The First Touch of Sunlight

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The First Touch of Sunlight Page 13

by Len Webster

Beth leant forward. “Say you’ll go after him. You deserve him. He’s an amazing father. And when he isn’t held back by fear, you know how incredible he is. Just give him a chance, Meredith. I know it must be weird to have the mother of his child ask you for a second chance, but he’s too ashamed to. And I don’t want our son to ever think he got in the way.”

  “I never blamed your son,” Meredith clarified. “I wanted to support Sam. And that meant supporting you, too, Beth. I loved Sam.”

  “Loved?” The sorrow in Beth’s voice caused her to flinch.

  Meredith nodded. “I can’t love him.”

  “I know this must be hard for you, but you must have come back for him. He’s been waiting seven years for you. He might not have realised it, but he did. When he tells Josh his favourite memories, they’re the ones he made with you. Not me. You’re still Sam’s everything.” Beth got out of the chair and glanced down at her. “You’re his one and only first touch of sunlight.”

  “What?” It felt as if her heart had weighed so heavily it sunk to the pit of her stomach. The air she’d inhale quickly thinned and then dissipated. “I’m what?”

  Beth’s smile reached her eyes. “I overheard him tell Josh that one night when he’d fallen asleep after a nightmare. I’d better get back to my parents. If you’re wondering, Sam’s at home with Josh.” She reached into her blazer and produced a pen. Then she scribbled something down on Tony’s untouched napkin. “You owe it to that seventeen-year-old who fought for him. She endured so much pain. If anything, Meredith, you at least deserve closure.”

  And with that, Beth left her alone at her table.

  Curious, Meredith peeked in the direction of the bathrooms to see Tony still on his phone. She quickly picked up the napkin and glanced down at what Beth had written.

  You are, have been, and always will be his only sunlight.

  The pounding of her heart became uncomfortable, tension and sensations she hadn’t felt for a long time.

  It almost felt like hope.

  Then she noticed that Beth had written an address.

  And at that moment, she understood what she felt.

  It was hope.

  chapter twenty-one

  SAM

  Seven years ago

  “No?”

  Meredith nodded and then bent down to pick up her schoolbag. “No,” she confirmed.

  “But—”

  “I’m fine,” she said. Her voice sounded lifeless. “I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Meredith,” he said like a plea.

  Her nostrils flared as her eyes glazed over with tears. “W-what do you want from me, Sam?” she sobbed.

  “Oh, God, Meredith,” he said softly as he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly against his body. He had expected her to push him away. Instead, he heard her bag fall to the ground as her arms circled him.

  Her sobs were heartbreaking.

  He’d done this to her.

  He was a disease to her.

  “I’m so sorry about my dad. I’m so sorry he hurt you. And I’m sorry I wasn’t here quicker.”

  “Can you take me somewhere?” she asked into his chest.

  “Where?”

  Meredith untangled from him and then wiped her wet cheeks. “The river at the reserve.”

  What?

  “Why there?” Of all the places he could take her, she wanted to go to the river where she’d saved his life.

  “Please?”

  He nodded, wanting to give her this small request. It was all he could give her. He’d give her the moon and the stars if he could. But he couldn’t be that guy to her. She couldn’t be his number-one priority with a kid coming into his life.

  Sam picked up her schoolbag and then opened the passenger side. He helped Meredith into his Jeep and closed the door behind her. Then he went to the boot and shoved their bags inside.

  Meredith had been quiet throughout the fifteen-minute drive. Every now and then, Sam would glance over to see that her shakes were in full force. She was coming down from the adrenaline he suspected she’d felt when she was with his father. Eventually, tired of feeling helpless, he reached over and grasped her hand. His fingers entwined through hers, hoping to take her mind off the assault she’d suffered at the hands of his father.

  Once he’d parked the Jeep by the river’s edge, Meredith pulled her hand free and quickly got out of the car. Not bothering to remove the key from the ignition, Sam pulled the door handle and exited the car. When he rounded it, he noticed Meredith hugging herself and staring out at the river. Unlike the night he’d tried to drunkenly drown himself, the current wasn’t as strong, but the river could still drown an inexperienced swimmer.

  “Are you seeing Beth?” she asked in a tiny voice once he stood next to her. “Is that why you push me away … You’re in a relationship?”

  This was his out.

  He didn’t have to tell Meredith about the baby.

  He’d be spending so much time with Beth that it would appear as if they were together.

  But he was tired of lying to Meredith.

  He was sure he would reach the quota after telling so many lies to one specific person. They’d see past them. They’d be immune to them. No lie would ever persuade them against the truth.

  Meredith had reached her quota.

  She would never believe his lies.

  That was what he’d tell himself.

  “I dated her for a while, but I’m not with her. I’m not cheating on anyone with you if that’s what you think.”

  Meredith untangled her arms and turned to face him. That wounded expression on her face tore right through him. It was horrific to be on the receiving end of her sad blue eyes. “I don’t know what I think anymore.”

  “I know,” he agreed. “I’ve made a mess of everything.”

  “Why did your dad say all of those things? Why does Beth matter so much? Why did I walk in the rain while you were with her? Why don’t I matter enough to you, Sam?” Her tears quickly slid down her face. “Why do you hesitate with me?”

  “I’d never hesitate with you,” he confessed.

  Meredith shook her head. “But you have. So many times before, you have.”

  Sam stepped forward and grasped her arms in his hands. Her shakes vibrated against his palms. He looked her in the eye, hoping she realised just how serious he was. “Right here, right now. Never again will I hesitate with you.”

  She blinked at him. “Why don’t I believe you?” she asked in a whisper. Then she took a step back, his touch no longer remaining on her skin.

  “I swear, Meredith. Never will I ever hesitate.”

  She inhaled deeply. “So if I tested faith, you’d be there? You wouldn’t hesitate?”

  “No,” he confirmed.

  Meredith nodded and then took a step to her left. Then she turned. Sam watched as she closed her eyes. It had happened so quickly that he hadn’t had a chance to blink. She jumped into the river.

  Her fall was flawless.

  “MEREDITH!” he shouted as he followed her. He didn’t scan the water’s surface as he should have. Instead, he leapt after her.

  He didn’t hesitate.

  No second thoughts.

  A blanket of ice covered him as he opened his eyes underwater, unable to see her. He wished he’d taken his swimming lessons seriously when he was a kid. He just knew the essentials—the not drowning aspect of swimming. Sam kicked his legs and breached the surface to see that Meredith hadn’t come up for air. Had she hit her head? Did the current cause her to drift further?

  “Meredith!” he screamed out desperately for her.

  Her stupid trick had threatened her life. He didn’t care about his. But hers, he cared about more than himself. The rushing water hit his face as he searched for her. Then, to his left, he noticed a patch
of yellow in the water by some branches. As he swam towards it, he noticed an unconscious Meredith pinned by the current against the tree.

  Once he’d reached her, Sam held onto the broken branch as he tried to keep her up. Then he noticed the blood. She hadn’t been holding onto the branch; it had impaled her. It wasn’t a thick branch, but it had been sharp enough to go through her arm. His free hand assessed her injury, and it appeared to have missed her bone. He had to get her to the hospital and quickly. Peeking over her shoulder, he noticed the branch had almost snapped off the tree trunk. He’d need to break it further in order to free her.

  “Meredith, you need to wake up,” he begged as he cupped the side of her face. “Come on, this ploy is over. Wake up!”

  He shook her and watched the branch in her arm move. She was out cold, and Sam knew what he had to do. His hands went underwater and to her waist. Then he took a deep breath and yanked her down, freeing her from her impalement. Meredith hadn’t stirred or cried out in pain. Her face had gone white and her body limp. Blood poured out of her wound as Sam held her up and began to swim back to the riverbank.

  It was a struggle.

  He wasn’t the strongest person around. Nor was he the best swimmer. Every so often, he’d have to lift her up to prevent her from drowning. It took some time, but he’d managed to get her to the bank, just in time for her to become somewhat conscious.

  “Sa …” was all she’d murmured before she slipped back into unconsciousness.

  Sam had struggled to lift her up onto the bank. It had taken him three attempts before he was able to get her out of the water and onto the dry land. Then he pulled himself out of the river and heaved as he lay next to her. Between the current and Meredith’s limp body, he’d lost a lot of his strength to keep her from drowning. He understood her intentions, but it had been stupid of her to risk her life to prove a point.

  He scrambled to her and then shook her. “Meredith!”

  Blood streaked her arm, and Sam glanced down to see that it had mixed with his soaked school shirt. Quickly, his arms were around her as he lifted her up and then carried her. He trod carefully as he made his way to the passenger side of his Jeep. After some struggle, he was able to open the door with her still in his arms. Once it was wide enough, he used his shoulder to nudge it wider. As carefully as he could, Sam set her down in the seat and then fastened her seat belt. He didn’t care that blood was getting on his seats. He didn’t care that her damp clothes would ruin the leather.

  All he cared about was getting her to a hospital.

  All he cared about was making sure she was safe.

  She was still unconscious.

  Meredith had hit her head when she’d jumped into the river. Where the branch had entered her had been stitched up. A minor injury that was lucky not to have severed an artery. The real worry was her head wound. The one he hadn’t noticed. The silent wound, the ER doctor had said. She was lucky it wasn’t worse. The doctor and attending nurse had called him a hero, but little did they know that he was the reason she fell into the river. He hadn’t said anything, and they had assumed it was an accident. The moment she was taken through the double doors and out of his sight, Sam had raced to his car and dug through Meredith’s bag until he found her mobile phone.

  He had thanked God that her phone wasn’t password protected.

  Sam had called her parents and explained what had happened. They had rushed down in minutes. Mr and Mrs Driessen had hugged him after Sam had introduced himself. They had also thanked him, and that had the pang of guilt erupting in his chest. Because if they knew why she had jumped, they’d call the police on him. Someone would twist it as assault once the bruises became clear.

  No doubt Sam would be blamed for it. He had been the one to bring in Warren Meadows’ beloved popular good girl—bloody and unconscious—to the emergency room.

  After he had called her parents, he had called Margot and Phil. They’d been at the hospital within minutes, too. They had both believed him. So far, no police officers had made an appearance at the hospital regarding Meredith’s welfare.

  “Sam, is there something you’re not telling us?” Margot whispered.

  He glanced over to see that Mr and Mrs Driessen hadn’t returned to the waiting room. Sam clenched his jaw as his best friend and Margot stared at him, waiting for answers.

  “It was my dad,” he hissed.

  Phil flinched. He knew what it meant.

  “Your dad did this to her?” Margot asked unbelievably.

  Sam shook his head. “No, my dad pinned her against my car and dug his fingers into her. I think she has bruises. I took her to the river as she asked. We were talking and then she just jumped in.”

  “Assault …” Margot’s eyes widened. “Your dad assaulted her?”

  “Yeah. I’m gonna make him pay for what he did.”

  “That’s all he did, right? He didn’t attempt anything or hurt her further?” she asked.

  He shook his head.

  Margot let out a sigh of relief. “Phil, keep Sam company. I’m gonna go talk to her parents.”

  “I’ll come with you—” Her tight smile had Sam stopping.

  “Not just yet. Her parents don’t really know about you. It’s best if I go talk to them. I know you think you know Meredith, but you don’t. She doesn’t even know that I know. And sometimes, I wish she did. Then she wouldn’t blame herself.”

  “Blame … what?” Phil appeared and sounded confused.

  “Sorry, I can’t explain,” she said with an apologetic expression. “And to be honest, the person we should all be blaming …”

  He knew where she was going.

  She was going to point the finger at him.

  Sam was to blame. He knew it.

  Tears glimmered Margot’s brown eyes. Then she exhaled and said in a tight voice, “Is me. I’m to blame.”

  “No, you’re—”

  Margot stepped forward and set her hand on his shoulder. “Meredith was lonely long before you walked into her life. It started with me, and then she found you and got lost in this self-conscious doubt and fear. Trust me, Sam. It’s my fault. Stay here, okay?”

  chapter twenty-two

  SAM

  Present

  “Dad?” Josh asked.

  Sam lifted his chin to find his son leaning against the doorframe. “Yeah?”

  The six-year-old frowned. “Are you going to work much longer? I wanted to watch Iron Man with you.”

  “Now that I think about it, Iron Man is not an age-appropriate film for you,” Sam teased as he got up from his chair. Then he went around the desk and made his way to his son.

  Josh rolled his eyes. “I’ve seen it like a million times.”

  So much like Beth.

  If he didn’t find his attitude funny, he’d scold him for it. But the nights that Josh stayed over were always limited. Beth had wanted a night off and went out to dinner with her parents. Sam hadn’t minded because Josh hadn’t stayed over in a few weeks. Sam had been busy with the last weeks of the State Parliament’s sitting sessions before the break.

  He set a hand on top of Josh’s head. “If you’ve seen it a million times, then why don’t we watch Transformers? You’ve seen that thousands of times. Maybe we should even out the ratio.”

  Josh tilted his head back. “I like Transformers. I love Iron Man. Mum likes Transformers more than I do.”

  “Your mother is a strange woman if she prefers a Shia LaBeouf film over a Robert Downey Jr one. Now that I think about it … she did want to call you Shia.”

  “Yuck!” Josh exclaimed as he swatted Sam’s hand away and then spun around.

  “Yeah, yuck! Luckily, I have your back.” Sam stepped into the lounge room with Josh and shut the office door behind him. “You wanna go put on your favourite pjs while I make popcorn?”

  J
osh twirled around, glaring at him. “Butter or cheese?”

  Sam bent his knees and squinted at his son’s raised brow. “Both. With a bowl of Maltesers on the side. Just don’t tell your mother.”

  Josh’s wide grin had him chuckling.

  “Deal. I’ll be back.” Josh had sped off towards his bedroom before Sam could even stand straight.

  When Josh had been just a baby, Sam had worried over how they would raise him. He and Beth were very firm with the idea of never getting back together. When Sam had enough for a house, he’d shown it to Josh, hoping for approval. Josh had chosen his room before Sam could close the front door. Beth had joined them. She always had input in anything that involved their son. That was the deal they had made. They would always put aside their differences and ensure that the decisions they made did not interfere with Josh’s happiness. And being in close distance of him in the case of his bad dreams meant Sam had never left Warren Meadows.

  Sam heard the bedroom door slam shut as he made his way to the kitchen. He opened the bottom cabinet and retrieved the popcorn maker. Once he had it plugged in, he headed over to the walk-in pantry to grab the popcorn kernels and the cheese-flavoured microwaveable popcorn. Just as he set all the ingredients for their movie night on the bench, Josh let out a cry.

  “Dad!” he shouted.

  Sam abandoned the popcorn and rushed over to his son’s bedroom. He didn’t knock. Instead, he burst into the room to find Josh on the floor with tears in his eyes.

  “Josh, are you all right?”

  Sniffles.

  “Josh?” he asked once more as he sat in front of him. Then Sam took in the room and found that the Lego box had been knocked over, and several different pairs of pjs littered the floor.

  “I tried to be quick, but I knocked over the Legos. Then I stepped on one and hit my elbow on the bed,” his son explained with tears in his eyes.

  Sam let out a sigh of relief. He knew the pain of stepping on a Lego all too well. He’d have to build one of those Lego tables that Beth had shown him on Pinterest. Josh would need two. One at Sam’s house and one at Beth’s. The kid had two of everything. He loved it. He got double the birthdays and double the presents. The kid was loved by his grandparents and spoilt rotten by people like Phil and Margot.

 

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