Sam stared out of the window of the limousine, breathing deep nausea-wracked breaths until they'd hit the freeway. Danny seemed lost in his own world and Sam though it better not to disturb him. He'd been subjected to enough for one day. She had to admit that she was rather impressed by him and the way that he'd handled everything throughout the day. She could honestly say that she didn't know many people who could take on all three of her family members at once; even she grew tired of her overbearing, dramatic mother, eccentric teenage sister, and sometimes annoyingly nonplussed father, but Danny stayed strong. If she was going to say anything to him, she knew it would have to be that.
"You were awesome today. I owe you one, I really do." She informed him softly, turning to him fully.
Danny looked slightly confused before questionably replying, "Thanks?"
Sam smiled, "What's wrong? Are you not sure how to take a compliment?"
Her joking expression quickly sobered as Danny failed to even crack a smile. He was lost in his own world again and Sam was starting to wonder. Had she said something wrong? Oh great, her mother had probably offended him with that remark about his girlfriend, and now he probably thought horrible things about her, and he'd never want to see her again! She could see it on the annulment papers: 'Annulled because mother is a bigot'. She didn't care, he didn't know her! Who said she even wanted him to want to see her again? He was a stranger! The basic rule of strangers is that you never have to see them again! ...But that would be hard since they were married. Yes...they were married. Married were they, yes.
Oh God, she'd said 'married' again. First she couldn't say it, now she was saying it too much. She needed to stop that before she turned into one of those people who couldn't stop and went around dinner parties chirping, 'Have you met my husband? 'Cause I'm married.' What was she mentally freaking out about again? There were so many things to stress and panic about that she couldn't remember the specific thing she had just been stressing and panicking about. She seriously needed to stop before 'breathing mode' was necessary.
Back in real time, after returning from the scary possibility of the latter, Sam grew anxious.
"Hey, I get that the whole 'awkward silence' thing is a pretty lateral move after the whole 'accidental marriage' thing, but I was under impression that we had somehow glided right past that..."
"No!" Danny quickly responded, sending a weird wave of rejection through Sam, "I mean, yes, as funny as it is now that you mention it, we are. I'm just—I just—I'm sorry."
"Me too?" Sam guessed, confused as ever. "Did one of the maids offer you a drink? Because I swear they drug my mother."
Finally, Danny laughed. "No, no. I'm sorry. It's just...well, are you sure you owe me one? 'Cause I have something to tell you."
Sam raised an eyebrow and immediately her thoughts went in many different directions, including a few directions that they'd already taken. Was this whole marriage just a sham for her money? No, of course not, what a shallow thought. He'd seemed genuinely surprised when he'd entered into her parents' home, meaning that he hadn't known that her family was rich, let alone mega billionaire, name on the building type rich. Was this about his job? He'd been interrupted before he could actually tell her what it was that he did for a living. She couldn't possibly ask him now though, especially if it was what he was going to tell her.
She'd seem like an elitist snob asking about something like that after he'd just been in her luxurious childhood home. Dare she even consider the horrible embarrassment she'd put him through in asking only to find out he was a janitor? Not that there was anything wrong with being a janitor! Ugh, she would sound just like her mother and she's spent most of her life ensuring that she sounded nothing like her mother.
Unless it wasn't that type of job. He could be something totally different like...like...a mobster. He was a mobster, she was sure of it. The reflexes, the muscles, the way he suddenly went all cold on her. He was probably going to kill her. That damn Paulina probably put a hit out on her. That shady Dolce and Gabbana wearing bitch…Luckily, her actual response was much more rational.
"Uhm, okay. Good something or bad something?"
Danny rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I'm not sure how to say this. I guess it depends on how you feel about this sort of thing."
Yeap, she was going to die. Unless it was something else, like maybe he was already married. Crap, she was going to have sister wives.
"If you're going to shoot me, don't go for the face. My mother is bound to want an open casket affair." Sam told him, only half-joking.
Danny laughed, "If that's what you're thinking, what I have to say is definitely a good thing."
Sam mentally chastised herself. As if Danny could have been a mobster. Then…shit, it was going to be sister wives. Or maybe not. This whole marriage thing—damnit, she'd said it again—was really taking a toll on her. Out of nowhere she'd developed the imagination of a sixteen-year-old on espresso shots...or worse, Lynne.
God, she needed a nap.
"Okay, so what is it?" Sam questioned cautiously.
"There's kind of a reason that I brought up Valerie," Danny began. Sam interrupted.
"Who?"
"My girlfriend," Danny explained. "Her name is Valerie. Valerie Gray."
"...Ah. Oh...kay. Continue."
"So yeah, there's a reason. I don't know how to put this. Uhh...she wants to meet you."
In a handful of books that Sam had read in her lifetime, she'd come across the expression 'their eyes went as wide as saucers'. Sam had always found the expression to be ridiculous and incredibly exaggerated until just then, because just then she was almost positive that her eyes had reached fine china status.
"She wants what to what with what?" Sam sputtered.
"She wants to meet you. I know it sounds incredibly awkward and I feel awkward even asking you to consider it now, but I spoke to her earlier today in the hotel and she was incredibly persistent. I felt it was the least I can do since I kind of got married to another woman, which obviously, is a big relationship 'no-no', which is why she and I ended things today since I'd really rather prefer not to be a cheater all the way around and—"
Sam carefully slapped her hand over his mouth and nodded slowly. "Yes, Danny. I will meet your now ex-girlfriend, Valerie. Yes, Danny, it is going to be awkward since yes, Danny, you did marry another woman, which again, yes, Danny is a big relationship 'no-no'. Now are we going to keep rattling on and giving Sam more of a hangover headache? No, Danny, no we are not, or so help me, I will throw up on you because my mother's joyride did neither of us any favors."
Danny simply nodded his head as if to say that he understood and Sam took her hand off of his mouth. "Sorry. The cosmos are still in my system and according to the wedding band on my finger, liquor makes me obnoxious. So, yeah. Let's give Winslow the directions and I guess we're in for our second meet and greet of the day."
Danny gave a ragged sigh before making his way to the window before him to tell Winslow where to go.
The drive to Valerie's apartment wasn't too far. It was actually in Amity Park, the town two or three over from Sam's. Danny's parents apparently lived here, and this was the town where Danny had grown up. Sam only knew this as the town with the most spectral activity in America. It was because of this town that the state was nearly overflowing with ghosts. Sam wasn't a believer of things that went bump in the night, such as vampires, warewolves and other 'Twilight' fare, but ghosts...ghosts were real.
Amity Park was a natural tourist site, gathering those enthralled by the idea of seeing the supernatural and those who were critics of the sightings. Even as they drove by now she could see people oohing over something that she couldn't see from where they were, with their phone cameras clicking. They were probably hoping for a glimpse of the famous ghost boy.
The driver finally stopped in front of a brownstone apartment and Danny cleared his throat. "Alright, this is it. Are you ready?"
Sam nodded and couldn't contain her small smirk. Danny said it as if he were preparing her for battle. Yes, obviously the woman would be angry, but as sweet as Danny was, he wouldn't date an absolute psycho, she was sure. On the way over she'd dismissed hangover-induced day scares about being attacked by an angry black girl with a scary blunt object. She was less than relaxed at the fact that there would probably be some words, but after the explanation, she was sure that everything would smooth over.
Sam hadn't even noticed that Danny had opened the door of the limo and was extending a hand to help her out until he spoke her name a couple of times. Finally setting her head back on straight, she accepted it and followed him into the building. They went up one flight of stairs before Danny came to a red door. He took out a key and opened the door slowly, glancing at Sam reassuringly. Sam was unsure however, just which of them he was reassuring.
As soon as the door opened, there stood an African-American woman with dark wavy hair and bright green eyes. She was wearing an olive green waffle print shirt that complimented her eyes and black jeans that hugged her curves. She could see why Danny was—or rather had been—with her, she was beautiful. She was barefoot, which wasn't unusual since it was her home they were currently standing in. What was unusual however, was the first thing that she said.
"So, you're the slut who married my boyfriend. Funny, you're not as ugly and slutty as I would have presumed."
"Valerie!" Danny snapped as though unsurprised, closing the door behind them. So this was why she was prepped for war, he was dating a freaking battle axe!
Sam just gaped at her, stuck between not knowing what to say and not believing what the other had just. This was the second time she'd been called promiscuous that day and somehow it was a lot more scary than when Lynne had jokingly said it earlier.
"Uhm. Oh. You must be Valerie." Sam finally spoke, sounding so stupid to her own ears that she didn't want to think about what she'd sounded like to his ex-girlfriend. She extended her hand helplessly.
"And you're Sam Manson, or legally Sam Fenton since you married my boyfriend. Again, not as ugly as I would have presumed. Most Sams I know have crooked front teeth." Valerie replied coolly, staring her extended hand down. "Don't think I don't know who you are. I know all about the Mansons and your money."
Sam's hand fell to her side and she quickly ran her tongue over her front teeth self-consciously. Danny stepped in again. "Seriously, Val? We talked about this."
Valerie rolled her eyes sky high before setting them back upon Sam, who despite her natural instinct to squirm, did her best to hold her ground. "Talk. That's all you ever do, Danny, is talk. And for once, you take action, and it isn't even with me!" she glared, finally looking at him.
"Val, you have every right to be upset, but you have no right to take it out on Sam!" Danny fought back.
So maybe Sam was wrong, maybe Danny would date a psycho. Perhaps he considered her to be one of those 'hot but crazies' guys were always talking about taking a chance on?
Her murderous gaze didn't stay on Danny for long and she turned back to Sam accusingly. "Sam. I have no right to take it out on Sam? I have no right to take it out on poor little rich girl, Sam? Did you know that Daniel Fenton wasn't always the commitment and relationship type, Sam? It took me forever to talk him into taking a chance on us and turning a friendship into a relationship, Sam! And THEN after four and a half years of what I believed was a wonderful relationship, I brought up marriage and children last night. And do you know what he did, Sam?"
"Val—" Danny tried to interrupt.
"HE FREAKED THE HELL OUT, SAM!" Valerie screamed, throwing her hands up into the air. By this point she was halfway across the room, coming dangerously close to a rack of what seemed to be mock-china plates. "He tells me that I 'know about how difficult life is for him already' and how he 'doesn't believe that our relationship is stable enough for a marriage and children yet' after FOUR YEARS!" she exclaimed to Sam.
"Valerie—" He failed.
"So I told him that I didn't want to marry him anyway, and that I wouldn't even if he paid me. Danny decides to storm out! Next thing I know, it's early morning, and I'm getting a phone call from who else but Danny, who I was worried sick about all night, telling me that somehow throughout the night he got drunk and he married Sam, who ironically is already supposed to get married!"
By this point, Sam was getting sick of her own name and Danny was getting sick of trying.
"So fuck, Danny! You're goddamn right I have 'every right to be mad', and I'm mad as hell! And you have no right to tell me who and who not to take anything out on! You can both have your honeymoon in Hell for all I care! And you, Sam, are a stupid, cheating, home wrecking little slut who obviously has a thing for weddings!"
Sam felt as though she'd been punched in the chest, which surprised her because she didn't even know this woman. Did it hurt because it was true?
"That's enough, Valerie. You see why we weren't stable enough to take a relationship to the next level? Because you have the emotional capacity of a five-year-old!" Danny grimaced throatily. He put an arm around Sam's shoulder and began to lead her out of the apartment.
"Have a nice life together!" Valerie furiously spat as they turned to exit.
"We will!" Danny called back, and with that they left the building.
As Danny and Sam made their way back to the limo, Danny apologized profusely a thousand times over. Sam, who was still recovering from the low blow delivered by Valerie, simply took his apologies in stride and climbed into the back of the vehicle. As Danny joined her, Winslow rolled down the window in front of them.
"Ms. Manson, a moment if you please?" he asked.
"Yes, of course. What is it?" she questioned, although she wasn't in any particular mood to be chatty.
"Your mother has called the car phone several times since you departed. Apparently you are without your phone? She is actually on the line at this moment. Would you like to speak with her?"
Sam internally groaned. Ugh, what now? She should have known she'd gotten away far too easily. That drink was probably setting in and Pamela Manson was known to think much more clearly with a few drinks in her.
"She says it's urgent." Winslow informed apologetically. Sam gave a sigh of defeat and nodded, picking up the car phone receiver nearest her in the back, as Danny threw her another apologetic glance and mouthed that he was 'so sorry'. She waved him off. She had her own battles to fight now.
"Yes, Mother?" she answered.
"Samantha. Thank heavens I've finally gotten a hold of you! It was very important that I got a hold of you before they did. Oh, I'm so glad that I got a hold of you!" Pamela rambled. Wow, fifty-three minutes. That was a new drunken record.
"Mom, you sound redundant. Who is 'they'?" Sam questioned, suddenly suspicious.
"The Cains, Samantha! Adam's mother and father and he are so very upset, understandably, with what's happened. They were demanding a proper explanation and I simply couldn't tell them of your embarrassing faux pas, honestly, how would that look? So I've made up...a story."
"'A story'? You mean a lie, Mother. You've made up a lie. What did you say?" Sam questioned tiredly, clearly not interested in her mother's theatrics just then.
"I told them that you'd fallen in love with someone else! I said that your passion was too intense to ignore and that you'd eloped with an heir!" Pamela spit out.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Sam cried, earning worried glances from Danny and the driver.
"You married a soup kitchen recipient, Samantha! What was I supposed to do, just let you roll around with the pigs on his Kansas farm?!" Pamela asked indignantly. "I should think not!"
She wasn't even going to try to make the connection between soup kitchens and Kansas pig farms because she just didn't have the patience.
"Fine, Mother. So you lied to the Cains and you were worried about them getting to me before you did because I had no idea of your ludicrous bull crap. I get it. Is that all?" Sam asked.
"No, dear, it isn't. I'm afraid that the banquet hall and the caterers are non-refundable." Pamela informed her daughter.
"I'm so sorry for your financial burden. Anything else?" Sam sighed.
All Sam wanted to do now was to curl up into her bed and sleep, as she'd intended to do earlier before Paulina burst into her apartment and her mother nearly killed her. She felt as if she'd been through Hell and back (which was probably good of her to check out seeing as she was supposedly honeymooning there with her new husband) and she was mentally, physically, and dare she say especially intestinally (throwing up takes a lot out of a girl) exhausted and she refused to pretend for even three seconds that she gave two flying craps about one thing that her mother was saying.
Oh, great. First, she was rhyming before and now she was doing math, and she'd only gotten to six. Was it safe to say that it wasn't her day yet, or was she still supposed to be maintaining a 'glass half full' mentality?
"No, Samantha. You are not understanding me. It is non-refundable but not unable to be rescheduled." Pamela explained hurriedly and a bit impatiently.
Something dawned on Sam and it wasn't a nice something. "...What are you saying, Mother?"
"I am saying that unless you want this family to be sued for breach of contract by the Cains because of what you have done, tomorrow, you and your new beau, the soup kitchen farm boy, are to be ready at 6 PM sharp for your coming out party. And you had better be believable." Pamela told her matter-of-factly.
Coming out of what?! Sam just sat there, dumbstruck. A good two minutes had gone by before Pamela questioned, "Samantha? Samantha, why aren't you saying anything?"
"Because I'm trying to figure out if I can legally trap you in a home, and if I could which ones have enough Vicodin to keep you quiet..." Sam muttered darkly.
Danny's eyes widened slightly, and he looked a bit frightened of his new wife. Sam hung up the phone in frustration and turned to him.
"How'd you like to make a third introduction? This one might be the hardest of them all." Sam sighed tiredly.
"Adam and his family?" Danny guessed. At Sam's sullen nod, he hopefully remarked, "Well, third time's the charm."
"Or three strikes you're out. Either way we look at this, we're screwed." Sam replied, curling up into herself on the seat.
She didn't care anymore right then, she was going to sleep. Of all things, the least she deserved after this day was sleep, non-bathtub involved sleep. Sam would need all of the energy she could get if she was going to deal with George, Portia, and Adam Cain, along with all of the guests from the wedding that never was. With one last look at Danny as Winslow began to pull out from in front of Valerie's apartment, she silently wondered if it was too late to just pretend as if it had never happened, annulment be damned. Tomorrow could go no other way but disastrous, and she knew that 'breathing mode' was definitely a necessity now.
