Fr. Sam watched Sansa attack the keyboard of the computer. He had seen their interaction outside, but not heard what was said. He also knew Sandor was avoiding Sansa. He wasn't going to interfere, but he was worried about each of them in their own right.

"Sansa," Fr. Sam sat down next to her, "Are you alright?"

Sansa looked up, rather horrified that she was projecting her frustrations to a harmless keyboard.

"I can't seem to do anything right by Sandor." She said sadly. "He was honest with me, he has been avoiding me. I feel awful about it. I told him maybe we could be friends and he just about laughed in my face" She was blushing; realizing how ridiculous her conversation sounded to Sandor's perspective.

Fr. Sam sat back and closed his eyes, praying for guidance and choice words. "Sansa, if I am being too bold, tell me and I shall mind my place, but there does seem to be something amiss in your relationship. You don't seem to truly love him. Why are you with him?"

Sansa patted Fr. Sam's arm. "All in due time Father. You are not wrong. I am not mistreated; my virtue is still intact. Our marriage arrangement is one of convenience, financially and socially beneficial to us both. My family had money Harry needed to build his business and I needed someone to look out for me. Now that I am finished with my education, maybe I can begin to do things for myself. I would prefer a marriage based on love and I might be able to look out for myself. Luckily, Harry is in no rush to get to the altar either, he will be travelling frequently in the next several months. He has proven to be a worthy investment and my family's money has grown as has his. I live well." She hesitated, "but I am so lonely. If I am not to have a marriage based on love, I think I at least need some friends."

Fr. Sam smiled gently at Sansa and patted her shoulder. "Consider me your friend and confidant. I am yours." He said sincerely. "Also, "he said, almost as an afterthought, "Don't rule out Sandor." What was unclear to Sansa was whether Fr Sam meant as a friend or as a love.

The week passed, Sandor was less reclusive, but he kept to himself. Fr Sam missed his friend, but knew he needed to work out his inner turmoil alone.

That morning the weather took a turn for the worse, just as Sandor suspected. Sansa was still plugging along with her typing project. She noticed Fr. Sam and Sandor hurrying about.

"What's wrong?" Sansa asked Sandor.

He explained that Gilly's little boy was sick with a high fever, nothing that would kill him, but it was inopportune time with the foul weather approaching. Also, Gilly's husband was away on a presumed bender. It made some things easier as Gilly only had one child to care for when her husband wasn't home. Fr. Sam was going to go to Gilly's house to help her care for her sick child and keep her company during the storm. Sam had shopping bags packed with medicine and food so they would not have to go out. Fr. Sam wanted to get to Gilly's house while the weather was mild. Fr. Sam was known for going to help out his parishioners and staying with them until everything was resolved. There was no impropriety, Sam was a friend to all and took his friendships very seriously. Fr. Sam trusted the care of the rectory and parish to Sandor in these absences.

Fr. Sam had left; Sansa realized Sandor was looking at her.

"Yes?" she asked

"Well," Sandor awkwardly began, "I've closed up the church, and I just have to close up here."

"Oh, you want me to leave." Sansa sighed.

"Well, I guess so, you don't want to be locked in here do you?" he replied hesitantly.

Sansa slowly began to finish up, taking her sweet time, not wanting to go home alone into some storm.

"Where is your car?" Sandor asked

"Oh, I don't have one, I walk"

He looked at her, closing his eyes. "What have you got for hurricane precautions in your house?"

"What do you mean?" Sansa asked quietly.

"For heaven's sake" Sandor said, "Come with me." He turned the computer off, grabbed her bag and pulled her by her hand.

"Where are we going?" Sansa asked, surprised.

"We're going to weather this storm in my apartment. I can't let you go to your house alone. Your fiancé is away, isn't he?"

Sansa nodded.

"Well, you'll be safe and sound with me; I won't let anything bad happen to you."