Shocked and confused, Sam simply stood there as he watched the woman he loved run down the stairs and away from him. All he remembered was being very frustrated and restless at work. Thus, thinking being at home would ease his mind, he returned to find himself getting even more frustrated and restless sexually, thinking about Chan. The next thing he knew, he opened his eyes to find Nina sitting on the couch before him, smiling. Then she moved down and kissed him. When he’d heard the thud of books falling to the floor, he shoved Nina back to find Chan watching them.
Shit! He raked his hand through his hair. He’d really mucked everything up big time. His intention yesterday was to clarify his feelings for Chan, and now what the hell just happened?
Nina chose that moment to enter the scene, a smile on her lips.
“Sam,” she said softly. “Is everything okay?”
Sam turned around, his eyes dark. “What the hell was that about, Nina?”
The dark tone in Sam’s voice didn’t put a doubt in Nina’s mind that he was pissed. Very pissed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said evasively.
“Chan,” he said through gritted teeth.
She shrugged. “She came in without knocking. It’s her fault she saw what she didn’t mean to see.”
Sam closed his eyes, breathing deeply to calm his temper. He’d never blow his temper to anyone before. Heck, he’d never had a temper in all his life. Even during the chaos at accepting the news of his wife’s death, he hadn’t been in a rage. He’d merely accepted it as an accident and sank into depression. But not raged. Never raged.
At the moment, however, he was enraged. Quietly but surely fuming inside.
“Why did you kiss me?” he asked.
Nina had the nerve to blush at the query. She glanced away and said, “Because I wanted to.”
Sam knew he had to make one thing clear for her to understand.
“Nina, if I ever made you think there is any more than just friendship between us, I sincerely apologize. You’re just a friend; that’s all. I loved Sarah, and Sarah loved you as her friend. I accept you as Sarah’s friend and mine, but that’s all.” He chuckled sadly. “But Chandra… she’s the woman I love now. Have fallen in love with her since the first time I met her. Understand that and accept it. I know you’ve been keen, hoping something between us would happen. But let me put it clearly; it’s never going to happen.”
Nina just stared at him, shocked in disbelief. “Sam! I was here all along, helping you and everything.”
Sam raked his fingers through his hair again. “Yes. I know, and I’m very thankful for that. I am thankful you were here during my time of need, when I was at my lowest. I don’t know how much more thank you I can give. But understand it’s time to move on. I’m in love with Chan now, and I’m going to ask her to go into a serious relationship with me.” He chuckled. “Now I don’t know if you’ll support me in this, and I’ll be honest, I don’t actually care. I love Chan, Nina. Lilly loves Chan. And that’s all there is to it.”
Nina gritted her teeth and glared. “What the fuck are you saying, Sam? Lilly doesn’t love me? I don’t matter in your life anymore?”
“Nina, I don’t want you to take what I’m telling you the wrong way. We’re still friends. At least, I hope we are, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Don’t want to hurt me?” She spat. “Yeah right.” With that, she rushed into the office.
A moment later, she returned with her bag on her shoulder. As she passed Sam, she said, “If you want to know, I don’t support your love for that little piece of shit. Have never liked her or her sisters. I’ve loved you, Sam, since the first day I saw you with Sarah. I’ve waited, hoped. But now what? That little piece of shit just shows up and steal you away from me? I don’t think so.”
With that, she rushed toward the stairs.
Sam frowned. “Nina! What the heck are you on about?”
Nina waved him away in frustration. “Fuck off, Sam. Just fuck off.”
Alone, Sam returned to his office, his mind reeling with confusion. Then his mind shifted to Chan, and a lump formed in his throat. Shit! He’d really screwed everything up, hadn’t he? What the hell was he supposed to do now?
A knock came at the door a moment later, and Marian poked her head in. “Sam?” she asked. “Is everything all right?”
Sam raised his head, his eyes dark. “Uh… Yes.”
Marian frowned. “It’s nearly three. Do you want me to pick up Lilly or—”
He cut her short. “No. I’ll do that,” he said, moving off the couch.
Twenty minutes later, Lilly was sitting on the front seat beside him in the car, humming to herself, oblivious to her father’s painful dilemma. They were home a couple more minutes after that. They were in the living area for a little snack before dinner when Sam saw the ripe, plump strawberries in a bowl on the table. Lilly couldn’t help herself, rushed forward, and popped one into her mouth.
“It’s delicious, Daddy,” she said with glee before grabbing for another.
Sam picked one and popped that into his mouth as well. Fresh, juicy sweetness burst over his tongue. It was odd to have such a beautiful, delicious fruit on such a painful day. This, of course, only made him sadder.
“When did you buy these, Marian?” he asked the housekeeper as he picked for another.
Marian raised her head. “Oh, the strawberries? Chan gave them to us.”
The name made his heart ache something sorely within his chest. Shit!
He dropped the strawberries back into the bowl, feeling a little sick at the thought of the woman he loved.
“Sweet and delicious, aren’t they?” Marian commented.
Lilly agreed. “Chan is so nice.”
Marian said, “She dropped some books off for you, too, Lilly.”
The little girl jumped up from her spot. “Really?” she asked excitedly. “Where are they?”
Marian cocked her head to one side. She was about to answer when Sam said, “In my office, sweetheart.”
Lilly didn’t need to be told twice where they were. She raced out the door and disappeared in an instant. Sam leaned back against the couch, his eyes on the strawberries, his heart aching, his mind in a muddle of confusion.
“Is everything all right, Sam?” Marian asked. “Are you unwell?”
Sam raised his head. “No. I’m fine, Marian.”
Lilly returned a few minutes later with the two books. She chuckled in excitement as she showed them to her father. Suddenly, she said, “We have to go and thank her, Daddy.” Then she sat up. “I know. We can buy her something to show her how happy we are to get strawberries and books from her.”
Sam frowned over this, and then he smiled. “How about we bake her a cake?” he suggested, his heart suddenly bursting bright with renewed energy. He had his eyes on the strawberries when he said, “How about strawberry shortcake?”
Lilly clasped her hands together and nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. Let’s do it.”
Marian chuckled when she saw the lights in Sam’s eyes. “How about I help out?”
Sam picked Lilly up and headed over to the kitchen. “No, Marian. No help from you please. This cake is from me and Lilly to Chan.”
Marian shook her head. “Fine. I won’t help then.”
Sam rolled up his sleeves and even donned an apron while Lilly brought out the flour. Hence, father and daughter began their magic in baking. By the time it was done, the cake looked quite beautiful with the icing and strawberries on top.
When Marian offered to put it into a box for them, Sam refused. He did it himself, making sure it was perfect, with a bright-blue ribbon tied into a perfect bow at the top.
“It looks like a present, Daddy,” Lilly said, clasping her hands together.
Sam chuckled. “Yes, it’s supposed to be a present.”
“Chan will be so happy,” Lilly exclaimed. “When are we going to give it to her?”
“Now.” With that, he grabbed
the box, took his daughter by the hand and headed out the door.
“Will you be home for dinner?” Marian asked at the door.
Sam said, “I’ll call.”
Some half an hour later, father and daughter were at the door of the Chandler’s apartment. After ringing the bell, the duo waited impatiently for an answer. When the door finally opened, it was Dara who greeted them.
“Sam?” she said and then turned her gaze to the daughter. “Lilly? What are you guys doing here?”
“Is Chan home?” Sam asked.
“We got a present for her,” Lilly said, smiling gleefully.
Dara looked worriedly from daughter and then to father. Hesitantly, she took a few steps back, allowing them to enter.
Lilly rushed along the corridor into the living area, hoping to see Chan there. Sam wasn’t far behind. When he entered the living room, what he saw worried him. No, that wasn’t it. What he didn’t see worried him sick.
There, sitting on the couch, looking as miserable as ever, was Soriya. She was pale with worry.
She straightened when she saw Lilly. “Lilly? Sam? What are you guys doing here?”
“Hi, Soriya,” Lilly said, coming to sit beside the young woman. “We have a present for Chan.”
“Is Chan home?” Sam asked again, his voice urgent.
Dara and Soriya looked at each other, and then, slowly, Soriya nodded.
“Where is she?”
“In her studio,” Dara said.
Sam turned on his heel and was about to head that way when Soriya said, “I wouldn’t go in to see her right now if I were you.”
Sam frowned. “Why?”
Soriya hesitated for a moment. “She’s not in a good mood. Something’s up.”
Sam thought about it for a moment and then handed Dara the box of cake. “It’s a present.”
“It’s a cake,” Lilly chimed in. “Daddy and I only baked it today.”
Dara took it and said, “Oh. Thanks so much.”
Then without another word, Sam headed toward Chan’s office. Soriya saw and said, “You’ve been warned, Sam. Be careful.”
Sam was ready for what eventuality waited for him. He was going to clear everything up with Chandra and tell her how he truly felt about her, how much he loved her and wanted her to go into a serious relationship with him.
Crossing the corridor, he came to stand in front of Chan’s studio and then knocked.
Silent. Sam knocked again. More silence. Not giving in, he knocked again. No response.
Shit! He wasn’t going to give up. Not just yet. Thus, he knocked again.
“What?” He heard the voice finally come his way. There were anguish, frustration, and sadness all mixed up within that lovely voice, and it almost broke Sam’s heart. Knowing very well she’d make him leave without opening the door if he were to utter a word and indicate to her who he was, he knocked on the door again.
“I said I’m busy!”
Again, Sam knocked. He heard a growl, which made him both amused as well as sad.
“I said I’m busy. Just leave me alone.”
Sam wasn’t giving up. Again, he knocked. His persistence worked to his favor, because suddenly, the door burst open and a shaky voice said, “I said—”
Sam watched the beauty before him. Braided hair in a wild mess, dark-brown eyes glistening wet with tears and red around the rims, and face flushed. Still in her tank top and shorts, she was enchanting.
Sam took a step forward, which forced Chan to take a few steps back as she stared up at him in shocked surprise.
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CHAPTER 36