Chapter 7

"Sam would you like to take a bath?" Maxine asked after dinner.

Sam glanced at Jake.

"I'll go check the tub and make sure it's clean," Jake headed down that way.

"He'll probably need a putty knife to clean that tub," Maxine rolled her eyes. "Don't have all sons, Samantha. They don't understand baths."

"I'll see what I can do," Sam laughed.

"If that tub is too bad, you can use ours," Maxine put her arm around Sam.

"Oh Mom," Bryan said. "We clean the tub."

"Yeah, we always do it once a year on your birthday," Quinn put in. He was sitting on the couch with his twin.

"They're not joking," Luke said as he turned on the TV.

Sam knew it was probably true. Jake was very clean, but she would bet the other boys' rooms were a mess. Sam was a slob when it came to her room, but made sure the tub was clean since she, Brynna and Gram liked to take baths sometimes.

"It could be days before we see Jake again," Maxine grumbled.

Sam giggled as she maneuvered to sit on the couch between Bryan and Quinn. She had taken some pain meds, but so far they hadn't kicked in. Quinn put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.

"Don't think I'll forget that little comment, Sammy," Quinn whispered to her.

"Is little a description?" Sam asked him.

Bryan guffawed, causing Luke and Maxine to look over at the three people on the couch. Quinn was grinning and Sam was smiling as Bryan laughed. Luke caught Maxine's eye and the two shared a warm moment loving the young woman who was part of their family. Even if Sam hadn't become engaged to Jake, they would have considered her their daughter. She had practically become one of them since the age of four.

"Okay, it should be clean enough now," Jake came back into the family room. He glanced at Sam sitting between the twins and gave her a small smile as he sat down in one of the nearby chairs.

"Oh good, I need a shower," Quinn pretended to start to get up.

"Don't you dare, Quinn Anthony Ely," Maxine scolded him. "Sam gets to use that bathroom first."

"That's not fair," Quinn complained, but everyone knew he was joking.

"Deal with it," Maxine told him as she picked up her knitting and started working on it.

Sam glanced at Quinn who stuck out his tongue at her. Sam stuck hers out at him and the two of them exchanged smiles.

She glanced at Jake who felt her gaze and turned from watching the rodeo on the big screen TV to meet her eyes. They exchanged much in that glance.

"If you don't mind, I think I will take a bath," Sam moved to get up. She groaned as she tried and both Quinn and Bryan helped her stand.

"Jake, get a pair of your sweats to wear," Maxine instructed her youngest son. "A clean pair."

"Gosh, Mom," Jake rolled his eyes.

Sam smirked at him. He turned her around and pushed her out of the room.

"Are you going to stay and watch?" Sam whispered as they went down the hallway to his room.

"Are you insane?" Jake whispered back. "You don't think they'd all figure out where I am?"

Sam laughed.

"Will you visit while I'm sleeping?" Sam asked as he pushed her into his room and then went to his dresser to get her a pair of sweats.

"If I can," Jake nodded, going through his things. He came up with a pair of Darton High sweatpants and sweatshirt. "They're old but clean. Not quite horsey jammies though." He grinned at her.

"Thank you," Sam grinned back at him. "Maybe I need to leave a pair of horse jammies here, huh?"

"I'd not tell you no," Jake gathered her in his arms and kissed her.

"I didn't think so," Sam kissed him back.

"How badly are you feeling?" Jake asked, taking her hand and going across the hall to the bathroom he shared with his brothers.

"Stiff, sore," Sam shrugged. "I bet I have bruises on my butt and hip."

"Whatever you do, don't tell Quinn," Jake told her.

"Will you give my butt a massage?" Sam raised her eyebrows at him.

Jake burst out laughing as he started running the bath water.

Sam looked down and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Jake asked.

"No bubbles," Sam responded.

Jake shut off the water. "Wait here."

"Jake, it's okay," Sam called to him, but he was already out the door and heading back towards the family room.

"Mom, do you have bubble bath?" Jake asked.

"Sam needs some, huh?" Maxine smiled, putting aside her knitting and getting out of her chair. "I'm not sure what scent Sam prefers, but I have a couple different ones."

"Lavender," Jake answered without hesitation. "Sam always smells like lavender."

Maxine gave her son an accessing look. "Lavender is calming."

Jake knew what his mother was saying. Jake had become calmer since becoming involved with Sam.

Jake shrugged. Maxine smiled knowingly, but didn't say anything more. She stooped down to look through a cupboard in her and Luke's bathroom and looked through some bottles, pulling out a light purple one.

"Lavender," Maxine handed it to her youngest son.

The two shared a look, both smiling.

"Thanks Mom," Jake gave her a brief hug and headed back to Sam.

Maxine watched him go, a soft smile on her face. He might not realize it, but Sam had been a huge influence on Jake. The small hug he had just given her was just one example.