"Well good morning Claudia!" said Sam grinning as he struggled to sit up. "Does your head hurt as bad as mine?"
Claudia sighed and closed her eyes briefly as she mumbled a response. Oh my Lord, Sam Thomas? What in the hell was I thinking?
"Ok, I'm going to take a quick shower so…" Claudia let the comment trail off hoping Sam would understand that she was hinting for him to make a quick exit.
"Ok," replied Sam flashing a quick grin. "Just point me towards the kitchen and I'll have breakfast ready for you when you get out." He laughed enjoying her discomfort at him still being there. "I assume you do have regular food?"
Claudia nodded too shocked to speak. She reached to her floor and found a t-shirt she was able to slip on and ran into her adjoining bathroom. As she let the hot water wash over her she struggled to piece together the night."Shit!" she yelled hitting the wall of her shower. She then remembered doing shots and slow dancing with Sam near the end of the night before whispering suggestively in his ear. Once they were at her place, it didn't take long for them to find their way into her bedroom. She shook her head slowly as she felt her cheeks redden.
About 15 minutes later she crept cautiously into the kitchen dressed in a pair of jeans and a Tshirt. She couldn't help but smile as Sam stood at the stove flipping pancakes in the air and catching them on the plate.
"Well I made pancakes, sausage, toast, and of course fresh orange juice!" Same claimed proudly.
"Freshly squeezed orange juice? Wow, I didn't even think I had oranges. I'm impressed. It all looks wonderful!" Claudia replied getting out silverware.
"Who said anything about freshly squeezed? I said fresh, which means I opened a new carton and poured it into two glasses." Sam replied turning the burner off and carrying the plates of food over to the table.
Claudia sat down and nervously chewed on a piece of bacon. She stole a glance at Sam and saw him pouring syrup over his pancakes with gusto. He saw her looking at him and set the syrup down.
"Claudia look, we can both be completely weird around each other and have everything be awkward and dumb. Or we can accept the fact that we are two SINGLE adults who had a great time last night, had an even better time when we got back to your place…" He winked as Claudia blushed. "and who are now enjoying a deliciously prepared breakfast which could give IHOP a run for their money."
He stared at Claudia and was happy to see her relax a little. "Seriously Claud, I had a great time last night. My life hasn't been a whole lot of fun lately after splitting from Lisa and it was great to be out with a bunch of friends and have a good time. Plus, I'd have to say that we have some wicked chemistry. Who knew that you were such a wild woman in the sack!" He wiggled his eyebrows her as she burst out laughing. "Now what's on the agenda today?"
As she poured syrup over her pancakes she filled Sam in on how Stacey and Jason were coming over to help get things ready for the brunch the next day. As they sat there and talked she found herself empathizing with him as he filled her in on his marriage and divorce.
"So basically, we were just as different places. Literally. She was at her new boyfriend's house and I was at home with the dog." Sam finshed wryly.
"I'm really sorry she cheated on you Sam." Claudia said quietly. "I know how hard it is when the person you love and trust the most hurts you."
Sam reached across the table and held her hand. "I heard bits and pieces about Mark. I never actually heard the whole story though…" He trailed off hoping she would feel comfortable enough to talk about it.
Claudia took a deep breath as she realized that she did want Sam to know. She helped herself to another pancake as she started her story.
"I'll give you the brief version because there is just not enough time before they get here for the whole sage. Basically I met him in a dart league I was on. We hit it off and everything was perfect. My one true love, man I'm supposed to be with blah blah blah. We had decided to actually buy a house together. I had been giving him money to put into an account for us so that we could have a great down payment. He was an investment banker so I figured he knew what he was doing. Well what I didn't know was that he had a major gambling addiction as well as a serious cocaine habit. I knew he gambled a bit, I mean we had gone to Vegas a few times and I was a little concerned with how much he lost but I chalked it up to being that we were on an adventure in a new city…"
She paused as her eyes filled up with tears. She stood up to start clearing the table then stopped when Sam grabbed her hands and pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her.
"I don't know how I didn't know about the drugs. I think I was just blind to it. Then the one day the police came looking for him and took me in for questioning. I didn't think they believed me when I said I didn't know anything. It wasn't until he was arrested that I realized how much he had been using me. He depleted my entire savings and really messed up my credit. He was arrested for possession and credit fraud and I had to testify against him. Even when they handcuffed him and were leading him away he turned to me and told me he loved me and to wait for him and I told him I loved him. I honestly planned to wait for him. How could I have been so stupid?"
Sam stroked Claudia's hair and held her until she stopped crying. "It sounds to me like you are confusing the word stupid with optimistic Claudia. How can you fault yourself because you loved someone unconditionally? Is a parent stupid because they still love their child even when they are being tried for murder? Mark was your world and you naturally saw the good in him. I am so sorry he put you through that. I'm sorry he cleaned out your account but mostly I'm sorry that you've been beating yourself up over this for like 10 years when you did nothing wrong except love someone."
Claudia closed her eyes and felt a warmth run through her body as she processed what Sam had said. Why have I been blaming myself? She thought.
She turned around and gave Sam a hug whispering thank you as she resumed clearing the table.
The time quickly flew by as they got into an all out water fight while washing the dishes which led to both of them slipping on the water and landing in a heap on the floor. They both gasped in surprise as the doorbell rang not realizing that the whole morning had passed. They ran giggling as they tried to push each other out of the way to open the door.
"Hey Claud? Why do you have soapsuds in your hair?" asked Stacey as she walked through the door carrying a few bags of groceries.
She stopped short at the sight of Sam standing there in boxer and a t-shirt causing Jason to crash into the back of her.
"Hey man what's up?" said Jason good naturedly hitting Sam on the arm seemingly oblivious to the fact that Stacey was not expecting Sam's presence. "I brought some beer over. I figured hair of the dog right? Best thing for a hangover?"
As the guys walked into the family room to turn on the game Claudia quickly ushered Stacey into the kitchen.
"You had sex!" whispered Stacey laughing. "I haven't seen that smile in a long time! How did this happen? Do you like him? Oh my God! That's why you sounded so weird on the phone when I called this morning!"
Claudia laughed. "We just had a lot of fun. I didn't even remember what happened last night. I don't know that it's anything so don't make a big deal about it. But I did invite him over tomorrow."
"Whoa! What is Kristy going to think?" wondered Stacey aloud.
"Kristy won't have to wonder because it's no big deal. It won't phase anyone if he's at the brunch tomorrow." Said Claudia confidently. "I'd die if she knew we slept together!:
"Did you guys take a cab to get back? I didn't see Sam's car out there?" asked Stacey as she began unloading the bags of food she had.
"Hmmm, I have no frickin' clue. I was hammered." Said Claudia as she walked towards the family room. "Hey Sam? How'd we get back here last night?"
Sam turned away from the tv and grinned at Claudia his eyes twinkling. "Ha! You don't remember? We got a ride from my charming sister and her obnoxious fiancé."
He laughed as Stacey burst out laughing and Claudia covered her face with her hands.
