Title: Again

Chapter Three: Suddenly the memories…

Author: Jaycee

*All necessary formalities are in the first chapter.

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On the other side of the town, on that same Sunday morning, Sam slowly opened his car door and squinted at the bright Chicago sunshine. 'I'm back! I'm finally back!' He happily thought to himself.

Walking towards the back door, he opened it slowly to reveal his daughter sleeping quietly. He smiled tenderly as he stared at Rosalind's delicate sleeping face. He doesn't want to do it, but he knew that he has to so that they can start unpacking. "Princess, time for you to wake up." Sam whispered as he gently carried Rosalind into his arms.

"Daddy? Where are we?" she said sleepily as she snuggled deeper into his arms. "Baby, we're here, in Chicago." He replied as he kissed her on the forehead. Suddenly, she was wide-awake and looked around. "This is Chicago daddy? Wow! It's beautiful!" She exclaimed.

Sam laughed at his daughter's exhuberantness and looked at Chicago through a child's eyes. Chicago is indeed beautiful. "Sam! Sam! Come on! I got a meeting in an hour! Let's start unpacking!" Lara called out from the other side of the car. "Yeah! We'll be right there!" He slowly lowered Rosalind to the ground and opened the trunk.

Efficiently, he carried the boxes of their things into the lobby of the condominium building. He closed the trunk as soon as the last box was in his hands. "What floor are we on anyway, Lara?" he grunted as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Um…" she checked her folder and smiled. "Twenty fifth floor." She said happily as she signaled for a bellboy to help them with their stuff.

"They have a bellboy here?" Sam asked, surprised. "Of course. This is a really expensive condominium." She said huffily. "Okay." He answered and rolled his eyes. "Come on princess. Let's look at our new home!" he said as he gave the box that he was holding to the bellboy and grabbed Rosalind's hand.

As the elevator started its journey up, Sam's fear of heights started to resurface. He closed his eyes as his fear started to paralyze him, enabling him to move a muscle. "Daddy, are you okay?" Rosalind asked, noticing his facial expression.

Lara smirked. "Don't worry Rosalind. Your daddy's afraid of heights. So childish…" she bitched out, smiling somewhat apologetically at the bellboy. Sam winced at Lara's words. He looked down at Rosalind and smiled in what he hoped was a brave smile.

She surprised her by taking his hand and squeezing it tight. "Don't worry daddy. I won't let you fall." She assured him sweetly. Sam smiled at her words… reminding him of Josie.

Those we're the exact words she told her that night when he rode the Ferris wheel with her. He was so afraid of heights but when he saw that her classmates were torturing her, he just knew that he has to help her. In the bucket was where he first realized that he was in love with her. And the feeling never changed after all this years.

"Daddy. We're here." He heard Rosalind say as she gently pulled him out of the elevator. The bellboy opened the door to their house and Sam was in awe with how beautiful everything looked. The place was obviously decorated by a great interior designer.

The place was painted in ecru and filled with state of the art appliances and really expensive furniture. He looked at Lara and saw the sheer happiness on her face. "Wow!" Rosalind exclaimed as she ran towards the balcony. Sam looked at her in alarm and followed her outside. His stomach turned as he looked down.

"Honey, don't stand to close to the railing." He reminded her gently and backed away a few steps. "Come on daddy! Come here. I promise I wouldn't let you fall." She said and held his hand. Sam grinned and nodded. He walked closer to her and looked at the magnificent view.

"There are so many buildings, kinda like New York! Can you tell me what buildings they are Daddy?" Rosalind asked, her green eyes huge. "Yes princess. I'll tell you." He started to rattle of the names of the buildings, until he came to a building that brought so many memories to him, both happy and sad.

"That one is the Chicago Sun Times building." He finished. "What's that?" she asked. "It's the top newspaper here in Chicago." He explained, as he felt pain shooting his body. Josie… how he miss her. "Get in here you two!" Lara called from the inside.

Sam carried Rosalind into his arms and they went in. "Yes mommy?" she asked. "I have the enrollment sheets for Rosie's Nursery schooling. Can you take care of that?" she asked as she handed him the sheets of paper. "Sure." He answered as he reached out to take the papers. "Thanks." She replied. "When are you going to look for a job?"

"Um… I don't know. By this week, I guess. I got all my working papers ready, so I guess that will be easy, as long as the schools here are looking for a English teacher." "Wait, are you going to teach in a university or in a high school?" "I hope I would get to teach in a high school." He answered as he looked at Rosie.

"You going to teach daddy?" she asked, as she played with her hair. "Don't I always, honey?" She giggled and went to the big bedroom. "Lara, we talked about this. I don't want to teach in college. I want to go back to teaching high school." He said firmly as he sat down on one of the large sofas in the room.

"Your going back to that juvenile job of yours? Have you lost your mind?" she seethed, placing her hands on her hips. "Yes. I am going back to the juvenile job of mine, and I won't listen to you telling me otherwise okay? I've made my decision." He replied, smiling sarcastically at Lara. She sighed audibly and shook her head.

"You really have no ambition do you, Sam?" she asked mockingly. "I do have ambitions. It's just that you don't want what my ambitions are." He replied. "That's because your ambitions are not fit for a grown man like you! God Sam! Your 29 years old! Shouldn't you at least graduate from teaching high school and go on to the bigger league?" she asked sardonically. Sam ran a hand through his hair and stood up.

"Whatever Lara! If you don't like what I want in my life then why don't we just finish everything?" Lara raised an eyebrow. "Fine! I get Rosalind then." "I don't understand you. Why do you get Rosie?" he asked, his blood boiling on anger.

"Because I'm her mother. Don't go to that topic Sam. You know that I'm going to win." She replied and turned around to go to her home office. Sam sighed and took his car keys from the table. "Rosie! Princess! You want to go out?" he called out. Rosie came out running. "Yes daddy! I'd love to!" she said and she jumped into his arms. "Tell mommy we're going out!" "Mommy! We're going out!" She yelled and before Lara can reply Sam ran out of the door with his daughter.

* * * Sam drove aimlessly around the familiar streets of Chicago. To his surprise, nothing really changed, and that felt good. 'Maybe Josie's feelings also didn't change!' he pondered. 'Ha! That's a laugh! Of course her feelings has changed. You left her without an explanation!' "Daddy? Where are we going?" Rosie asked her eyes shining as she looked at the places they passed by.

"Nowhere honey. We're just here to roam around, look at the sights." He explained. "Cool!" she exclaimed. "Yeah, cool!" he echoed. He stopped in front of a brown building. "That's where you're going to be studying, princess." He said as he pointed to South Glen South Elementary School.

He was surprised when Lara handed him the papers regarding Rosie's transfer. He didn't know that South Glen now has an Elementary School to its name. "Daddy? Can I see it?" Rosie asked, her eyes huge with excitement. "Okay." He replied and got out of the car. Rosie jumped out and ran to his side.

They walked around the school and saw a playground filled with kids with their parents sitting on the bleachers. "Daddy! Push me on the swings!" she squealed and ran towards the swings. He obliged and walked to the swings and gently started to push her. He laughed as his daughter started screaming in delight.

"Well, well, well. Sam Coulson's back in town!" Sam heard a female voice say behind him. He turned around and saw his best friend's wife, Joanah Richards. "Joey! How are you?" he shouted as he quickly swept her in his arms. "Sam! I'm so happy to see you!" She exclaimed as she hugged her back.

"Daddy? Who is she?" Rosie asked, looking at Joanah curiously. "You have a daughter?" Joanah asked incredulously. "Yeah. I do. This is Rosalind Coulson. Rosie, this is your Aunt Joanah." Rosie smiled shyly and held out her small hand. "Hi." She whispered. "She is adorable Sammy!" Joanah said and kneeled down to hug the little girl. She gazed into the little girl's face and smiled. "She looks exactly like you Sam." She complimented.

"I don't know if that's good or bad." He replied self deprecatingly. Joanah laughed. "That's a good thing." She assured him as she slowly stood up. "Wait. I want you to see someone." Joanah waved and disappeared at the corner of the building and when she was back in Sam's sight, she was with three people. The man she's with smiled hugely and ran towards him.

"Sam! My man! How are you?" Jonathan Richards exclaimed, as he hugged him tight. "I'm great Jon! How are you?" "I'm good. Here, meet our children. This is our daughter, Jasmine, she's three, and this is her brother, two year old Raffy." "How are you Jasmine?" he asked, smiling at the little girl. Sam stooped down and hugged the little kids. "Kids, he's your Uncle Sam." Jon continued.

Sam stood back up and urged Rosie to come out from hiding behind him and introduced her. "Guys, this is my daughter, Rosalind." He said proudly. "I can't believe you have a daughter." Jon exclaimed, smiling as he hugged the little girl. "I can't believe it myself. But I'm happy that I do. Go on, honey, play with Jasmine and Raffy." Sam urged his daughter.

Rosie nodded and was rewarded by a smile from the two kids. Rosie smiled at Sam and ran with the two kids towards the monkey bars. The three adults slowly walked towards the bleachers. "How are you Sam? You haven't called us for years." Joanah asked. "I'm so sorry about that. It's just that I've been so busy in New York. Lara had a really difficult pregnancy." Sam explained.

"Sam, I hope you don't mind me asking. I thought you loved Josie." Jon inquired. Sam sighed. "I do. It's just that, Lara blackmailed me." "How is that? What did she do?" Joanah exclaimed. Sam took a deep breath and started to tell them the sordid tale.

* * * Josie drove around Chicago after Anita left her house that Sunday afternoon. 'Why does he have to come now? When I'm starting to forget him?' she asked herself again, and still, an answer is not known. She slowly passed by the Navy Pier and saw the Ferris wheel. Josie stopped the car and got out. She saw the gate to the carnival open so she opened it and walked into the pier.

Memories started to seep into her brain… remembering Senior Nite and how sweet Sam was to her when he rode with her in the Ferris wheel even though he was really afraid of heights. He saved her from utter embarrassment that night and many more times after that. That night was the time that she realized that she's really in love with him.

She has always thought that he was the most wonderful man she has ever met but he made those thoughts crumble when he failed to go to the pitcher's mound. She felt a lump on her throat and she knew that she's about to cry. She bit her bottom lip to keep the tears from falling. "I won't cry. I won't." she quickly walked out of the pier and got into her car, driving as fast as she could to get away from that place.

* * * "Wow, Sam. We never knew." Jonathan whispered as soon as Sam finished his story. Sam hung his head sadly. "You should have called us, so that we can let Josie know what happened to you. She was really devastated that night when you didn't come." Joanah said softly.

"I couldn't. Lara was so demanding this past three years. She didn't really feel affection for Rosie so I was the one who took care of our daughter. That really made me busy, and my work… don't even get me started on that." He said wearily. "Oh Sam. I wish we helped you through that three years." Joanah said as she moved to hug her friend.

Sam gratefully hugged her back. "Yeah. I wished that too." He whispered. They stayed like that for a long time. Sam savored the fact that he is again in the company of the people that he knew really cared about him, except for his daughter.

As he slowly pulled away, he asked the two of them the question that has been bothering him since he came back to Chicago. "Guys, do you know how Josie is?" Joanah smiled. "Jonathan here has been friends with Rob Geller, you know, Josie's brother?" "Rob is Josie's brother?" Sam asked, surprised.

"Yeah. He is. You didn't know that?" Jon asked, shocked. Sam slowly shook his head. "I didn't. That's new. So, how did you become friends with Rob?" "Well, Josie asked Scott Romano to have Rob on his team as his assistant coach, and Scott eagerly agreed." Jon explained. "She really loves her brother to do that." Joanah added. "She's amazing." Sam affirmed.

That got a laugh out of the couple in front of him. "What?" he asked, bewildered. "Really subtle Sam. You're still in love with her, huh?" Joanah asked. Sam grinned. "Guilty as charged. So, have you guys seen her?" The couple answered in unison. "Yes." "And?" He probed them to continue. "She looks great…" Joanah started.

"Great? She looks so beautiful… stunning… amazing…" Jon trailed off. Joanah looked at him, obviously weirded out. "Excuse me. I'm here." Jon laughed and kissed her. "I know honey. I was just telling Sam how she looks like." "Really? She looks… well… everything that you said?" Sam asked, his heart aching to see Josie. "Yes sweetie… she does." Joanah replied.

"Is she you know… um…" Sam croaked, not wanting to say it. "Dating anyone? The last thing I heard Matt Riley was planning to ask her out…" Jon started and stopped when he saw the angry glint in Sam's eyes. "But I don't think that she said yes." Joanah finished, squeezing Sam's hand. Sam sighed in relief. "That's very great to hear."

"But Sam? You're married… how can that be? You said that she'll take Rosie away from you if she finds out that you tried to contact Josie." Jon reminded him. Sam closed his eyes. "I know… but… I have to see her… I love her. Please guys, you have to help me." He pleaded. Joanah met his husband's eyes. They nodded.

"Okay, we'll help you. But we have to be really careful." Joanah said. Sam beamed and leaned over in a three-way hug. "Thank you so much guys. This really means a lot." As they pulled away, Jon met his eyes. "We really have to be careful. We can't afford to have you lose Rosalind." Sam nodded. "And it's not going to be easy Sam. Josie might not be that forgiving." Joanah reminded him. "I know. But I have to try. I owe her that much." Sam whispered.

* * * Josie stopped on her way home at NaNa's. Going in, she took a seat by the window and watched the people walk by. The waitress came and took her order of chocolate shake and a plate of fries. When the waitress walked away, the memories started kicking in. She remembered the first day she was there, it was with Aldys Wells, the very first friend she made at South Glen South.

They talked about everything they wanted to be in the future, and she remembered how her stomach turned in every fabricated story that came out of her mouth. They also talked about their English teacher, Sam Coulson, and how he instantly became Josie's favorite teacher, even if she's only been in his class for one day.

Aldys totally agreed with her, saying that Mr. Coulson is a very likable teacher, even if you've only known him for a day. Josie smiled, knowing that she not only liked Sam Coulson, she fell for him…. It was love at first sight that day. There she was, a new girl in his class, and he welcomed her immediately with a big smile that made her heart skip a beat and her pulse race.

She thought she totally blew her cover when she defined 'pastoral' for him. Josie shivered as she remembered how he stared at her that day. "Miss, here's your order." The waitress interrupted her from her thoughts as she placed her food on the table. "Thanks." Josie said, smiling. "Your welcome." She replied and walked away.

She munched on a fry and was again lost in her thoughts when somebody suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. She whirled around and saw Rob smiling at her. "Rob! What are you doing here?" she asked as she stood up and gave him a hug. "I came from the school. We had a practice today. There's a big game in two weeks." He explained as he sat down and swiped one of her fries.

 "Do you want anything?" she asked. "Um… chocolate shake will be great. And more fries, definitely." He said as he ate more fries. Josie laughed and called the waitress to order. When the order was placed, Rob looked at her. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern on his face. Josie smiled. "Yeah. I am. Why would you say I'm not?" "You can't fool me Josephine. I'm your brother. Come on, tell me." He urged, taking a sip of her milkshake. "Robert! That's mine!" she protested.

"You're changing the subject. And anyway, you ordered another milkshake right? You can have that one." He guaranteed her as he downed more of the drink. "Now, talk!" Josie rolled her eyes. "I can never keep anything from you, Robert." She complained, looking at him.

"Yes, you can't. So shoot! What is bothering you? You can tell the Robster anything." He said gently. Josie sighed. "It's Sam." She started. "What? Coulson? What did he do now?" he asked angrily. "Rob, no, he didn't do anything." She said soothingly, laying a hand on his arm. 'Except break my heart.' She added to herself.

"So what is it?" he asked, softening.  "He's here. In Chicago." She said softly. Rob's eyes became huge as the shock started to set in. "He is? When? How did you know? Has he contacted you? What? What?" he asked hurriedly in one breath.

"One question at a time, okay Robert? I learned about it from Anita… and I don't know when he's coming, or if he's already here. And no, he hasn't tried to contact me." She answered. "Are you okay?" "I don't know. And not only that, I learned that the reason why he didn't come that night." "Why?" "He got married to Lara. At New York."

"Why… that son of a …" "Rob, don't say it." "Okay, I wouldn't. But you… Do you want to see him? Do you still love him?" Rob questioned her. Josie shook her head and she can feel another lump in her throat. She swallowed it down, determined not to break down in front of her brother. "I don't know Rob. I just don't know."

Rob stood up and sat on the chair beside her and placed his arms around her. Josie sighed and leaned against her brother. There she felt safe… as if nothing and no one can ever hurt her, She just know that Sam coming back to Chicago doesn't mean that he life will become clearer. No. It means the exact opposite. "Thanks Rob." "Your welcome. And remember if you need me… I'm always here." He whispered and kissed the top of her head. " I know. I know." She said under her breath as she snuggled deeper into Rob's warm embrace.