Play for Me (31 page)

“Sounds good. I'll have the plane ready for you on Sunday. I
take it Cracker is coming with you?”

“You are correct,” laughed Sam. She disconnected the call,
relieved.

Sam went to her bedroom and pulled down her suitcase. She
realized she would have to hide this from her parents. No way would she let on
that things were not good with Ian. She stopped packing when the door opened
and her parents walked in.

“Sam? Where are you?” asked Bunny as she walked into the
house,

“Here, Mom. What's up?” Sam quickly shoved the suitcases
under the bed.

“Since we only have two more nights here, we would love to
take you and Ian out to dinner,” said Bunny proudly and then she noticed Sam's
face. “Sam, what happened?”

“Sam versus surf board and the board won.” Sam tried to
change the subject. “That's great, Mom. Ian is still away on business, though,”
said Sam slowly.

“Are you sure you're feeling well?” asked Bunny. “How did
you get the scratches and look at your eye!”

“Mom, I'm okay. Really.” Sam's cell phone rang and she
glanced to see Ian's number flash on the display. She didn't want to talk to
him. She didn't want to talk to anyone.

“Aren't you going to answer that?” asked Bunny suspiciously.

“Nope. I'm good. I've got some stuff to do tonight, so how
about we go out to dinner tomorrow night? I've got a long way to work on my
surfing.” Sam made her way back to the kitchen with Bunny right behind her. “Jesse,
my instructor, told me to put ice on this.” Sam rummaged through the freezer.

“No, it's meat,” said Bunny and she reached into the meat
drawer with a thick steak. “I bought this for your father, but I don't think
he'll mind.”

“Thanks, Mom. You and Dad enjoy your evening. I'm just going
to work for a while,” said Sam, trying to dismiss her mother.

“How can you work with one eye? Sam, aren't you a little too
old to be surfing?”

“It's Hawaii, Mom. You're a loser if you don't surf. So I
got banged up a little bit.” Sam shrugged her shoulders, walked away so Bunny
could not read Sam's angry expression.

****

“Damn it, Sam. Answer the phone,” swore Ian. He had just
gotten off the phone with Rock who assured him Sam seemed to be fine. Rock had
been impressed with Sam's karate skills and let Ian know. Ian didn't buy that
for a minute. The fact the Drew had hurt Sam cut him like a knife. Add to the
fact, he hadn't really been nice to her made him feel worse.

“
Call me!”
texted Ian. The phone lay silent. He ran
his hands through his hair, frustrated. He couldn't leave until Saturday at the
earliest. Maybe if he told this author there had been an emergency. No, he
couldn't do that. He tried calling again and left another message. Ian paced
rapidly, beside himself. He made his decision and called in on some favors due
to him.

“I'm ok. Need some down time,”
read
Sam's
message as she finally answered Ian back. He felt somewhat relieved, but hurt,
even though he deserved it. By God, he would make this up to Sam.

While her parents were gone to enjoy their last day on the
island, Sam sat down at the piano and played her heart out. It had been an
emotional night, trying to decide what to do with her life. She knew she had
been skating for the last couple of months just taking one day at a time. Sam
had made her decision. When Jett's house was finished, she would go back to Los
Angeles and try to sell her work. If she cleared it with Jett and Marvin, she
would try and ease back into commuting back and forth to make the separation
easier. Sam's hand flew over the keyboard, pleased with what she had written.

I have now loved and felt the pain of losing someone.

I was so cautious to make sure you were the one, really
the one.

But you aren't ready to settle down and maybe neither am
I.

What hurts is even though what we have is good,

Since you are ready to say goodbye, so will I.

It's a hard road to travel, but now I must go alone.

I know I must move on, though my heart is heavy as stone.

 I will only remember the good times, forget about the
bad.

I will not think of you when I'm sad because it's not
worth it.

I gave you all I had and it
wasn't enough for you,

Even though I thought we fit.

Since you are ready to say goodbye, so will I.

Sam smiled as she wrote the music and words down, pleased
with the end result. She could just imagine the guitar she would add while at Jett's
studio.

Her parents came home and washed up before approaching Sam
about dinner. While they did that, Sam confirmed plane reservations to go back
to Los Angeles. She then joined her parents for a cocktail.

“To your last day,” said Sam, smiling as she looked at her
parents.

“Oh, Sam,” said Bunny softly. “After being here a week, I
can see why you don't want to come back to Chicago. It's just beautiful here.”

“One thing I've learned, Mom is to never say never,” said
Sam wistfully. “Now, what do you want to do for dinner?”

“I just loved that restaurant, Roy's.” said Bunny. “Can we
go there?”

“Let me make some phone calls.” Sam got up from the couch
and dialed the restaurant. Using some clout, she booked a nine pm reservation.

“We're in,” said Sam to her parents. “I'm going to get ready
myself.” She left the room to change clothes when her phone rang.

“It's Bryce, Sam. Is everything okay?” asked Bryce, sounding
concerned.

“I think so,” said Sam cautiously. “Why are you asking?”

“I heard about your run in with Drew,” said Bryce carefully.

“Word certainly gets around,” said Sam ruefully. “I'm fine,
just a little banged up, but I'll live.”

“Are you still on the island?” asked Bryce.

“Why wouldn't I be?” Sam knew he had asked because of Ian. “I
have a job to do, and I plan on making sure it's done before I leave.”

“So, you do plan on leaving after this?” Bryce held his
breath. Ian would not be pleased.

“There's no reason for me to stay when it's done,” said Sam
firmly.

“Well, I'll miss you,” said Bryce shaking his head. “Um,
have you heard from Ian at all? I don't think he's in town.”

“No, he's not in town. He's working on a house for some
author. Not real sure when he's coming back.”

“Do you want to go out to dinner or something?” asked Bryce
and hurriedly corrected the statement. “As friends.”

“I'm taking my parents out for dinner tonight because it's
their last night here. Would you like to join us?”

“Sure. That sounds like fun. Where are you going?”

“Roy's. I'll call them and add you on. It's at nine.” Sam
smiled warmly.

“See you then.” Bryce ended the call and immediately called
Ian.

“Just got off the phone with Sam. Sounds fine, but she
didn't mention you at all,” explained Bryce.

“So, she's still on the island?” asked Ian. He sat on the
hotel bed feeling drained and miserable.

“She's still here and didn't mention anything about Drew. I
had to bring it up. It's her mom and dad's last night here and she's taking
them out to dinner. I'm going with them.”

“See if you can find anything out. I can't get out of here
until Sunday. For the record, she's not talking to me,” said Ian despondently.

“What are friends for?” laughed Bryce. “I'll help bail you
out.”

“Thanks, Bro.” Ian disconnected the call, his mind racing.

“Mom, Dad, this is Bryce; a friend of Ian's.” Bryce shook
Artie's hand and kissed Bunny's.

“You are a musician, aren't you?” asked Bunny, recognizing
Bryce's face.

“Yes. I just recently played with your son, Jordan. Or
should I say, he toured with me.”

“It's a small world,” said Bunny, trying to add things
together. “Sam keeps meeting all of you musicians.”

“It's because Sam is a musician herself,” explained Bryce. “She's
very good.”

“So you're a friend of Ian's? Does he always travel this
much? Poor Sam has been all alone most of the week and look what happened to
her. She got into a fight with a surfboard and guess who lost?” Bunny tried
hard to form a case against Ian.

“I can see that,” commented Bryce as he looked at Sam who
just shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of wine.

“That's quite a bruise you have there, Sam. All from a surf
board?” Bryce lifted his eyebrows and stared a hole into Sam.

“I told you I am a klutz,” said Sam nervously, trying to get
the subject off of her. “So, Bryce, when do you go on tour again?”

“Not for a while. Did you send Ian a picture of your bruise?”
Bryce eyes never left Sam's.

“Uh, no. Why would I do that?” Sam glared at Bryce whose
hand rested lightly on his phone.

“Because.” Bryce quickly snapped a picture of Sam's bruise.

“Bryce! Why did you do that?” asked Sam angrily. “Did you
think I didn't want Ian to see how clumsy I am?”

“Sam, what's going on?” asked Bunny sensing something
appeared not to be right. “You did get that from the surfboard, didn't you?”

“Yes, I did,” said Sam loudly, and continued to glare at
Bryce. “Let's get started with our dinner.” Sam picked up the menu and hid her
face. She turned to Bryce and snarled, “So help me God if you show that to Ian
I will personally tear you limb from limb.” Bryce ignored her.

“Ian is a busy man,” explained Bryce turning his attention
back to Sam's parents. “He works almost all over the world. Have you seen his
house?”

“Why yes,” replied Bunny. “It's beautiful and so is Jett's
house. Too bad he won't come to Chicago.”

“Have you asked him?” Bryce's challenge hung in the air.

“He did tell me he's never been east of Denver,” laughed
Sam. “He hasn't even seen snow.”

“I doubt that, Sam. When he used to be…” Bryce stopped short
realizing he almost let it slip about the Navy.

“When he, what?” asked Bunny trying to read Sam and Bryce's
expressions.

“I think I'm ready to order,” said Bryce. “How about you?”

“I'm not ready yet,” said Bunny. “There's something you two
aren't telling me about Ian.”

“Mom, why is it important to you? It's not important to me.
What Ian does is his business. If you wanted him to build a house in Chicago,
why don't you just ask him?”

“Ouch, Samantha. I didn't deserve that.” Bunny glared at
Sam.

“Ian and I are just starting out on our relationship. Please
don't jinx it.” replied Sam.

“This is our last night here, Bunny. Can we not fight?”
Artie had spoken up, tired of the conversation.

“Personally, I think you and Ian had a lover's quarrel,”
said Bunny. Bryce choked on his drink and Sam's face went white.

“Nothing like that,” assured Sam as she studied the menu.

“Bunny,” warned Artie and put his hand on Bunny's. “I think
you've said enough.”

“If you will excuse me for a minute,” said Bryce politely. “I
have to make another call. Sam, would you order me another beer?”

“Sure, Bryce.” Sam waited until Bryce was out of earshot and
turned to her mother. “Why do you do this to me, Mother? You have just mortally
embarrassed me in front of Ian's best friend. Why?”

“Because I want you back in Chicago. I don't want you living
here where you could drown in the ocean nor do I want you living in California.
You belong in Chicago, sweetie.”

“Well, it's having the opposite effect. I want to stay as
far away from Chicago as possible if you continue to harass me like this.”

“Now, you two, simmer down,” said Artie firmly and turned to
Bunny. “One more word out of your mouth like that, I'm not going back to
Chicago either. Bunny, pull your claws in.” No one said another word and Sam
refused to acknowledge her mother.

 “Did I miss anything?” asked Bryce noticing the tension so
thick you could cut if with a knife.

“We’re good,” replied Sam smoothly. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yes, I am,” said Bryce and signaled for the waitress. The
rest of the evening, the conversation flowed politely. After the meal had
ended, Bryce thanked Bunny and Arte. He then turned to Sam. “Call me if you
need anything.”

“I'll be fine, but thank you.” Sam smiled wanly.

No one said a word on the ride home and Bunny and Artie went
respectively to their room. Sam stayed behind in the kitchen and poured a hefty
glass of wine. She checked her phone and noticed another message from Ian.

“
Please call
L
.”
Sam smiled at the icon on her phone.

“After my parents leave.”
Sam stared at the message
before hitting send. “I don't know what to say to you, Ian,” she said out loud.
“The way I'm feeling, I'll end up sounding like either my mother or Jennifer.”

“Sam, you still up?” asked her father as he came downstairs.

“Looks like it, doesn't it?” Sam turned to her father,
feeling sad. “You know, Dad. I hate to fight with Bunny, but she brings out the
worst in me.”

“Come here, Sam.” Artie gave Sam a big bear hug. “I don't
blame you for being upset. I would love for you to come back to Chicago, but I
don't want to lose you, either.”

“I appreciate that, Dad. I know this job might be temporary,
but I've never had so much fun in my life. I feel alive, happy and proud I can
do something like this. I have so many good memories to take along with me.”

“I know, Sam. We just don't want to see you get hurt,” said Artie
as he stared into Sam's eyes. “You're not going to tell your father what really
happened, are you?”

“Nothing I couldn't handle,” whispered Sam as she gave her
dad a hug. “You and Jordan taught me to be tough, and I am.”

“That's my girl,” sighed Artie. “What time should we be down
to breakfast?”