Chapter 7

Sam called her Aunt Sue when she reached San Francisco. Aunt Sue heard the sobbing woman on the phone and told Sam to come to her apartment immediately.

Aunt Sue opened the door to the soft knock a little while later and enveloped her niece in her arms. Taking Sam to the couch, Aunt Sue held the young woman she loved, holding her tightly to her chest as she cried herself out.

Through tear-filled words, with bouts of sobbing, Sam explained why she had left school and come to San Francisco.

"Oh Sam," Aunt Sue was full of sorrow. She had met and liked Jake, thinking he was perfect for her niece. To have this happen broke Aunt Sue's heart. "Maybe he'll contact you once he's had some time to think about it."

"He won't," Sam shook her head. "Jake is big on loyalty. He never wanted me going to those frat parties, but I did for Jen. I wish now I had listened to him. My life wouldn't be such a mess."

"You're still wearing his ring," Aunt Sue pointed out.

"Only because I wanted to get settled before sending it back," Sam sighed, looking down at her beautiful ring. She hated the thought of giving up her stunning ring. She knew she had to give it back. It wouldn't be right to keep it. She didn't deserve to keep it.

"You can stay here as long as you need to, dear," Aunt Sue told her. "On one condition though."

"I can't call Jake again," Sam shook her head. "He disconnected his cell phone."

"You could try getting the number where he's living from his family," Aunt Sue said.

Sam shook her head. "You don't know him like I know him."

Aunt Sue sighed in despair. She could see the changes in her niece already. The biggest difference was in her eyes. There was nothing there. No life. Just bleakness and darkness.

"Okay, but will you call your family?" Aunt Sue asked.

"I planned on it today," Sam admitted. "I wanted to get settled and get to the point where I won't cry so much when I explain."

The two women looked at each other. They both knew that point would never come.

That got Sam crying again and she tried to wipe her tears, but they came too quickly. Aunt Sue left to go into her bedroom, giving Sam a bit of privacy.

Sam flung herself down on the couch and cried until she had no tears left. When the tears ran out, her heartbreaking sobs filled the apartment, the sound tearing out the heart of her aunt.

Sam sounded so hopeless, so heartbroken. Aunt Sue knew there would be some very bad times ahead for her niece. It might take her years to get over this heartache, if she ever did.

Aunt Sue knew how much Sam loved Jake. She knew that her niece couldn't wait to become Jake's wife. This was so out of character for Samantha.

It broke Aunt Sue's heart as she ached for her niece.

When Sam had finally cried herself out, Aunt Sue came back into the living room with a cup of hot tea for Sam.

"Thank you," Sam tried to smile, but failed miserably. She wasn't sure she'd ever smile again.

"Do you want some privacy while you talk to Wyatt?" Aunt Sue asked.

"It doesn't matter," Sam's voice sounded so hopeless. "He's going to yell and tell me to come home. I'll refuse. We'll end up not resolving anything and I'll hang up."

Aunt Sue put her arm around Sam again.

Sam sighed and dialed her phone.

"Hi Gram," Sam said, trying not to cry all over again at the warm voice of her grandmother.

"Samantha? What's wrong?"

Sam laid it out for her grandmother. Gram didn't interrupt. Sam thought she was probably in too much shock to be able to form any words. Sam knew she was right there with her. Her mind wouldn't always form the words she needed and there were long pauses in her narration.

"Oh Sam," Gram murmured and Sam could hear the emotion in her grandmother's voice. "You should come home."

"I can't," Sam choked out. "I can't bear to see him with someone else."

"He might not…," Gram began.

"He will," Sam insisted. "He hates me Gram. I couldn't stand to see the hatred in his eyes."

Gram understood and told her so.

"Your father is still out on the range," Gram said. "I'll have him call you when he gets in."

"Can't you tell him?" Sam asked.

"I'll tell him part of it, but you need to explain the rest," Gram told her. "I wish you would reconsider."

"I can't," Sam blubbered.

"I'm sorry, Samantha," Gram murmured, but Sam had hung up.

She buried her face in her hands, the sobbing getting to Aunt Sue. Soon she was sobbing with her niece the two women holding each other again until they cried themselves out.