Chapter 27

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Sam dialed Martin's number again but when it went straight to voicemail she knew he had turned it off. She pressed the 'End' button and threw her phone across the room shouting, "Shit!"

When she called she had envisioned it going much differently. Mainly that Martin would admit that she was the one for him; that he made a terrible mistake by breaking it off with her, that he loved and couldn't live without her. But then he had to go and make that comment about being friends and suddenly all her frustrations bubbled to the surface. She got so angry that he would give her a gift that he knew would mean a lot to her. She wanted to hurt him as much as she was hurting by him refusing her but still being so goddamn thoughtful. She didn't know why she said that comment about Jack. Actually she did know, she was angry and hurt and wanted him to feel as badly as she did and she knew that Jack was still very much a sore spot for him.

As soon as the words left her mouth she knew she knew that she had crossed that invisible line in any argument. The one that if it had a sign would read: 'You've Gone Too Far – No Turning Back'. She tried to quickly backtrack and erase what she had said but the words were already out there and could never be unsaid. She had only made things worse when she tried to offer up further explanations. She wished she was there in Washington so she could grab him and force him to listen to her.

Her cell phone started ringing and she jumped off the sofa to go pick it up. "Martin?"

"Samantha? Is that you, honey?" Diane asked, worriedly.

"Hi mom, merry Christmas," Samantha switched gears quickly trying to sound cheerful. She knew her mom was worried about her spending Christmas alone.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just thought you were someone else." Samantha tried to sound casual.

"Someone named Martin? Isn't that your ex-boyfriend?" Diane's voice was soft and caring and it caused something inside of Sam to break down.

"Yes." Despite all of Sam's best efforts her voice cracked and tears began to fall.

"Samantha, talk to me," Diane softly pleaded.

She told her mom everything; from her dinner with Jack last night to the charm bracelet to Martin hanging up on her. When she was done she softly asked, "What's wrong with me? I just can't seem to let go of men who continually tell me that it's over. It's like a sickness."

Her mom was quiet for a few moments when she spoke up and in a demanding voice said, "What's his phone number? I'm going to call him and tell him give him a piece of my mind."

Sam laughed. "Thanks mom, but I think I have to handle this on my own."

"Are you sure? Because I don't know who he thinks he is to give you a gift like that and then claim it was all about friendship."

"I'm sure but it helps to have you listen. It really means a lot," Sam replied softly as her tears dried.

"Sweetie, you are an amazing woman and if he cannot appreciate how lucky he is to have you in his life than it is his loss. And I say good riddance." Diane spoke with fiery passion. "You deserve someone who loves you for who you are and not who he wants you to be."

"Thank you, mom," she replied; just having someone listen to her lifted a great weight off of her chest. Sam took a deep breath and decided that she didn't want her mom to think she spent all her holidays in tears. So she mustered up some Christmas cheer and asked, "So, tell me, how's Christmas in Kenosha? Did Terri like the gift I sent?"