Page 102 of Long Lost Winter
And Sam realized she was just… happy.Straight through.Not that shitstorms would never brew again, but she wasn’t actively waiting for one.No, she was enjoying living her life.
“I love you,” she said, because she did and because it mattered and because that was the center of thehappy.
“Love you too.Have fun tonight, Sam.”
And she’d try.Really.Because of that wholelifething and the fact he’d lifted some of the swirling discomfort over trying to participate in a friends thing by reminding her that… steps forward, relationships, it was all work, but it was all good.
She walked over to the Graff knowing Jill and Aly had beat her there.Once inside, she wound her way through to their table.She greeted them both then sat down.
It was weird, but it wasn’tuncomfortablelike Sam expected.Jill was good at maneuvering the conversation.They talked about the wedding.It’d be a casual, tiny affair on the ranch.They talked about Jill’s book that was going to come out this year.Sam shared some funny stories from some cases over the past few months, and they all lamented how long winter seemed to drag on.
Eventually, Sam had enough drinks to blurt out her own personal news.“Nate asked me to move in with him.Officially.”
Aly squealed—definitely aided by liquor.“Oh my God, Sam.You saidyes, right?”
“Yes, I said yes.”
Aly grabbed her hand.Squeezed.“You’re good together.”
“Yeah, we are.”She blew out a breath, because that still felt like tempting fate to admit, but there was no way around it being the truth.She looked at Aly, her old best friend, her new friend.Life was a hell of a ride.“Look at us, Al.Both shacked up with a Bennet brother.Who would have guessed?”
Aly’s eyes were suspiciously shiny, but she didn’t cry.
Until she opened the gifts.Jill hadn’t dragged the whole coffee machine inside.Instead had printed out a picture.
“Landon’s getting it all set up as we speak,” she explained.
“You guys.That’s too much.”Still, Aly held on to the tears.
“I got you just a little something sentimental too,” Sam said, trying not to sound as uncomfortable as she felt.
She pushed the box across the table.
Alydidcry when she opened it and then looked through the notes Sam had put together.“I can’t believe you kept these.”She put her hands on them, the tears just tripping down her cheeks.“God, how long ago this all was.”
“And look, maybe there were some really shitty detours, but you ended up just where you wanted to be.”
Aly nodded, still crying.Jill hugged her, and Sam awkwardly patted her shoulder.“Sorry… I guess I should have…”
“No, it’s perfect.It’s perfect.I’m just so happy, and that kind of scares me.But I want to enjoy it.We should all enjoy it.”Aly beamed at both of them with a tear-stained face.
Samfelthappy, but she didn’t miss how Jill’s smile got a little tight.
“God, I need to clean myself up.I’ll be right back.”Aly got up from the booth and disappeared into the crowd, headed for the bathroom.
For a moment, Jill said nothing, just maintained that tight,fakesmile.Then slowly her gaze turned to Sam.
“Sam, I have a favor to ask you,” she said, very seriously.
Seriously enough Sam didn’t think it had anything to do with Aly or the wedding.
“Well, not so much a favor as a job I hope you’ll take.Maybe now’s not the time to bring it up, but I want you to think about it.”
Sam tried to ready herself.Whatever came next was serious.
“I want you to look into my grandmother.I want you to find what happened to her all those years ago.”
Sam waited for Jill to say more.But when Jill didn’t, Sam had to clarify.“Behind her back?”
Jill’s gaze was steady.Certain.“Yes.I want the truth.She won’t give it to me, and I… I need to know.I think we all need to know.Once and for all.”
The End