Sam stood outside of the door at Kelly's and wondered if she could just call this whole thing off. There was no need for them to meet that day, especially since Sam was already over an hour late. The sheer fact that Brenda and Carly still waited for her inside said that something was amiss. The day had started off badly and it was only progressing in the same fashion.

Peering into the window, she could see the two women sitting off to the side. It looked as though everyone inside were trying to ignore them, a feat in and of itself considering that the two women were obviously in the middle of an argument. She could only imagine how the dispute had started and where it was at the current moment. At some point, Carly would no doubt scream about how Kelly's was owned by her family, so Brenda could get the hell out if she had such a problem with her. Sam wasn't sure what Brenda's retort would have been, but it would probably be something along the lines of being able to buy the place herself, if she wanted it, and she wouldn't need any help from her husband.

Sam could never figure out exactly why the two women hated each other so much. Neither was in a position to step on the other's toes. They each had their own Alcazar and whatever history was there between Jason and Brenda was long gone in his memory loss. For whatever reason, though, their personalities clashed more than Carly and Sam. Any truce the women settled upon was gone in less than an hour.

Her phone rang, and Sam jumped. Digging quickly into her pockets, she pulled out her cell and flipped it open. "Yeah?" She turned away from the window and sighed.

"Sam? It's Lucas. Um… are you anywhere near the diner?"

Sam's brow furrowed in confusion. "Lucas? What are you doing at Kelly's? Aren't you supposed to be in school or something?"

"It's Saturday, Sam." She didn't say anything and didn't turn around, but she could picture the confusion on Lucas's face. She was so out of it, she couldn't even think of what the days were, anymore. "My mom needed some help, so I volunteered. Right now, though? I need some help. They're about to tear the place apart."

Sam spun around, her eyes wide. "Dammit," she muttered. "I'm right outside, Lucas," she said as she flipped the phone closed and stuffed it back into her pocket.

She went inside, and stayed beside the door for a minute, watching the argument grow. Brenda and Carly were already standing, and whatever the argument was about, she couldn't tell. They were both screaming so loudly, at the same time, that their words had turned into a muddled mess. The only thing that was certain was that they were only moments away from a full on Mrs. Alcazar collision.

Sighing, Sam took one step forward. Her second step was quicker, and her next steps turned into a full out run. She came to a skidding halt behind Carly and grabbed her before she could swing her raised arm. "What is wrong with the two of you!"

Carly went rigid and Sam released her. Both women turned on her and at the same time asked, "Where have you been?" It was probably the first time in weeks that the two had agreed on anything. Brenda continued with, "You know I can't stand her. You were supposed to be here an hour ago."

Carly whipped a glare Brenda's way then turned back to Sam. "I hate her. Really, I do. But, seriously, where have you been? I was about two seconds from calling Lorenzo and having him find Jason. We called you, and you didn't answer."

"There was no need to find Jason," Brenda said with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, Luis already told me this morning that finding Jason was gonna be a task and a half. But, that's Carly for you, always ready to call her husband or Jason to fix a problem that wasn't that big of a thing."

"Not that big…" She shook her head. "What the hell is wrong with you? In case you don't remember, we were just in the middle of something major. Of course, you didn't exactly get hurt, as always, so your memory might not work as well as some others."

"Oh, boo hoo, your club was blown up. You got out, didn't you? And, Miss Pity Me, I was shot at, so don't tell me I wasn't there."

"You weren't shot at," Carly said with disgust, "Luis was shot at, and you just happened to be there."

"Both of you just shut up!" Carly and Brenda turned hastily to Sam, both confused, as though they hadn't just been questioning her minutes before. Sam could guess that this was where the previous conversation had taken a wrong turn. This was the reason that Lucas had to call her before they tore the diner apart.

"Jesus Christ!" Sam yelled. "Is it possible for the two of you to be adults for just once without someone around to act as a buffer? You two are grown women. Hell, you're both older than I am, so how about you start acting like it? There's no reason for the competition or any of the bullshit. You both have an Alcazar!"

"This has absolutely nothing to do with Lorenzo or Luis," Brenda told her. "Some people just don't get along well, and that would be the two of us."

Carly rolled her eyes. "No, the biggest issue here has always been than that she thinks the Quartermaines hung the stars and the moon, and I did them wrong. Well, I don't care what went on with her and Jason, or her and AJ. She…"

"I nothing! When did this turn into a Q argument? But, you do have a point. You put that family through hell and they didn't deserve it. You…"

"Stop it!" Sam shook her head and threw her hands in the air. "I can't handle this right now. I just…" She sighed. "Look, the two of you can go, do whatever, I don't care. Just get away from each other. Right now, I just need less noise than either of you are willing to give me."

Sam snatched a chair and sat down hard. Sure, it was hard dealing with Brenda and Carly, but usually, there were some bright spots. She had to admit that she enjoyed the fact that she, a woman that barely knew one woman and had previously been hated by the other, could now bring these two together and make them force a truce for a few hours at a time. She was the link between them, and that was definitely a first for Sam. She was the sane one of the group.

Now, though, after her unexpected package…

It was too much to handle, and Sam just wanted all of the noise and drama to go away. She probably would have called and cancelled had she not thought that planning this wedding would make her feel better. She needed to get her mind out of the past and into the future. She needed to focus her mind on something that would keep her thoughts away from what she interpreted as the meaning behind that snowglobe.

That the former co-owner of the S.S. Manuela was back in town.

That he was in town because of her.

That she just hadn't been good enough at hiding to keep him from finding her.

"Sam?" She looked up and the anger between Carly and Brenda had been put aside as they hovered on either side of her. Brenda asked, "What happened?"

Carly asked, "What's wrong? This is a wedding planning party, and at least the bride should be happy, even if we aren't."

Sam sighed and shook her head. She couldn't tell them. Either one would run right back to their husbands, and in Carly's case, she might run straight to Jason with the news. Sam didn't know for a fact that Manuel was there. It was just a feeling that she had, and until she knew for sure, she wasn't about to tell Jason. Manuel Ruiz was someone that was better off staying in her past. She'd just have to think of something else to tell Carly and Brenda, because there was no way she was telling either one of them this. It just wasn't safe… for anyone.