Chapter Four
The last two days have been tough, but thankfully it’s finally the weekend. Kara isn’t talking to me at the moment. Nothing new in that aspect. However, she’s been making more of an effort to spend time with Maisie. I’m sure not having a phone or computer has helped.
“Does this piece go here?” Maisie asks Kara.
They decided to put together a puzzle at the kitchen table.
I’ve been working on dinner since school let out, and I’ve enjoyed listening to them.
Maisie begged Kara, though it didn’t take much convincing.
When Annie was alive, they would put together puzzles all the time.
Bill worked a lot of late hours, so they would do things like this together until he got home.
“You have to try it. Look.” Kara takes the puzzle piece and shows Maisie how to see if it works. “And you have to match the colors up, remember.”
I smile. It feels like the old days. Sometimes I would come over and help them with a puzzle.
Other times, Annie and I would share a bottle of wine while the girls sorted through the edge pieces and organized the colors into different piles.
We also played games like UNO and Monopoly, which I always seemed to lose. I miss it so much.
The doorbell rings. The girls look over at me. “I’ve got it.” I wipe my hands on the kitchen towel. “Are you expecting someone?” I look at Kara who decides that rolling her eyes is an appropriate answer. I choose to let it slide rather than argue. I don’t have it in me tonight.
It rings again as I open the door.
“Hi,” Sam says, cheerfully. Her hazel eyes match her green shirt.
“Hello.” I’m confused at why she’s here but don’t want to be rude.
“Don’t you hate when the doorbell goes off right as you get to the door?” She smiles, but it almost seems as if she’s hiding something.
I shrug. “This house is big, so it’s understandable.”
“I made brownies and Rice Krispies Treats.” She holds up a covered container.
“Oh. That’s nice of you.”
“Olivia isn’t home this weekend, so I had extra time.” Sam pushes the container out to me. “Hope you all enjoy them.”
“Thank you.” I smile.
“You’re welcome.” Sam seems almost shy now. It’s endearing. She turns to leave.
“Sam,” I say, stopping her before she reaches the first step on the porch. Her hand rests on the banister. “I’m making dinner while the girls work on a puzzle. Would you like to join us?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“I’m sure my sassy, but very grounded, niece would love to see you.” I smile. “Unless you have other plans.”
“I don’t.” Her smile matches mine, making her eyes bright in the evening light. “I can stay.”
I gesture her inside. “I do have to warn you, though. I’m not a very good cook. But I’m learning.”
Sam looks over at me as we walk down the long, wide foyer. “I’d love to help.”
“I’ll take it. Maybe you’re better than Google with recipes.”
Sam laughs. “Maybe.” And I can tell that she is, but she’s polite.
“Well then, I’d love your assistance.”
“Sam!” Kara jumps to her feet, running over to wrap her arms around Sam’s waist for a hug. “Where’s Olivia?”
“She’s with her dad this weekend. But she definitely misses you. I should know. She’s talked about it nonstop.”
A part of me hurts watching Kara hug Sam the way she used to hug me.
I look away as the oven beeps, giving me something else to focus on.
I listen to the conversation from a distance as I place the chicken tenders in a casserole dish with water, hickory bourbon marinade, and a little extra seasoning like Annie taught me.
“Tell her I miss her,” Kara says.
“I will, sweetheart.” Sam breaks Kara’s embrace.
I look back down as I put the sliced potatoes on the stove to boil.
Then I walk into the hall to Bill’s office and the bar next to his desk.
I take a whiskey glass from the shelf and pour a drink.
I’ve never liked whiskey on ice. Bill kept Woodford Reserve specifically for us to enjoy together.
He was the best brother-in-law I could have ever asked for.
He was good to my sister and the girls. And a good friend to me.
“Are you okay?” Sam’s voice comes from behind. She has that soft, comforting tone that could ease anyone.
I take a sip of the amber liquid before turning. “Would you like a drink?”
Sam walks closer to me. Bill’s office is big.
His desk is in the back center of the room with a bar to its right and bookshelves on the other side.
A coffee table and two big leather chairs occupy the middle of the room.
He could see the girls doing homework from here while he worked.
He was an attentive dad when he was home.
He worked so hard so Annie could be here with the girls.
She loved being a full-time mom. It’s something we never had.
He loved being a lawyer and providing a life my sister adored. Their relationship was one of a kind.
“Do you have wine?” Sam asks. She’s standing in front of me now.
I reach beneath the cabinet, grabbing a bottle from the wine rack. “Red?” I lift up one bottle.
“Yes.” Sam nods. “Thank you.” She stares at me with those stunning eyes that stand out against her green shirt. Her dark-brown hair is shiny and straight. It flows long past her shoulders to the middle of her back. She’s easily the most attractive woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I turn my attention to the wine, pouring a hefty amount into a wineglass.
“Whoa, there!” Sam laughs. She takes a sip, then nods her approval, a grin spreading across her face.
I study the drink in my hand. “Does Kara have a boyfriend?” I take another sip, preparing myself for what I may not want to hear.
“I’m not sure. She and Olivia talk about boys, but there isn’t a name that comes to mind.”
“Thank you. She doesn’t talk to me anymore.” I don’t tell her about the car parked in front of the house a couple of nights ago. “I know she’s smoking cigarettes. That’s why she’s grounded longer than a week.”
“I’m so sorry, Allie.” Sam touches my arm. “I didn’t know. Is there anything I can do to help?”
I sigh and shake my head. It’s all l have to offer. I don’t know what I need. “I’d better get back to the food.”
Sam follows me to the kitchen. “What can I do?” She places her wineglass on the bar and rubs her hands together. It’s very appealing. I shake that thought from my head.
The oven timer beeps, reminding me to turn the chicken. I pick up the fork to flip them. “Want to check the potatoes?” They are boiling now.
“On it.” Sam pokes the potatoes with a fork. Her hip lightly bumps into my shoulder as I’m bent over to turn the chicken. She looks at me. “Still not ready.”
“Thanks.” I stand to get the green beans from the fridge. I feel I should add more green foods to our starchy dinner.
“Sam, come help us. We need you,” Maisie says. She’s propped up with her knees on the dining chair and bent over the puzzle. “Please,” she begs.
“I’ll be right there, sweetheart.”
“You can go help them. I’ve got this.” I wash the beans and then start halving them.
“You trying to get rid of me?” I hear the grin in her voice before I look over to see it.
“Yes.” I smile. “But only because the girls enjoy your company and I want them to be happy.”
Sam carries her wine and walks past me. “Okay. But let me know when those potatoes are ready. After that warning about your cooking, you aren’t to be trusted.” I like the sound of her voice. I can tell she isn’t from the South originally. Her accent is more northern.
The three of them giggle at the table while they work on the puzzle.
I sit back and watch them. Our loss is still so fresh.
This feels like the first time we’ve actually relaxed in this house together since the accident.
Sam’s helping with that. How have I not met her officially before?
I remember talking at the funeral, but I wasn’t myself that day.
Annie talked about Olivia a lot, but she only mentioned Sam a couple of times that I can remember.
Maybe I was too wrapped up in my own life to have noticed. Life has a way of doing that.
The stove beeps again for me to check the chicken. It easily pulls apart with the fork. I flip them one last time and turn off the oven. I go to check the potatoes, but Sam appears beside me.
“Ready?” she asks and sticks the fork into the potatoes. “Perfect. Do you have a colander?”
“Um…” I dig under the cabinet. “I know I saw one recently.” I open another door and see a few of them. The red-handled one should work. “Here you go.”
Sam takes it to the kitchen sink and pours the potatoes into it before putting them back into the pan. I take some butter from the fridge and slide it next to her.
“Need anything else?” I ask her.
“Milk, salt, and mayo,” she says, plugging in the blender I had on the counter.
I grab the ingredients and place them next to her, then get out some plates. “Girls, do you want to eat on the patio?”
“Yes!” Maisie says, bouncing in her seat. “Please!”
“That’s fine,” Kara says, nonchalantly. I’m surprised she answered me at all.
“Is that okay?” I ask Sam.
“Of course.” Sam looks at me briefly before turning her attention back to whipping up the potatoes.
I remove the glass dish from the oven and place it on a round pot coaster. I remember when Annie got these from the craft fair that she had dragged me to. I thought I’d be so bored, but I actually had a good time. What I wouldn’t do to have one more craft fair with her.
I finish up the green beans and place everything on the island on the pot coasters. “Girls come and fix your plates.” Kara avoids eye contact with me at all costs. Maisie has her hands out.
“Let me fix it for you, honey.” I put two chicken tenders on her plate, a scoop of beans, and some mashed potatoes, then hand it to Maisie.
“Walk slowly to the patio.” I pour a glass of milk and follow her out, holding the door as she moves carefully.
I smile, watching her set the plate on the table.
Maisie looks at me, her face breaking into a wide, toothy grin. I kiss the top of her head.
Kara’s talking to Sam when I walk in but stops the moment she sees me. She grabs her plate and briskly walks outside without saying a word. Sam looks sad. I’m not sure who it’s for—Kara or me. I don’t say anything as I fix my plate.
“She was just saying that you took her phone away and that she wasn’t smoking.” Sam stands at the end of the counter with her plate full of food.
“Did she also tell you she lies?” I place my plate on the table and walk past her to Bill’s office. I pour another drink for me and bring the bottle of wine for Sam. I don’t ask if she wants more. I refill the almost-empty glass.
“Thank you,” Sam says, shyly.
“Let’s join the girls.” I lead the way outside, not caring about Kara right now. I slide into the seat next to Maisie while Sam sits next to Kara. We all eat, even Kara, while we enjoy the setting sun.