Chapter 11

XoXoXoX

"Want another one?" Sam whispered to Emma, holding out the half-empty box of chocolates.

"Oh yeah," Emma replied from the seat next to her, eagerly grabbing another piece. They were sitting in the back row of the small classroom so they could chat among themselves while Leslie and the rest of the PTA committee droned on and on about activities they had planned for the remainder of the school year. Emma took a bite of her chocolate covered wafer and quietly said, "You have to give Martin points for at least having the decency to buy you the expensive chocolates."

"Trust me, it's going to take a lot more than chocolate this time," she replied as she held the box out further to where Andrea sat on the other side of Emma, offering her some more as well.

As Andrea plucked a piece of chocolate from the box she whispered, "Check it out, the Stepfords are eyeballing you guys again."

Sam and Emma looked over to see several of the preppy soccer moms sitting together huddled in conversation. She knew that they were relishing the drama surrounding Martin and Kelly, and now Martin and Danny. If there was one thing that women like them loved more then their posh lifestyle was seeing someone who challenged them at every turn having a very public scandal. While a large part of her wanted to walk over and smack the smirks off of their faces, her pride refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her get upset. She glanced at Emma who continued to stare them, looking defiant.

She felt bad that Emma and Danny were being sucked into the fray but she admitted it felt good to commiserate with someone who knew what she was going through; sort of. Because in her friend's case, it seemed that some good came out of it all.

XoX

Samantha saw Emma and Andrea standing on the sidewalk just outside the school building. They were engaged in conversation and didn't even see her approach until she greeted them and they both turned around to face her.

"Hello Samantha," Andrea replied with a small smile.

"Hey Sam," Emma said, sounding cheery but looking stressed. "How are you doing?"

"Judging by the way you look I'm doing better than you," she replied, reaching over and gently rubbing her shoulder. "Are you okay? You do know that this thing between Danny and Martin is completely ridiculous don't you?"

Emma laughed lightly. "I know, believe me I know how easily my husband gets himself into trouble but it isn't why I'm upset." She sighed heavily, kicking the cement step at the bottom of the stoop and said, "I asked my parents to move out of the house today."

"You did? Why? What happened?" Sam asked although she knew that this was ultimately good news for Danny.

"Actually it was because of the thing with the press," Emma replied softly. "I don't really want to rehash it right now but suffice it to say, my father completely overreacted, we got into an argument and I told him that it would be best if he and my mom moved out. So they did. They're staying at The Pierre now."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I mean, I know it's really for the best. Danny was miserable. Having them live with us may have made things easy for the boys but it was difficult for him. But still, augh," she hunched her shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. "I can't help but regressing back to that little girl who hates disappointing or upsetting her parents."

"Well, I don't know how this is going to make you feel but I think you made the right choice," Samantha replied, pulling her friend into a comforting hug.

"I know, you're right," Emma replied with a smile. She stepped back and said, "Man, I wish I still had one of those cigarettes left."

Sam smiled and held up the box in her hand. "Would you settle for some chocolate?"

XoX

When she caught some of the women looking over again she planted a big grin on her face and waved 'hello' at them They quickly stopped their gossiping and turned away, refocusing their attention on Leslie who was standing at the podium.

"Now, I want to readdress the school lunch menu," Leslie began, her well manicured hands gripping the sides of the podium as she smiled at the group of parents with her perfectly capped teeth. "I know we discussed this last year but I would like to once again comment on the benefits of a macrobiotic, all organic diet. Now, Joy Campbell crunched the numbers on the cost of switching the school cafeteria menu and it is a bit more expensive." Joy, who looked like a brunette version of Leslie, stood alongside the podium. "So I would like to propose that the PTA form a committee to put together a plan and meet with the school principal to discuss raising tuition to cover the differences."

There was some loud murmuring among the parents in attendance. Sam listened as Emma and Andrea moaned beside her. Not only was the tuition already astronomical but a majority of the parents didn't even endorse the diet plan that Leslie was proposing. Quite frankly she was more curious what the woman's obsession with food was.

Samantha, Emma and Andrea all shared a look as they each stood up. Emma cleared her throat and said, "We would like to voice our opinion."

"Of course you do," Leslie replied with an audible sigh. "The floor recognizes Mrs. Spade, Dr. Taylor and Mrs. Brown."

Samantha stared back at the woman and said, "I think the school lunches are already very well balanced."

"Mrs. Spade," Leslie began with a condescending look. "Currently a large portion of the school lunches consist of processed, high sodium and fatty foods. I think by altering the menu it would greatly benefit the children's long term health."

"I agree that we should endorse a healthier diet but I hardly think going macrobiotic is the best course of action," she retorted.

"I happen to disagree," Leslie replied with narrowed eyes. "I believe that a healthy diet leads to a healthy mind. Food is an essential ingredient for a long, vital life. I think by incorporating a better diet for our children we are showing them how much we love them and care for their wellbeing."

Sam hated her tone as she spoke. As if implying that just because she disagreed on the children's diet that she somehow didn't care about her kids.

Joy stepped up to the mic and in a sickeningly sweet voice said, "I also agree. I currently have my entire family on this diet and they love it, especially my husband. I think it's because he knows that I care about his health because I want him around for a long time." Her lips curved up into a wicked smile and she said, "It reminds me of an old adage that my mom used to share with me, maybe you've heard of it. 'The quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach?'"

Samantha knew that the woman was trying to goad her by referring to Martin and his supposed infidelity in a round about way. Refusing to take the bait she smiled back and quipped, "Really? I've always found the quickest way to a man's heart is with a .45 through the chest."

"Actually, I find a good scalpel and rib spreader to be equally effective," Emma added authoritatively as Andrea giggled.

"Well perhaps this explains the current predicament with your husbands," Leslie said icily. The room full of women began whispering amongst themselves.

Sam clenched her fist. Little Ms. Stepford picked the wrong day and time to challenge her. "Look, Leslie, I trust my husband and I know for a fact that the tabloids are getting it wrong. Both ridiculous versions," she finished, her eyes scanning the room challenging them to argue with her. "Not that you can't blame Kelly Grant for trying. My husband is smart, a great father, somewhat funny in his own weird way and he has an ass that you can bounce quarters off of." She turned back to look Leslie straight in the eye and finished, "Of course, you must know that judging by how often I catch you staring at it."

A visible blush appeared on Leslie's face.

One of the other moms stood up and with trepidation asked, "What about the thing with both of your husbands? That video they are showing?"

"It was from an old case when they were working undercover," Sam replied, folding her arms over her chest.

"My husband, Danny, has already called the men from the case and asked them to explain it to the press. That is was completely innocent," Emma announced. "It's going to be old news by tomorrow afternoon."

"But your husband does know Kelly Grant?" another woman asked.

Sam frowned. "Yeah, they used to date – years and years ago."

"Is there any chance he can get her to attend our next fundraiser?" someone asked. "Having a celebrity like her would definitely sell tickets."

"No!" both she and Emma shouted back, annoyed by their brazenness. Sam put her hands on her hips and said, "So unless any of you have more invasive questions about our personal lives can we please get back to the lunch issue?"

It was quiet for a beat and then there was a little bit of murmuring between the mothers before some of the other moms stood up and offered up some alternatives to Leslie's plan. Satisfied that the agenda was getting back on track, Sam, Emma and Andrea sat back down.

Andrea laughed softly and said, "There's never a dull moment with you guys."

Emma and Sam both laughed.

When she returned home later that night she found the house dark and quiet. She hung her jacket in the closet and went to check on the kids. Both Nate and Grace were sound asleep in their beds so she adjusted their covers and kissed them on the forehead before finally making her way to the master bedroom. She saw that the light was still on and she could Martin's voice talking to someone. She pushed open the door and saw him sitting on his side of the bed with his cell phone pressed up against his ear.

She closed the door and he looked over at her, his expression serious. "Yeah, I'll run it tomorrow," he replied before listening to whatever the caller was saying. She gave him a questioning look and he mouthed 'Viv' before returning to the conversation. She walked to the dresser and pulled out her pajamas, glancing at Martin as she changed.

"I'll do whatever I can. Try and get some rest. Goodnight." he hung up the phone, setting it on the nightstand.

"Is there some new lead on the case?" she asked as she pulled on her pajama pants.

"Sort of," he replied, rubbing his hand over the back of his head. "One of her students has been doing her own private investigating and has a list of some possible suspects of her own. Viv wants me to run the names to see if I can come up with anything."

Sam nodded and asked, "How's she doing?"

He shook his head. "Not very well. She said that Reggie was put on administrative leave from work because they're afraid of any scandal being associated with the architecture firm."

"That's awful," she replied as she pulled on a t-shirt. "How's he taking it?"

"He's taking it pretty hard," he replied as he sat back on the bed, his back pressed up against the headboard. He glanced at her and softly commented, "It isn't easy being accused of a crime you didn't commit much less getting punished for it as well." She gave him a look to indicate that she knew what he was hinting at as she tossed her clothes into the hamper. "Speaking of crime and punishment, having me help Grace with her homework was definitely a classic."

"You liked that?" she asked with a devilish grin.

"No but I think that was the point. I am going to have that damn song stuck in my head for days," he replied carefully. He rolled onto his side and looked at her. "So are you still really mad?"

She walked over to the bed and sat down on her side of the bed. "I'm not mad – at least not as mad. You can thank Danny for that." He released a soft chuckle and she managed a small smile before giving him a soft look and said, "And I know in the grand scheme of things, compared to the situation with Reggie and Kate it seems so silly but I'm still really hurt, Martin. I told you how I felt about her, about my concerns but you just disregarded my feelings and that's what hurts."

"I told you why I saw her," he replied carefully.

"But you still saw her," she said coolly. "And then you didn't even tell me about it right away." He opened his mouth to speak and she held up her hand to stop him. "I know, but then your mom died so we had to deal with that. But you saw Kelly around lunch time on Friday so you had a full twenty-four hours beforehand to tell me and you didn't."

"I wanted to wait, I didn't want to make you mad," he explained meekly. "And then after my mom died I forgot. That means something, too, right? She is so inconsequential that I just forgot."

"What I heard is that you knew that I would get mad by you seeing her but you did it anyway and then put off telling me. Which only made me that much madder when I found out with the rest of the country," she replied tugging on the cuff on her t-shirt. "Martin, I confided in you my fears about Kelly but you just shrugged them off. Like what I was feeling didn't matter because you knew better." She felt her face grow warm and the ache in her throat from wanting to cry from having this conversation. She held up her hand, pointed at him and said, "Which by the way, turns out I was exactly right."

He reached over and grabbed her outstretched accusing hand, holding it in his. "I'm sorry, Sam. I fucked up. I should have respected your feelings and just stayed away. I was an idiot." He caressed her hand with his thumb. "I'm so sorry and I wish I knew how to make it up to you. Do you want me to grovel?" He hopped up into a kneeling position and planted rapid kisses on her hand. "I'm so sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Please, please forgive me…"

"Don't be funny," she chastised, but making no effort to pull her hand away. "I'm really upset that you dismissed what I told you."

"I know," he replied, gripping her hand as he met her eyes. "I know and I feel terrible for making you feel this way. But you know what? You were absolutely one hundred percent right." His lips spread into a smile as he leaned closer and said, "This means that you can use this as an example of why I should always, always listen to you. Why I should never doubt your judgment again. And I won't, I promise."

"That's a total lie," she replied, intertwining her fingers with his. "You question my judgment on movies and tuna."

He laughed. "Well, you keeping changing the NetFlix queue to put your chick flicks on top and some of them have horrible plots and you keep buying the albacore tuna but I think the regular tastes better."

"See, it hasn't even been a minute and you are already questioning my judgment," she replied, playfully wrestling with his arm.

"Okay, so I only promise to not question your judgment about things that really matter to you," he said, yanking her arm and pulling her into his embrace.

"Fair enough," she said, relaxing against him; his t-shirt warm and soft against her cheek.

He rested his chin on her temple and whispered, "You know I love you more than anything and I am so sorry for hurting you."

"I know," she replied softly. "It's the only thing that kept me from inflicting bodily harm on you today."

"Good to know," he laughed. He ran his hand over her arm and gently asked, "Are we okay?"

She glanced at the picture of them on the nightstand. It was taking on weekend trip to Vermont during the fall to see the changing of the leaves. They had gotten lost twice on that trip but they were having so much fun together that it didn't matter. She bit the side of her lips, getting ready to ask something of Martin that made her feel insecure and silly for asking but she could never rest otherwise.

"I never want you to see her again. I know that sounds harsh but she does want you so I'd rather you just stay out of the range of temptation. You went fifteen years without seeing her so I don't think it's too much to ask." She turned to face him; her eyes focused on his and asked, "Can you do that?"

He stared back at her and said, "Done, no way will I see her again," he shook his head animatedly and finished, "If someone she knows goes missing, well then they can just stay missing."

She laughed. "That's a bit extreme but okay."

He pulled her tighter and with his lips against her temple asked, "So, can we kiss and make-up now?"

She shook her head and pulled back. "Nope, I want a little more groveling." She moved back on the bed and put her foot on his lap. "Let's start with a foot rub – a real one. If you do a good job I might rethink kissing and making up afterwards."

He stared down at her foot, considering before picking it up and saying, "I don't know, Sam, my foot rubs are so good that when I'm done you are going to want to do a lot more than just kiss"

She rested her head on the table as he worked his fingers over the pad of her foot and smiled as she replied, "I'll take my chances."