The barrier over her emotions Sam erected that night would never be erased. When she went into the kitchen the next morning her mother stared at her hard but asked no questions. She then tore strips off Sam for drinking alcohol after being strictly ordered not to touch it. Sam needed no reprimanding, she felt so ill she swore off alcohol forever.
As Sam sat drinking a cup of tea, Barbara pointed to a gift wrapped in silver paper. “Mac left that for you,” she said. “He said he would wait for you to call—if you have anything to say to him. What exactly did he mean by that?”
Sam shrugged as she eyed the gift. “He was disgusted with me for getting drunk.”
“I don’t blame him.”
Hastily Sam rose, and left the room, leaving the package on the table. She didn’t open it till the next day. And she only opened it then because her mother nagged her continually. Sam guessed she’d get no peace until the deed was done. It was a gold bracelet and inside was inscribed with the words, “My love always, Mac.” Sam thought of throwing it in the garbage, but settled for tossing it into a drawer.