Chapter 4
Coming back from an exhausting weekend of nothing but "Girl's Day Out" for Samantha and Gabriella, they sat on the couch eating pizza and watching High School Musical, the concert. She had a slight obsession with it, still, and couldn't wait for the second movie to come out as she kept reminding everyone. She had told Samantha that Victor was getting her a copy of the DVD before it was even released. Samantha wasn't surprised. Victor had connections, and he was now in charge of the whole FBI. He could do whatever he pleases now, and Gabriella being the only granddaughter, or grandchild he had gave her the added bonus of being spoiled rotten with the right connections. She wasn't just born with a silver spoon, she was born with the whole China set.
"Mommy, what are you gonna get me for my birthday?" Gaby asked munching on her pizza crust. Sam looked over at her completely forgetting about it. That's right! It was Gaby's birthday! How could she possibly forget about that?! Well, considering it was two months away, she didn't really feel that bad for forgetting about it. Two months. It was two months eight years ago that she gone into pre-mateur labor, almost died and almost killing her unborn child with her. All because of some stupid argument about where the damn bubbles were!
"I don't know sweetheart, what do you want?" Sam asked. It was impossible to get Gaby something she would like as a surprise. She had almost anything. But a pony. No ponies.
"Can we have dinner, just you, me and daddy?" Gaby asked. "We never have family times anymore."
"Uhn... I don't know baby, you should ask you father first. If he says that it's okay with him, have him call me."
"How come you and Daddy got a divorce?"
Sam froze dropping her pizza back into the box. She turned to her daughter and pulled her by her shoulders kissing her on her temple. "Honey, it's grown up business."
"How come I can't know? I'll be eight in two months!"
"Honey, it's just. Even though we're not together, we love you. So so so much. You know that right?" Gabriella nodded but she bit her lip. It was a gesture that Samantha was too familiar with. It was something she did when she was trying to hold something it. "What is it baby?"
"Everybody in my class at school have both their mommy and daddy."
"You do too sweetie," Sam answered rubbing Gabriella's back gently. She made a mental note to do some self-loathing later. How was it possible in present time that there isn't at least one other child whose parents are divorced or separated? Maybe it was because Gabriella was going to a very exclusive school where before you get it, the background of your family had to be checked first. Some strict school.
"But they live in the same house and sleep in the same bed and aren't divorced."
"Just because we aren't like that sweetie, that doesn't mean we're any different from any of them. Would you rather have me and your daddy fighting all the time?"
"You guys don't fight."
"That's because we barely talk," Sam replied. She knew how hard it was to have her parents separated. Well, she knew how it was to be living with one parent. She really did wish she could've settled this whole thing with Martin, but she couldn't. Too many things have been said and done. There was no turning back, especially now since Jason was making her at least a bit happy. Not as much as Martin could make her, but it was the happiest she had been since the divorce.
"But we could all have dinner right? On my birthday? Please mommy?"
"If your father says yes, then we will. Okay?" Sam asked. She couldn't take it when her daughter pouted at her. Something about the way her eyes bore into hers in desperate pleading. Gaby knew that. She knew nobody could really resist her hazel eyes when she was in a pout, and she used it to get whatever she wanted.
"Okay mommy, I love you."
"I love you too sweetheart, now go wash up and get in your bed. Do you want me to tuck you in?" Sam asked her.
"No it's okay mom. I'll probably be online checking my Myspace anyway."
Sam shook her head and smiled. "Well, I'm going to turn of the modem at ten. I want in you in your bed before that. I"m gonna do checks."
"Mommy," Gabriella groaned pouting.
"You have school tomorrow babe. I don't want you to be late."
"Sure mom." Gabriella said sulking to the hallway and into her room leaving Sam in the living room to clean up the pizza box and the soda cans.
She glanced over at her cellphone that stood on the counter for the time. She wanted to call Martin now to ask whether or not she should expect them to have dinner on their daughter's birthday. Seeing as it was only nine, she thought otherwise. He would be on that date still. She sighed. She didn't need to think of him going out and having first kisses with a woman followed by another gazillion of kisses and them making love. She shook her head. She shouldn't be thinking about Martin making love to another woman. It hurt too much.
"Stop being a hypocrite, Samantha!" She muttered to herself. She was having sex with Jason, why shouldn't he? He had every right to move on just like she did. But she had a feeling in her heart, like it was being stabbed or something. Shaking her head, she headed into the kitchen and threw all the trash away coming back to sit on the sofa. She took her cellphone from the table and went to the pictures. She scrolled to it all until she got to the one hundred forty third picture. She knew what it was, she placed it there after all. It was a picture that she downloaded into the memory card that was to be put on her cellphone, it was picture of her and Martin goofing off at a bench in the park. He was looking at her leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek while she was looking over at the camera with a smile. 1. 4. 3. It meant I love you. Still does.
"Marty?" Sam asked snuggling more into her embrace. Martin held her tighter and pull her into him.
"Yeah babe?"
"One-Four-Three."
"What are you talking about?" Martin asked. Was this when she wanted to get married? January 4... 2003? He didn't get it. It must be a code for something.
"I overheard Allison talking to her boyfriend the other day..."
"Allison has a boyfriend?!" Martin freaked.
"That wasn't the point, Marty."
"Okay, continue."
"I heard her say it, and I asked her what it meant. She said it meant I love you."
"Alright," Martin nodded and paused smiling at her. "ILYT."
"What?" Sam asked confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry I thought you were hip and young and knew all these things."
"Marty, whats..." Sam paused realizing what it was. I, for I; L, for love; Y, for you; T, for too. She reached over and kissing him passionately. "I love you." she whispered as they pulled away.
