Chapter Eight
My favorite thing about my room is the fact that I have complete access to the roof. I have one gabled window that sits just two feet above the slant of the roof. Whenever I need to think I always climb out of the window and sit out there on the black shingles. Yep, that's my place. The roof is my domain, the place that Mom knows is totally off limits to her. It's where I ran to during the lull in my parents' argument.
I was sitting up there, my knees pulled up to my chest, rocking back and forth as tears slowly slid down my face. The fighting had stopped downstairs, but I wasn't ready to return there just incase one of them had decided that they hadn't torn into the other enough.
Sitting on the roof always helps me to bring things into perspective, but that day, nothing was clear to me. They were talking now, their voices barely carrying up to the second floor, let alone the roof. I couldn't make out anything they said, only their tones, which were, at least, more sedate than before. But I knew they were talking about me. No, I'm not conceited, I just knew that they were discussing me. After all, I am the reason that Ephram even came here in the first place. I repeat, I am not conceited, it's just a fact.
The longer I sat there and listened to their voices, the more and more the urge to see my grandfather- the one who paid Mom off- filled me. I wondered what he looked like, or what kind of person he was. I had to see him, I had to know about where I came from.
I climbed back inside my room and picked up my phone. I dialed, my fingers knew the number by heart now.
"Hey, Troy?"
We met at baggage claim in the Denver airport. Tears ran down my face as I hugged him, kissing his neck as I was wrapped in his arms. His lips rained kisses on my face and we kissed each other passionately. I must say, it kinda reminded me of one of those reunions between lovers in the movies. It was kinda exciting, like I was living my own fairytale or something. Anyway, back to the story.
"So," Troy said when we finally separated, "what's the plan?"
"Ever been to Everwood?"
I pulled up to the curb and stepped out of my car. Troy got out and, together, we stared at the house sitting before us. My grandfather's house.
It was a cute little place, two stories with a front porch that had a wooden swing on it. Quaint.
"You're sure you want to do this?" Troy asked, looking at me as I came to stand next to him on the lawn. "I mean, you do remember what happened when you just walked up to your father and told him who you were."
"Yes," I rolled my eyes, "I remember." I sighed. "What do I do, Troy?"
"Well, since we're here, we might as well just check this guy out." He looked down at me, "But this time, we don't tell him who we are." I hit his arm playfully.
"Shut up." I laughed before turning serious. "Okay, let's do this."
We walked as one up to the door where Troy rang the doorbell. It wasn't long before the door was opened by a woman, her pale blonde hair swept back into a ponytail.
"Can I help you?" She asked with a genuinely kind smile that reached all the way to her light blue eyes.
"Um…" I hadn't anticipated anyone but Dr. Brown answering the door.
"We're looking for Dr. Brown." Troy spoke up, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back. I smiled up at him, thankful for the silent support.
"Come on in," the woman said, "I'll go get him."
Ephram's POV
I rubbed a weary hand over my face. I was sick of fighting with Madison. All she seemed able to focus on was that my dad had tried to pay her off to keep Samantha a secret. Oh believe, I was mad as hell about that too, and I was going to have to talk to him about it, but right then I wanted to focus on why she didn't tell me about my own daughter. Okay, so dad tried to pay her off, but she didn't take the money, that means she could have told me. So why hadn't she?
"Would you shut up!" I cried, quickly losing my patience with her. Madison turned towards me, her lips forming a tight, white line.
"That's better." I said, more quietly this time. "Now, let's get back to why the hell you didn't tell me about Samantha."
"I told you," Madison seethed, "you were doing good, you didn't need a child to complicate your life."
"I still think that that should have been my decision to make, not yours."
"Yeah, well I made the decision so deal with it." Madison turned away from me and looked out the window looking out into the backyard.
"I wanted to tell you," she whispered, I had to strain to hear her words, "I really did Ephram. But your dad convinced me that it wasn't a good idea. God, I'm so stupid. I knew that I shouldn't listen to him, but I did." She turned towards me again, this time her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I'm sorry."
I was angry, pissed actually, that Dad would choose not to tell me that I had fathered a child, but I couldn't focus on that right then. Right then my main concern was Samantha and whether or not she would let me into her life now.
"Can I um…can I talk to Samantha?" I asked, crying women were never really my forte. Which is kind of funny since I was married to one of the biggest criers in Everwood.
"Okay." Madison nodded her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Just go up the stairs, her room is on the right."
"Thanks." I quickly headed up the stairs. The door to Samantha's room stood open, the room empty. The closet door was open and clothes were missing from nearly half the hangers. Dresser drawers were half closed, as if shut in a hurry. A piece of white paper sat on the lavender colored bedspread. I picked it up.
Mom,
I know I said that I wouldn't do this again, but I have to. Your and Ephram fighting has made me realize, I need to meet this man who has forced you to keep me a secret all these years. I'm going to Everwood. I'm sorry, but I have to go. Please don't come after me. I'll be well taken care of. I love you.
Sam
I hurried down the stairs, the letter clutched in my hand.
Well, I hope you liked this chapter and will tell me what you thought.
Nautica7mk:You can look forward to more Sam/Ephram interaction as the story progresses, thier relationship is one of the most important in this story.
Kursk: Amy will be inupcoming chapters. Look for her and Ephram to have a few run-ins as well.
Doves30, shaterika, krazypirategurl, Tessie26, shelby, and auggy1984: Thank you all so much for reviewing this story, it really means a lot to me.
