~*Chapter Twenty-Four : Daddy's Home*~
When Sam fainted, Freddie was startled. He hurriedly knelt at her side. "Baby, wake up," Freddie said to her. When Sam didn't move, he lifted her into his arms. He carried her to the sofa and laid her down. He was worried now, because she was pregnant.
Melanie was just as stunned as Sam, but luckily she had the presence of mind to run to the bathroom and grab a cool, wet wash cloth for Sam when she fainted. She knelt next to Freddie on the couch, pressing the damp cloth to her twin sister's forehead. Melanie looked at Freddie with worry. "Sammy, wake up," Melanie prompted her twin, but Sam wasn't moving.
Melanie then looked up at her parents. "Daddy, is it really you?" Melanie asked, tears filling her beautiful blue eyes.
"Yes, Melanie, it's me," he responded.
"Daddy!" she gasped, going into his arms. She hugged him tight; as if to never let him go.
"Where have you been, Daddy? We missed you so much!" Melanie said as her father returned her affectionate hug.
As Melanie and her dad were getting reaquainted, Pam went to Freddie's side, tenderly brushing the tendrils of blond curly hair from Sam's forehead. "Sam?" she said to her daughter, nudging her and trying to get her to wake up. Sam mumbled but didn't regain consciousness.
Pam then glanced at Freddie, appearing greatly concerned about Sam's condition. "What did you do? Get her pregnant again?" Pam asked half-jokingly, because she remembered when she was pregnant with the twins she'd pass out at nearly the slightest provocation. When Freddie didn't answer right away, Pam stiffened.
"Hey, I think we should take Sam to the hospital," Pam called out, looking over at Melanie and Melvin, her estranged husband.
"No..." Sam murmured, sitting up on the couch slowly so she wouldn't lose consciousness once again. "Freddie, take me home."
"Ohhhh no you don't, Samantha," said Pam in a motherly voice. "You passed out cold. You're going to the hospital."
"I'm - going - home!" Sam said insistently, reaching out for Freddie for support so she could get up off the couch.
Sam then glanced at her father. He had been gone fourteen long years with no calls, letters or visits. Sam had spent over a decade mourning him, not even knowing if he was alive or dead. Yet here he stood, alive and well. Why had he abandoned her? Left her and Melanie to suffer with an alcoholic mom? Had he ever really loved his little girls?
"Samantha..." Melvin said, leaving Melanie's embrace and going toward his other daughter.
Sudden tears fell from Sam's eyes. "Stay away. I hate you, Daddy," Sam said sadly. She buried her face in Freddie's chest, begging him to take her home.
Freddie wrapped his arms around Sam. "I'm sorry, " he said to everyone. "Sam and I are leaving now."
"Please refrain from upsetting her anymore," he said, looking at both of Sam's parents. Then he turned and led Sam back outside to Carly's car.
Once they got outside, Sam got sick. After she threw up, she actually felt tons better. She wiped her mouth on the back of her sleeve, then went back into Freddie's embrace. She didn't say anything, just held on to him tightly, glad he had gotten her out of that choaotic situation which was her family. A couple of minutes later, Melanie came rushing outside. "Sam!" she called out. "Are you okay?"
She suddenly stopped in her tracks as she nearly stepped in the mess her twin had left upon the ground. "Whoa!" she cried out, her eyes getting huge as she looked at Sam with worry. "Sam, you really scared me back there..."
"I'm okay, Melanie. I just don't wanna talk about anything right now. Freddie's taking me home now to get some rest... and I'll call you tomorrow," Sam promised.
"Okay, Sis..." Melanie said softly. "But about Daddy, please... at least give him a chance to explain..."
Sam didn't say anything, just shook her head and got into the car. She didn't feel like dealing with any of it now. She was emotionally and physically exhausted. Once Freddie got into the car, she signalled for him to drive away. Right now, she didn't feel like talking to anyone except Freddie. At least he was able to make intelligent and sane conversation.
Freddie did as requested and drove towards home. He knew that the only thing Sam wanted right now was to get home and lie down. When they arrived home, he helped her out of the car and into the house. Together, they headed up to their room.
Sam was grateful to be home. Once inside their room, she lifted baby Fredward from his crib so she could feed him. After her baby boy was fed and dry, she put him in his jammies and settled him back in bed. "Good night, Fredward," Sam said to Freddie as she lay down on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
"Is everything okay with Sam?" Carly asked Freddie once he had returned downstairs. "Melanie called earlier and she was all freaked out cuz Sam fainted."
"Freddie, what the hell went down over at Sam's mom's house?" Carly asked with worry.
Freddie sighed as he returned Carly's keys. "Her dad is back in town," he responded quietly. "She didn't take it too well... not that I blame her. But Mel seemed happier than Sam did."
Carly looked at Freddie in horror, disbelieving what she was hearing. "Ohhh my God!" Carly gasped. "Sam's dad has been missing for like 14 years or something! It's totally craziness that he just comes back! No wonder Sam is so upset..."
"Did he say where he was... where he's been?" Carly asked.
But before Freddie could answer, the doorbell rang. Carly excused herself to answer it. To her surprise and shock, there stood Melvin Puckett. Carly recognized him from all the pictures.
"I'd like to speak to my daughter," spoke Melvin.
"She's sleeping," Carly responded. Carly then turned to look at Freddie.
"Can I come in?" Melvin asked.
"Uhhh... I don't know..." Carly said helplessly. She moved aside, so Freddie could handle this.
Melvin turned his attention on Freddie. "Hello, I'm sorry I didn't get to introduce myself earlier. I'm Melvin Puckett, Samantha and Melanie's father," said Mr. Puckett, extending a hand to Freddie. "Nice to meet you..."
"I'd like to talk to you. It's about Sam," he said to Freddie. Carly slipped into the kitchen where Gibby was helping Guppy do his homework to grant Freddie and Melvin some privacy.
Freddie had his arms crossed over his chest. "Freddie Benson," he responded as he introduced himself.
"What about Sam?" he asked. He didn't get why her dad had returned all of a sudden.
Melvin could feel the tension between himself and Freddie, although they had only just met. "It's nice to meet you, Freddie. I've heard only good things about you from Pam and Melanie. And I gotta say, I'm happy Samantha has someone like you in her life," said Melvin with a smile.
"I guess you're wondering why I am here. I just want to say, I understand why Samantha is upset right now, and I'm very sorry. I'd like to talk to her and explain the situation, but I won't push. I've been gone 14 long years and that part is inexcusable. I can only hope that one day she'll forgive me," Melvin spoke. "I'm still her dad though, and I love her."
"Thanks for being there for my little girl," he said sadly before turning to go.
As Melvin drove across town, memories flooded back to him one by one. He remembered his wedding day with Pam. They had been incredibly young, but ever so happy. Then she announced they were having a baby. It had been tough, so young and in love but trying to make ends meet with a new baby on the way. Then Pam started drinking. She and Melvin fought, because he didn't think she should be drinking alcohol while she was pregnant, but Pam wouldn't listen. The day came of their first big fight, and Pam got on a bus, telling Melvin she was leaving him. His heart was broken, but he couldn't stop her. Pam had given birth to their twin daughters on a bus in Chicago. He was furious with her as she put not only her life in danger, but the lives of the twins as well. He had driven all the way to Chicago to get her and the minute he saw his baby girls, he fell in love with both of them. Melvin named one of the babies and Pam named the other. Their names were Melanie Pamela and Samantha Mellissa. They took their newborn daughters back home to Seattle and they were so happy, for awhile... until Pam started drinking again. Her drinking got so bad that she got fired from her job, and she stopped taking proper care of the babies. Melvin struggled with a full-time job and nearly full-time care of infant twins.
Sam and Melanie grew quickly and they were the light of Melvin's life. Melanie was a sweetie and ever so smart. And Sam... She was a joy. She always made Melvin laugh with her quick wit and humor. His little girls were Melvin's life. On the other hand, life with Pam was hell. She kept the house like pig sty, never gave the girls quality attention, and drained him of every bit of cash he had buying expensive clothing and bikinis while spending what was left of his hard earned money on booze and cigarettes. Because of her behavior, Pam and Melvin fought all the time, blaming each other for their unhappy situation.
Not long after the twins celebrated their fourth birthday, everything drastically changed. One night Melvin went out for ice cream and he never came back. He left four year old Sam and Melanie in the care of their alcoholic mother and did not return. No one knew what happened to him. The police searched, but came up with nothing. Even Pam's relatives tried finding Melvin. But no clue ever came about, and his car was never found. It was as if he had disappeared off the face of the earth without a trace.
Pam was bitter, thinking Melvin just up and left her. She told the girls it was their fault; Melvin never wanted to be a father. Inside she was grieving. She had truly loved Melvin. The pain was so extreme, it only drove her drink more excessively. Melanie and Sam were practically babies but had to take care of themselves because their mom was always drunk. And when she wasn't drinking, she was passed out on the couch.
A tear rolled down Melvin's face when he arrived at the Puckett residence and parked the car. He had lost everything... or so he thought. Maybe Sam would never speak to him again. To him she would always be his little Samantha with the twinkling blue eyes. He'd make it up to her; he WOULD find a way.