Chapter Three
Sami made her way through Salem Place pondering the recent turn of events that had come her way after Brandon's recent return to town. While she hadn't been quick to seek him out, his messages on her answering machine had left her with a feeling of finality and sadness as she realized that they were really, truly going to be over at long last. Somehow that in itself didn't seem real, but then again her marriage had ceased to feel like a reality for so very long after he'd left her, yet in seeing him once again, well it had sparked something inside of her that she feared she wouldn't be able to shut off.
Even now she could still picture the weary expression on Lucas's face when she'd explained she needed time on her own to get a few errands run. Lucas had insisted on joining her, but she needed space and time to think things through. Certainly what she had going with Lucas was something extraordinary and truly they'd bonded in so many ways that she'd never experienced with any other person before and yet, there was a certain sense of something that had kept her focused upon Brandon's return. It almost didn't seem fair as she thought to how Lucas had worked to win her over once Brandon had left, yet even now as she pondered these thoughts she thought to her foolishness as she realized that Brandon wasn't coming home to stay. He wasn't trying to win her over, but more so he was pushing for the divorce that she'd refused to give him so very long ago in a moment of stubbornness. That in itself should be reason enough for her not to think about what might've been with Brandon as in ending it, well it certainly cleared the way for her future with Lucas and she was certain that was truly what she needed…well, almost certain at least.
"Sami, Sami, what are you doing to yourself," she frowned thinking about how the path of self destruction had taken her down a dark road she never vowed to return to again after Lucas had opened the door to romance and happily ever after. All the scheming and the self-loathing left her when she'd found her heart in the arms of a man who'd accepted her as she was--knowing all her faults and understanding her unlike any other. Certainly Lucas Roberts was the man she was meant to be with, and yet, she still found herself drifting away to that time and place when she'd schemed and plotted to capture the heart of another.
"Samantha," Brandon's voice broke through her thoughts as she turned her attention to the pathway in front of her finding him standing near one of the windows on this autumn afternoon, "I wasn't expecting to run into you today."
"Oh well, I had shopping to do," she replied with a half smile holding up the bags in her arms, "you know it is a busy, busy time of year."
"You aren't kidding," Brandon agreed stepping towards her as he reached for one of her bags, "Here, let me help you."
"Oh I don't really think that's necessary as," she started as he lifted the bag from her arm carrying it effortlessly as he smiled at her.
"It's truly no problem," he confessed with a nod, "as I must confess I'm glad that I ran into you just now. Do you have a minute?"
"Actually, I was just about to…" she started feeling her throat go dry as her pulse quickened at the familiar scent of his cologne, "Why? What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I was calling you all week and you hadn't returned any of my calls so," Brandon began to explain before shaking the thought, "Tell you what, how about we start this over again? Say over coffee?"
"Coffee," she repeated with a gulp realizing that never before had such a word sounded so very tempting and inappropriate as it did in this moment in time that Brandon Walker stood before her as real as the sun shining overhead with his sexy, subtle invitation to spend time together.
"You still like coffee, don't you," Brandon arched a curious brow, "Maybe a couple cappuccinos?"
"Cappuccinos sound wonderful," she agreed with a nod forcing a nervous smile as he lead her along through the shops towards the coffee shop on the corner.
"Great," he replied casting a glance in her direction every now and then, "so I suppose that you've had a busy week…"
"Well you could say that," Sami nodded in response watching as he opened the door to the coffee shop allowing her access before following her inside. They discreetly slid into one of the booths in the corner of the small trendy spot before he set her bags down and rose up to order their drinks. She almost protested or suggested that she join him in placing the order, but instead she found herself at a loss as she watched him walking away from her, her eyes leisurely traveling over the muscled expanse of his body.
Hmm, Sami noted to herself unable to keep her eyes from dwindling towards the most inappropriate places as she noticed that the other women in the place had also taken note of Brandon's physique. Then again, what wasn't to love about a man who'd taken such incredible care of himself considering that well, Brandon did appear to be leaner and more chiseled than he'd been the last time she'd seen him. Even now as her mind thought back to his bronzed, glistening body in the heat of the moment wrapped up around her in the throes of passion, a flush rose over her features as she pressed her hand to her cheek feeling a hot fire burning beneath.
"Here we are," Brandon announced returning to the table and offering her the drink he'd just picked up, "A cappuccino with a sprinkle of chocolate just like you like it."
"You remembered," she couldn't help but feel touched by his gesture as a smile expanded over her features.
"How could I forget," he questioned leaning in over the table as his smile seemed to touch the bottom of her heart causing her to melt as she sat across from him. She feared for the moment he dared to reach out to her as she was certain she'd slide off of the seat onto the floor should he dare initiate any kind of connection, but as sure as she'd thought he was about to take that bold move to unite them, he seemed ready to put more of a distance between them as he sat up straighter in his side of the booth, "So, Samantha, tell me something. Why do I get the distinct vibe that you've been avoiding me lately?"
"Avoiding you," she repeated with a tiny gulp reaching for her cappuccino and taking a sip of the steaming liquid in between breaths, "why would you say something like that?"
"Because each time I've tried to reach you, you've ducked out of a return phone call," Brandon confessed with a sigh, "I was half wondering if you'd changed your mind about the papers…"
"You mean about the divorce?" her eyes widened in surprise, "Why, have you?"
"Well I…" he started stammering a bit as he took in a slow breath, "well what I meant was I was beginning to wonder if you'd just as soon had me go to your Uncle Mickey instead of us doing this face to face…"
"Oh," her disappointment flooded over her upon his words as she slumped over in her seat, "well, no that's not what this was about as I had this thing…you know Will had this school thing and Lucas…"
"Ah yes Lucas," Brandon nodded, "how could I forget about him? How is Lucas these days?"
"Lucas is, well, he's Lucas," she blurted out like a moron watching the expression that crossed over his features.
"Well I suppose that's a good thing," Brandon paused with obvious hesitance, "though you know I must say I was surprised to find you two the other night like…"
"Like what?" she questioned feeling an awkwardness behind his pause.
"Well, like that," he admitted shamefully as he played with the mug before him, "I mean it's not any of my business, but…"
"You're right," she nodded accordingly, "It's not your business."
"I realize that, but still I had to think about all those times when I'd tried encouraging you to give Lucas a chance for Will's sake," he offered up a sad smile, "I guess I was onto something more than I ever imagined I could be, huh?"
"Lucas has been here for me through some really horrible times. He was there when my father was murdered and when I lost almost everyone that meant anything to me," Sami confessed openly thinking to the year of horrors that they'd put behind them, "He really helped me break free from those chains I kept around me and now, well he's just…"
"A lucky man," Brandon interrupted leaving it at that as a sadness flashed behind his eyes, "although I must confess that when he showed up on our wedding day prepared to launch everything at me about you, I guess, well I just never thought that you two would wind up together like this, but then again I suppose it shows you how the world works in strange ways."
"To say the least," she nodded unable to think of anything more to say as she fidgeted with the handle on the mug, "but enough about me, how are you doing? How have you been?"
"I've been busy," Brandon admitted making polite conversation, "When I left Salem I had a lot of soul searching to do and well, I guess you could say that changes a man."
"Do you like the changes that's come with that soul searching?" she inquired unable to keep her curiosity from showing.
"In some ways I think it's humbled me, but in a lot of other ways I found myself filled with a great many regrets," Brandon confessed with a sad expression, "as in my taking off I missed out on some very important things in my life."
"Such as?"
"Such as when my father was murdered I was overseas and my mother didn't tell me until after the funeral," Brandon explained sadly guilt tugging upon him, "Abe and I were on good terms when I left, but well, I never had that chance to say good-bye. I never had that opportunity to get to know the things about him that I'd missed on over the years growing up and in some ways, well I guess I'll never know the great man that I wasted all too much time hating."
"Your father was a good man," Sami offered up tenderly as she placed her hand over his, "as he was wonderful to me growing up, but I didn't appreciate him nearly as much as I should've."
"I'm the one guilty of that crime as I made my father's life so much harder than it should've been all because I was too much of a jerk to just face my fears and open my heart to the possibilities of a relationship with him," Brandon sighed heavily, "and now, well now it just doesn't feel right saying everything I couldn't say to a grave."
"Believe me I know how that feels," Sami admitted tearfully as she thought to the pain she'd endured in losing her father, "My father married Kate around the time of his death and I was furious. I was so hurt and heartbroken by his betrayal that I'd said and did some horrible, horrible things to him--things that I can never take back now that he's gone as I was too wrapped up in what I was feeling to even consider what his happiness was."
"Even so, I know Roman loved you Samantha. You were always the most important thing in his life," Brandon squeezed her hand in his, "You were his princess and regardless of how things were, he loves you very much."
"I know," she felt a tear slip down her cheek as she choked up on emotion, "I really believe that, but it's just so hard."
"I know Samantha," he reached out across the table wiping the tear from her cheek, "and they say in time all wounds shall heal."
"I don't really believe that line," she admitted choked up on emotion.
"Neither do I, but I guess I was kind of hoping that maybe together we could live in a good, solid state of denial as I'm sure our fathers would prefer that to the misery and regret that clearly is eating away at the both of us," Brandon explained reaching for a napkin and handing it to her as her tears continued. Feeling a pang of guilt touch over him, he rose from his seat opting to slide into the booth beside her as his arm curled around her shoulders, "I'm so sorry for bringing this up Samantha."
"No, it's not your fault," she insisted shaking her head as she sank into his chest, "as I knew that this was always going to be difficult for me. I keep pretending that I'm okay with it, but I'm really not as it just feels so wrong…"
"I know it does," Brandon touched her cheek lifting her chin so that their eyes connected, "and I wish that things had turned out differently."
"So do I," she whispered in a tiny breath as her gaze dropped down to his lips, to his ever so kissable, tender, sensual lips and she thought to the times that she'd lost herself in them over and over again. As if he could sense what she was thinking, he seemed to inch in towards her bridging the distance between them as she closed her eyes anticipating one last union between them, but before she could truly lose herself in the moment a sound came up in a roar as she found herself staring up at a slender, brunette woman with wide, doe eyes.
"There you are," she grinned at Brandon before placing her hand on her hip impatiently, "I was almost afraid I lost you."
"Kimberly," Brandon began rising to his feet as Sami eyed this new arrival with questioning eyes, "Kim, I'd like you to meet my wife…Samantha…"
"Ah, so you're the infamous Samantha," Kimberly smiled at her flashing her a bright, white grin as she offered her hand out to Sami, "I've heard a lot about you over the last year."
"You have," Sami raised a skeptic brow already disliking this beautiful woman that stood possessively at Brandon's side.
"That's right," Kimberly nodded curling her arm in around Brandon's waist as he seemed to stiffen, "Brandon has been keeping me well informed on your history and more so on the details of this divorce you're going through. I must say I can't imagine ever having the strength to let Brandon go, but your loss has been my gain and for that I feel I should thank you…"
"No thanks are necessary," Sami replied her heart dropping as she watched the woman tangle herself around Brandon.
"You know Kim, Samantha and I were just in the middle of…" Brandon started uneasily as Sami jolted to her feet needing to get out of the situation as soon as possible.
"Actually, I really need to run because I'm late for…" Sami found herself at a loss as she could almost feel her tears threatening to overtake her once again, "Well, I just need to leave…"
"Samantha," Brandon called out to her watching as she fled from the coffee shop.
"What did I say?" Kimberly questioned as Brandon took a step away from her watching his wife retreat out into the afternoon leaving their conversation behind as his heart sank with a heavy sense of loss.
"Nothing Kim," Brandon sighed sinking back down into the booth as he wondered if he'd ever find the strength to do what he'd truly come back to Salem to do as in seeing Samantha all over again, it changed everything for him.
*********************
Sami couldn't think straight, couldn't pay attention to the traffic lights and most certainly couldn't focus on anything, but the way that woman was pawing at Brandon. What right did she have to be doing such a thing in front of her and more so why had Brandon let her touch him? He was still her husband and as long as she was Mrs. Brandon Walker, Sami wasn't going to tolerate that kind of shameless display, although the sad fact remained that she wasn't going to be Mrs. Walker much often because as soon as she signed the papers, it would be over. Her past with Brandon would be just that and their ties would be severed forever. She knew that's what they agreed upon and while her head was certain that was how it should end, her heart couldn't help but hurt as she wanted so much more--more than she'd ever dreamt of as clearly she was torn.
With that thought fresh in her mind, Sami headed back to her apartment needing some time away from the rest of the world to clear her thoughts as it seemed that things were only growing exponentially where the complications were concerned. She needed to shut the world out--to close herself off from whatever had been haunting her and more so she needed to get her act together before she lost everything she'd worked so hard to achieve in her life. She had to stop dwelling on what might've been and focus on the future--the one that she had with Lucas.
As that thought carried her into the apartment, Sami vowed to banish every and all thoughts of Brandon as today was a day that would put her one step closer to her new life. She didn't need to resort back to the past or what she might've once felt for him. This was about now and Lucas was her now and forever…at least that's what she'd convinced herself over the last few months.
Closing the door behind her as she heard the faint sound of jazz music playing in the background. Opening her eyes she found herself surrounded by flowers and streamers and balloons which made her question whether or not she'd stepped into the right place, but before she could take the time to walk out of her apartment and walk back in again, Lucas emerged from the bedroom clad in a suit and tie flashing her a sexy smile as her heart stirred up with something wonderful at the very sight of him.
"I was hoping you'd be home soon," Lucas confessed extending the single red rose he'd been holding out towards her before he leaned in to kiss her tenderly, "as I've missed you."
"Lucas, what's going on," Sami questioned in confusion, "I thought that you'd be gone for the day and…"
"I needed to take care of a few things, but now, well now I think I've got all the bases covered," he reached for her hand lifting it to his lips as a cryptic smile continued to play over his features.
"What are you up to," Sami questioned unable to curb the curiosity that was brewing behind her blue eyes.
"Well it's quite simple you see," he lead her through the apartment, "as I've had a lot on my mind over the last week so tonight Will is spending the night with Chris and you and I are going to have a night to remember starting with this," he urged her to sit on the sofa before he got down on one knee before her withdrawing the ring box from his hand as his eyes fixed upon her, "Sami, I know that we really haven't set any definitions on what it is that we have with one another, but I'd like to change that starting now," he opened up the box to reveal a diamond ring, "Samantha Jean Brady, what I'm trying to say is will you do the honors and be my wife…"
"Lucas I," Sami's jaw dropped as her heart filled with emotion and a lump formed in her throat. Her eyes clouded over with tears as she fought to find the right words to answer Lucas after his heartfelt proposal, but now as all of her dreams of happily ever after were coming true right before her eyes, she shook her head unable to contain the tears that fell from her face, "Lucas I can't."
"What," he blinked back at her in confusion watching as she stepped back moving away from him, "but Sami I thought…"
"I just can't deal with this right now. I'm…I'm sorry," she blurted out running into her bedroom and closing the door behind her as she broke down in tears realizing that in less than twenty four hours she'd managed to take the best thing in her life and turn it upside down as she tried to rationalize why she'd say something like that to Lucas when he clearly loved her and she loved him, but as her tears overcame her, all she could do was lose herself to the moment as she found herself grieving for something she couldn't quite put a name on in a moment like this.
Sami made her way through Salem Place pondering the recent turn of events that had come her way after Brandon's recent return to town. While she hadn't been quick to seek him out, his messages on her answering machine had left her with a feeling of finality and sadness as she realized that they were really, truly going to be over at long last. Somehow that in itself didn't seem real, but then again her marriage had ceased to feel like a reality for so very long after he'd left her, yet in seeing him once again, well it had sparked something inside of her that she feared she wouldn't be able to shut off.
Even now she could still picture the weary expression on Lucas's face when she'd explained she needed time on her own to get a few errands run. Lucas had insisted on joining her, but she needed space and time to think things through. Certainly what she had going with Lucas was something extraordinary and truly they'd bonded in so many ways that she'd never experienced with any other person before and yet, there was a certain sense of something that had kept her focused upon Brandon's return. It almost didn't seem fair as she thought to how Lucas had worked to win her over once Brandon had left, yet even now as she pondered these thoughts she thought to her foolishness as she realized that Brandon wasn't coming home to stay. He wasn't trying to win her over, but more so he was pushing for the divorce that she'd refused to give him so very long ago in a moment of stubbornness. That in itself should be reason enough for her not to think about what might've been with Brandon as in ending it, well it certainly cleared the way for her future with Lucas and she was certain that was truly what she needed…well, almost certain at least.
"Sami, Sami, what are you doing to yourself," she frowned thinking about how the path of self destruction had taken her down a dark road she never vowed to return to again after Lucas had opened the door to romance and happily ever after. All the scheming and the self-loathing left her when she'd found her heart in the arms of a man who'd accepted her as she was--knowing all her faults and understanding her unlike any other. Certainly Lucas Roberts was the man she was meant to be with, and yet, she still found herself drifting away to that time and place when she'd schemed and plotted to capture the heart of another.
"Samantha," Brandon's voice broke through her thoughts as she turned her attention to the pathway in front of her finding him standing near one of the windows on this autumn afternoon, "I wasn't expecting to run into you today."
"Oh well, I had shopping to do," she replied with a half smile holding up the bags in her arms, "you know it is a busy, busy time of year."
"You aren't kidding," Brandon agreed stepping towards her as he reached for one of her bags, "Here, let me help you."
"Oh I don't really think that's necessary as," she started as he lifted the bag from her arm carrying it effortlessly as he smiled at her.
"It's truly no problem," he confessed with a nod, "as I must confess I'm glad that I ran into you just now. Do you have a minute?"
"Actually, I was just about to…" she started feeling her throat go dry as her pulse quickened at the familiar scent of his cologne, "Why? What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I was calling you all week and you hadn't returned any of my calls so," Brandon began to explain before shaking the thought, "Tell you what, how about we start this over again? Say over coffee?"
"Coffee," she repeated with a gulp realizing that never before had such a word sounded so very tempting and inappropriate as it did in this moment in time that Brandon Walker stood before her as real as the sun shining overhead with his sexy, subtle invitation to spend time together.
"You still like coffee, don't you," Brandon arched a curious brow, "Maybe a couple cappuccinos?"
"Cappuccinos sound wonderful," she agreed with a nod forcing a nervous smile as he lead her along through the shops towards the coffee shop on the corner.
"Great," he replied casting a glance in her direction every now and then, "so I suppose that you've had a busy week…"
"Well you could say that," Sami nodded in response watching as he opened the door to the coffee shop allowing her access before following her inside. They discreetly slid into one of the booths in the corner of the small trendy spot before he set her bags down and rose up to order their drinks. She almost protested or suggested that she join him in placing the order, but instead she found herself at a loss as she watched him walking away from her, her eyes leisurely traveling over the muscled expanse of his body.
Hmm, Sami noted to herself unable to keep her eyes from dwindling towards the most inappropriate places as she noticed that the other women in the place had also taken note of Brandon's physique. Then again, what wasn't to love about a man who'd taken such incredible care of himself considering that well, Brandon did appear to be leaner and more chiseled than he'd been the last time she'd seen him. Even now as her mind thought back to his bronzed, glistening body in the heat of the moment wrapped up around her in the throes of passion, a flush rose over her features as she pressed her hand to her cheek feeling a hot fire burning beneath.
"Here we are," Brandon announced returning to the table and offering her the drink he'd just picked up, "A cappuccino with a sprinkle of chocolate just like you like it."
"You remembered," she couldn't help but feel touched by his gesture as a smile expanded over her features.
"How could I forget," he questioned leaning in over the table as his smile seemed to touch the bottom of her heart causing her to melt as she sat across from him. She feared for the moment he dared to reach out to her as she was certain she'd slide off of the seat onto the floor should he dare initiate any kind of connection, but as sure as she'd thought he was about to take that bold move to unite them, he seemed ready to put more of a distance between them as he sat up straighter in his side of the booth, "So, Samantha, tell me something. Why do I get the distinct vibe that you've been avoiding me lately?"
"Avoiding you," she repeated with a tiny gulp reaching for her cappuccino and taking a sip of the steaming liquid in between breaths, "why would you say something like that?"
"Because each time I've tried to reach you, you've ducked out of a return phone call," Brandon confessed with a sigh, "I was half wondering if you'd changed your mind about the papers…"
"You mean about the divorce?" her eyes widened in surprise, "Why, have you?"
"Well I…" he started stammering a bit as he took in a slow breath, "well what I meant was I was beginning to wonder if you'd just as soon had me go to your Uncle Mickey instead of us doing this face to face…"
"Oh," her disappointment flooded over her upon his words as she slumped over in her seat, "well, no that's not what this was about as I had this thing…you know Will had this school thing and Lucas…"
"Ah yes Lucas," Brandon nodded, "how could I forget about him? How is Lucas these days?"
"Lucas is, well, he's Lucas," she blurted out like a moron watching the expression that crossed over his features.
"Well I suppose that's a good thing," Brandon paused with obvious hesitance, "though you know I must say I was surprised to find you two the other night like…"
"Like what?" she questioned feeling an awkwardness behind his pause.
"Well, like that," he admitted shamefully as he played with the mug before him, "I mean it's not any of my business, but…"
"You're right," she nodded accordingly, "It's not your business."
"I realize that, but still I had to think about all those times when I'd tried encouraging you to give Lucas a chance for Will's sake," he offered up a sad smile, "I guess I was onto something more than I ever imagined I could be, huh?"
"Lucas has been here for me through some really horrible times. He was there when my father was murdered and when I lost almost everyone that meant anything to me," Sami confessed openly thinking to the year of horrors that they'd put behind them, "He really helped me break free from those chains I kept around me and now, well he's just…"
"A lucky man," Brandon interrupted leaving it at that as a sadness flashed behind his eyes, "although I must confess that when he showed up on our wedding day prepared to launch everything at me about you, I guess, well I just never thought that you two would wind up together like this, but then again I suppose it shows you how the world works in strange ways."
"To say the least," she nodded unable to think of anything more to say as she fidgeted with the handle on the mug, "but enough about me, how are you doing? How have you been?"
"I've been busy," Brandon admitted making polite conversation, "When I left Salem I had a lot of soul searching to do and well, I guess you could say that changes a man."
"Do you like the changes that's come with that soul searching?" she inquired unable to keep her curiosity from showing.
"In some ways I think it's humbled me, but in a lot of other ways I found myself filled with a great many regrets," Brandon confessed with a sad expression, "as in my taking off I missed out on some very important things in my life."
"Such as?"
"Such as when my father was murdered I was overseas and my mother didn't tell me until after the funeral," Brandon explained sadly guilt tugging upon him, "Abe and I were on good terms when I left, but well, I never had that chance to say good-bye. I never had that opportunity to get to know the things about him that I'd missed on over the years growing up and in some ways, well I guess I'll never know the great man that I wasted all too much time hating."
"Your father was a good man," Sami offered up tenderly as she placed her hand over his, "as he was wonderful to me growing up, but I didn't appreciate him nearly as much as I should've."
"I'm the one guilty of that crime as I made my father's life so much harder than it should've been all because I was too much of a jerk to just face my fears and open my heart to the possibilities of a relationship with him," Brandon sighed heavily, "and now, well now it just doesn't feel right saying everything I couldn't say to a grave."
"Believe me I know how that feels," Sami admitted tearfully as she thought to the pain she'd endured in losing her father, "My father married Kate around the time of his death and I was furious. I was so hurt and heartbroken by his betrayal that I'd said and did some horrible, horrible things to him--things that I can never take back now that he's gone as I was too wrapped up in what I was feeling to even consider what his happiness was."
"Even so, I know Roman loved you Samantha. You were always the most important thing in his life," Brandon squeezed her hand in his, "You were his princess and regardless of how things were, he loves you very much."
"I know," she felt a tear slip down her cheek as she choked up on emotion, "I really believe that, but it's just so hard."
"I know Samantha," he reached out across the table wiping the tear from her cheek, "and they say in time all wounds shall heal."
"I don't really believe that line," she admitted choked up on emotion.
"Neither do I, but I guess I was kind of hoping that maybe together we could live in a good, solid state of denial as I'm sure our fathers would prefer that to the misery and regret that clearly is eating away at the both of us," Brandon explained reaching for a napkin and handing it to her as her tears continued. Feeling a pang of guilt touch over him, he rose from his seat opting to slide into the booth beside her as his arm curled around her shoulders, "I'm so sorry for bringing this up Samantha."
"No, it's not your fault," she insisted shaking her head as she sank into his chest, "as I knew that this was always going to be difficult for me. I keep pretending that I'm okay with it, but I'm really not as it just feels so wrong…"
"I know it does," Brandon touched her cheek lifting her chin so that their eyes connected, "and I wish that things had turned out differently."
"So do I," she whispered in a tiny breath as her gaze dropped down to his lips, to his ever so kissable, tender, sensual lips and she thought to the times that she'd lost herself in them over and over again. As if he could sense what she was thinking, he seemed to inch in towards her bridging the distance between them as she closed her eyes anticipating one last union between them, but before she could truly lose herself in the moment a sound came up in a roar as she found herself staring up at a slender, brunette woman with wide, doe eyes.
"There you are," she grinned at Brandon before placing her hand on her hip impatiently, "I was almost afraid I lost you."
"Kimberly," Brandon began rising to his feet as Sami eyed this new arrival with questioning eyes, "Kim, I'd like you to meet my wife…Samantha…"
"Ah, so you're the infamous Samantha," Kimberly smiled at her flashing her a bright, white grin as she offered her hand out to Sami, "I've heard a lot about you over the last year."
"You have," Sami raised a skeptic brow already disliking this beautiful woman that stood possessively at Brandon's side.
"That's right," Kimberly nodded curling her arm in around Brandon's waist as he seemed to stiffen, "Brandon has been keeping me well informed on your history and more so on the details of this divorce you're going through. I must say I can't imagine ever having the strength to let Brandon go, but your loss has been my gain and for that I feel I should thank you…"
"No thanks are necessary," Sami replied her heart dropping as she watched the woman tangle herself around Brandon.
"You know Kim, Samantha and I were just in the middle of…" Brandon started uneasily as Sami jolted to her feet needing to get out of the situation as soon as possible.
"Actually, I really need to run because I'm late for…" Sami found herself at a loss as she could almost feel her tears threatening to overtake her once again, "Well, I just need to leave…"
"Samantha," Brandon called out to her watching as she fled from the coffee shop.
"What did I say?" Kimberly questioned as Brandon took a step away from her watching his wife retreat out into the afternoon leaving their conversation behind as his heart sank with a heavy sense of loss.
"Nothing Kim," Brandon sighed sinking back down into the booth as he wondered if he'd ever find the strength to do what he'd truly come back to Salem to do as in seeing Samantha all over again, it changed everything for him.
*********************
Sami couldn't think straight, couldn't pay attention to the traffic lights and most certainly couldn't focus on anything, but the way that woman was pawing at Brandon. What right did she have to be doing such a thing in front of her and more so why had Brandon let her touch him? He was still her husband and as long as she was Mrs. Brandon Walker, Sami wasn't going to tolerate that kind of shameless display, although the sad fact remained that she wasn't going to be Mrs. Walker much often because as soon as she signed the papers, it would be over. Her past with Brandon would be just that and their ties would be severed forever. She knew that's what they agreed upon and while her head was certain that was how it should end, her heart couldn't help but hurt as she wanted so much more--more than she'd ever dreamt of as clearly she was torn.
With that thought fresh in her mind, Sami headed back to her apartment needing some time away from the rest of the world to clear her thoughts as it seemed that things were only growing exponentially where the complications were concerned. She needed to shut the world out--to close herself off from whatever had been haunting her and more so she needed to get her act together before she lost everything she'd worked so hard to achieve in her life. She had to stop dwelling on what might've been and focus on the future--the one that she had with Lucas.
As that thought carried her into the apartment, Sami vowed to banish every and all thoughts of Brandon as today was a day that would put her one step closer to her new life. She didn't need to resort back to the past or what she might've once felt for him. This was about now and Lucas was her now and forever…at least that's what she'd convinced herself over the last few months.
Closing the door behind her as she heard the faint sound of jazz music playing in the background. Opening her eyes she found herself surrounded by flowers and streamers and balloons which made her question whether or not she'd stepped into the right place, but before she could take the time to walk out of her apartment and walk back in again, Lucas emerged from the bedroom clad in a suit and tie flashing her a sexy smile as her heart stirred up with something wonderful at the very sight of him.
"I was hoping you'd be home soon," Lucas confessed extending the single red rose he'd been holding out towards her before he leaned in to kiss her tenderly, "as I've missed you."
"Lucas, what's going on," Sami questioned in confusion, "I thought that you'd be gone for the day and…"
"I needed to take care of a few things, but now, well now I think I've got all the bases covered," he reached for her hand lifting it to his lips as a cryptic smile continued to play over his features.
"What are you up to," Sami questioned unable to curb the curiosity that was brewing behind her blue eyes.
"Well it's quite simple you see," he lead her through the apartment, "as I've had a lot on my mind over the last week so tonight Will is spending the night with Chris and you and I are going to have a night to remember starting with this," he urged her to sit on the sofa before he got down on one knee before her withdrawing the ring box from his hand as his eyes fixed upon her, "Sami, I know that we really haven't set any definitions on what it is that we have with one another, but I'd like to change that starting now," he opened up the box to reveal a diamond ring, "Samantha Jean Brady, what I'm trying to say is will you do the honors and be my wife…"
"Lucas I," Sami's jaw dropped as her heart filled with emotion and a lump formed in her throat. Her eyes clouded over with tears as she fought to find the right words to answer Lucas after his heartfelt proposal, but now as all of her dreams of happily ever after were coming true right before her eyes, she shook her head unable to contain the tears that fell from her face, "Lucas I can't."
"What," he blinked back at her in confusion watching as she stepped back moving away from him, "but Sami I thought…"
"I just can't deal with this right now. I'm…I'm sorry," she blurted out running into her bedroom and closing the door behind her as she broke down in tears realizing that in less than twenty four hours she'd managed to take the best thing in her life and turn it upside down as she tried to rationalize why she'd say something like that to Lucas when he clearly loved her and she loved him, but as her tears overcame her, all she could do was lose herself to the moment as she found herself grieving for something she couldn't quite put a name on in a moment like this.