Sam knew right then she was lying. He grabbed her and pulled her to him and kissed her. “Look me in the eyes Violet, look me in the eyes and tell me you never loved me!” Sam shouted.
Violet looked at him. “I never…I never…” she pulled away.
Sam’s heart felt warm again he knew she did love him at that time, “Violet please I want your forgiveness. I want to start over. No games this time.” Sam pleaded with her.
“There will always be games with you Sam. You can’t get passed the thought that someone could love you just for you and not what you have. You can never truly love a person Sam because you will always have the thought in the back of your mind is it me or is it my money. And I won’t put myself through that again. I really thought with all my heart that you truly loved me. You made me believe it you made me feel it. Then you tell me it’s over and tell me I am nothing more than a high pri
ced hooker! Now you stand here in front of me begging for forgiveness? There is no forgiving Sam. Go back to your world live your life and leave me out of it! I think I have paid the price Sam. That’s what you wanted isn’t it?” Sam just stood there he didn’t know what to say. He saw the damage the hurt. There was no way he could melt her heart. How was he going to get that spark? Sam turned to leave he started walking away, “Violet,” he turned back around she was gone. He saw the old woman she looked very sad. She walked up to him “Find a spark Sam. You saw it you saw hope didn’t you?” she said.
Sam looked at her. “Only for a second but I don’t know what to do.” He looked at the woman.
The woman smiled. “Come to her world Sam,” and she turned to leave.
“What do you mean?” he called after her.
The woman turned back around and smiled. “Her world,” she turned the corner and left.
Sam stood there and looked around. “Her world?” he said out loud he picked up her keys and went to her car then smiled. “Her world.”
He took the keys back into the restaurant. “Violet dropped these,” Sam said. He looked in the window and saw a help wanted sign. “What kind of help?” he questioned as he pointed at the sign.
“Dishwasher,” said the other waitress.
“How do I apply,” Sam looked at her.
The waitress looked at him up and down. “You really don’t need this job,” she shook her head.
“No but I really do need Violet’s forgiveness. And if this is what it takes. This is what I will do.”
“I don’t know,” she looked at him.
Sam pleaded with her finally she gave in. “When do I start,” he asked.
“Now she pointed towards the kitchen.” She walked Sam back and he was shocked he didn’t know where to start. He looked at her for help.
“Are you sure you want this?” she asked.
“Positive,” he took off his coat rolled up his sleeves. She gave him an apron showed him the basics and he started washing dishes. After 2 hours Sam was bushed, “how can people do this?” he said out loud. It seemed like the dishes never stopped coming in. At the end of his shift he sat down.
