Josie puts down the telephone with trembling fingers. The police officer's words put her head spinning with a fast speed. Could Audrey, the most lackadaisical person in that meeting, really be in the custody of the police now? What did she do to Kian or the teenage girl? Is that nanny in any danger? A dramatic revenge could be the most sweet reward, when you are out of your mind, especially when jealousy and hostility are actively involved. Sam uses both of his hands to massage her shoulders, whilst kissing her forehead softheartedly. It does not feel good at all. She does not want to be touched by either him or anyone else, as if any tenderness is only a disguise danger, which would evolve to a life changing calamity at any moment. She stands up suddenly and walks briskly towards the bathroom with tears in her eyes. Thereafter she shuts the door angrily. The darkness in the bathroom and the familiar scent of her soap gives her a sense of peace in her mind.
"Sweetheart, I know you are in a terrible shock! Please, please believe me, this is not the end of the story." Sam asks in a pensive voice on the other side of the bathroom door. "Josie, do you want to be alone? If you do, I really understand. But please, please keep your telephone line open. I am worried."
Josie opens the bathroom door and asks in an angry voice: "Do you think Audrey has lied to me about it all? Who is Kian? Why did a police officer answer her cell phone? I do not understand. Nothing makes any sense to me." She sobs vehemently, without being able to look at Sam in the eyes. She notices that Sam tries to hold her hands in his. By some strange reason, she only wants to escape from this evening, from him. She wonders whether the men, or the relationships in general is the most repugnant element which corrupts a woman's happiness. With a furious voice she shouts out: "I am done with this assignment and men in general. Someone else needs to work as a reporter. Not me, my rightful position is a brilliant copy editor, the best one Gus got in his stab."
Sam gives her a kiss on one of her hand: "Oh, sweet Josie-cosy, my charming panda-bear. You will create an amazing story, which will touch many people's heart, I know you will. You are such a caring person, a fantastic observer. I have corrected a pile of your brilliant essays, I know your special ability to penetrate through a rough surface, finding things, which nobody else would be able to identify, by analyzing what you have observed independently. Let us calm down a little for a moment." He looks at her with an amicable smile. "If I were you, I would probably like to check her profile one more time on that internet forum, also other members' contact information, tomorrow. Let me tuck you in bed now, before driving to my parents' house."
"Please don't drive away tonight!" Josie bursts out. "Please Sam! Please take up your travel bag from your Chrysler." She embraces him passionately. The thought of being away from him is unbearably agonizing. She had faced many intimidating moments all by herself a number of times in her life, from Billy's cruel joke to her college professor's harsh and unfair comments on her Master thesis. Never one time, she had someone who has shown such a commitment to help her go through such terrible episodes. "I have a bunch of new toothbrushes. I will treat you with a large portion of scrambled egg, with lightly smoked salmon and fresh green herb for breakfast tomorrow morning. I just cooked three huge bottles of rhubarb and strawberry lemonade, with my grandmother's fabulous Swedish recipe, also homemade rye bread." She puts her hands upon his upper arms.
Sam smiles back and asks with a teasing voice: "If I say no, would you write a new article on Chicago Sun Time's special edition and propose a slumber party in the same stadium next week? I can bring my super fancy Spider man PJ to impress the audience, also my soft Super Mario towel, if you want to, my fancy gingerbread lady." He pulls a strand of her hair behind her ear with his fingers softly.
Josie looks down shyly and replies: "Then I will need to buy a huge amount of eggs. I am not sure my storage room is sufficiently big." She looks at him and wonders how he has just transformed herself from a panicked luniac to a composed person. On top of this, she has just invited him to spend his first night with her in her bed. The bed, which she has been sleeping upon since she was ten years old. Their first night together does not occur as a conventional romantic fairytale. There is no candle light, romantic pop songs in the background or red roses scattered everywhere. What she has is her Sam, who lies beside her in his old College team T-shirt and a pair of grey cotton boxershorts, looking at her with his dazzlingly gorgeous eyes. She is too shy to touch his beefy legs or arms, but she loves the sensation of being so close to him.
She puts her hand on his hand and gives him a kiss on his lips, whilst continuing picturing what could have happened in Audrey's life. "Sam, it is so horrible to think that Audrey is locked behind the bars now, with a group of drunken and eerie criminals."
"Oh, my beguiling honeysuckle rose, please try to get some sleep. I will use all my secret tools which I have stored in my brain, helping you finding out who Audrey is, probably also how Kian is tomorrow." He gives her a kiss on her forehead och holds her waist with his hand.