My first thought when I wake up is I'm so wrapped up in the drama of Sam's life, I'm starting to dream about talking to Hank. And then I remember, it was a real midnight conversation.

I went to bed early last night. Even though yesterday hadn't been that eventful compared to some of the days this summer, I still felt drained. I really wanted to invite Sam in, not let her go up to her apartment. But we promised Grandma we'd cool it down. It was fun hanging out with her, even listening to the kids' music in the car (it wasn't as bad as I expected), and I miss having the friendship we used to have. But I don't even know if I can be around her much, now that we're on our own again. Anyway, I fell asleep and it was nice to escape reality for a little while.

Until I dreamed of Sam and, uh, we weren't just talking. After I, ahem, dealt with that, I wondered what to do next. Could I call her? I knew it was too late at night to visit her. Or should I just keep this to myself? After all, if we're cooling it down, I shouldn't burden her with my lingering desire. Let her think I'm working on getting over her.

Although I'd had a three-piece meal with sides and a biscuit, that was hours before and I was hungry again. Sam sometimes teases that I'm still a growing boy, and food is an appetite I can indulge. So I decided to head down for a midnight snack.

I almost screamed when I saw someone lying on the couch in the dark. I think I did jump. I figured it wasn't a burglar, since burglars don't break in and then nap on the job. I turned on the light and the figure on the couch jumped and screamed.

"Hank?" I stared at him. Why was he crashing in my living room? And he'd been sleeping in his clothes, so I guessed this wasn't planned.

"Jonathan?" He blinked at me. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? This is my house! Why are you on my couch?"

"Sam didn't think you'd mind."

"Sam?" That meant he'd talked to her. In person? On the phone? And that still didn't explain why he was on my couch.

He sighed. "Yeah, it's a long story."

"You want some pie?" I asked. Grandma bought some Bavarian chocolate mint cream pie before she left, but the three of us didn't finish it yet.

"Pie?"

"Yeah, we could talk and eat in the kitchen."

"What is this, The Golden Girls?"

"Would you rather go to the lanai?"

He chuckled and followed me through the swinging door.

I took out the pie and got some plates, forks, and a knife. It did occur to me that maybe I'd be eating with the enemy. After all, he's Sam's ex. He broke her heart. He cheated on her. He filed for divorce. On the other hand, if she was angry at him, then she wouldn't have let him stay the night so close to her.

"How big a slice do you want?"

"Just a small one. We should probably leave most of it for Sam, right?"

"Well, it is her favorite."

"Yeah, and she's pregnant."

"Uh, yeah."

"So you know about that?"

"Well, yeah, we've been hanging out. And, um, she needed someone to talk to."

"Right. You guys are pretty good friends, huh?"

I didn't look at him as I sliced off a very thin piece for him and a regular size for me. "Well, she's my stepsister."

"Yeah, and you've known each other a long time."

"Yeah." I put the pieces on plates and got the forks.

"So maybe you can tell me what's going on with her."

I slowly came back to the table with the plates and forks. "Going on?"

"Thanks," he said, taking his plate. "Yeah. OK, I understand. I cheated on her. I left her. But the Sam I married had a temper."
"The Micelli temper."

"Yeah. But when I told her about Lisa, she didn't scream at me. She didn't throw things. She just cried."

I almost told him she cried for another month or two after that, off and on, although she did her best to keep it bottled up. But I didn't want him to know, whether it'd make him feel guilty or flattered.

"Did she cry tonight?" I asked. Oh, Sam, my Sam! OK, not "my Sam," but I wish I could go comfort her.

"No. I mean she wasn't happy. But I don't know. She wasn't how I expected."

"What did you expect?"

He looked down at his plate, although he wasn't eating. "Well, I wanted her to take me back."

"Oh."

"I know I made a big mistake, but I'm willing to make it up to her. To prove myself again. And she wasn't interested."

"Oh," I said again. I was afraid to say more.

"I mean, we're going to have a baby together!"

"I know," I said quietly.

"And kids are better off with two parents."

"Sam and I both grew up with single parents."

"Yeah, but you had Tony and she had Angela, so it's not the same. Sam doesn't have anybody if we don't get back together."

"Yes, she does," I said and then wanted to punch myself.

"She does?"

"I mean, she's got the family."
"Well, yeah, but, no offence, you're almost a kid yourself and you're usually away at college, and you'll go off and have your own life. And, Mona, well, she's always had her own life."

"Sam's got our parents."

"Yeah, but it's not the same as having a husband."

"No, we won't leave her for another woman."

He reacted like I punched him. He looked shocked and hurt.

"I'm sorry."

"No, that's fair. I deserved that."

"Hank, are you through with the other woman?"

"Lisa? I thought I was. I mean, I love her, too, but she understands that Sam is having my baby."

"Are you going to move back to Connecticut or stay in California?"

"I don't know. I don't know what I'm going to do, about anything."

"You can be an involved father without living with Sam."

He sighed. "I guess. Yeah. I mean, I'm not going to abandon my kid like your dad did."

Now I felt like he'd punched me.

"I'm sorry. I mean, I know your dad is still in your life, but I don't want just occasional visits like you had."

"Hank, you still haven't explained why you were sleeping on my couch."

He blushed a little. "I wanted to stay in the apartment but Sam wouldn't let me."

"Oh."

"Also, my mom was hoping Sam and I would get back together, and I couldn't deal with her sympathy tonight."

"OK."

"I'll go home in the morning."

"Are you going to be in Connecticut for awhile?"

"Yeah, there's some stuff I have to do for the divorce, since it looks like we're going through with that. And I need to think about whether I want to ask Lisa to take me back."

"Whose couch will you sleep on if she says no?"

"Ha ha, Jonathan," he said, and then we ate our pie in silence, unlike Rose and Blanche.

Then we said goodnight and I went back to bed.

Sam apparently didn't tell him about the fling, not that I really would expect her to. Maybe if it was ongoing, although there's no reason he has to know, when no one but Grandma does. Did she reject him because of me? Or were there enough other reasons?

What would I have done if she hadn't? What if they'd kissed last night? What if she invited him back into their bed? Could I blame her for that? After all, he's her husband and she has no commitment with me. She never wanted to make one and Grandma discouraged it. And even if she had wanted to, I say to myself for the hundredth time this summer, She's your stepsister. There is no possible romantic future.

I get up and shower, then dress. I wonder if Hank will still be there. For all I know, he hasn't really given up, and he's out buying Sam flowers. Unless he showed up with some last night? Or maybe I'm having breakfast with Hank. Maybe all three of us will have breakfast together, like in some 1930s movie that Mom and Tony would make us watch. I can just see Sam in an elegant white silk dressing gown.

On my way downstairs, the phone rings. I decide to wait till I get to the living room before I answer it, although the upstairs extension is closer. If it wakes up Hank, too bad.

But by the time I reach the ground floor, I hear the ringing stop and Hank sleepily say, "Hello?"

I look over at him. "Who is it?"

"I don't know. They hung up without saying anything."

"Oh. Maybe they thought they had the wrong number."

"Yeah, maybe. Sorry I answered."

"It's OK. I wasn't expecting anyone to call."

"I was."

"You were?"

"Yeah, this is sort of embarrassing, but I thought it might be Sam."

"No, she would just come over."

"Yeah, right. I just woke up. I'm not thinking clearly."

"Right."

"I hope that wasn't Lisa."

"Lisa?"

"Yeah, even though we broke up, she still cares."

"Why would she call and then hang up? And why not call at your old place?"

"Well, she wouldn't want Sam to answer."

"Right."

"I wonder if I should call her back."

"Well, don't do it from here."

"No, that would be tacky."

"Not to mention long distance."

He laughs. "Right. Hey, Jonathan, thanks for the pie and the talk last night."

"Hey, you're still sort of family, right?"

"Right. And, Jonathan, take care of Sam."
"Take care of her?"

"Well, yeah, I know your parents are off on that Italian honeymoon Angela announced at Sam's graduation party. And Sam may be more independent than I remembered, but she could still use a friend."

I don't believe this! He's telling me to do what I've been trying to do all summer, the fling aside. But I just nod and say, "I'll do my best."

Then we awkwardly hug goodbye and he leaves.

I want to talk to Sam, but I think this is one time when I have to wait for her to come to me. I won't even call her. I'll just wait. OK, if I don't hear from her by the time she's supposed to have her three-month exam, then I'll go to her. Or if Mom and Tony come back in the meantime of course.