“Guys, Can I have a minute with Max? Liz please be on the lookout.” Sam asked.
“Max, Come here.” Sam said motioning toward her as the others left the room.
“I am happy you are ok Sam.” Max said walking slowly over toward her.
“What is wrong?” Sam asked knowing she had asked the obvious question.
“We almost lost you. You are my one of my closest friends and I thought we had lost you when you didn’t wake up right away.” Max said sounding more worried than she had ever heard him.
“I am ok now. Yes I have some healing left to do but I am ok. “ Sam said trying to convince him to perk up.
“I don’t know what I would have done if you had died.”
“Well it is a good thing we didn’t find out then isn’t it.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Can you do me a favor? Send everyone home to rest. You all look like you haven’t slept in months.”
“I can do that. When do you want visitors tonight?”
“I don’t. I will see you all tomorrow morning. Shut the store down for the day please.”
“Are you sure about that? What about classes?” Max said concerned.
“I am sure. Make an announcement on the radio. You all deserve a break too.” Sam said.
“Ok, Sam. You’re the boss.”
“That I am. Now go.” Sam said as she watched Max walk out the door and shut it behind him.
Sam heard her friends arguing with Max about how they did not want to leave. He had to tell them that Sam had asked him to. They stood arguing for at least 5 more minutes before they finally gave into him. Sam was glad that she could count on him for this. She drifted to sleep thinking about what her friends must have felt. She awoke when she heard Georges voice in the hallway. She closed her eyes and pretended to still be sleeping.
“Sam?” George asked surprise to see the tubes no longer there.
“Hi.” Sam said opening her eyes.
“Why didn’t they just tell me you were awake?” He asked sounding mad.
“I asked them not to. I thought if you knew that you wouldn’t come and I needed to see you.”
“Why? You are right though, I probably wouldn’t have.”
“I need to know why.” Sam said looking away from him and down at her casted leg.
“It’s complicated.” He said.
“I want to know. Please?” She said begging him to tell her.
“I will try. I didn’t want to have sex with you until we were married because then we could cherish our relationship more. I had sex with her so that I wouldn’t be so out of practice when we finally got to. I haven’t had sex since we broke up, until that night when your friends caught me.”
“This was the only time?” Sam said looking back into his ashamed face.
“Yes.” He replied looking back into her eyes.
“I see.” She whispered.
“I know it would be a lot to ask but will you ever forgive me?” “I will let you know.” Sam spent the rest of the night talking to George about why he did what he did and life in general. There were a few times when the dr. came in that they were interrupted, but that did not stop her from talking to him, trying desperately to figure him out.
When the sun started to rise early in the morning, George crawled into bed with her. He positioned her so that they could look out of the open window and watch the sunset. He took her in his arms, holding her close.
“I am glad that you are ok.” He whispered in her ear.
“Me too.” She answered turning her head to kiss his cheek.
Sam spent the next four weeks getting tests done and focusing on trying her hardest to forgive George. She could not deny that she was being ridiculous, but she loved him and that made her want everything to be ok, just this once. She was also getting depressed more and more. She hoped no one noticed, but it had been of her own volition.
“Time for your X-ray, Miss Lee.”
“Finally.” Sam said to the petite nurse.
“You’re ready for the cast to come off?”
“Yes! I need an actual shower.”
Sam joked with the nurse as they went to x-ray. Sam was secretly praying that she was completely healed. The xray rook less time than she expected. The waiting for results was the part she hated. She still had a week in the hospital to go before she even had a chance to go home, thanks to her lung. When she got back to her room, George was waiting, to her surprise.
“Hi honey.” He said with a smile.
“Hello, what are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming until tonight?” She asked.
“I have some bad news.”
“What bad news?” she asked frowning.
“I have to go to Tokyo for 3 weeks. It is last minute but, I can’t not go.”
“Why?” Sam asked disappointed.
“There is a major problem at the hotel Ameslee there.”
“I see. When do you leave?”
“In an hour. I just go the call as I was pulling up.”
“I am going to miss you.” Sam said.
“I am going to miss you too. You should try to make up with everyone while I am away.” George said.
“Your right.” She said as a sad look fell across her face.
“I have to go pack. I will see you in three weeks.” George said.
“See you in three weeks.” Sam said as he bent down to kiss her forehead then walked out of the door.
George was right about one thing. Sam needed to apologize to her friends. The past four weeks had been a low point in Sam’s emotional register. She had pushed everyone away from her. By the end of the first week, Sam had yelled at each of her friends individually and stopped talking to everyone but George. She felt bad but she couldn’t change what had happened. She was in deep thought when Dr. Valandra into the room.
“How are you feeling today Sam?”
“I don’t know.” Sam said obviously hinting that she wanted an answer.
“Well maybe this will help you decide. The cast is coming off today.”
“That is amazing.”
“You will still need a walking cast and crutches. You will also be getting some physical therapy.,”
“Ok.”
“The nurse will take you down to get your cast off. Tomorrow morning you will have your first physical therapy.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse came and took her down the hall to get her cast off. The whole process took about twenty minutes. She was promptly fitted with a walking cast and told how to put it on and off properly. The nurse wheeled her back into her room, then went to fetch the crutches. The second she came back and handed the crutches to Sam, Sam was up and walking around.
“You are a quick learner.” The nurse said surprised that Sam needed no instruction.
“More like a fast healer.”
“Well take it easy for today. The doctor wouldn’t want you pushing yourself too hard. How is your breathing?”
“Getting better every day.”
“Glad to hear it.” The nurse said walking toward the door. “You may take your shower now. If you need help, pull the string in the bathroom.” Then she disappeared.
“Sam was so excited that she almost fell over. She hobbled into the bathroom and started the water. She undressed rather easily. Sam got into the shower careful to hold onto the rails so she wouldn’t fall. She stayed in the shower until the water started to lose its edge. She had to sit on the tubs edge to get out, as her leg was feeling a bit unstable. She had put all of her weight on her good foot, beings that if she put weight onto her newly un-casted leg, it felt like rubber. Sam spent the rest of the night relaxing.
Sam was rudely awakened by the nurse coming in to tell her that she had 5 minutes before physical therapy and she better eat something. Sam had never been able to eat minutes after waking up. She ate a piece of cold toast and chugged down her orange juice. She closed her eyes and waited patiently until the p
hysical therapist arrived.
“Hello. We are going to be going to the physical therapy room. We are going to wheel you down there.” The tall, blonde woman named Sherry said cheerily.
“OK.” Sam said sarcastically. She moved herself to the wheelchair and they were off.
They entered the bright physical therapy room. There was a lot of natural light coming in from the floor to ceiling windows. The room had various stations and four curtained off areas with exam tables in them. Sam could not believe how big the room was. It had to be at least 5000 square feet. She was the only patient in the room, which made her feel a little better, and definitely less embarrassed.
“Ok Sam, are you ready?” Sherry asked still cheerful.
“I guess.” Sam replied cringing a little.
Sam had been worked to the max. She was sore and feeling like someone had bitten her leg a thousand times, hard. Less than halfway through and there were already shooting pains up her leg. She had suffered through it though, knowing that she did not have a chance of going home soon if she didn’t. Sam tried to hide how much pain she was in. Sam arrived in her room to find a nurse waiting to take her blood pressure. When Sherry left, Sam broke down.
“Am I supposed to be in this much pain?” Sam whined to the nurse.
“How much pain are you in on a scale from 1 to 10?” She asked concerned.
“I would have to say at least a 7 if not a 8. I have shooting pains that won’t go away. I know physical therapy is supposed to hurt but not this much.”
“I will ask the doctor what we can get you.” The nurse answered hurrying out the door to call the doctor. Sam did not have to wait long for her to come back.
“What can I have?” Sam asked eagerly.
“I can give you Tylenol with Codeine. It will take the edge off and help you sleep.”
“Ok. That will work I guess.” Sam said taking the pills that were given to her. She was fast asleep and could not feel the pain in five minutes. The next day she was groggy when she woke up. She assumed it was an effect of the pills from yesterday. She was scheduled for physical therapy again today. Sam was not looking forward to it, she had an idea when the doctor came in to see her.
“Hello Sam, How are you feeling today?”
“If you have to ask there is a problem.” Sam said sarcastically.
“Are you still sore?”
“Yes I am still sore. I can’t do it again today.”
“I assume you are referring to physical therapy?”
“Yes.”
“You need to be able to put weight on your leg. In order to do that you need to continue with physical therapy. It gets better after the first few times.”
“Please don’t make me go.” Sam pleaded.
“I am sorry Sam, but if you want to be able to walk soon you have to.”
The doctor left the room, Sam started to tear up. She wasn’t sure she could handle it again. Sherry appeared in her room shortly after the doctor had left. Physical therapy turned out to be much easier today than it had been yesterday. Sam worked harder and harder every day for the rest of the week, so hard in fact that she was up and walking on the crutches with ease. She was hoping that she would be off the crutches soon.
“Sam,” Dr. Valandra came into the room. “How are you feeling?”
“I am ok.”
“You seem to be healing faster than anyone we have ever had here.”
“I know. I am just very determined I guess.” Sam said chuckling.
“I have some good news for you. You are going home today.”
“Really?” Sam said as a little kid would when receiving something special.
“Yes. I want to see you in 2 weeks for a checkup. You will also need to continue physical therapy 2 times a week until you are walking without crutches and the walking cast.”
“Thank you!” Sam said excitedly.
“Take it easy ok?” Dr. Valandra said as he left the room.
Sam had packed her things and was walking out the door in one hour. She had to get a cab. She did not trust herself to drive just yet. She enjoyed the scenery on the way to her house. She had not been outside in four long weeks. When her house came into view, she smiled and started to cry. She paid the cab driver and walked into her house.
.
CHAPTER 13: DESERVED APOLOGIES
Sam walked into her house slowly, taking it all in. Pepper, who was sitting in the living room reading a book, was startled by the door opening.
“Who is there?” Pepper yelled coming around the corner with a candle holder in her hand.
“It is just me.” Sam said smiling. “Can we talk?”
“I guess so. I can’t imagine you having anything else to say to me though.” Pepper answered her still obviously upset.
“Actually, I wanted to say I am sorry.” Sam said shyly.
“About what?”
“I was depressed and ashamed. I had no right to take it out on you guys.”
“What could you possibly have been ashamed about?” Pepper asked as they sat on the couch.
“The fact that I was running away, or at least trying to, for one. Plus, I looked like shit.” Sam said not caring that she had sworn.
“You should not have been ashamed, Sam. We know you were having a hard time.”
“I guess I just didn’t want you all to be taking care of me and worried about me. Can you ever forgive me?” Sam asked hopeful.
“You didn’t offend me. I knew something was up but I didn’t want to push you. I forgive you Sam.” Pepper said hugging her.
“Thank you Pepper. I am grateful.” Sam said hugging her back.
“I don’t know how the others will react.” Pepper said.
“I know. I am going to talk to everyone. I just hope I didn’t do too much damage to our friendships.” Sam said. “Speaking of which, can you call Liz and ask her to come over?”
“Why do you want me to?” Pepper asked.
“I am afraid if I do then she won’t come.” Sam said.
“I am sure she would. What about Kylee?”
“Can you call her once Liz gets here?”
“Sure.”
Sam hobbled into her bedroom. She needed to shower before she faced Liz. She knew Liz would be the hardest to apologize to. It was something she had to do for herself. Sam just didn’t know how she was going to explain why she had given George another chance. She didn’t have much time to think about it though, because Liz had just arrived. She must have been close by when Pepper called.
“Is something wrong Pepper? You sounded panicked on the phone.” Liz asked Pepper. Sam was standing in the hallway listening and preparing herself to face her.
“No.” Pepper said slowly clearing her throat as Sams cue to come in.
“I asked her to call you.” Sam said slowly making her way into the living room. She was shaky and that made her less stable on her crutches.
“When did you get out?” Liz asked shocked to see her.
“I got home about twenty minutes or so ago.” Sam said.
“Why am I here Sam? You told me you didn’t want to see me again.” Liz said slouching into the arm chair.
“I know. I am sorry, about everything.” Sam started. “I was depressed and ashamed of how I looked. I was taking you away from your life and I didn’t ever want that.”
“Oh. Well I have a few things to say.” Liz said.
“Fire away.” Sam answered.
“You were never taking away from my life! You are my sister, Sam! I don’t know what I would have done if you had died that day. I forgive you. I was never mad at you. What on earth were you thinking giving that lying pig another chance?” Liz stopped short.
“Is it out of your system now?” Sam asked with a smile.
“Yes, now please answer my question.” Liz said smugly.
“I just had this feeling like if I told him to go away that I would die. It is an odd thing I know. Especially after what Will did to me. Things between me and
George have always been unexplainable. You know that. I am drawn to him. If I had not decided to hear him out and give him one more chance, I would have never forgiven myself. I love him.” Sam stopped herself. That was the first time she had said the words aloud. She was not sure she was ready for that reality yet.
“Are you sure about this?” Liz asked.
“I am never totally sure about anything. If I don’t try I will never know why I need to do this now.”
“I get it.” Liz said. “I swear to you that if you ever do it again, I will make you suffer before I forgive you.”
“Ok, I promise that I won’t do it again.” Sam said laughing. “When is Kylee coming?”
“I am already here.” Kylee said standing in the doorway.
“When did you get here?” Liz asked.
“Just now. I was quiet. Pepper told me you were home and wanted to see me.”
“I told you not to tell them.” Sam glared at Pepper.
“I am sorry. I knew that Kylee would come either way.” Pepper said apologetically.
“She is right you know. I would have come get you.” Kylee said directly at Sam.
“I wasn’t going to ask anyone to.” Sam said.
“I don’t want to hear your apology, Sam. I know that you were going through something. I told everyone that. They just couldn’t believe it. I forgive you for being yourself.” Kylee said with a smile.
“Thank you Kylee, I can always count on you to believe in me even when I don’t.” Sam said.
“You will have to catch everyone else tomorrow.” Liz said.
“I will catch the guys tomorrow. I need to talk to Charlee tonight though.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You looked drained though.”
“It is important to me.” Sam said looking at her friends.
“Ok then.” Kylee said. Liz pulled out her cell phone and called Charlee. Charlee arrived in two minutes flat.
“Where were you at?” Liz asked laughing.
“I was driving up on Roosevelt. I was only a block away.” Charlee was stopped by the sight of Sam.
“Hi.” Sam whispered.
“Don’t you dare.”
“Charlee, I am sorry. I have not been myself lately.”
Finally Getting Love Right Page 15
