Lucky Like Us

chapter Fourteen

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Thursday, 6:30 P.M.

SAM STAYED WITH Elizabeth until after shift change that morning. She slept, and he thought about everything that happened with Dickweed and the restraining order. He thought about how great it was she’d finally woken up. His thoughts always circled back to two things: he’d said something about marrying her and he’d kissed her. Just an innocent peck on the mouth, but it stirred something primal in him. The longer he sat watching her sleep, the more he thought about her and how she’d gotten under his skin. If he wasn’t careful, she’d work her way right into his heart, and he didn’t know what that would do to him when she woke up completely and remembered what happened to her, thanks to him. She’d want to get as far away from him as possible, as soon as possible.

He scared his family half to death when he walked through the front door that morning to find them all having breakfast at the dining room table. They all thought he was asleep in his room. The smile on his face when he got home startled them. He told them about his night with Elizabeth, leaving out the kiss and marriage business. They’d read too much into it, and he already knew a relationship between him and Elizabeth was a dream without a chance of ever becoming a reality.

His job was slowly turning into a burden where it had once provided him with a sense of pride and accomplishment. His personal life was suffering. If he was honest, he was suffering and needed to find some kind of balance in his life. The shooting had opened his eyes to everything lacking in his life.

Get a life, Sam.

Jenna’s voice echoed through his memory. Getting older, the years passing by barely noticed. If he didn’t watch out, he’d be too old to play ball with the kids he really wanted. Time to refocus, find a wife and have some babies, a real life. Jack made it look so easy, and Jenna was such a great mother and wife. He wanted those things for himself more than anything.

Since he hadn’t slept the night before, he went to sleep after breakfast with his family. Two little giggles from beside the bed woke him. Turning to his side, he peered over the edge of the bed and into the big blue eyes of his nephews, Sam, named for him, and Matt. So cute. Their little blonde heads peaked above the mattress as both of them stared at him.

“What are you two doing in here?” He scrunched up his face in a silly way and they laughed.

“Mommy says, eat,” they said in unison.

“Eat, huh. Dinner time?” Both little heads bobbed up and down. “Okay, cowboys, I’ll be right there.” They didn’t move from the side of the bed. Both looked like they had something on their minds. “What’s the matter?”

Sam looked at Matt and Matt looked at Sam. Apparently, Sam was elected speaker in their silent exchange. “You don’t look like Daddy anymore.”

“I don’t, huh. You want me to look like Daddy again?”

Both heads bobbed up and down. “You look scary,” Matt said, biting his lower lip, his eyes filled with worry.

Well, that hurt. He scared his own nephews. He needed a haircut and a shave, but he didn’t think he looked that bad. Maybe the bruises and cuts on his face scared them. “Are you guys afraid of the cuts and bruises? They’ll go away soon.”

Both heads shook side to side. “What’s the matter?”

“You look mean, like a lion,” Sam said into the mattress.

“You look like a bad guy,” Matt chimed in, not to be outdone by his brother.

Sam sighed. “You know Uncle Sam loves you, right?” Both heads bobbed up and down. “I don’t want you guys to be afraid of me. We like to play, right?” Little heads bobbed. “Crawl up here, munchkins. Uncle Sam wants a hug.” Both little boys climbed up onto the bed, and did exactly what Sam expected, but knew would hurt like hell. They jumped on top of him. His back screamed out in protest, his ribs burned and throbbed, clenching his jaw against the pain, he held his nephews tight. He gave them each a tickle and rubbed his scruffy beard against their bellies. They laughed uncontrollably and crawled all over him. They certainly weren’t afraid any longer.

“Okay, you guys are killing me. Go get Aunt Summer and tell her to bring her scissors. I’ll look like Daddy in a few minutes.”

Both boys sent up a cheer and ran from the room. Sam rolled slowly out of bed to his feet, painfully, and headed for the bathroom rubbing at the muscles in his back, his other arm pressed against his aching ribs. He’d shave while he waited for Summer to come and do her thing with his hair. She’d threatened him at the hospital. He had no choice now. They were so cute wanting him to look like Jack again. He wondered if they understood not everyone had an identical twin. They weren’t even two yet, but they were smart.

He’d just finished trimming his beard down and shaving half his face when Summer entered the bathroom. Turning from the mirror, he rubbed his hand over her rounded belly. Baby number three gave him a kick and he smiled.

“Who put the boys up to saying I was scary looking?”

Summer did her best impression of looking confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“Yeah, right. I’ll be done in a second, and you can chop off the hair. Apparently, I don’t look like Jack and that disturbs the boys.”

“It disturbs me too when you look like a member of the Hell’s Angels. You seem better. Did you sleep?”

“I did. Thankfully.”

“You’re happy she woke up and spoke to you.”

Sam rinsed off his now clean-shaven face and talked to Summer in the mirror. “I can’t tell you what a relief it is she woke up. The doctors thought she should have been up two days ago. I’ve been holding my breath since this happened, but when she didn’t wake up when they expected, I almost lost it. I don’t know what I would have done had she died. She saved my life. I couldn’t live with myself if she lost hers because of what she did for me.”

Summer hugged him from behind and talked to him in the mirror. “I’m glad she’s doing better. You know I couldn’t live without you, and neither could anyone else in this family. We love you, Sam. We’re happy you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks. Okay, make me look like Jack before the munchkin men start calling me Simba.”

“What?”

“They said I look like a lion. They don’t like the long hair and beard.”

“I don’t like it either. You’re so handsome, even when you look like a criminal.”

“Great. I wonder if Elizabeth believed I’m an FBI agent, or some thug hanging out in her room.”

Summer didn’t say anything. She cut Sam’s hair to match her brother Jack’s. She would have to talk to Jenna about Sam’s inadvertent admission that he cared whether Elizabeth saw him as a respectable FBI agent or a thug. She didn’t think Sam realized what he’d revealed with that simple statement about his appearance. Summer found it very enlightening. Sam had a crush on Elizabeth, and maybe something more. Summer hoped it turned into a lot more. Sam deserved some happiness. Now that Elizabeth had woken up, he was finally starting to get back to being the fun, loving, happy guy they all knew and loved.