Thanks, again, for all the reviews, alerts, suggestions, etc. Here is the rest of the explanation for Sam.
Sarah loved seeing her brother like this, but her story wasn't finshed yet. "I was positive you were going to ask Andy out that week, but every night she would call and say that you still hadn't done it. When Andy called on Thursday night, I thought something had happened to you because she was so upset. But once I got her to calm down, I realized she was just worried because she thought she had blown our cover. She told me she had almost said too much. I'm not sure if you remember, but I called you that night to quiz you. I could tell you were distracted and a little down, but you wouldn't tell me why. I was sure that our secret was still safe though."
"When Andy came out on the weekend, we went all over the city and did our Christmas shopping – Sam we rode the bus. Just a couple short rides, but we did it." Sarah bragged. "And at night, we finalized Andy's plan of attack, including our Christmas surprise if we…I …could make it work. We had almost a whole month – for me to build up my courage and for Andy to get 'her man' right where she wanted you." Sam shifted uncomfortably in his seat; he still wasn't quite used to his sister talking about him like that. It just isn't right.
Andy giggled at Sam's embarrassment. "We refined our plans over the next couple of weeks, deciding that if you didn't ask me out by Christmas, I would make my move. I had no idea what you were thinking, and we weren't about to ask. I just couldn't figure out what was holding you back and neither could Sarah."
Sam was feeling a little cornered so he reluctantly admitted to listening to Dov. "In my defense, everything you were doing was screaming secret boyfriend – leaving the Penny early, disappearing on your days off, and going away for the weekend… without me."
Andy quickly kissed him and said, "I realize that now. But it didn't even dawn on me before. You listened to Dov, Sam. You never listen to Dov – every time he brings up the latest gossip you roll your eyes and tell him to get a life. When I found out about the rumors, I didn't think for a minute that you would believe them. Even if I was doing those other things, we were together all the time and I was practically throwing myself at you. What kind of girl do you think I am?" She teased again.
He was about to respond when he realized that what he was going to say was probably not meant to be shared with his sister and especially not with Andy's father. So he just grinned and looked away. Andy was pretty sure she knew where his mind was headed and she blushed.
Needing to salvage the conversation quickly, Sarah spoke up again. "I gave Andy some of our favorite family recipes and we would bake when she came over." She looked at Sam incredulously. "I can't believe you couldn't you tell that they were Gramma's cookies. And the suppers…you didn't recognize anything?"
"Well I thought the cookies tasted the same, but how could they be?" Sam asked. "And to be honest, I wasn't really thinking about the food too much." Everyone laughed.
Before Sam could get too far with that comment, Andy took over. "I was sure when I invited you for Christmas Eve that that would speed things along, but you still didn't make a move. We were alone in my apartment talking about Christmas plans and you still wouldn't take the hint. You even left early with some lame excuse about being tired."
"Come on, put yourself in my shoes," he defended. "Yes, I was at your house but you interrupted our evening by taking a call on your cell phone. Obviously, it was more important, and then you start talking about plans and going away again so I thought it was 'your man'."
Both Sarah and Andy shook their heads at Sam and laughed. "Men!" They said in unison. Sam realized then that he had heard Andy correctly outside her door that night.
"The plans you heard about were to take that bus ride to the beach that went so wrong all those years ago. And I did it Sam; it was great." Sarah crowed. "We rode the bus there and then Tommy met us. It was too cold to go in the water but we had hot chocolate, and then went out for supper. Most of our other plans were already in place, so we just spent the rest of the time visiting places that I had read about in the paper, but just never went to. I had no idea how much I was missing."
Sam was proud of his sister and eternally grateful for Andy (in more ways than one) and it was all making itself known through a growing lump in his throat. He stood up and asked anyone else if they wanted something to drink. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and swallowed the lump before asking, "Then what?"
Andy and Sarah looked at each other and screamed "Ladies Night!"
Tommy took that moment to stand up and announce that he was going to get the turkey in the oven, but mostly he just didn't think he wanted to hear this part of the conversation. Sarah stood up to help, but he assured her that he could take care of it; she had already done most of the preparations earlier.
Sam looked between the two women, trying to decide if he should go help with the turkey too. "Maybe we should skip this part. I'm not sure I really want to hear this either. With the looks I was getting from Nash & Noelle, I'm not sure I want to know."
"It's not that bad, Sam." Andy assured him before she started to sing. "Sarah and David sitting in a tree…"
Sam's head whipped around to look at Sarah and the words just started flowing. "What? You met a guy? Who is he? I'll need to meet him…Sarah?" Sarah blushed and Andy laughed as Sarah gave her the evil eye.
Trying to contain her grin and save Sarah from Sam's inquisition, Andy recalled the events of that day. "Traci, Noelle and I drove to St Catherines right after lunch; we had to work the next day so it would have to be an early evening. I spent the drive down there bringing them both up to speed. They were actually quite shocked so I was pretty sure that no one else, including you, had any idea. We went out to an early movie, out for supper and then to a small lounge for drinks. Being surrounded by 3 competent, (and she wanted to say sexy, but thought that would be pushing Sam a little too far) police officers, Sarah felt pretty comfortable so it actually didn't take her long to relax."
"We were having so much fun – Noelle has some great stories about you guys at the academy by the way," Andy said with a smile. Sam decided he would have to talk to Noelle about what should and should not be shared on ladies night.
"We were offered drinks a couple of times," Andy admitted (and purposefully underestimated). Sarah wasn't going to let her get away with it though.
"I'm pretty sure it was more than a couple of times, at least for Andy anyway." Sarah corrected. "And seriously, how many guys think those cheesy pick up lines actually work? 'Hey baby, need a mechanic for that finely tuned body?' I think that one may have been my favorite." Sarah laughed until she saw Andy shooting her a look. She decided it was best to stop there when Sam frowned at her as well.
Sam knew only too well the male attention Andy could attract, especially when she was relaxed and truly having fun. The frown was settling on his face as Andy reassured him, "It really wasn't that many, and I always said no." She kissed him and placed her hand on his cheek to try and soften his grimace at least a little. "Besides I only have eyes for one man anyway."
Eager to deflect the attention, Andy went on. "A couple of hours after we got there, 2 guys approached our table and asked if they could join us. I had noticed one of them exchanging looks with Noelle earlier, and I had also caught the other one looking at Sarah a few times too. They seemed nice, but it was Ladies Night so I was going to politely turn them down, but Noelle had other ideas. I'm pretty sure she must have forgotten the rules for Ladies Night because she invited them to sit down almost immediately. "
"You didn't have to be a cop to know what she was thinking," Sarah confirmed. "She gave him more than one full body scan before they even sat down." Sam's eyes widened. Did she actually say that? Who are you and what have you done with my sister?
"Noelle started talking to her new 'friend' Michael, and David pulled up a chair at the end beside Sarah and started talking with the rest of us. He said that the two of them worked together, and that this was the first time they had stopped here. I'm positive he was looking right at Sarah when he said he was glad they did." Andy glanced at Sarah with a grin.
"They were both really easygoing and very funny. Between their stories and Noelle's, I think we laughed for at least an hour straight. When I finally looked at the time, I realized that it was getting late and told everyone that we had to get going. I'm pretty sure the only person that didn't glare at me was Traci."
"I did not glare at you." Sarah protested.
"OK, fine, but I definitely wasn't your favorite person right about then." Andy disputed. I know exactly who her favorite person was right then. And if she ever learns to use those Swarek dimples the way Sam does, that man - any man for that matter - will be putty in her hands.
"You can correct me if I'm wrong, Sarah, but as I was headed to the washroom, I think David asked her if they could go for coffee sometime. When I looked back, he looked a little dejected so I'm guessing she turned him down." Andy surmised.
"When I got back, the girls were already waiting at the door and David and Michael were at the bar. I stopped at the counter to say goodnight and they both handed me their cards…you know..." she winked, "…just in case one of us might need their 'services' in the future."
Andy reached down to get her purse from under the coffee table and held a card up to Sarah. "I still have it if you want it," she teased. "Maybe you can even double with Noelle and Michael."
Sam snatched the card out of Andy's hand before Sarah could even consider it. "Maybe I better take this and check him out first."
But Andy quickly grabbed it back, and Sarah was shocked when Andy said, "don't worry…no outstanding warrants and no priors."
Sarah's jaw dropped.
"What?" Andy asked. "Noelle and I checked them out when I gave her Michael's card." Well, another card anyway.
Sam smiled. That's my girl. Hmmh…my girl… He smiled even bigger.
Sarah was speechless – first because they actually took the time to check him out and second because she thought that maybe she really was interested. She just wasn't sure she was quite ready for that yet.
Sam could tell she was getting uncomfortable and let her off the hook by asking "But that still doesn't tell me why Nash and Noelle were looking at me funny when they got back?"
All Andy could do was speculate. "Who knows? They did know the whole story by then, so I guess they were just trying to see how you were holding up or if you were any closer to making your move. You'll probably have to ask them that."
"I'm just sorry that I had no idea you thought there was someone else. After the dinners, and the flirting, and sharing the baking, I'd go home every night and complain to Sarah that you didn't ask me again. And then it was Christmas Eve…and...well you were here for that so…yeah…" Andy trailed off.
Sam leaned back on the couch and pulled Andy close, "I'm sorry for leaving Andy. You have no idea how hard it was. But I was so sure that I lost you again, that I waited too long. And I was so scared that I didn't even consider it was me."
"I'll forget those 2 hours if you will." Andy bartered as she snuggled in. "Because apart from that, it was perfect. I got everything I wanted and this was my best Christmas ever." She turned her head up to Sam and gave him a quick kiss.
"Mine too," Sam snuck out before his mouth was on hers again.
They were getting a little too close for her comfort out here so Sarah started getting up to see if Tommy needed a hand in the kitchen. But Tommy came back in just then and cleared his throat.
Sam pulled reluctantly away from Andy and expertly deflected the attention away. "Wait, you didn't tell me how you got here today, Sarah?"
"I rode the bus from St Catherines all by myself," she stated proudly, and then quickly added, "…well, almost by myself."
"What do you mean, almost?" Sam looked confused, while Tommy and Andy both just looked away.
Sarah laughed, sarcasm evident in her voice, "Well, I can't be sure, but the gentleman that sat a couple rows behind me looked surprisingly like Tommy's friend from St. Catherines. And though I'm not positive, I did see a car that looked a lot like Tommy's driving beside the bus for what appeared to be the entire way."
Tommy and Andy knew they had been caught but Sarah wasn't mad. She just stood up and grabbed Andy's had to drag her up to her dad so she could hug them both. "Thanks…I couldn't have done any of this without you guys."
Sam was pretending to pout on the couch by himself before his sister walked over and dragged him up for a hug. "And Sam, you are the only one that has kept me sane all these years; I wouldn't have even been able to try if it wasn't for you…so thank you…I love you" She turned her head to the still embracing McNally's "…all of you."
The rest of the day was spent talking, laughing, sharing family stories, and preparing the perfect meal with all of the Swarek and McNally family recipes. Although he and Andy had already exchanged gifts – real gifts – the night before, Sam had had to run home quickly to pick up his gift for Sarah, which had been forgotten in all the earlier mayhem. And even though he had been given Sarah's presence, she still had a gift for him to unwrap too.
Once supper was done and they had cleaned everything up, they relaxed for a bit before Tommy declared that it was time to go. After hugging both girls, he exchanged a manlier handshake with Sam before he headed home.
The plan was for Sarah to stay at Andy's tonight and Sam's tomorrow night before heading home. Sam was happy to hear that she would be staying for a bit longer. He insisted that she should come to the Shaw's annual Boxing Day party (that was always planned around their shifts) so he could finally introduce her to all of his friends. And she gladly agreed because she couldn't think of a better way to spend the day than to get to know more of the people that Sam cared about.
In celebration of an amazing day and the days to come, Sam suggested that they have a nightcap. The girls agreed, but after the second drink, and talking for a couple more hours, it was getting quite late, and Sam was getting more and more comfortable on the couch that was to be Sarah's bed.
Sarah and Andy both hinted that it was probably time for him to head home too. But now that Sam knew Andy was his, he had no plans to head home alone whether his sister was here or not. Let the games begin…