Title: Scenes from a Courtship
Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just playing.
Summary: A series of scenes from Sam and Martin's relationship. In the same universe as "A Long Weekend."
Rating: If you are old enough to use the internet you are old enough to read this.
Chapter 7
A special thanks to Claire and "she who wishes not to be named" for beta reading.
Sunday Brunch
Victor and Helen had to dash away from Sunday brunch to catch their plane. Sam, Martin, and Father Paul lingered and chatted. Sam got up to use the restroom.
"So Martin," began Father Paul struggling to find the words to talk about Helen's retelling of Saturday night's events. Finally he settled on saying, "Was your mother doing this for my benefit?"
"Paul, my mother would prefer not to acknowledge some things, so she doesn't," Martin jumped in. "My father described it to me as the Fitzgerald family version of don't ask, don't tell. Don't you ask either because I don't think anything we have done is a sin and I don't have time in my life for the number of Hail Mary's and Our Father's this would earn me."
"Martin, your mother is a good woman. If it works for your family that is fine. Don't worry, I have nothing to say about you, and Samantha, except that she is a lovely woman and the gravest sin would be hurting her," replied Father Paul.
Sam returned from the ladies room and said, "Have you guys had fun dissecting Helen yet?"
Father Paul and Martin laughed.
Dissecting Dinner and Sunday Brunch
Danny and Martin were sitting in a car conducting a stakeout.
"So how was the weekend with the folks?" asked Danny.
"Weird," replied Martin.
"How?" asked Danny.
"Well, my father asked me not to live with Sam until we get engaged, which it was clear he supported. My mother, well my mother, is crazy," said Martin.
"Well, Sam is great. I'm glad your father sees that. I didn't know you were that serious yet," replied Danny.
"Danny, some day I hope Sam and I do get married, but we aren't there yet," replied Martin. "The crazy part was my mother seems to believe that Sam and I have no physical relationship. Sam got a headache during dessert and you could tell she was stiff from the fall. Before either Sam and I can object, my mother has sent me off to my apartment with my dad to get things to spend the night at Sam's and keep an eye on her and is taking Sam home to fuss like a mom. My father goes along with this, although he thinks my mother is not that clueless, but chooses to be in denial, and we should humor her. We get to Sam's and my mother has run her some kind of medicated bubble bath, luckily Sam had time to hide my stuff, and Mom is getting ready to make a bed on the couch for me. She is telling me to check on Sam soon if I don't hear her moving around, but that I shouldn't worry because she'll be covered in bubbles, when my father finally drags her out. After brunch, our priest and my best friend from high school thought maybe she was doing this for his benefit."
Danny just sits there and laughs. "Wow, I'm sorry man. How did Sam react?"
"Sam was very cool about it, although I think a bit panicked about clearing out the bathroom and stuff," Martin replied. '"I think she kind of liked the mom routine. I don't think Sam's mom ever really did that."
"So why did your friend the priest think she was doing this for him?" asked Danny.
"Because he knows me. I mean we haven't talked about Sam and me, but it was his family's summerhouse that we snuck our girlfriends into to you know. Granted he has become a priest since then, but I doubt he thinks I've changed that much. It was Sam's idea to go to Mass occasionally," said Martin. "By the way we could use another guy for basketball. Are you in?"
"Sure, sounds good," replied Danny. "Marty, you know I think you are really good for Sam. You also know I love her like a sister, so I just want you to know hurt her and you die. Now tell me about your teenage antics."