Chapter Text
Sam finally crept out of her room at nine in the morning on Saturday. It was the first weekend after her father’s most idiotic play since he busted his shoulder trying to reach third base. Unfortunately, this time he’d scored a home run with the wrong woman.
Things hadn’t been pretty all week. Jonathan had gone so far as to punch her in the gut, but even after years under her wing, he was hopelessly unprepared for a real brawl. They’d ended up going for a drive and mournfully throwing rocks into the dark lake together. When a Buick started rocking several dozen yards away, they hightailed it to the 24-hour diner for fried mozzarella sticks and dark jokes about extra-marital affairs. Neither of their parents said a word when they returned home hours after curfew on a school night. What did it matter, when nobody in the family was able to sleep properly?
Sam tip-toed across the wood floor planks and rapped softly on the bedroom door.
“Come in,” Angela called. She expected her mother, actually hoped for her to come make everything better for a brief moment. The woman was wise and funny, even willing to dole out maternal affection if the situation demanded. Or perhaps it was Jonathan, who’d given her several spontaneous hugs that week and reminded her that he loved her. Her pride in his capacity for empathy was at odds with the devastation of knowing he understood the situation. For the first time in years, she wondered if bringing Tony into his life had done more harm than good.
“Hey, Angela. Whatcha doin’ today?” Sam hadn’t barged in like that in ages. Shortly after reaching puberty, her desire for privacy kicked in, and she began showing others the same respect she demanded. Now, she was aghast at the scene. Angela was sitting up, hugging a pillow to her middle, and staring straight forward. Her eyes were puffy and red, but all her tears had already dried. Crumpled tissues were discarded all over the bed. Sam swept a few onto the floor and sat down. She had to do something.
“I don’t know,” Angela mumbled, too exhausted and numb to focus on the question.
Sam touched her arm and got her to hold eye contact. “Don’t you have a date with Peter tonight?”
“Yeah. Maybe I should cancel,” she said, squeezing her pillow even tighter. “I’m no fun to be around.”
“Don’t cancel,” Sam begged. She knew her father was going to Kathleen’s that night. Peter would be a welcome distraction for Angela. “I was hoping you could help me out today,” she said.
“What do you need, sweetheart?” Angela asked, light coming into her eyes. She jumped at the chance to do something for Sam that would make it clear she wasn’t being held responsible for her father’s betrayal.
“The Senior Smash is today. Would you be able to give me a ride?”
“Oh, your fundraiser for the graduation party?” she confirmed. “Why don’t you drive your car?”
“Because they’re smashing a yellow ‘68 Oldsmobile Delta.” The junker didn’t run, but it actually looked a little nicer than its twin with the SAMSCAR license plate. “I’m afraid to park in the school lot, and last time I parked over on Third…well, you know. It got stolen.”
“Oh dear,” Angela said, holding back a smile. “You could borrow my Jaguar,” she offered the teen. Sam took the security pillow from her and laid down, stealthily kicking tissues out of her way.
“I’d rather have you come with me. Other parents are going to be there, too.” Sam knew she was laying it on pretty thick, but she didn’t care. Jonathan agreed that their parents would never pressure them to choose, and that was a good thing, because Tony was nobody’s favorite person these days.
Even Kathleen seemed reluctant to date Tony openly. She’d balked at his suggestion that they were suddenly in a relationship and refused to go out to dinner, saying “I have a better idea. You should come over to my apartment. I’ll make something, and you can spend the night.” There was no arguing with the woman. If she wouldn’t say they were together in public, at least she was acting like they were together in private.
Angela slid down under the covers and faced Sam. “Of course I’ll come to your fundraiser,” she said. Sam smiled and let her lids fall. “Have you been sleeping?” Angela asked.
“Not really. Have you?” Sam asked, blinking open her eyes.
Angela bit her lip, wondering if she was about to start crying again. She took a deep breath and sighed, realizing the well was dry. “No, not really. Maybe you could stay for a little while?”
“Yeah. I like your room. It’s so peaceful in here.” Sam remembered cuddling with her mother as a little girl, feeling utterly safe and secure in her presence. Later, she struggled with the guilt of not being able to protect her in return. It was the same with Angela, even more so after she’d discovered that legal arrangements had been made for her to stay in the Bower household if her father was ever unable to care for her.
“Thank you,” Angela said. She drifted off easily after that. The sounds of a trusted loved one’s respiration, their familiar scent, and the weight of another body on the mattress could always put her into a deep sleep. Luckily, Sam slept like a log instead of stealing blankets, as she had when she was younger.
Tony jumped and threw the newspaper on the couch when Jonathan finally came downstairs. “Are you hungry, pal-o-mine?”
“Not really. I’ll just make myself some toast,” the boy said.
“I can fix you something,” Tony offered.
“No.” Jonathan glared briefly, making it clear that he wanted to be alone.
“I should wake up Sam,” Tony muttered.
Jonathan turned back. “I thought she was down here. Her door is wide open and she’s not in bed.”
Tony’s heart skipped a beat. Was it possible Sam had snuck out and not come home? He took the stairs two at a time. Her room was indeed empty. He opened the window. No ladder. He turned around and stood in the hallway, wondering where she could be.
Angela’s door was ajar. He decided to man up and ask her, for the sake of his missing daughter. As he approached, he heard the familiar breathing of not one but two of his dearest ones. There was a set of feet under the covers and another on top, along with a small mound of tissues that hadn’t yet fallen to the floor. He stepped in and watched Sam and Angela for a minute, unsure which of them he envied more for her closeness to the other.
“Go away, Dad,” Sam murmured, cracking an eye open.
Tony smiled to himself and closed the door behind him. Maybe everything would be alright.