Savage Love (15 page)

     Samantha let the others know what was going on with Leal’s grandmother. Then they made a shopping list of the things that they needed. Seanna was helpful, reminding her mom to check on laundry and cleaning supplies as well as paper goods. After her joke with Daffyd about toilet paper, she would have been embarrassed to run out. She had added the special request items, but didn’t mention her deal with Daffyd about Church, not wanting to get her hopes up. Daffyd had left himself a pretty good ‘out’ all he’d have to do is say he was too tired or not feeling well. Who would question that with all that he’d been going through?

     They had just finished up their shopping and had stowed all the cold items in the ice chest that Bryce had suggested they bring along. Samantha was a bit worried about how much she had spent on everything, but the
girl at the counter didn’t bat an eye. So she figured she was safe. Now they were sitting in a little ‘mom and pop’ restaurant sharing each others lunches.

     “Who am I going to share lunch with when you go to college? I’m getting so used to us each ordering
something and then eating off of each other’s plates. I’ll have to go back to boring old one choice lunch,” she joked.

     “Maybe you won’t have to eat alone, you might make a new friend,” suggested Seanna.

     “Not unless we get some new people at Church. My whole life revolves around there, teaching and attending, plus volunteering…I don’t think I’ll get an opportunity to meet any new women,” said Samantha.

     “Well…maybe you will make a new friend who isn’t a woman…”

    “Oh please!” said Samantha turning her daughter’s own words on her.

     “What? You’re young, still pretty hot, and any man would be happy to have you,” said Seanna with a smile.

     “True…I am pretty hot,” she laughed, “but seriously, Seanna, I just don’t see that happening. Besides, your Dad and I were married for a long time, I don’t think I am ready to just jump back into that again.”

     “Mom, can I ask you something, about you and Dad?”

     “Sure, honey, you can ask me anything.”

     “Were you in love with Dad?” asked Seanna.

     “Of course I loved your Dad,” Samantha stated, “why would you ask that?”

     “I know you loved him, Mom, I mean were you ever
in love
with him. You know, the racing heart, sweaty hands, can’t wait another minute to see him, kind of love.”

     Samantha waited to gather her thoughts before she answered. She took a bunch of fries and methodically dipped them in the ketchup, chewed slowly and swallowed before she answered.

     “Seanna, your Dad and I had a different kind of relationship. We loved each other very much, but to be honest, no, we never had that kind of love. It wasn’t anybody’s fault; we just weren’t looking for that kind of love. We were happy and content to have a mutual companionship, and our joined faith. We cared about each other very deeply, but there weren’t any of the things you talked about in our relationship,” she finally answered.

     “Don’t you feel like you missed out on something? I mean,
didn’t you ever wish that you had had those things?”

     “Maybe a little, but remember, I
thought
I had felt those things for your birth dad, and look how that turned out. Passion and butterflies couldn’t last, the first hare thing that came along destroyed it. The love your Dad and I had was the lasting kind,” Samantha explained.

     “I think you can have both! I think that it might start as butterflies but if that person is the right person for you, if God is in the choosing, it will turn into that comfortable lasting kind. But who wants to be marrie
d for twenty years to someone you aren’t passionate about?” said Seanna.

     “You may be right. I certainly am not an expert on relationships,” Samantha admitted.

     “Bryce said that his mom and dad, until the day they died, were like that. I had a few friends in school whose parents seemed to be in love, even after kids and everything,” she said.

     “Why are you suddenly interested in all of this? I thought you said that you thought of Bryce as a brother,” said Samantha getting worried again.

     “I do, I was thinking of you…I would love for you to be happy Mom. Maybe I am just a little worried about leaving you and running off to college. I’d feel better if you had someone…you know…”

     “Well that certainly isn’t going to happen before fall
. My word, child, trying to marry your poor mother off in a few months! And I don’t even know any single men,” she laughed.

    
“How about Daffyd? He’s single?” Seanna asked, looking at her plate.

     “Are you serious? Seanna, Daffyd is nice and everything, but he is in the battle of his life, and I don’t just mean the cancer. He isn’t ready for a relationship any more than I am.”

     “What if he got that all straightened out? Would you ever consider someone like Daffyd?” asked her daughter.

     “You mean an aging egotistical rock star,
who made his money from glorifying a sinful lifestyle?” countered Samantha.

     “No, first of all he’s only
thirty, I asked Bryce. He just had his birthday. Secondly, I mean someone who is kind and generous. He donated the money to build that park in town. He has also given tons of money to the hospital where he gets treatment. And he insists that nobody knows that the money comes from him. Does that sound egotistical to you? Not to mention, that despite his choice of material, he is at least
passionate
about something. I loved Dad, but what was he ever passionate about, even the store, where he practically lived could hardly be called a passion.”

     “Daffyd is only twenty nine! He’s barely older than Bryce. I thought he was closer to my age, or even older. So how long ago was his career?” exclaimed
Samantha.

     “Actually I think he was going pretty strong until about three or four years ago. And you talk like you’re old. That’s only an eight year difference. What does age matter anyway? Dad was twice your age.”

     “Look Seanna, I just don’t want to talk about this. Daffyd is a good man, and I do think that God is working in his life, but I am not looking for a relationship. Ok?”

     “…ok…whatever
... But will you promise to have an open mind, and allow God to work it out in
your
life too?” asked Seanna.

     “Yes, I will let God lead. Now, we better get these groceries home, or all our frozen food will be thawed, ice chest or no ice chest,” Samantha gathered up her purse and the bill and ended the conversation.

     Daffyd and Bryce had been busy while the girls were enjoying their lunch. They had contacted the lawyer to check up on their special project. Daffyd had also asked Bryce to take a look at all of his recording contrac
ts, looking for a way to make changes without hurting any of the other parties involved. After several hours, Bryce said that it was all pretty solid. He admitted he wasn’t an expert at business law and suggested that Daffyd allow his own lawyer to handle it.

     “I am still not sure exactly what I want to do…I am just speculating,” said Daffyd.

     “Have you had a change of heart?” asked Bryce.

     “I guess maybe a little, after all the questions that came up explaining things to Samantha and
Seanna, it has started bothering me more than usual. Honestly, it has always bothered me a little. Over the years I guess I got calloused about it all. I don’t want to jump into anything. I am just looking at my options,” Daffyd explained.

     “Well, I am proud of you. Maybe you are growing up,” Bryce teased.

     “I figured you might be getting tired of parenting me,” Daffyd teased back. “Well, I think I better take a nap. Can you run the tray from lunch down for me?”

    “Yep, I’ll clean up the kitchen before Samantha and Seanna get back. Then I think I will get the grass mowed. It’s starting to look like a jungle. Plus I love Leal’s mower. It’s more like play than work!”

     The girls came home to find Bryce on the big mower with protective headphones on making big swaths in the ankle high grass. He gave them a big wave and Seanna gave him a thumbs up. They quickly unloaded and put everything away. Samantha went up to change and checked on Daffyd. He was sound asleep. She put away the things that needed to go upstairs and headed back down. Seanna was on Bryce’s computer by the time he came in. He went to the sink and filled a huge glass with water, downing it like he would never get another drink. Samantha grabbed some work gloves and was going to head out to the garden when Seanna called her over.

     “Mom, I got an email from the school…” she said.

     “Well, what does it say?” asked Samantha.

     “It’s from the financial aid department. I wonder what it
’s about.” Seanna pondered.

     “Open it and see,” said Bryce from the sink with a big grin.

     He was standing facing Seanna at the bar and silently thanked God for allowing him to witness the whole thing. He had assumed that she would be getting a phone call, but now days everything seemed to be handled by email.

     “Oh…my…word…” she whispered.

     “What Seanna?” Samantha leaned in to read over her daughters shoulder.

     “I got another scholarship…Mom it says that it is a
‘full ride’.
I won’t have to pay for anything. It even covers my room and board!” she exclaimed. She was totally in shock.

     “Is that true? Is that what it means?” Samantha looked to Bryce.

     “I’ll come take a look, but yeah, usually that’s what it means,” he answered coming around to look. “Let’s see, yep, right here it says full tuition, room and board, and even your books are covered. Wow, Seanna you must have impressed somebody!”

     Suddenly she jumped up and grabbed her mom, laughing and crying at the same time. They jumped and hugged and before he knew what hit him, they had grabbed him and propelled him around with them.

     “Who won the lottery?” yelled Daffyd down from the top of the stairs.

     “Well I guess I did!” Seanna shouted back.

     “She just got a full ride scholarship!” said Samantha.

     “Well we did just pray about that
didn’t we, Sea?” said Bryce.

     “We did, thank you Jesus! Now I won’t have to worry about Mom. Wow, what a surprise. I thought that all my applications had been reviewed. Talk about just in the nick of time,” she just could not stop smiling.

     “Seanna, your Dad would be so proud of you,” she said quietly.

     “Yep, he sure would.” She smiled and gave her mom a hug.

     Bryce looked up at his uncle and Daffyd gave him a slight nod and a wink. Bryce had never been so proud of his uncle. Daffyd slowly came down the stairs and joined the group. He took a look at the email, confirming everything that they had just read. He gave Seanna a sideways hug with one arm around her shoulders.

     “I think this is cause for a celebration. What did you girls bring for a treat?” he asked.

     “I don’t even remember. I can’t really think straight right now,” answered Samantha.

     “I can find something! You guys all sit down,” offered Bryce.

     Seanna had to re-read everything a couple of times. Samantha kept patting her daughters hand and smiling. Daffyd and Bryce just enjoyed their joy. The rest of the afternoon went quickly. Bryce fixed sandwiches again, and they all sat around the table talking and joking until bed. As Daffyd retired for the evening, earlier than the others, Samantha reminded him that they were having roast beef for lunch after Church. He turned and smiled at her, and allowed Bryce to help him up the stairs.
Lord, he better keep his end of the deal.

Chapter 15

Baby Steps

     Samantha got up early Sunday morning to get the roast in the oven and get the potatoes and carrots cleaned, pealed and in the pot. She prayed the whole time that Daffyd would be feeling well enough and be inclined to go to
church. She finished up in the kitchen and hurried upstairs to get dressed. Her options were much smaller this week, only having brought the one dress. She went for a pair of nice jeans and one of her dressier summer shirts. By the time she headed downstairs, Daffyd was coming out of his room. He also had on some dark jeans and a light weight cotton dress shirt. Both were a little big, but he was definitely not in his pajamas.

    “I see I am just in time to accompany you down the stairs,” he said.

     “Yes, you are,” she gave him her arm and didn’t mention church.

     Bryce and Seanna were both downstairs finishing up some juice and muffins. When Samantha nonchalantly asked Daffyd if he would like some tea before they left for Church, Bryce choked on his last swallow and Seanna absentmindedly gave him a pat on the back. Both were staring at Daffyd as if he just grew a new head.

     “I think I would just like a small glass of juice, if my nephew hasn’t spewed the rest of it all over the counter. Bryce, do you think you could load up the wheel chair for me? As much as I hate it, I don’t want to tire myself out on the way in and out of church.”