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  “Stephanie is with Carlie right now?” Sam asked. Chandler shrugged. Sam thought about sitting outside to follow him when he left here.

  “She didn’t mention which friend specifically. I’m assuming though. Guess her friend just bought a house here in town. So, my girl is over there to see it and drink a glass of wine while I work. This friend of hers moved in just a week or so ago.” Chandler put his hand up and kind of flipped his hand around like, staring at Zeke like, ‘Come on man...hello?’

  “They are in a house, not an apartment. Gotcha. What else?” Zeke said. Chandler pulled his lips between his teeth for a second like he was biting back words.

  “Well, brother, you know I am here getting some work done. The wife has my car. So, let’s say if you pull up at your house and see my car on your street, you would know for sure it isn’t me that is in it, right? Since I am here and obviously not there to visit you.” Chandler laid his forearms on the desk in front of him and muttered, “Five. Four. Three.” but was interrupted when Zeke shot out of the chair and turned to Sam.

  “The house next door to me just got sold. New owners. No other house on my block has been up for sale in a minute. Has to be it.” Zeke started to the door. “Haven’t seen you in weeks, Chandler. We should get in touch sometime soon, bro.”

  Sam put two fingers to his forehead and saluted Chandler right before he spun around and sped out of the room behind his brother.

  “Pipes are loud man, could hear them all the way back here. No surprise at all you were out front.” Chandler yelled after them and then he heard the bells over the front door chime. If he was in their position, he would jog down to their shop at the end of the block and use one of their vehicles to run his errand. Since he didn’t hear any bikes start up, he guessed that was exactly what the brothers did.

  ~*~

  “Pizza’s here! I’ll get the door.” I was at the fridge again looking for the parmesan when the doorbell rang and I heard ‘Drea pop up to answer it.

  I leaned over to grab it from the bottom of the fridge door when I heard the front door open and ‘Drea say, “Oh, shit.” I heard Lisa gasp.

  I looked up and over the island in my kitchen and saw Zeke walking in the door past ‘Drea. Sam was right behind him. My Sam. In my house. Right now. My Sam.

  I stood still taking him in, like I was in a museum staring at a work of art. I was looking at a work of art. His hair was longer than it had been, falling past his broad shoulders. Dark brown, with lighter streaks from the sun. His beard was full and long, a little darker than his hair. His green eyes were looking right into my soul.

  We stared at each other for seconds, but it seemed like forever, before Sam slowly started to walk my way. He passed his brother, and I noticed Zeke’s mouth was wide open in shock. I heard Stephanie grunt and mumble, “What the fuck?” and then I heard Tuff’s nails hit the hardwood floor. I looked to the side and saw Tuff coming around the back of the couch I had been on earlier. His teeth were bared and his ears were back. He could sense something was not right and a stranger was headed my way.

  “Tuff! Down. Here. Now.” Tuff paused and swung his big head my way. I could see his indecision.

  “Tuff, c’mere boy.”

  Sam was still, looking to his left at Tuff. Tuff stared him down for another second and then came around the island to get to me.

  “It’s okay boy. It’s okay. Mama’s okay.” Tuff sat himself directly in front of me, like a sentry. “I’m gonna need all of you to take some deep breaths, get rid of the tense vibes in the air, clear the murder look off your face and chill for just a sec while I get my dog settled. Just give us a minute.”

  I dropped down on my heels, balancing on the balls of my bare feet next to my Tuff. I could see Sam’s boots a few feet away, but I only had eyes for my boy. I put my hands on both sides of his big head and turned his face to mine.

  “Mama’s okay, baby. You can relax. See, I’m just fine. Who’s my king? You’re such a good baby.” Tuff’s tension drained from him and he swiped my wrist with his big tongue. “These are our friends, big boy. It’s all okay.”

  Tuff moved his head out of my hands and tilted his head to look around me. He stared at Sam for a second and then let out a snort. Finally, he walked back around the island and headed to the Lisa who was still on the floor. I heard her mumble to him, “That’s my big sweetie.”

  “Jesus Christ that is a big dog.” I heard Zeke say. “What the hell do you feed him?”

  “Boyfriends who look like they are gonna start breaking shit.” Lisa said calmly. Zeke threw his head back and laughed, I could hear Steph and ‘Drea laughing with him.

  My eyes snapped back to Sam. He was still in the same spot, staring at me.

  “Are you really here, in my house, Sam Sam?” I asked quietly.

  “Are you really here, Carles?” Sam returned. “Come to me.”

  I set the cheese on the island and slowly walked toward Sam. My eyes never left his. His hand came up as I walked closer. When I got close enough, his hand came up and curled around the back of my neck. He held me there for just a second while we looked at each other. I could feel the tears starting down my face. I reached up and touched his arm. He yanked his arm in and I was slammed to his chest. His other arm went around my shoulders and held me tight.

  “Are you home, baby?” He asked me.

  “Now I am. I’m home. Forever.”

  9.

  Sam and I stood like that in the kitchen in silence for what seemed like hours. He had his arms around my shoulders and I had my arms around his waist, grasping his t-shirt in both of my hands. He held me while I sobbed, and I felt his chest rise and shudder, knowing he was crying too. I couldn’t get closer to him if I tried. He moved us just a little bit to his right, turned us and I felt his hips lean onto the kitchen island. His hand moved from my neck to grip in the hair at the back of my head. I felt his lips come down and kiss my head. I heard the music change to Edwin McCain, I’ll Be. I listened to the lyrics and thought they fit where I was standing right this second.

  “I’ve gotta call Chan. He’s coming over for pizza.” I heard Steph quietly moving around the living room.

  “We gonna stay. I mean, now?” ‘Drea asked.

  “I have been waiting for this shit for more than ten years, girl. My big ass ain’t moving.” I heard Zeke answer her.

  “Big. Yeah. Jesus what did your mama feed you?” That question came from Lisa, who I am sure was stunned at his size if she was standing near Zeke. She was two glasses of wine in, and that meant my shy girl was no longer. Wine Lisa was a whole new creature.

  “Chan. He found her. Come to Carlie’s house.” Apparently, Chandler was okay with quick directions because I heard Steph drop her phone to the coffee table.

  “Listen to the song, Carles. You and me together, baby.” Sam whispered. I closed my eyes. I’ll Stand By You. I would remember this moment every time I hear this song, forever, I thought.

  “I have to tell you. Well, everything. I need to explain.” I whispered.

  “Right this second I don’t give a shit. Ten minutes ago, all I wanted was an explanation, so I could turn around and walk away, but right now, in this moment, all I want is to stand here with you. The rest can wait.” Sam put another kiss on my head. His hand in my hair tilted my head back. “Do we have a time limit I need to know about, or can we just be for a little bit and hold this good feeling?”

  “Let’s just be. I have almost everyone I love in one place and I want to cherish it. Just don’t let go of me, okay?” I asked him.

  “Never again, Carles, never again.” He kissed my forehead and looked toward his brother in the living room. “Zeke, you got beer at your place?”

  “Bro. Come on.” Zeke moved from where he was leaned on the couch beside ‘Drea.

  “Your house?” Lisa asked.

  “I live right next door, little fairy. Want to come with?” Zeke asked her.

  “Oh, sweetheart with that smile you cou
ld walk me right up to the gates of hell and I wouldn’t bitch about the heat.” Regular Lisa was quiet and timid. Lisa with wine was a pistol. I had often wondered if we could just put it in an IV and have her carry around a bag of wine in her purse. She started getting quiet I could just reach over and adjust the dial and voila – instant Wine Lisa. I felt Sam chuckle.

  “Your brother lives next door to me? What are the odds?” I asked Sam.

  “Destiny, sweets. I was gonna find you sooner or later either way.” Sam stood up, but still kept his arms around me, my head tilted back to look at his face. “Been looking forever. Found you. Not letting go. We give all of them some time for the happy, then it’s you and me and we can talk. Right?”

  “That works, Sam. Not looking forward to the talk but it has to happen. I just want more of this.” I put my forehead to his chest. “Give me tonight. Tomorrow I will tell you everything, but it makes me tense. I cry and get wired if I say too much at once, then I can’t sleep because I am remembering. I want just you and happy right now.”

  “Can’t stop squeezing you baby, just to make sure you are real.” he said.

  “Jesus! Freakin’ kiss her already, man!” ‘Drea had always had my best interests at heart. I looked at her from the safety of Sam’s arms and smiled wide.

  “Can’t do that, Suki.” I saw ‘Drea’s smile when he used her old nickname. “Once I start there’s not gonna be a stop for a long time. I get that ya’ll are close and all, but we’ll be naked and busy, and you might get bored.”

  Steph’s eyes got wide, so did ‘Drea’s. Oh yeah, there goes the warm all over I remember. My happy place was back open for business.

  ~*~

  The pizza was crumbs and boxes, the beer had flown freely with the bottles lined up on the porch rail and I was sitting in Sam’s lap on my back patio listening to ‘Drea and Steph telling Chandler about the time the three of us toilet papered one of Zeke’s girlfriends house. It involved toilet paper, eggs and a good amount of dog poop. Zeke was sitting on the steps next to Lisa putting in details here and there. Lisa had slowed down on the wine, so she was a bit quieter than before, but she was still loose and joining in with the conversation.

  Steph was in Chandlers lap, and ‘Drea was sitting on the patio with her back leaned to one of the posts. She had Tuff stretched out the length of her leg and was rubbing his back. He occasionally would groan or let out a low ‘woof’ to express his appreciation and undying love.

  The fire pit in the middle of the patio gave off a soft light and occasionally sparks as a log would fall. I was content to listen to my friends and watch the fire while I melted in Sam’s arms.

  Sam was relaxed back into the padded lounge chair with his arm around my waist holding my hand there. I was sitting sideways with one arm over his shoulders. My hand was playing with his hair, running it through my fingers.

  After the laughter from the latest ‘back in the day’ story wound down, Chandler smacked his wife on the side of her leg and said, “Need to be up getting and getting our Rosie girl home, darlin’. It’s almost

  9. ‘Drea you’re a few glasses in, ridin’ with us?”

  “Yes, you’re the pilot tonight buddy, I’ll have to leave my car here.” ‘Drea stretched her legs out and started to get up. Tuff stretched and moved to the steps. “Lisa, you need a ride home?”

  “I am home.” She lifted her finger and pointed to the garage. “I live there, beside Joe.”

  “Who is Joe?” Sam asked me.

  “Joe is Uncle Carl. He lives in the apartment on the left, Lisa lives in the one on the right.” I answered him.

  “Sweet. Carl is hilarious. Sheila up there with him? I loved that lady. She’s a freaking riot. Some of the jokes she tells will curl your hair.” Zeke smiled towards me. Lisa, ‘Dre and Steph stayed quiet.

  “Sheila’s not there, babe. She died a little over a year ago. Joe...um Carl...is not the same now. He doesn’t come out much. Or talk.” I said quietly. I could feel Sam’s eyes on my face, but I didn’t have the courage to look at him just yet. I watched Zeke stand.

  “So sorry, Jane. Didn’t mean to upset. I think I am gonna hop over to my house. Lisa, let me walk you to your humble abode first.” He put his hand out to help Lisa up.

  “Why do you call her Jane?” She avoided his hand and stood up on her own. “I didn’t know that was ever one of her names? I just know the ones that are a lot like Carlie. She doesn’t seem like a Jane.” Lisa’s innocent observation increased the heat coming from Sam’s eyes to my face.

  Lisa walked towards ‘Drea and took little Annie and laid her in the same arm as a sleeping Kelly. As they turned to go down the steps Zeke told her that our nicknames were from the movie The Witches of Eastwick. I didn’t hear Lisa’s soft voice comment, but I heard Zeke say, “Well then you’re gonna have to watch that movie with me, fairy girl, so you know what we are talking about.” and then Zeke’s voice faded because they were walking away.

  Chandler and Steph, hand in hand, walked toward the back door to go in the house with ‘Dre close behind. I raised my hand to wave.

  “Bye, my lovelies. I will talk to both of y’all tomorrow. All my heart.” I said with my wave.

  “All my heart, darlin. All of it.” ‘Dre squeezed my hand as she walked by. “Tomorrow. I’ll lock up on my way out.”

  I turned my head to see Zeke standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to Lisa’s apartment. She was on the bottom step but still not eye level with him. She put a hand up and touched his cheek, shook her head softly and turned to walk up. Zeke watched her until she got to the top and went through the door. He looked down at his shoes and walked up the grass back to us on the porch.

  “She has the face of an angel, the mouth of a sailor and gets still as a statue if I accidentally brush my hand against hers. What gives?” Zeke asked.

  “The beautiful wrapper covers up the sweet candy inside that has been cracked and shattered over and over again, sweetheart. She doesn’t know how to put the pieces back together and not sure she would allow you to help even if she did. I would love it if you could find your way in, Zeke, God knows I would. I owe that little angel my life.” I didn’t want to give him any hope, because it would probably be too much of a fight for any man to win.

  “I’m good at getting in. And when I do, I am gonna stay there. Watch me.” Zeke had a fire in his eyes that made me think that maybe Lisa’s demons had met their match.

  “Bye, Brother. Bye, Jane.” As he hit the bottom of the steps to go around the house to the gate he left his parting shot. “Gonna call the fence company tomorrow to get my own personal gate installed over here by my side door. Easy access. Less walk. Just letting ya know.”

  All alone, finally, I turned my head to Sam. Sitting on his lap, he and I were eye to eye. He tightened his arm on my waist but other than that he didn’t move at all.

  “You said we could get into the history and the why tomorrow. Is that still on?” I asked him.

  “Still on. Right now, it’s all fresh and new. Nothing dark on it.” He tilted just a bit to set his beer down beside our chair. He twisted back, shook his hair out of his face, put his hand up and said, “Hi. My name’s Samson Duke. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

  “Just like that?” I asked as I took my arm from around his shoulders to put my hand in his. His warmth engulfing my hand as he held it gently. “My name really is Carlie Rose Jenkins. Now. It is very good to meet you, Mr. Samson Duke. Very good.”

  “Ms. Jenkins, it’s dark out here and starting to cool. Can we bank the fire and head inside?” He still held my hand in his.

  “That sounds fine. You do that and let me call my dog and see if I can find my cat. They need to eat.” I started to get up from his lap. His arm around my waist squeezed for just a second and then his hand moved up to my neck. He pulled my head close to his, kissed me on my ear, and then let me go.

  I stood and gathered the bottles from the rail and around the chairs while Sam pu
t the cover on the fire. I whistled low for Tuff and heard him coming to me through the grass. He trotted up the steps and bumped my leg with his head. I turned and saw Sam with the three wine glasses in hand and he was opening the glass door for me and Tuff. We walked in and he followed close behind.

  We walked together to the kitchen, I headed to the trash and Sam moved to the sink to rinse the glasses. I stood in the living room and called for Freddie. Nothing. The Queen did not want to join the commoners just yet. Maybe food would help.

  I got Tuff’s bowl from the shelf in the pantry and portioned out his food and as was our custom he followed me to the cabinet where I grabbed a spoon and then we walked to the refrigerator. I opened the door and got out the yogurt and put a big dollop on top of his food. Tuff stood and watched me, nubby tail shaking his whole back end.

  “Your dog eats yogurt?” Sam asked with one eyebrow up.

  “Pit Bull dog farts are deadly. Like clear not just the room but the whole house sort of deadly. A stench that Febreeze can’t touch. The kind of farts that wake you from a dead sleep just so you can run and hurl. But then, it’s in your nose and you can taste it so you hurl some more.” I leaned down to put the bowl on the floor for Tuff while I shook my head. “I’ve lived this life. Seriously hurl.”

  Same put his head back and laughed out loud. “Dog farts. Really.”

  “Oh yeah. When I first got him, I tried everything I could find to stop them, finally spoke to a friend on line and she suggested the yogurt. Best advice I have ever taken. After a week without stench I sent her a dozen long stemmed roses with a note that told her she was my savior.” Sam chuckled at that.

  I walked to the sink to rinse the spoon and went back to the pantry for the cat bowl. I called Freddie again, but no response. I would have to ask Lisa if cats came when they were called or if this was just wishful thinking. The cat was really more like a dog so no telling how it would behave. I scooped the cat food into the bowl, and since he was kind of big went ahead and added another scoop for good measure.