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"Love, true love, is that which can give the most without asking or demanding anything in return."- Mazie Hammond
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Chapter 29
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Martin swung the door open and Milo brushed past him as he darted into the kitchen. He slammed the door closed behind him to prevent any more of the snow from flying in and stomped his feet on the rug. The snow had reached almost two feet so he and Milo didn't get very far but the brown Lab loved it. Milo jumped from snow drift to snow drift it was like it was his own winter wonderland.
"Nice walk?" Sam asked as Milo sat down in front of her. She scratched him behind the ears and his tail wagged rapidly.
"Oh, yeah it was great. I taught Milo how to write his name in the snow." He replied with a smirk as he yanked off his beanie sending snow onto the floor.
She smiled and leaned against the counter cradling a cup of coffee between her hands.
"Come here Milo." Martin called out as he grabbed an old towel from a cabinet by the back door. The big dog ran back towards him so he could dry him off. As Martin ran the towel over Milo he glanced up at Sam. While he was hoping that she would still be in bed when he got back he happily drank in the sight of her: she was wearing her own jeans but she was also wearing one of his favorite sweaters. It fit her two sizes too large but she looked absolutely gorgeous.
And she also looked like she had something she wanted to tell him.
"Alright buddy you're done." He finished drying off Milo and gave him a friendly shove. The dog dashed to his water bowl and being drinking sloppily. He tossed the towel into a basket and walked to the counter to get his own cup.
While things were so great up in the bedroom, here in the kitchen it very much felt like the morning after. He started pulling off his parka and hung it up on the coat rack, feeling Sam's eyes on him. He knew it was ridiculous to feel so self-conscious considering she'd seen him nude not forty minutes ago but that is still how he felt.
He grabbed a mug from the dish rack and began to pour, quickly glancing at Sam. Returning his focus to the task at hand he asked, "So do you want to tell me now or after breakfast?"
Sam opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before softly saying, "I was just wondering what your expectations were."
"My expectations." Martin repeated as if testing out the words for the first time.
"That came out wrong." She shifted her stance and corrected, "I was just thinking that as much as I like being with you, here right now, maybe we should talk about what's going to happen when the storm passes."
Martin put the carafe back in the coffee maker and turned to face her. "You mean when you go home to New York."
"Yeah," She nodded, glancing into her coffee cup before looking up to meet his eyes. "You live here, I live there and in my experience long distance relationships never work."
"You had a lot of time to think while I was out." Martin commented as he stirred cream and sugar into his coffee. When he was done he tapped the spoon and stared into the mug.
"I know, sorry." Sam replied pinching her forehead. "I guess I should have warned you that I am used to my relationships being nice and complicated."
"That pretty much sums up this situation." He replied as he braced both his hands on the end of the counter and looked out the window. Based on the snow fall so far this storm should last four to five days; six tops.
He took a breath and walked over to where Sam stood. He cradled her face in his right hand, gently caressing her cheek with his thumb and said, "Sam, I meant what I said that night outside of Ann Sather's, I know the risks of getting involved with you. I know that your stay is temporary but I'd rather have this than nothing at all."
Sam nodded her head solemnly, tilting her head into his palm. "So then we treat it just like a fling? Enjoy these few days and then I go home, you stay here and that's it?"
Martin didn't reply but just met Sam's eyes in silent understanding. He didn't like the idea any more than she seemed to but he also knew that they had to practical. He believed that if they looked at whatever it is that they were doing as being short and brief maybe they could avoid getting hurt when it was over.
At least that's what he wanted to believe.
Desperate to break the seriousness of the moment he lightly said, "You know what? Let's just not think about what's going to happen in a few days and instead," He leaned in and kissed her. "Let's focus on the right here and now." He stepped back and said, "And right now I want breakfast because I don't know about you but I'm starving."