Chapter 18

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Sam stared into her closet trying to decide what to pack. If she was going to testify in front of a committee she needed to look sharp but the hearing might go really long so she needed to have something comfortable as well. As she stared into the closet she was faced with the harsh realization that she really needed to update her wardrobe. She'd been rotating the same five outfits for the last two years. It's an ironic fact of life that when you have the time to shop you don't have the money but when you have the money you don't have the time.

She pursed her lips and decided on the black slacks. Now which blouse? She was trying to decide between the black or the white top when her cell started ringing.

She walked to the nightstand and picked it up glancing at the caller-ID. It was a phone number she didn't recognize but the area code was 410. Georgetown. Her heart rate sped up as she sat down on the bed and pressed 'talk'.

"Spade." She answered with trepidation.

There was a slight pause on the other end before she heard the voice she had been dreaming of for the last two months. "Hi, Sam, it's Martin."

"Hi." Sam felt her throat go dry and her mind go completely blank. "I…um….Wha…"

She could hear Martin give a small laugh on the other end of the line. "Sorry, guess I caught you off guard."

Sam smiled that Martin sounded in good spirits. "Yeah, but I'm glad you called. How are you?"

"I'm awake and I've been told that's a good thing."

"It is." Sam wanted to crawl through the phone line and talk to Martin in the flesh, to touch him, to see his face. "What are you up to? How do you like staying on the boat?"

"How did you…..oh, my Mom. Wow, she didn't waste any time telling you did she?"

Sam wasn't sure but she thought she sensed a bit of annoyance in his voice. "Does it bother you that she and I talk?"

Martin paused too long for Sam's liking but when he spoke his voice sounded kind. "Yes and no. My sisters told me that those emails helped her a lot so I can't be mad at you for that. It's just weird but I'll get used to it."

Sam breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks because it means a lot to me, too."

Martin paused for a moment and softly replied, "That's good."

Sam wanted Martin's voice to get that levity back so she enthusiastically said. "So, you didn't answer my question. I'm really curious how you like living on a boat, I can't picture it." Sam lay back on the bed, wanting to keep him on the line, to continue hearing the sound of Martin's voice in her ear.

It obviously worked because Martin returned to the light tone he had earlier. "Well, I only moved in this morning but if it's anything like the times I stayed here during college I will be fine."

"Isn't it kinda cramped?"

He laughed. "It's not a dingy; it's a pretty big boat. Actually, it can technically be called a yacht but don't tell Danny that; he'd never let me hear the end of it. Lots of people live on boats. It's pretty roomy but it can get cramped. But I'd still take this over living back at home; I'd never get any peace."

"Why not?" She was under the impression that he was getting along really well with his family.

"Don't get me wrong, my family has been great. I don't know what I'd do without them. But as much as I love them I can already tell my mom is getting that mother hen thing going on and I'd feel like I was constantly being watched. I had enough of that in the hospital."

Sam rolled onto her side deciding that since Martin was the one who dropped the 'H' word she could go ahead and ask. "So, how are you adjusting?"

"Every day is a little better than the one before." Clearly Martin did not want to talk about it because he switched gears pretty fast. "I want to hear what's going on in New York. How's Danny?"

Sam smiled and rolled back onto the bed. She put her free arm under her head. "He's good. His arm is pretty much fully recovered but he still complains that it is stiff when it rains." Sam sensed that Martin was trying to be upbeat so she decided to just follow his lead which wasn't hard since she was so happy that they were talking. "But the big news is that he's in love."

"Danny? Really? Who is she?" She laughed at the incredulousness in Martin's voice.

"Her name is Emma Close. She's a doctor. She's funny, smart, nice and gorgeous." She could hear Martin's soft laugh on the other end of the line and she suddenly missed him more than she thought possible. She wanted him to be here next to her on the bed so they could lie together and just talk like they used to. "You should see Danny. He's absolutely love sick."

"I can't wait to meet this girl." Sam heard some rustling noise on Martin's end of the phone line.

"What are you doing? It sounds like you are calling me from inside a bag of potato chips." Sam asked half laughing.

"I wish." Martin chuckled. "I'm hunting for a snack to tide me over until dinner at my parent's tonight. It isn't easy, my mom was in charge of stocking the galley and my only choices are: soy potato chips or toasted soy nuts."

Sam laughed. "Ick. I say order a pizza."

"Don't tempt me. That sounds really good after a week of hospital food." Martin dreamily added, "A large with pepperoni, sausage, and black olives."

Sam added. "Don't forget the bell peppers."

Martin suddenly got very quiet on the other end of the line before softly replying, "Never."