“The next time I see him, I’m going to shake his hand.” Chase winked at Sami and pulled her hand up to his lips. “Several times.”
“We have to have him over to dinner real soon. So, all of us can thank him properly,” Edna announced.
“Aunt Edna, if you fry up some of that famous chicken of yours, that will be thanks enough.” Miles smiled at her and nodded.
“I agree. Nobody can cook fried chicken like Edna can,” Maggie chimed in.
“It is the best.” Sami reached for Edna and squeezed her hand.
“Stop it! Just stop it!” Brent yelled, catching everyone off guard. “How can you be talking about fried chicken? When I look at the bruises on Sami’s throat, all I can see is Salter with his hands around my sister’s throat, choking her,” Brent said through clenched teeth. “And look at the bruises on her arms. How hard did he have to squeeze her to leave bruises that bad?”
William placed his hand on Brent’s shoulder. “It’s okay, son.”
“No, it’s not okay! Look what he did to her, and there was nobody there to stop him. What if the sheriff hadn’t been there in time?”
“But he was, Brent.” William took hold of Brent’s shoulders, trying to calm him down.
“But what if he wasn’t? Salter could have killed her. Sami could have died today in that alley, Dad. Don’t you understand she could have died?” Brent collapsed into his father’s arms and broke down in heart-jerking sobs.
Against the protests of Chase and the others, Sami got off the bed, walked over, and put her hand on Brent’s back. “But I didn’t. Brent, I’m right here, and Billy’s in jail where he belongs. I may have a few bruises, but I’m still here. Face it, you’re stuck with me, kid. You can’t get rid of me that easy. You’re going to have to put up with me until you’re a very, very old man.”
Brent turned, wiped his face, and smiled at Sami. “Do you promise?”
She made a crossing gesture over her chest. “Cross my heart.”
Chapter Nineteen
A week later, Sami stood in front of the mirror and was glad to see the bruises were almost gone. What was left of them wasn’t anything that a little make-up couldn’t cover. She picked up the bottle of foundation and began to apply it to her throat. When she was satisfied with the results, she put the top on the bottle and tiptoed down the hall to check on her mother.
Today was her parents’ wedding day, and Sami was doing everything possible to make sure everything ran smoothly. She tapped on her mom’s bedroom door.
“Come in.”
Sami opened the door and popped her head in. “How are you doing? Are you nervous?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m as nervous as I was the first time I married your father. And to make things worse, it’s raining today.” She put both of her hands on her stomach. “If I don’t throw up, I’ll be okay. But, I feel better knowing you’re going to be standing by my side.”
“You can count on me.”
Maggie gripped Sami’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “How are you doing today?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to check on you to see if you needed anything before I started to get dressed.”
“I don’t think so. Edna’s bringing me some hot tea to help settle my nerves.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. I need to go get dressed myself. It wouldn’t look too good if the maid-of-honor was late.”
Maggie kissed Sami on the cheek. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
Thirty minutes later, Sami stood in front of the mirror, surprised at her reflection. Her hair was pinned up, her make-up was just right, and her sleeveless, floor length white gown shimmered. She almost looked like a bride herself.
Someone tapped on her door.
“It’s open.”
The door swung open and Chase stood there in the doorway. “Wow!”
“Hey, there, you.” Sami smiled, smoothed down the front of her dress, and turned to face him. “I’m not a dress wearing kind of girl. What do you think?”
He slowly walked over to her, ran his hands down the length of her arms, and locked his fingers into hers.” You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But, I thought the maid-of-honor wasn’t supposed to outshine the bride.”
“Chase.” Her cheeks warmed. “Get out of here. I need to finish getting ready.”
“First, I need to talk to you.”
Sami saw the seriousness on Chase’s face. “Okay. Is something wrong?”
“I’ve rehearsed this over and over in my mind all morning. I’ve never met anyone like you before, Sami. I’m not me unless I’m with you. I’m so in love with you, Sami, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” His eyes widened. “How was that? Did that sound like it’s sounded in my head?”
For her part Sami stammered in confusion. “What are you saying, Chase? Are you serious?”
He took a step backward, slowly dropped down on one knee, and opened a small red velvet box. “I know there’s a lot going on today, but I couldn’t wait any longer. Sami Lawson, will you marry me?”
She wanted to be his wife more than anything else in the world, but like a slap in the face, Billy’s angry words rushed back into her head like a raging flood, sucking the air from her lungs.
You made me this way. You’re like cancer that eats away all the good in a man until there’s nothing left. What if, he was right? What if, she didn’t know how to love Chase the way he needed to be loved? What if her actions caused him to end up like Billy?
Someone knocked on her door interrupting her thoughts.
“It’s almost time, Sami. Are you ready?” Miles opened the door and stopped, his eyes widened. “Oh, uh, looks like I interrupted something important. I’ll give you two a few more minutes.” Miles stepped back out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.
Sami swallowed hard, pulled her hand away, and took a step back. “I can’t.”
At that, Chase shot to his feet as pain washed across his face. “What? Why? Didn’t you hear me? Sami, I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please don’t say no.”
The pain she saw in his eyes rattled her all the way to her core.
“I can’t.” Blinking back the burning behind her eyes, she swallowed hard.
“Sami, don’t do this. I love you, and I believe you love me too.” He moved toward her, but she took another step back.
Fearing if he pulled her into his arms her defense would crumble, she kept the distance between them. “Can’t we just keep things the way they are?”
Fresh pain washed across the former. “Is that what you really want?”
No! Her heart screamed, but she forced the next word from her throat. “Yes.” Her heart ripped from her chest, but she knew Chase deserved so much more than she could give him.
Staring at her, he finally nodded. “Okay then. This may be enough for you, but it’s just not enough for me anymore.” It was his turn to take a step away from her as he let his hands fall to his sides. “I think I’m going to get away for a while after the wedding.”
Away? Panic gripped her chest so tightly she felt like she couldn’t breathe. “What? Where?” The words clung to her throat, strangling her.
“My grandfather lives in Alabama. He’s wanted us to come and visit him for a while now. With Salter being in jail, I know you’ll be safe. I think this may be the best time to go.”
“Alabama?” It sounded like Jupiter. “How long will you be gone?” The thought of not seeing Chase every day was more than she could bear. This was the moment she knew her life would never be the same.
“I’m not sure.”
“Chase, I don’t know what else to say, but please know that I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She reached out to touch his arm, but he flinched away as if her touch would burn him.
“It’s okay. I’ll get over it.” Without saying another word, he turned, and walked out of the room as the pain in the slump of his shoulders knifed into her heart.
If onl
y she could tell him that, what she wanted more than anything else in the world was to marry him and live a happily-ever-after life together. Why couldn’t she just listen to her heart and not Billy’s angry voice in her head? Standing alone in the middle of the room, panic coursed through her and shook her to the core. Just the thought that after today she may never see Chase again brought such heartache it dragged burning tears to her eyes. However, she sniffed them back and down. She would not cry over her own inability to give him what he needed and deserved.
Seconds later, the wedding march flowed into the room like a thick cloud, and Sami closed her eyes, willing the pain away from her.
Aunt Edna poked her head in the door. “Sami, what are you doing? You should already be downstairs.” She hurried over, took hold of Sami’s arm, and pulled her out the door and down the stairs.
During the wedding as her parents exchanged their vows, Sami couldn’t look in Chase’s direction. As soon as the minister said, “You may kiss the bride,” Sami slipped away from the crowd and hid out in the kitchen. It was safer there.
“There you are.” Her mother blew out a sigh of relief as she entered the kitchen. “Miles told me about what he saw. I was so happy for you. But when I saw the sadness in Chase’s eyes, I knew something was wrong. I forced the truth out of him.” She pulled a chair up beside Sami. “Honey, why are you tormenting yourself like this? I know you love that boy. Why won’t you let him love you?”
Sami blinked back the tears. “You don’t understand. He deserves so much more than I can give him.”
“Sami, he loves you just the way you are. Can’t you see that? He loves the way you smile. He loves the sound of your laugh. He loves how your eyes sparkle when you’re angry, and the way you shove your hands in the pockets of your jeans when you’re nervous. He loves everything about you.”
“How do you know about all of that?”
“Because he told me, that’s why.”
“He did?” Sami’s chest tightened as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Yes, he did. And he also told me he was leaving for a while.” Her mom took Sami’s hands. “Samantha, the biggest mistake of my life was refusing to let someone love me. Don’t let him leave like this. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Believe me, I know what it’s like to live without the one you love. Don’t let that happen to you. Love him honey, and let him love you. Go after him.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I want him to be happy, and I just don’t know if I can give him that.”
“You should listen to your mom, you know she’s right.” Billy stepped out of the shadows like a nightmare that never went away.
“Billy!” Sami gasped.
Her mother stood and quickly placed herself between Sami and Billy, flipping her hand up in front of him. Sami had to smile because her mother looked like a mama bear ready to attack. “Don’t you dare come another inch toward my daughter! Why aren’t you in jail? Sami, go get the sheriff.”
“Wait.” Billy took a step toward them and lifted up both hands. “My father finally bailed me out this morning. I promise you, I’m not here to cause trouble, Mrs. Lawson. I just need to talk to Sami. I only need five minutes, that’s all I’m asking for is five minutes. Then I’m out the door, and you’ll never see me again.”
“Do you really think I’d leave her alone with you?”
“No, Ma’am, I’m not asking you to leave. I just have to talk to her.”
Sami stood and touched her mother’s arm. “It’s okay, Mom.” She shifted her focus on to Billy. “What do you want, Billy?”
Before Billy could speak, her mother warned him, “If I think for one minute you’re going to do anything out of line, all I have to do is scream and everyone will be in here in seconds.” She pursed her lips tight and folded her arms over her chest.
“I understand that.” Billy nodded.
“Okay. You’ve got five minutes, but I’m going to be right here watching.”
Billy hung his head for a moment and then lifted his gaze to hers. “Sami, I know what I’ve done to you is unforgivable, and I’m sorry. I’ve been angry at you for so long, I kind of got off track and blamed you for all the bad in my life, but it wasn’t you, it was me. When I couldn’t make you love me, I wanted you to be as miserable as I was. I thought if I kept trying, you would eventually change your mind about me, but then along came Townsend and messed up all my plans. That day at Barley’s, when I saw the way he looked at you and the way you looked at him, it drove me crazy. All I wanted to do was hurt you. I was doing a pretty good job of it, too, until last week in the alley when you turned me inside out.”
Sami frowned. “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
“I was hurting you, choking you, and in the middle of it all, you ask me to forgive you. I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. You wanted me to forgive you after all I’d done. Something changed that day. Something changed in me, Sami. I just came here to say, I really am sorry for everything I’ve done to you.”
Staring at him wordlessly, her heart pounded violently against her ribs. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Here stood the man in front of her who had made her life a living nightmare over the last year, and he was apologizing to her.
The tenderness and regret she saw in his eyes let her know he was sincere. To her surprise as she stared into his face, all the anger and fear that was locked inside her melted away like a snowball in summer. With a smile, all she could do was give Billy a nod.
He checked her once more and then nodded himself. Then he turned his attention to her mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Lawson, for letting me say my peace, and thank you, Sami, for listening.” He nodded once again, moved toward the door, but then stopped and looked back around at Sami.
“Sami, there’s one more thing. Everything I said to you in the alley was all lies. Townsend would be a very lucky man to have you. Any man would.” And with that, he was gone.
Her mother turned and looked at her. “Sami, I don’t know what he said to you in that alley, but I have a feeling that’s what’s keeping you from having something great with Chase. Honey, whatever it was, don’t let that destroy your future with him. Chase loves you, and I know you love him too.”
“I do love him, Mom. I love him so much.” Just thinking about Chase caused warmth to spread through Sami’s limbs and covered her like a thick blanket. Suddenly she remembered he was leaving. She sucked in a sharp breath as panic ripped through her. “I have to find him. I have to stop him from leaving.”
“Hurry, I think he was getting ready to leave when I came looking for you.” Her mother pushed her toward the living room. “Hurry!”
Sami’s heart slammed against her ribs as she ran in the living room. She searched the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of him. Where is he? Dear Lord, please let me find him.
“Sami, what’s wrong?” Miles grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face him, searching her face with his eyes.
“Have you seen Chase?” She continued peering over her brother’s shoulder, hoping to spot Chase.
“Yes, he just left.” Understanding rolled over Miles’ face. He freed her arms and pushed her toward the door. “If you hurry you might be able to catch him.”
When Sami reached the porch, she looked to the driveway and saw the bright glow of the taillights on his pickup. “Chase!” she hollered with all the strength she had.
It was still raining, but she didn’t care. Reaching down, she gathered up the bottom of her gown, leaped off the porch, and ran as fast as she could after his truck. “Chase! Please, stop! Chase! God, please, let him see me.”
Joy and relief overflowed in her when she saw the taillights glow bright red as he slammed on his brakes. In concern, he jumped out of the truck and sprinted toward her. “Sami, what are you doing? It’s pouring down rain out here.”
However, he barely got that out as she threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, Chase. I love you so much. Can you ever for
give me for being so stubborn and foolish? If you still want to marry me, then my answer is yes, I’ll marry you.”
His eyes widened. “Yes?”
“Yes!”
With that, he picked her up off her feet and swung her around in a circle. When he put her back down, he planted kisses all over her face. “But what made you change your mind?” His eyes, filled with love, captured hers and held them prisoner, which was fine with her.
Looking only at him as the raindrops streaked down her face, she finally let her heart feel what it had wanted to for so long. “Because I’ve finally realized I’ve got to be strong enough to risk being loved.”
He sighed and shook his head slowly. “I love you, Sami. Of course, I still want to marry you, but let’s do this thing right, okay? Let’s try it one more time.” He pulled the red velvet box back out of his pocket, flipped it open, and knelt down on one knee in the mud. He swiped the hat off his head and the rain out of his face and then lifted his eyes up to meet hers. “Sami Lawson, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Chase, I will marry you.”
He stood and slipped the ring onto her waiting finger. “You just made all my dreams come true.” Pulling her back into his arms, his lips captured hers as he kissed her passionately while holding her tight in his embrace. Love, unlike anything Sami had ever known or experienced before, flowed from Chase’s lips to hers. Her knees wobbled as she felt his kiss all the way to her toes. She clutched the front of his shirt, holding on as tight as she could to keep from falling. With each caress of his soft lips, his kiss grew more passionate and even more tender. Sami returned his kiss with a fervor of her own, until finally Chase pulled back and gazed into her eyes.
“I love you so much, Sami.”
“I love you too. More than I ever thought possible.” She nestled into his chest, eyes closed, savoring the rapid beating of his heart. Overcome with pure joy and true happiness, unyielding tears streamed down her face.
Chase pulled back with concern. “Sami, are you crying?” he whispered as the rain continued showering down on them.
Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope Page 80
