Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 30

Jenna's POV

Samantha was so brave telling Jake her story again. We spoke with him for a minute after he spoke to Sam. He said he was impressed with how much detail she remembered and was thankful that she could help. He also thought it was sweet she wanted Gillingham not to get into too much trouble because he did the right thing in the end. Though he suggested we let her therapist know that. Just to make sure it wasn't Stockholm Syndrome or something.

We saw Jake out and went back into the living room where Sam was still sitting on the couch.

We both went over and hugged her.

"You were, are, so brave," I said to her.

"We're so proud of you," Tyler said.

Samantha shrugged.

"I still can't believe Stanley's really gone," she said. "Knowing that makes me, I dunno. Less scared?  He really can't get me anymore."

"Nope. He can't," Tyler said, hugging her again.

We went back into the kitchen to finish breakfast.

"All good?" Brendon asked.

"All good," Tyler said smiling at Sam.

We finished breakfast and cleaned up. I checked on the turkey and for a few things out of the fridge to bring up to room temperature before warning them for dinner.

Sam helped with the dishes and then the trash Brendon helped her bring all her gifts upstairs.

She came bouncing back down about ten minutes later, dressed in jeans and her new Panic! hoodie.  She was smiling and it was so nice to see.

"Need any help, Mom?" She asked.

"Not really," I said, still reveling that not only was she speaking again, she was also calling us Mom and Dad. "Want to maybe set the table?"

"Kitchen or dining room?"

"Dining room silly. Jill and her family are coming. We can't fit ten in the kitchen," I said.

"Touché," she said.

She went over to the table where I had laid out all the Christmas dishes and cutlery and placemats, and started carrying stuff into the dining room. 

Tyler came down in he as and a t-shirt.

"Where's Sam?" He asked.

"Dining room. Setting the table," I replied.

Tyler nodded and went into the dining room. He came back out into the kitchen laughing and picked up the napkins and salad plates.

"What's so funny?"

"Your daughter. She's setting the table and asked why we have so many spoons and forks."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She wasn't aware of salad forks and then dinner forks, and dessert spoons and soup spoons. She's used to one fork, one knife and maybe a spoon. She called our cutlery 'superfluous'," he laughed.  I smiled. Smart ass kid.

Sam came back into the kitchen having finished the table.

"Now what?" She asked.

"Test your sugar. It's been a while since breakfast."

"Okie dokie," she said, pulling her kit out.  "93."

She had tested and showed me the number.

"Great. Say, Sam," I said.  "I was thinking."

"Uh oh," she said.

"What do you know about continuous glucose monitors?"

"That they're really expensive."

"Tyler and I, Dad and I, were thinking that might be better for you.  That way, we don't necessarily need to get up at night and it should alert us if you're low."

"I dunno," she said. "They're really, really expensive."

"Maybe. But we have insurance and you're worth it," I smiled.

"I dunno. Maybe," she said.

"We don't have to decide right away. But let's talk about it, okay?"

"Sure," she said. "I'm gonna go back upstairs if that's okay?"

"Sure honey.  Jill and her family should be here by three, so keep an eye on the clock, okay?"

"Yup," she said.

She bounced up the stairs and disappeared into her room.

Tyler came in from the garage where he'd taken the garbage from Samantha's gift opening.

"Where's Sam?" He asked again. 

"She went upstairs to her room."

"She okay?"

"Yeah. I think so. She seemed fine," I said.

"Okay. Good."

Brendon and Sarah came back downstairs all dressed in sweaters and said they were going out for a walk. Josh flopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. It was nice to have a full house for Christmas. I had a feeling, though, that Brendon and Sarah were going out alone to mourn their daughter.  I knew they needed some space. They'd been so happy to help take care of Samantha and buy gifts and celebrate with us, but I knew they were missing Jess. This was, after all, their first Christmas without her.  We were all missing Jess in our own way.

Sam came downstairs with her Switch about a half hour later and flopped on top of Josh.

"Oof!" He exclaimed. "A little warning next time!"

"Play Fortnite with me, Uncle Josh," she said as he sat up.

"Okay. You play on your Switch. I'll play on the TV."

"Okay," she said. "Where's Sarah and Brendon?"

"They went for a walk. I think they needed a little time to themselves," Josh said. "They're missing Jess something bad today."

"What happened to Jess, anyway?  How did she die?"

"She was sick," Josh said. "And eventually, she just got so sick, she died."

"How, though?  What did she have?"

Josh looked over at me. I shrugged. Why not tell her? It was never a secret. I mean, she could have looked it up online.

"She had AIDS. She was in a car accident as a kid, and had a bunch of blood transfusions. At least one of them was tainted."

"Oh."  Samantha said, flatly. "That's so sad. So horrible. We should do something for them."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"I don't know. I don't really know them well enough. But I don't want them to be sad. Not on Christmas."

"They're not," I said. "They're so happy to be here celebrating with you. They're just taking a few minutes to remember Jess."

Samantha nodded. We were seeing, again, her big, generous heart.

Brendon and Sarah came in just then.  Sarah's eyes were red. Brendon's we're still a little wet. Sam saw them, got up, ran over to them and hugged them both. She didn't say a word. She just hugged them.

They both looked a little shocked, and then both smiled and hugged Samantha back.