Moonlit Wishes
Book III, Part XX
Their morning together was good, better than good, it was wonderful EJ thought as he looked around the room at his family. This was something he had always dreamed of having, yet each time he had believed it was all going to come together for them it had been cruelly swept away from him.
Well he knew each time before when he had almost attained this feeling of belonging and happiness; he'd been either hiding some terrible secret or putting on an act of pretending to be something he was not. For once he was being honest with himself and even more importantly Samantha.
He guessed a huge part of it was due to their conversation last night about forgiveness because from where he was sitting he could see Samantha laughing, hugging their children, telling them she loved them in between kisses and then their eyes met.
Samantha had the most beautiful smile on her face and in that moment he realized she was smiling at him, there was no sadness in her face, no harsh words to be spoken, and when she mouthed the words I love you from across the room to him it hit him. He was ready to let go of all the hurt and anger and accept the goodness this woman could bring into his life and he realized what Samantha had told him was possible, he could forgive himself.
It was adorable, Samantha was actually blushing when he winked at her and returned the same words she had mouthed to him. Now he knew for sure the reasoning behind why Samantha had pushed for them to get married because even though he was the one who was adamant about waiting, he was really glad she had because if she kept looking at him that way all he could think about was wanting to be with her, showing her how much he loved her.
It was incredible, this morning was something he would treasure for the rest of his life, his children were all healthy and happy, there was no imminent threat of danger from his meddling father and somehow he and Samantha were putting their turbulent past behind and taking a chance on love.
It was true, the hopeless romantic he had tried so hard to quell after writing Samantha all those letters about their past and his subsequent departure from Salem was resurfacing. And for the first since he had declared that man was gone, he knew without a doubt given time the man he always knew he could be might end up existing after all.
He realized he was being given a chance to thrive on those feelings instead of him having to tamp down those urges to show love, to give love and even consider the concept of being a recipient of such love. It was all in this room, amidst the laughter and joy and for once instead of being on the outside looking in, he was there with them, with the love of his life and the family they had created and blended and who knew they might even be blessed to add to this family in the future.
He never would have thought when he left Salem, giving Samantha full custody of their children, releasing any kind of hold he still had on her while baring his soul to her that he'd be here with them today, celebrating Christmas and feeling a unexpected joy reside in his battered heart that felt like it was starting to mend bit by bit.
So lost in thoughts about the past, present and future swirling around in his head that it took him a moment to register that Samantha had moved from the living room floor and settled in beside him on the couch, snuggling up to him as close as she possibly could without it being indecent in the presence of their children.
"I liked my present," Sami began as she opened up her Kindle Fire HD EJ had given to her as a gift.
"You know why I got that for you, don't you?" EJ asked as he tightened his arm around her waist, drawing her up closer beside him so that he could whisper in her ear.
"You know I like to read," Sami stated as she opened it up to the book section and a gasp escaped her. "EJ what did you put on this before you wrapped it up for me?"
"Now you can read your mommy porn in private, without anyone knowing it," EJ teased her, his voice low enough so that only they both could hear what he was saying to her.
Sami wrangled out of his embrace and swatted at him before in a hushed tone told him, "I do not read this so called mommy porn you talk about me reading."
EJ chuckled, his eyes twinkling in merriment, "Oh yes you do my dear. Remember I caught you that day when you thought no one was around and you were so entranced it took me stealing your book before you even realized what I was doing."
"I hid that book behind my back and you stole it from me," Sami corrected him since his history of the day was a bit misconstrued.
"Then you stole a kiss from me," EJ winked at her.
"I don't think so," Sami shook her head. "You kissed me that day."
"I know so, and now you can read to your heart's desire, but if you want someone to rock your world, I'm up for the challenge," EJ boasted, giving her an all too knowing look.
"Uh Mom, I'm heading out with Allie to the Horton Christmas luncheon," Will spoke breaking the little tete-a-tete Sami and EJ had going on with one another.
Sami scooted back some from EJ, he was entirely too close for comfort especially since he was flirting with her and she knew he wasn't going to attempt said rocking until they were legally married.
"All right Will. Did you ever hear from Lucas? I thought he was supposed to come back to Salem before Christmas."
Will shook his head, "He called last night saying due to the bad weather, his flight was cancelled and he didn't know when he would be able to fly out with Autumn."
"If you get a chance, please call him so that he can talk to Allie for a few minutes at least and above all don't let your grandmother Kate talk you into taking Allie over to the mansion. I don't want her to go over there at all."
"I understand, but Mom you have to let her and the other kids see them sometime," Will hating bringing up this unpleasant subject with his mother again since she had been so adamant about not letting Kate of Stefano near any of her children.
Sami expected EJ to chime in at any time to agree with Will, yet he kept silent. Maybe he wanted to delay the inevitable dealings he'd have to do something in the future with his father and step mother too.
"Just promise me Will. I want the next few days to be good ones for us all," Sami implored of her son and he grudgingly nodded his acceptance of her wishes.
"I promise Mom," Will then leant down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I love you. I'll have Allie back later on today."
"Thank you Will. I love you too," Sami said as Allie came bounding up to she and EJ, giving them both a kiss and hug before she left with her older brother.
"Bye Mom, bye Daddy EJ," her sweet voice called out to them before they shut the door behind them.
Sami looked back to EJ, wondering what he was thinking, while she hated to dictate to Will that she didn't want them to see Kate or Stefano she realized they were the children's grandparents and eventually they'd all have to come to terms deciding when and if they saw them in the future.
"I guess we should have talked about that before I said something to Will," Sami began only to have EJ shake his head at her.
"It's okay, we'll cross that bridge another day because you're right I want us to experience some very good days before we have to deal with the issues of my father. All I want to do is spend this day with you and all of our children, having what I can only imagine will be a whirlwind day for us both tomorrow and last but certainly not least enjoying our wedding night because I have some very fascinating plans for you," EJ touched her nose with his finger after which Sami ended up kissing it.
"You do?" Sami asked, her eyes becoming inquisitive.
"Yes, but you'll just have to wait until tomorrow night," EJ said as he gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Can't I have a hint?"
"Not a single solitary one," EJ teased and he wouldn't utter another word about their upcoming wedding night no matter how much Sami tried to wheedle it out of him.
Later on that evening after Will had brought back Allie and the kids had played all day they were so tired they could barely keep their eyes open, EJ and Sami kissed them goodnight and they fell fast asleep, the house was finally quiet. Sami went back to the couch in the living room, no lights on with only the glow of the fire burning in the fireplace, a glass of wine in her hand taking a few sips of it while she watched the fire as it was slowly dying down to embers. She had thought EJ was right behind her after tucking in the children, but apparently he had taken a detour somewhere along the way.
He came into the room a few minutes later and sat beside her allowing Sami to lean back unto him, they were quiet for a while, neither one of them talking, comfortable in their silence and then EJ said quietly, "Samantha, I want to thank you."
"For what EJ?" Sami turned slightly to face him.
"For making this one of the best days of my life, us being here all together as a family, I never expected to feel like this and I wish I could explain what this means to me, what you mean to me," EJ paused as he struggled to put into words what he wanted to say to her.
"You don't have to thank me for loving you because I do and I'm not going to fight these feelings I have for you ever again," Sami leaned up to kiss him gently and then drew back to look at him once more.
He nodded his head, afraid to say more; instead he carefully shifted Sami so that he could bend down on his knees in front of her on the floor. Sami looked at him wondering what he was doing and then it dawned on her when he took out the tiny blue velvet box and opened it for her. Inside was a beautiful emerald cut ring with tiny diamonds that went into a point on each side of the green colored gem, it looked to be antique, but she wasn't quite sure.
"When I went to England this summer I spent a lot of time talking about you and the children with my Nanny Crumb and before I left to come back here to Salem she gave me this ring saying she had always wanted me to have this to give to the woman who managed to steal my heart. I told her I couldn't take it because it was her wedding ring that her husband Albert had given her and I had never seen her take it off even years after his passing, but she told me she knew one day I would open up my heart again to love and when I did, it was going to last forever. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I took it, thinking that one day I'd pass it on to Johnny whenever he decided to get married because I was sure I wasn't ever going to love again, yet you showed me differently. I didn't give this to you last night because quite frankly I hadn't expected how things turned out between us. So I hope you'll accept this ring as token of my undying love for you since you are the woman who stole my heart."
Sami shook her head yes as her eyes filled with happy tears, her heart swelling with love for this man who had endured so much heartache from her and yet he was willing to give her another chance, willing to give them both a chance to find happiness with one another.
"Oh EJ, it's beautiful," Sami held out her right hand which was shaking slightly after EJ placed it on her finger. She wouldn't even have to get it resized, it fit perfectly, like it was meant to be and as she looked at EJ she knew they were meant to be, it just had taken a very long and crooked path for them to get to this point.
"May I walk you to your bedroom before we say goodnight?" EJ asked as he stood up, taking Sami by the hand.
"You may," Sami agreed taking his hand and walking up the stairs with him. They stopped at her bedroom door and EJ leaned in to kiss her, a soft sweet kiss.
"After tonight, we'll never have to sleep apart again," EJ stated quietly.
"Tomorrow night I'll be your wife," Sami smiled and kissed him once more.
"Goodnight sweetheart," EJ said when they parted.
"Goodnight EJ. I love you."
"I love you too."
And with that he turned to walk down the hallway to his bedroom, knowing it would be the last night he would ever have to sleep alone again.