A Fresh Start
Chapter Eighty Nine
The next morning, Jeffrey leaves early for city hall, leaving a note on his pillow before he walks out of the bedroom. When Sam woke up about an hour later, she reaches for him and then remembers that he told her was going in early. Sitting up, she turns and sees the note on the pillow. Picking it up, she reads. "I'm sorry I have to go in early. I'll be home as soon as I can. I love you both, J" Sam smiles when she reads the note and then holding it up to her mouth, she whispers. "We love you too."
Pushing the covers back, she gets out of bed and heads downstairs. In the last few mornings the morning sickness seems to have slowed down. But as she opens the refrigerator door, she feels her stomach turn over. Reaching for the crackers, she takes a few and leaves the kitchen. Walking into the living room, she lies down on the couch and closes her eyes.
She's still laying there when someone knocks. Sam looks at the door, but doesn't really have the energy to get up and answer it. The person on the other side knocks again, this time a little more insistent. When Sam doesn't immediately answer, Cassie calls. "Sam, are you in there?" Sitting up, Sam gets up and slowly walks to the door. She's slow enough for Cassie to call out again. "Sam, if your there, open the door, or I'm going to call Jeffrey." By that time Sam's made it to the door. Pulling the door open, she says. "Please don't do that Cassie?"
"I was worried." Cassie says, as Sam leans against the door. "Are you alright?"
"Morning… excuse me." Sam says, turning and rushing into the bathroom.
Cassie and Reva come inside and close the door behind them. Cassie stops at the bathroom while Reva goes on into the living room. "Sam." Cassie calls through the door.
"I'll be fine, just give me a minute." Sam says, turning the water on. She brushes her teeth and then washes her face before she flushes the toilet and opens the door. Cassie has gone into the living room with Reva. "I'm sorry." Sam says, sitting down on the couch when she walks into the living room.
Cassie and Reva are sitting on the other side of her, in two overstuffed club chairs that Jeffrey bought when they bought the furniture for the loft. "Morning sickness." Cassie says.
"Yes, it comes and goes. Some mornings I'm fine, the next I'll be sick. I was lying down on the couch when you knocked."
"We're sorry to bother you, but we wanted to show you the dresses we bought for the wedding." Reva says, holding up the garment bags she had in her hand.
"We can come….?"
"No, I want to see them." Sam says, nodding to Reva to open the bags.
Reva hands one of the bags to Cassie and then she opens the other one and takes out a lavender silk dress, with spaghetti straps and a v-cut neckline. The bodice is form fitting and then flows out into a full skirt that falls to the floor.
"Oh, that's beautiful." Sam says, getting up and walking over to the dress.
"We both have the same dress." Cassie says, holding up the other bag. "And we thought we would wear our hair up with a silver chain around our neck."
"You're going to look beautiful." Sam says, reaching out to touch the dress that Reva holding as the clock on the mantel begins to chime. "What time is it?"
"It's almost ten." Cassie says, glancing at her watch
"Oh shoot." Sam says, turning away. "I've got to pick my cousin up at the airport." Sam says, walking across the living room to the stairs.
"When does she arrive?" Reva asks.
"At 10:35." Sam replies, turning around at the bottom of the stairs. "I'll be right back." She says, before she hurries upstairs, while Reva puts the dress back into the bag.
Less than ten minutes later, Sam is back downstairs. She dressed in cut off jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals with her hairs pulled back in a ponytail. "How did you do that so quickly?" Reva asks.
"No makeup." Sam says, shrugging her shoulders as she smiles. She walks over to the door, grabbing her purse and keys, as Cassie and Reva walk up to her. "Those dresses are perfect." Sam says, opening the door.
"Good." They both reply, as they walk out and Sam closes the door and locks it.
"So, you're going to pick up your cousin." Reva says, as they start downstairs.
"Yes, she and her family are flying in from DC this morning and then I have a friend flying in tomorrow." Sam replies, as she opens the front door to the building.
They walk out. Sam heads to her car while Reva and Cassie head for Cassie's. Cassie's halfway to her car, when she remembers the guitar. "Hey Sam." She says, turning back to her.
"Yeah." Sam says, looking up from locking her car.
"When do you want to come get the guitar?"
"I'll be there later this week."
"Okay, I'll see you then." Cassie says, Sam nods and then finishes unlocking her car and getting in.
Starting the car, she pulls out of her parking place. Waving as she passes them. About fifteen minutes later, she pulls up to the airport. She parks next to the unloading and loading area and walks in. She's riding up the escalator when she hears the flight announcement for Megan's flight. She walks up to security and stands off to the side. About ten minutes later she spots Megan and the boys walking through the security gate. "Meggie." She calls, stepping away from the wall as she turns her head and spots her.
Rushing to her, Megan pulls her into a hug while the boys stand off to the side. "I've missed you so much." Megan says, releasing Sam.
"I missed you too. Where are my boys?" Sam asks, looking around.
"We're right here." They say, giggling.
"Oh, there you are." She says, pretending she only just spotted them, making them laugh some more. Smiling, she kneels down and holds her arms open as they rush her.
"Careful." Megan says, as the boys almost knock Sam over.
"It's fine." Sam says, holding them. "I've missed you two."
"We miss you. Are you coming back to DC?"
"Boys remember I told you that Sam moved to Springfield and she lives there now?"
They nod as they release Sam and she stands up, looking around for Patrick. "Where's Patrick?"
"He had to stay in DC and work." Megan says.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I wanted him to be here."
"I know, and he wanted to be here too but he had a lot of work to do and his boss demanded that he stay in town, he's really sorry."
"Okay." Sam says, watching Megan for a couple seconds. "Is everything okay between you two?"
"We're fine. So, where's Jeffrey?" Megan asks, changing the subject.
"He had to go in early today, but he said he'll be finished as soon as he possibly can." Sam says, as someone walks up to her and taps her on the shoulder. Turning around, she stares for a couple seconds before she starts to scream. "Keisha, oh my god, you're here. I thought… you're here." Sam says, pulling her into a hug.
"Yes." LaKeisha says, as they hug.
"I thought you were coming tomorrow." Sam says.
"I was, but then I decided to take an earlier flight." LaKeisha says, as they releases each and they step back.
"What about…?"
"They can do without me for a few more days." LaKeisha says, looking at the Megan and the boys.
"Oh, I'm sorry. LaKeisha, this is my cousin Megan and her two boys, Michael and PJ." Sam says, introducing everyone.
"It's nice to meet you." LaKeisha says, holding out her hand and shaking Megan's and then the boys."
"It's good to meet you." Megan says.
"Come on, I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm starving." Sam says, turning as the boys take her hand.
"Sam, you know…." LaKeisha says.
"I know I need to eat regularly and I usually do, but this morning he wanted to make me sick and then a couple of friends came by just before I came to get you." Sam says, looking at Megan.
They wait for about twenty minutes before everyone's luggage comes out. The boys grab their own suitcases while Megan and LaKeisha get theirs and then they all follow Sam out to her car. Putting the luggage in the trunk, Megan helps the boys get in and buckle up with each of them sitting next to LaKeisha, while Megan takes the front seat. "So, where are you taking us to eat?"
"Umm, there's this restaurant next to the hospital, called Company. It has the best food here. In fact the owner is catering the reception for me." Sam says, backing out of her parking spot.
"So, how are you settling in to life in small town again?" Megan asks.
"I like it. You know I never really liked DC." Sam says, glancing at her. "How are things at the hospital?" She asks LaKeisha, glancing back through the rearview mirror.
"They've been pretty slow. The doctor they hired to replace you took a leave of absence right after you left."
"I know." Sam says, pulling out onto the freeway.
"You know." LaKeisha says, in surprise.
"Yes, I ran into him a few weeks after I moved here."
"He's in Springfield?" LaKeisha says.
"Who's this guy?" Megan asks.
"It's the doctor that the agency hired to take over my cases." Sam says
"He's more than that. He's really hot and Jeffrey seems…."
"Jeffrey was right, but it doesn't matter." Sam says, glancing back at LaKeisha.
"You didn't tell me about this?" Megan says
"Because it wasn't important?" Sam replies, pulling off the freeway and stopping at a red light.
"So, how did you know he took the leave of absence, if it wasn't important?" LaKeisha asks.
"He did some work for me."
"Some work? I don't understand."
"I bought Jeffrey a wedding gift, it's a guitar and I had it engraved and he did the engraving." Sam says, turning left and heading towards the hospital.
"Does Jeffrey know about it?" LaKeisha asks.
"He knows he did some work for me. He doesn't know about the guitar."
"So, what's going on with Jeffrey's ex?" Megan asks.
"She's sort of backed off the last few weeks. We've run into her several times and she basically ignores us. She only talks to Jeffrey when it involves Ava."
"You think she's giving up?"
"I don't know. She's not bothering us now, but we still have agents working the wedding to make sure she doesn't try anything."
"She knows about the wedding?" LaKeisha says.
"Yes, she saw the invitation I gave Ava."
"Does she know about the baby?" Megan asks.
"No, I don't think so." Sam says, pulling into the parking lot of Company. "So, we're here." Sam says, turning the car off.
Everyone gets out, and follow Sam into the restaurant. Harley is at the bar when they all walks in. "Sam." She says, smiling.
"Hi, Harley." Sam says, hugging her as Harley notices the other women behind her.
"Harley, this is my cousin Megan and my best friend LaKeisha, they are in town for the wedding." Sam says. "Megan, LaKeisha, this is Harley Cooper."
"Hello." Harley says, holding out her hand and shaking each of their hands. "Welcome to Springfield."
"Thank you." Megan and LaKeisha reply.
"So, I'm assuming you're here to eat, but my Dad's stepped."
"We're here to eat." Megan says, looking at Sam.
"I haven't eaten yet." Sam says.
"Ah, okay, well take that back booth and I'll have Lynn come and get your order." Harley says.
"Thanks Harley." Sam says, leading the way to the back booth.
The boys slide in first and then LaKeisha and Megan followed by Sam. A few minutes later, Lynn walks up and each of them places their order, Megan ordering for the boys, and when she leaves. Megan asks. "So everything is ready for the wedding?"
"Yes, the catering is taken care, the reception is taken care of, and my bridesmaids have their dresses…."
"I brought mine with me." LaKeisha says.
"Good."
"And I've brought mine. So, what about the honeymoon?" Megan asks.
"Jeffrey's handling that, and we'll be spending our wedding night at the Beacon." Sam says.
"You're spending your wedding night in he ex's hotel." LaKeisha says.
"Yes, Cassie insisted that we use the Beacon. We couldn't have the reception there but she owns half the hotel, so she insisted."
"And you're not afraid she'll try something."
"She'd be a fool too." Harley says, walking up to the table.
"Maybe so, but from what Sam's told me about the stuff she's done, is it really wise for you to stay in her hotel?" Megan asks.
"We have to take the first steps to getting along. Olivia is apart of my life because she's Ava's mother. It's not good for Ava, and I know it upsets Jeffrey. We have to try and beside she's calmed down the last few weeks, like I told you."
"Don't let that fool you Sam, Olivia is a master manipulator. Just ask Josh or Richard." Harley says.
"I'm not fooled by Olivia, but I'm tired of fighting her and running. I live here and I'm marrying Jeffrey, she has to accept that, eventually." Sam says when everyone looks at her.
"Is this why my ears are ringing?" Jeffrey asks, walking up behind Harley. "All these beautiful women talking about me, I feel…."
"What?" Sam asks, getting up as Harley moves out of the way.
"Very much loved, especially by you." Jeffrey replies, leaning to kiss her.
"Very nicely put." Sam says, stepping back. "I thought you were at City Hall all day?"
"I have to take a lunch." Jeffrey says, sitting down next to Sam. "I'll have my usual Harley."
"Okay, I'll go tell Dad." Harley says, smiling as she walks away.
"So, are you ladies only talking about me, or something else?" Jeffrey asks.
"We're discussing your wedding night."
"I think we've got that covered." Jeffrey says, leaning over to kiss Sam as she blushes.
"I'm sure you do." LaKeisha says. "But please don't paint us a picture. Beside we have children at the table."
"I see that, how are you doing?" Jeffrey asks the boys.
"Fine, sir." Michael and Peter reply.
"No need for the sir, why don't you call me Jeffrey?"
"Okay." They reply after looking at their mother and she nods okay.
"Good, so LaKeisha I thought you were coming in tomorrow." Jeffrey says, as Harley brings his drink.
"I decided to take an early flight."
"She surprised me at the airport." Sam says, as Lynn brings their food.
She serves everyone and then tells Jeffrey. "Buzz is cooking yours now. It should be out in a few moments."
"Okay." Jeffrey replies. "So, what are you ladies doing for the rest of the day?" Jeffrey asks, when she walks away.
"We don't know. Sam was starving so we had to come to get something to eat and that's as far as we got." Megan says.
"Starving, didn't you eat this morning?"
"I was sick this morning." Sam says, glaring at Megan.
"Morning sickness?" Jeffrey asks as she nods. "Are you okay, now?"
"I'm fine." Sam says, taking a bite of food.
"Good." Jeffrey says, as Lynn brings his food.
Everyone settles in to eat, discussing the wedding and the girls try to get Jeffrey to tell them where he's taking Sam for the honeymoon. As they are leaving Company, Jeffrey walks with them to Sam's car. Kissing her good-bye, he says. "I'll see you tonight."
"Yes."
"Don't wear yourself out today?" He says, gently caressing her cheek.
"I won't." She says, leaning up to kiss him. "I'll see you later."
"Okay, ladies, boys." Jeffrey says.
"Bye." They all say before he turns and walks to his truck and Sam gets in her car and they leave.
Cassie takes Reva home. They are in the living room, when Reva says. "I think we need to plan a party for Sam."
"A party, you mean a bachelorette party?"
"Yes, a bachelorette party. We can call Harley and see if she's free and we can call Lizzie and see if she'll let us use Jon's bar. It'll be fun."
"You think she'll go."
"If it's a surprise she won't have a choice." Reva says, reaching for the phone.
She's call's Jon's bar and after a couple rings Lizzie picks up. "Jon's Bar, Lizzie speaking."
"Lizzie, its Reva."
"Hi, how are you doing?"
"I'm good. Listen I have a favor to ask you."
"Okay."
"I'm planning a surprise bachelorette party for Sam and I was wondering if we could have at Jon's Bar."
"Ah, sure. We don't have anything special for tonight. It'll be fun." Lizzie says.
"Good, thank you."
As she's about to hang up, Lizzie says. "Reva."
"Yes." Reva replies.
"Never mind, I was going to ask if you've heard anything about Jon, but how could you, he's dead and so is…."
"Lizzie, I'm sorry." Reva says.
"She missed her first Christmas and New Years, the 4th of July and now Labor day, she's missing everything."
"I know, sweetie." Reva says, glancing at Cassie.
"It's okay." Lizzie says, sighing softly. "When were you going to be here?"
"I'd say about eight." Reva says, looking at Cassie as she nods.
"Okay, eight it is." Lizzie says.
"Thank you again."
"You're welcome, I'll see you tonight."
"Okay." Lizzie hangs as does Reva.
"What did she ask you?"
"She wanted to know if I've heard from Jon." Reva says, laying the phone down.
"She can't know Reva." Cassie says, hearing the pain in her voice.
"I know she can't, but it hurts me when she mentions them."
"I know."
"So she's going to let use Jon's Bar, now we have to get everyone over there."
"I'll call Harley and we need to invite Ava too."
"Sure, I'll call Jeffrey and see if he can get in touch with her."
"Alright." Cassie says pulling out her cell phone as Reva calls Jeffrey. After a couple rings, Harley answers. "Hey Harley, its Cassie."
"Hi, what's up?"
"Are you busy tonight?"
"Umm, no, why?"
"We, Reva and I are planning a surprise bachelorette party for Sam."
"Oh, that's wonderful, she'll love it."
"Yes, so can you come?"
"Of course, I'll come. The boys are spending the last week of summer vacation with Rick, and Susan is busy with Rafe, so yeah I can come."
"Good. Now, I've got to find a way to contact her cousin and see if she can get Sam to Jon's Bar."
"Don't worry about that?" Harley says, cleaning off a table at Company.
"Why?"
"Because they are staying here at the boarding house."
"Really."
"Yes."
"Good, can you handle that?"
"Yes." Harley says, walking over the bar.
"We'll be at Jon's Bar at eight."
"We'll have her there." Harley says.
"Good, we'll see you then."
"Okay." Cassie hangs up, as Reva's getting off the phone with Jeffrey. "What did Jeffrey say?"
"He thinks it's a great idea, and he's going to call Ava and see if she'll come?"
"Good." Cassie says, picking up her phone again.
"Who are you calling?"
"Richard."
"Richard, why?"
"To see if he'll take Jeffrey out tonight."
"Oh, so while we're throwing Sam a party. Richard can throw Jeffrey a party, that's good idea, but remind him not to invite Josh."
"I will." Cassie says, as Richard picks up his cell phone.
"Hello darling." He says, opening the door for RJ and Will. "How are you?"
"Good, listen what are you doing?"
"Picking the boys up, why?"
"I need you to do something for me."
"What?"
"I need you to take Jeffrey out tonight."
"Take Jeffrey out, why?"
"Well we're planning a surprise bachelorette party for Sam and he's going to by himself tonight, so it would be a good time for you, his best man to take him out."
"I'll see what I can do." Richard says.
"Good."
"What about the boys?"
"I'll call Ms. Chitwood, I'm sure she'll watch them."
"I talk to Jeffrey."
"And I'll call Ms. Chitwood. Oh Richard, don't invite Josh"
"I won't. I'll see you later."
"Yes." Cassie hangs up and then dials another number.
After a couple rings, Ms. Chitwood answers. "Hello."
"Ms. Chitwood, its Cassie."
"Hello."
"I'm sorry to interrupt."
"It's okay."
"I need you to watch RJ and Will for me tonight, can you do that?"
"Yes, of course."
"Thank you so much."
"What time do you need me to be at the farm?"
"I would say around seven."
"I'll be there then."
"Thank you." Cassie says again.
"You're welcome, and I'll see you then."
"Okay." Cassie hangs up.
"So, it's all set?" Reva asks.
"Yes."
"Good, we're going to have fun tonight." Reva says, with a smile.
Jeffrey is just finishing a meeting with some of the council members when Billy walks into his office. Turning, he sees him walk in and when the council members leave he says. "The foreman explained that you had to go out of town when I stopped by the site the other day."
"Yes, but that's not why I'm here."
"Okay, do you want to come in?" Jeffrey says, stepping into his office with Billy following. Jeffrey closes the door as Billy walks over to the chairs in front of his desk. "So, what's up?" Jeffrey asks, sitting down behind his desk.
"I was just in Tulsa, handling some personal business that involves you."
"Me, I don't see how. I've never been to Tulsa, let alone Oklahoma."
"It has to do with Josh really. See he's hiding something and I think it has something to do with you."
"Me, why?"
"Because of the way he acts around you and your middle name, or names I should say."
"What does my middle name have to do with Josh and the way he treats me. As far as I know until yesterday no one had any idea what my middle name was. I never told anyone."
"Maybe not, but I think it does."
"Why? My mother gave me the name. She didn't tell me why. She didn't even tell I had a middle name."
"So how did you find out?"
"I found my birth certificate after she was killed and it listed it on there."
"Did it say what your father's name was?"
"No, it was left blank. I don't see how my last name has anything to do with the way Josh treats you."
"Your middle name is the same as our father's name." Billy says, watching Jeffrey.
"My middle name is the same as your father's middle name."
"No, it is our father's name. Harland Billy Lewis, or HB as he was called in the family was our father's name, mine and Josh's and I think it's fairly coincidental that your middle is our father's name."
"It's my middle name. It doesn't mean anything. My mother gave it to me, that is all."
"And she didn't tell you anything about it, why she gave you those names? Where she got them from?"
"No, she wouldn't even tell me who my father was."
"Okay." Billy says, sitting back.
"Why were you in Tulsa?" Jeffrey asks.
"I went to see if my father's personal attorney had any files that were about my father."
"Why?"
"Because Josh is hiding something and he won't tell me or Reva why? He's ordering Lewis attorney's to destroy legal files and not tell us."
"What do you think he's hiding?"
"I have no idea. I had our secretary Wanda look through all the legal files in Lewis. She didn't find anything. But there are files that we can't look at?"
"What files?"
"Files that went to Spaulding after they took over Lewis Oil, they got all the files from the company and we of course don't have access to them."
"Can you ask…? Of course you can't its Spaulding. Did you find anything out in Tulsa?"
"No, the person I needed to talk to is out of the country until next month."
"And you think that whatever Josh is hiding is tied to my middle name?"
"I don't know. But I do think it's a little weird that you have our father's name. Was it a family name?"
"No, not that I know of, Sam asked me the same thing and she asked me if my mom had ever been in the south, or if any of her family had been in the south."
"Sam asked… of course she's from… where is she from?"
"Georgia."
"Of course, and she would recognize the name. It is a southern name, but then your mom might have heard it anywhere."
"I don't know where my mom got it but I don't really think it's that important." Jeffrey says, as Stacey buzzes him. Reaching for the intercom, he says. "Yes, Stacey."
"Sir, Mr. Winslow is here to see you."
"Alright, I'll be right out." Jeffrey says, pushing his chair back to stand up as Billy stands up.
"Yes Sir."
"I'm headed over to the house now so I'll be in touch later." Billy says, as they walk across the room and Jeffrey opens the door.
"Okay." Jeffrey says, as they walk out of the office.
"Richard." Billy says.
"Billy." Richard replies.
"We'll talk later." Jeffrey says.
"Yes." Billy replies, leaving as Jeffrey show Richard into his office.
89.11