Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 17

After breakfast, Samantha helped clean up, and a little while later, Jill came over. Because Samantha wasn't talking, we had them both hang out in the living room, so if needed, we could intervene.

We warned Jill to be gentle with Samantha. She was still pretty skittish.

"Sam!" Jill said, as her and her mom came in the house. "I missed you so much! I'm so glad you're safe and you're back!"

Samantha didn't say or do anything. She stayed on the couch where she'd been sitting with a book.

"Can I give you a hug?" Jill asked her. Samantha shrugged and so Jill looked at me. I nodded.

Jill gave Samantha a hug, which Sam did not return.

"My mom says you're not talking too much these days. But do you remember your first day at school, when you didn't talk and I told you that my mom says I talk enough for more than two people? I have so much to tell you!"

Erin and I went into the kitchen. There was a lot of noise coming from the basement, so I closed the door.

"What is going on down there?" Erin laughed.

"Josh is still here, and we have our friends Brendon and Sarah visiting. They came out when Sam was missing, and are staying to help out for a while. I guess the boys are playing some of their music, or just playing around on the instruments. I'm not sure where Sarah is, though."

Just then Sarah came upstairs and into the kitchen.

"Speak of the devil," I said smiling. "Sarah, this is Erin, Samantha's friend Jill's mom."

"Nice to meet you," Sarah said. "I had to come upstairs. Between Josh and Brendon on the drums, and Tyler's ukulele, you would not know any of them were capable of the music they've released."

I laughed and pointed to the coffee maker.

"Come join us. We're letting the girls visit in the other room."

Sarah looked over into the living room and saw Sam looking at Jill while Jill talked and talked.

"Someone's visiting, anyway," Sarah said.

"Jill loves to talk. She's always been very chatty. And she's missed Sam so much. She did bring some homework over," Erin said, pulling a folder out of her bag and handing it to me. "The teachers have said, not to worry if she doesn't understand or get all of it done."

"Thanks, Erin," I said. "We'll give this to the tutor on Monday."

The three of us sat and talked for a while.

"So, Sarah," Erin said. "What is it your husband does? You said something about music."

"Brendon's a musician. Like Tyler and Josh."

"He's a drummer?"

Sarah laughed.

"He thinks he is. And yes, he can play the drums. He's lead singer for Panic! At The Disco? If you've heard of them?"

"I have a thirteen year old daughter. Between twentyone pilots, Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, I'm pretty sure I've got their discographies memorized almost as much as Jill does. She loves music."

"Next time Brendon's in town, make sure Tyler or Jenna get you tickets!" Sarah said.

"Oh, no. Jill can't go to concerts," Erin said. "She's has epilepsy, and the lights could set off a seizure. In fact, the first concert she ever got to go to was right here in this house."