Author's Note: Reviews are appreciated.
Part 3
Age: 12 Years 4 Months
Jack was excited, the cast on his leg had been removed this morning and although he could only walk slowly, he was able to walk again. Normally he would have felt disappointed at the prospect of having to take lessons with the other children at the home again; but since Samantha entered his life, nothing mattered but the precious time he got to spend with her. On slightly uncertain limbs, Jack made his way from the florist shop towards the orphan's home. Under his coat, to avoid drawing attention from the home's residents, Jack clutched a box for Samantha. He could hardly wait to give her his gift.
Since their first day together, Samantha spent every free moment with Jack. Somedays they would talk non-stop of their hopes and dreams. Other days they would take turns reading aloud to one another. Last week Jack had begun teaching her to play piano, so one day they would be able to play duets together. Today however, he could at last show her his attic and share the treasures it held with her. In the last few weeks, Samantha became Jack's entire world.
While he waited for the florist to box up his purchase, Jack idly flipped through a book on the counter of wedding flowers. The cashier teased him gently that he was a bit young to worry about getting married. Jack had never given the matter thought, but as he walked past a bridal shop on the way to the home, he paused outside the window. Briefly he stared at a fluffy white gown in the window.
Samantha would look like an angel in a dress like that, maybe one day when they were older- But Jack wouldn't live that long, he realized with a frown. Strange, before Samantha, life and death were meaningless. Now, the idea that Jack wouldn't get to grow up and marry her, mattered tremendously. Shaking his thoughts away, Jack started walking again, he wanted Samantha's present to arrive in perfect condition.
Jack crept past the other residents and up the stairs to his room. When he opened his door, Samantha was on his bed engrossed in a book. Suddenly he felt very uncomfortable as he looked at her. She had on a skirt and the way she was laying, he caught a glimpse of her panties. Jack blushed and averted his eyes, as the unwelcome memory of the dream he had about her a couple nights ago sprung to mind. He'd dreamed that she was naked and that they were kissing, Jack had woken up to sticky sheets and had trouble looking at her the next day. If Samantha knew he'd had such ungentlemanly thoughts about her, she might not be his friend anymore and Jack couldn't bear the thought of losing Samantha.
"Jack!" Samantha cried with delight as she heard the door close. "No more cast! Does this mean I get to see the attic?"
"Of course. But first I have a present for you," Jack said.
Sam got off the bed with a look of shy pleasure. "Jack, you really didn't have to get me anything."
"I wanted to. Now close your eyes and hold out your hands."
Samantha did as Jack requested. Once he was positive her eyes were closed, he brought the florist box from under his coat and placed it on her outstretched hands. He allowed his thumb to trace hers before pulling his hands away and stepping back. Eager to see her reaction he told her, "Open your eyes now."
Her eyes opened and she smiled at the sight of the bright red bow on the white box. After laying the box on the bed, Samantha pulled the bow open and lifted the lid of the box. Inside were a dozen blood red roses, with long stems and a glossy green leaves. Tentatively she reached out and caressed one velvety blossom with her fingertip. Offering him a dazzling smile, Samantha murmured, "Jack they're beautiful. I can't believe you did this."
"I wanted to be the first boy to give you roses," Jack ducked his head as his face turned nearly as red as the roses.
Impulsively, she threw her arms around him and whispered in his ear, "Thank you."
As she started to pull away, their eyes met and the pair froze in uncertainty. Jack wanted desperately to try and kiss her, but was terrified she would laugh at him. Rather than risk the humiliation he pulled away and offered to fetch her a vase from the attic so she could put them in water. Rapidly he moved to the far side of the room and pulled the chain to lower the attic steps. Samantha watched as he disappeared up the steps. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. When he didn't, she wasn't certain if she was relieved or disappointed. It wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him, but she'd never been kissed before and was afraid of doing it badly.
Jack returned from the attic with a vase and filled it with water in his bathroom. Once the vase was ready, he held it as Sam placed the fragrant blossoms inside. After the roses were arranged, he sat the vase on a table near the bed and lead her to the attic steps. Normally he would have insisted she go first; but in light of her skirt, he suggested he go up first in case there were any mice. Samantha followed closely behind Jack, anxious to see his attic. He'd told her all about it, but this would be the first time she would see it.
The attic was large and had several old leaded glass windows that admitted a soft light. But most eye-catching of all was a large stained glass window of various shades of blue with a red rose in the center. There were trunks and old bits of furniture lining the large space, but Jack obviously kept it straightened up. Only a light scattering of dust that had accumulated during the recovery period for his leg, otherwise it was very neat and ordered. Samantha smiled as Jack anxiously took her by the hand and started to give her the grand tour.
The space was a hodge podge of discarded and antiquated objects that captured Jack's imagination. Books were stacked everywhere and with Jack's encouragement, Sam began to search through them with pleasure. As Samantha read, Jack began to dust and remove the few cobwebs that had appeared during his enforced absence. After completing his task, Jack studied Samantha in the colored light that streamed through the stained glass. This was the first time Jack had ever brought anyone to his sanctuary. Since meeting Samantha, Jack felt the happiest he ever had before and it terrified him. He'd never had a friend before and he was afraid of doing or saying something which would drive her away.
Samantha looked up at Jack and caught him staring at her. Her cheeks colored slightly and she set her book aside. Pointing to an old phonograph that sat on a table near him, she inquired, "Does that work?"
"Yes, there are a lot of old records. Just before I broke my leg I replaced the needle. Want to hear something?"
Samantha nodded and he picked through the pile of albums that lay nearby. Putting on La Vie En Rose, the pair listened for several minutes. As the song ended and she selected another album, he hesitated, "Would you like to dance Samantha?"
"I'd love to, but I'm a terrible dancer," she demurred.
"Oh, I understand," he replied, his voice laced with hurt. Stupid Jack, why would you imagine she would let you near her.
"I'm serious. When I took ballet when I was five, Patty Hofstead, who was the best dancer in my class, told me I had all the grace of a cow."
Placing the needle on the record, Jack held his hand out. "If you can walk, you can dance Samantha. Let me teach you."
As the strains of an orchestra filled the room with a slow waltz of Tea for Two, Jack started teaching Samantha the basic box step. The record played through most of the way before she began to grasp it and to her horror she stepped several times on his feet as he showed her. But he simply smiled, thrilled to be close to her. Towards the end of the song, Samantha was catching on. Relaxing slightly in his arms, she began to enjoy their dance. When the song came to a close, Jack started it back at the beginning.
Slowly the pair danced across the room. At the barrage of schools Jack had attended, ballroom dance was a regular part of the curriculum as they were grooming the students for the upper echelons of society. Gently, he guided Samantha through several turns as they glided across the floor, maintaining an arm's length distance. This time when the song ended, she walked to the turntable and started it again. Returning to Jack, Samantha resumed her position, but with less distance between them.
"I think you're catching on," Jack told her nervously. Other than the few times she had hugged him, he'd never been so close to her before. "Patty was a jealous little fool."
"Thank you for being such a patient teacher."
Smiling and periodically averting their eyes from one another in shyness, Jack and Samantha waltzed and spun round the room. Unconsciously, they moved closer as they danced, until only a small space remained between them. Toward the end of the song, Jack spun Samantha out and when she spun back, they stumbled slightly. Pausing to catch their balance, the pair clung to each other. Tight in each other's embrace their eyes met and a moment later, their lips met as well. Fearing he had angered her by overstepping his bounds, Jack started to turn away.
"Jack," Samantha breathed hesitantly, as a myriad of feelings coursed through her. Their lips had only barely touched and only for a moment, but new sensations lingered.
As Jack slowly returned his gaze to her, she threaded her fingers through his honey colored hair and tilted her head slightly in invitation. Surprised and pleased, Jack wrapped his arms tightly around her again. Their lips touched tentatively in several soft caresses until their kiss deepened...
