Forever and Always (29 page)

“You have to stop this Melanie O’Leary” he said sternly.”You have to stop being so hard on yourself. You never set out to hurt Simon. You are a good person. I love you “.

“I love you too Sam” she replied and kissed him softly and cuddled into him. He held her closely as she drifted off to sleep. But he couldn’t sleep. He was too afraid to close his eye in case he would wake up and she would be gone.

He needed to think of a way to make this easier for her. The last thing he wanted was her hurt any further. And then it came to him. He knew exactly what he needed to do.

Melanie flicked her eyes open and for a moment was surprised by her surroundings. Then she remembered where she was. She rolled over in the bed to Sam but he was gone. She quickly sat up in the bed. She could hear movement from another room in the apartment. She slipped out of bed and was surprised she was still wearing her jeans.

She walked over to his side board and picked up one of his shirts that
was
lying on the top of it. Slipping it on she began fastening it up. As she fastened the buttons she took a moment to look around his room. She spotted a few framed pictures over on the night stand on the far side of the bed. She walked over and sat down on the bed and picked one of the frames. It was a picture of Sam and her taken when she was at the Cape. She remembered the day it had been taken. Sam had brought his camera over on one of the days and had asked Maggie to take a photo of the two of them. She couldn’t believe he still had it.

She put the picture back and that’s when she noticed all the photos were of her and all from back then. Her heart hurt as she thought of the wasted years they had lost. She sighed deeply and she pushed up of the bed and jumped with fright when she turned around to see Sam standing at the door way watching her.

“See” he said as he moved into the room slowly. “There was never anyone else”.

“I can’t believe you still have them” she replied.

“I can’t believe I have you” he said and smiled nervously. He wraps his arms tightly around her and pulls her to him. “Please don’t run again”.

“I promise Sam” she said then took a deep breath. “But there is something I need to tell you”.

“Well there is something I want to talk about too” he said taking her by the hand and leading her to the living area of his apartment. His Apartment was lovely but she hadn’t really noticed it the night before.
All soft neutral colours and clean lines.
With a large Tan coloured Leather sofa in front of his TV.
And a matching armchair next to the big open fire.
There were no pictures of Melanie other than the ones in his bedroom but there were a couple of his Mom and Dad. She recognised them from photos she saw in his beach house. And there were a couple of him and his brother Andrew. There was a strong resemblance between the two. There was a tall book shelf built into the corner alcove with tiny halogen lights in the top panel. It was filled with all his books, CDs and DVDs. There were still some boxes in the corner that were yet to be unpacked but over all his apartment was warm and cosy and so unlike Simon’s and Melanie loved it.

He led her to his open laptop sitting on his breakfast counter. Melanie looked from Sam’s excited face to the image on the screen. It was an airline website.

“What is this” she asked as he pulled out a high stool for her to sit down.

“I had a thought” he said sitting on the stool next to her and taking her hand nervously. “The beach house is empty and there is a flight to Boston later this evening. We could go away. That way you wouldn’t have to face anyone while the dust settles”.

“Wouldn’t that make me look like I took the coward’s way out” she asked.

“Who cares Melanie” he shrugged. “All that matters is you and me”.

“Could we really do this” she asked as excitement started to filter through her. She knew it was the chicken’s way out but she would be with Sam and that was all she ever wanted.

“You just say the word and we are gone” he replied.

“What about your job” she asked.

“I can always get another one and so can you” he replied knowing that would be her next question. “We can go to the beach house for a while and then we can go anywhere you want to go. As long as I am with you I will be happy”.

Melanie thought about it for a minute. Could she really do this? What about her Mom and Dad? She knew her Dad would support her but she knew her Mom would freak out. She didn’t know if she could face telling them before she left. But she would at least want to say goodbye in her head even if they didn’t know that’s what she was doing. And she would want to see Lucy and Katie too.

“Sam I think this is a brilliant idea” she began nervously. “But I want to say goodbye to my Mom and Dad. I want to go to see them before I go. I don’t know when if ever I will see them again. They could be so angry with me when they find out. But the thing is my Mom isn’t back till Thursday. She is away with her husband. And I would like to see Lucy and Katie too and Katie isn’t back until Friday”.

“Ok” Sam replied not fully sure what she was asking.

“How about you book those tickets for Saturday and you have a deal” Melanie said with a big smile on her face. Sam laughed out loud in pure relief. He picked her up and swung her around.

“You have a date Ms O’Leary” he said and kissed her passionately.

Melanie jumped when her mobile rang from somewhere in Sam apartment. She recognised her ring tone but had no idea where it was coming from.

“I hung your jacket in the hall closet” Sam replied answering Melanie’s unasked question. She quickly opened the closet door and pulled out her phone there was two missed calls both from her Dad.

“It’s just my Dad” she sighed and visible relaxed as she looked back at Sam. “I should call him back. She checked the time it was almost half ten.

She called up her calls log and pressed her dad’s number and pressed call.

“Mel” Alex’s voice sounded strained down the phone.

“Hey Dad” she replied. “Is everything ok”
.

“You tell me” his reply instantly putting Melanie on her guard.

“I don’t know what you mean” she replied not really sure she wanted to hear his answer.

“I had Simon on my door step at eight o’clock this morning” Alex explained.

“Oh” Melanie sighed. She was going to kill Simon. What the hell was he thinking going to her
Dad.
It was bad enough he had freaked out and Lucy had to come and check on her. She was just about ready to murder him.  Sam watched her nervously and she shook her head letting him know it wasn’t good.

“He was very upset Melanie” Alex said sounding very serious. “He is very concerned about you. He said you seem upset and withdrawn”. Melanie let out a sharp breath of air.

“So I went around to Lucy’s” Alex continued and Melanie heart almost hit the floor. “Don’t worry Lucy gave me a big story about how you had to go back to your flat but that you were probably on the way back over”
.
Melanie didn’t reply to that comment.

“But you car was still outside Lucy’s “Alex added. “And you know Lucy always was a terrible liar”.

“Dad” she sighed not really knowing what she should say to him.

“Mel you know I am here for you and just you” he said before she could say anything else. “Grace has taken Jamie to visit her Mom’s in Wexford for a few days. Maybe you could drop by this morning”.

“Ok” Melanie said her voice small and nervous.

“Mel” he said softly. “Sweetheart I know something is wrong with you and I want to be here for you. I love you kiddo”.

“Love you too Dad” Melanie replied and feeling nothing but love for her Dad. “I will see you soon ok”.

“What happened” Sam asked when Melanie hung up from her Dad.

“Simon happened” she replied angrily as she typed Simon’s number into her phone.

“Hey baby” he said when he answered the phone after two rings.

“Don’t hey baby me” she spat with such venom even Sam winced at her tone. “What the hell is wrong with you? It wasn’t enough that you had my best friend check up on me over the weekend. But then you had to go and tell my Dad on me because I refused to give you
a shag
last night. What are you?
6 years old telling my Daddy I wouldn’t play nicely with you?”

“Mel let me explain” he began to protest but she was having none of it.

“I don’t want to hear your crap Simon” she sighed. “I am supposed to be going for a dress fitting this morning but instead I have to drive out to my Dad’s and calm him down now”. She lied. She didn’t need to calm Alex down but she was mad at Simon.

“I am sorry sweetheart” he said sounding remorseful. “Do you want me to meet you at your Dad’s?”

“No I bloody don’t” she snapped back at him. Then suddenly it dawned on her. She could use this to her advantage. She didn’t know how she was going to avoid him until Saturday but he had just given her the ammo she needed. “I think you have done enough damage already. Look Simon I really have enough on my plate at the moment. I am trying to organise a wedding and I don’t need your insecurities too” Melanie felt guilty. She knew he had every reason to feel insecure. But she felt smothered by him. She always had; it just took her a long time to realise it.

“I know I have messed up” he said sounding guilty. “Maybe you could come over tonight and let me make it up to you”.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea” Melanie quickly replied. “Simon I need a break. You are pushing me too far”.

“Melie please” he whined in his usual pity me voice.

“Don’t call me that Simon” she snapped. “You know I hate it. Grace is gone away for a few days so I am going to go stay with my Dad. I will call you in a couple of days”.

“Ok” he agreed sadly. “I love you Mel”.

“I love you too Simon” she sighed and hung up the phone and turned back to Sam where he had been standing nervously listening to the exchange between her and Simon.

“What did he do” he asked.

“He showed up at my Dad’s first thing this morning” she explained. “Whatever he said to my Dad he headed straight over to Lucy’s to see me and of course I wasn’t there. My Dad already knew I was having doubts. And if I am honest I was having them long before I met you again”.

“Can I come to your Dad’s with you” Sam asked surprising Melanie. She knew he was still worried she would change her mind again. But she knew she never would.

“OK” she agreed she would give him the reassurances he needed. “But I need to go home and changed first and I need to collect my car from Lucy’s”.

“Great” Sam replied unable to hide his happiness from her.

They got a taxi to Lucy’s first to collect her car. Lucy apologised for having dropped her in it with her Dad but Melanie assured her everything was fine with her Dad.
The drove back to Melanie’s apartment where Melanie had a quick shower and changed her clothes and then finally she drove out to Howth to her Dad’s house.

When they arrived it was just after midday. Melanie looked nervously at Sam as she knocked at the door. Sam took her hand and smiled at her reassuringly. He just wished he felt as reassured as he pretended to be.

When Alex opened the door he smile brightly at his daughter but it disappeared slightly when his eye quickly darted from Melanie to Sam and down to the joined hands. Melanie could instantly feel her heavy heart sink but then much to her surprise he smiled again. This time even brighter then when he first opened the door,

He stepped back slightly as Melanie lead Sam into the house. He kissed Melanie on the cheek as she passed by.

“So finally we meet” he said as he holds out his hand to Sam. “I am right that you are Sam”.

“Yes Sir” Sam said taking his hand and shaking it firmly.

“Well this explains everything” Alex said as he gaze goes from Sam to Melanie. He holds out his other hand directing them towards the living room. “Please come in”.

Melanie led Sam into her father’s sitting room and they sat side by side on his sofa and Sam once again reached for Melanie’s hand.

“So” Alex said as he sat in the armchair facing them. “This is a surprise. I was beginning to think this was never going to happen”.

“You’re not mad” Melanie asked completely taken back by her Dad’s reaction.

“No I am not mad”
Alex laughed. “Melanie you are a beautiful grown woman. You have every right to do what makes you happy. And I have known for the last seven years the only thing that could make you happy is Sam. Of course you know Sarah is going to go postal but we can handle that”.

Melanie felt as if a hundred ton of bricks had been lifted off her shoulder. She knew no matter what else happened she would have her Dad behind her. She quickly jumped up off the sofa and wrapped her arms around her Dad.

“Thank you” she whispered as tears pooled in her eyes.

“Hey don’t cry” he said and pulled her closer to him.

“They are happy tears” she sniffed and hugged him tighter.

Sam watched Melanie with her Dad and finally he got it. He could see the special bond between this Father and Daughter. Now he knew just why Melanie had been so upset and hurt by what happened between her and her dad all those years ago. But he knew Melanie had been wrong when she believe her Father thought she had ruined his life. This man loved his daughter unconditionally and without regret.  It was a very touching thing to see.