Where the Heart Is
Episode Three
Saturday morning, Sam rolled over and fell off the couch, her blanket, and pillow landed on top of her. She stretched then groaned. Time for her to get the day started. With another groan, she got off the floor, folded the blanket, grabbed the pillow, and carried them to the hall closet. Pausing outside Emily's room, she opened the door and peeked in. Still sleeping, maybe she had time for a quick shower. Sam tiptoed to Brad and Jules' room, went in, and opened the bag she’d left there. Mom had suggested she spend the night here instead of on the couch but she just couldn’t. She grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the attached master bath.
Someone had remodeled and updated it since she’d been gone. Pale ivory ceramic tile covered the walls and a modern Jacuzzi/hot tub combination filled up the far corner. A shower stall surrounded by frosted glass stood next to the closet. She turned on the hot water, stripped off her clothes then stepped into the shower. Sam closed her eyes and let the hot water soak the tightness out of her aching muscles. Too soon, she heard Emily. Giving her hair a quick rinse, she dried off and dressed. Mom had reached Emily first so Sam continued to the kitchen.
Sam strolled into the living room and stumbled on a stuffed pony. She pushed a strand of damp hair out of her face as Emily toddled through the kitchen door carrying a lidded cup and cracker of some kind.
Emily rushed across the room and wrapped her arms around Sam's knees. Sam reached down, picked her up. Vanilla wafer and apple juice mingled with the smell of baby powder. She offered Sam her wafer.
Sam wrinkled her nose. "Thanks sweetie," She smiled at Emily. "You keep it. I'll get my own." Sitting Emily by the toy box, Sam stepped into the kitchen.
Her mom sat at the small kitchen table sipping a cup of coffee. Her eyes were red and she held a tissue in one hand. Emily's high chair sat next to her, the tray covered in cereal pieces.
"Don't worry mom, we'll get through this." Sam leaned down, put her arms around her mom's shoulders.
"I know, Hon." She reached up and patted Sam's arm. "I just miss them so much." She picked up her cup, and took it to the sink.
Emily came in the door, went to her high chair and grabbed a fistful of cereal then turned and grinned at Sam.
"She looks just like Julianna did at that age." Mom sighed then gazed at Sam. "Do you still not eat breakfast?"
Sam shrugged. "Most mornings, I just grab a protein bar and munch that on the way to work." She stepped over to the cabinet, opened the cookie container, took out two chocolate chip ones. "These will do for now." Taking a glass from the cabinet, she poured herself a glass of milk to go with the cookies. She sat at the table and watched Emily grab another fistful of cereal from her tray.
"I can't believe Jules wanted me to have Emily. I don't know anything about raising kids." She glanced over at Emily then back to her mom. "I can take her to work with me, we have a nursery there. But I only have a one bedroom apartment. There's no way I can fit in more furniture."
Emily toddled over to Sam, held up her arms. Sam swung Emily up and into her lap. "Well, Emily, I guess you're stuck with me. We'll just have to adapt." She ruffled Emily's hair then looked at her mom. "What do we have to get done today?"
Sam laid the sleeping child in the crib and wished she could take a nap too. Shopping with Emily was tiring. She had taken over most of the child care duties from her mom and even though it was time consuming, she enjoyed being with Emily. She lifted the side rail on the crib and it locked into place with a quiet click. Resting her arms across the top of the rail, she looked down at Emily.
Marcus had called her Em last night. What was she going to do about him? She shook her head. Not think about him today, that's what. "Sweet dreams, Em," she whispered then tiptoed out of the room. She pulled the door
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