As Freddie stepped out of the car, he realized it was drizzling. But he didn't care. He ran up the steps to the restaurant and pushed open the glass door, immediately being greeted by the scent of fried chicken and barbecue sauce.
He looked around slowly, taking in the restaurant. He figured it must be close to closing time, as only a few customers were left talking over large slices of pecan pie.
The restaurant itself looked amazing; it was homey, yet extravagant. It definitely looked like it had the Sam Puckett charm to it.
"Sir?"
Freddie turned around towards a bar a few yards away from him, where a young man and woman were smiling at him.
"Can we get you anything?" the woman asked him. "We're just about to close, so we need to get your order in fast if you want food."
"Um, actually, I have a question," Freddie said, approaching the bar. "This restaurant…who is it owned by?"
"Us," the man said.
Freddie's stomach dropped. He should've figured that. What did he expect? For him to find Sam's restaurant first thing when he got back into the country?
"Oh," he said. "Right. Well then-"
"We're partial owners, actually," the woman explained. "The two of us and our friend run the place together."
"Who's the third owner?" Freddie asked slowly, the hopeful feeling inside of him lighting up again.
"The person who the place is named after," the man replied. "Sam Puckett."
At the sound of Sam's name, Freddie felt a grin creep onto his face. "I knew it…" he said.
"Um, I'm sorry, but do we know you?" the woman asked. "It's just, a lot of people don't really come in here asking about the name. They're more interested in getting some of our fried chicken and gravy."
"Is Sam here?" Freddie asked quickly.
"Why?" the man asked suspiciously. "Who are you?"
"I-I'm an old friend," Freddie said. "Please, just tell her Freddie Benson is here and she'll-"
"Hey, remind me to order more flour and garlic salt tomorrow when I call the supplier," said a familiar voice coming out a door behind the bar. "We're almost out."
She looked like she hadn't aged a bit in the ten years it had been since he saw her. Sam's blonde hair still hung around her shoulders in beautiful, simple curls, and her blue eyes still sparkled like the surface of the ocean.
And suddenly, Freddie wondered how he had been able to go so long without seeing her.
"Sam," he said softly, still hardly daring to believe his old friend was in front of him the first time in forever.
Sam looked over at him. It took her all but five seconds to realize who this stranger standing in her restaurant was.
"No way…" she gasped, jumping the counter. "Freddie? Freddie!"
Freddie beamed as he threw his arms around her, hugging her tightly.
"Oh my God, you're back!" Sam exclaimed.
"Yeah," Freddie laughed. "Ten years ended yesterday."
"I-How did you-How did you find the place?" Sam asked.
"I told you," Freddie said, his eyes sparkling. "Once my ten years was up, I would meet you in your restaurant. I was driving by here on my way to my new place and I saw the sign and figured…maybe."
"Wait, your new place?" Sam said. "You live here now?"
"Sure do," Freddie nodded.
"Where? Are you nearby?"
"Um, actually, I don't exactly know where my new apartment is," Freddie chuckled. "I'm being driven there now."
"You just got dumped in New Jersey?" Sam asked.
"Pretty much."
"Well, um, we need to catch up," Sam said.
"Definitely," Freddie agreed.
"Especially since you promised we'd do that over some fried chicken," Sam added.
"You actually remember that?" Freddie chuckled.
"Hey, Mama doesn't forget promises about her favorite foods," Sam replied, and Freddie felt at strong sense of familiarity knowing Sam still referred to herself as 'Mama'. "I'd bring some out now, but I just finished cleaning out my deep fryer. Maybe you can, um, come back tomorrow? If you're not busy."
"No, I'm free," Freddie said at once. "What time?"
"Around eleven it's usually pretty quiet in here," Sam said. "It's the calm before our lunch rush."
"I'll be here at eleven then," Freddie said brightly.
"You better be," Sam said, holding her arms out to give him another hug.
As she put her arms around his neck, Freddie felt something tiny press into his neck. When she pulled away, Freddie saw what it was.
On her left hand there was a wedding ring.
He tried not to stare at it for more than a second, and forced his eyes back up to Sam's.
"So, um, my-my driver is in the parking lot…I don't want to keep him waiting."
"You have a driver?" Sam scoffed.
"Just for tonight," Freddie said, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, well I need to get going soon too," Sam said. "So I'll see you tomorrow then, nub."
Freddie smiled at the sound of his old nickname. "I'll see you."
He gave her one last fleeting glance as he turned and headed out of the restaurant, back to the parked van.
My God…I can't believe I found her already, Freddie thought to himself as he climbed back into the van.
It was as though he had located a piece of his own self that had been missing for the past ten years. He couldn't wait until tomorrow, when he would get to spend some real time with her.
What would they talk about? He didn't care. All he cared about was finally being able to have the blonde back in his life again.
As the driver pulled out of the parking lot, though, his thoughts wandered back to the wedding ring he had seen Sam wearing.
He don't know why, but he felt somewhat disappointed. But then again, it had been ten years.
I wonder how long she's been married, Freddie said to himself. I wonder if he's nice…I hope he is. Sam deserves someone like that…
But even though Freddie was still besides with pure joy from being reunited with Sam, he couldn't help but think that he would have been even happier if that finger had been bare.
…
"So who's that?"
Sam looked over at the woman behind the bar, who was raising an eyebrow expectantly.
"A friend," Sam said simply, hopping back over the bar.
"A friend?" the woman repeated. "That's what you're gonna go with?"
"You remember I told you I had a friend in the CIA?" Sam said. "That's him. I haven't been able to talk to him for ten years."
"Whoa, I thought you were making that up," the man said.
Sam rolled her eyes as she headed back into the room behind the bar, the other two at her heels.
"Nope," Sam said softly, sitting down on a large couch next to a desk. On the couch next to her was a small girl with long, unruly blonde hair, fast asleep. Sam smiled down at her daughter, gently stroking her hair.
"Hey, it's late," the woman said to Sam. "You've been here all day. Take Roxy and Liam home. Garry and I will finish cleaning up."
Sam nodded, getting up and heading to the playpen set up on the other side of the room, where her six-month old son was sleeping just like his sister. "Thanks, Kenna."
"Want me to wake Roxy up?" Garry asked.
"No, she won't go back to sleep if you do," Sam sighed. "Can you just carry her to the car for me?"
"Sure," Garry nodded, gently picking up the four-year old.
"She sleeping through the night again yet?" Kenna asked Sam quietly.
"Nope," Sam said heavily. "She'll probably wake up around three."
Kenna nodded, giving Sam a sympathetic smile.
"I'll see you guys in the morning," Sam said.
"Bye," Kenna said as Garry followed Sam out with a sleeping Roxy in his arms.
Sam arrived home to her townhouse a few moments later, glancing at the For Sale sign that had been stuck up in her front yard for close to five months now.
She opened up the back of her car and skillfully picked up both her children without waking them. She managed to get the front door open and softly closed it behind her, praying not to startle the kids as she set the two alarm systems she had installed. She needed to be at the restaurant at six the next morning as she hoped to at least get some sleep.
She headed into her bedroom, passing Liam's half-finished nursery on her way. She knew she really should get around to finishing it, but there was never any time in the day. Besides, she kept hoping she could find a buyer for the place, so what good would it do to finish it up now anyway?
She placed Liam in his crib by her window and then laid Roxy down on her own bed, knowing very well if Roxy woke up alone in her room, she'd wake up screaming her head off. She always thought how odd it must seem that even though their home had four bedrooms, the entire family slept in one room.
Sam kicked off her shoes and then, not even bothering to undress, laid down next to her daughter, her mind racing.
If someone had told her earlier that day that she would actually get to see Freddie Benson again, she probably would've told them they were crazy. But yet, he had shown up in the flesh less than an hour ago…
I can't believe he's actually back, Sam thought to herself, rolling over on her side. I wonder if he's changed…He seems the same, at least. I guess I'll find out if he's any different tomorrow.
And with thoughts about what tomorrow would be like, getting to actually catch up with Freddie for the first time in ten years, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
