Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 73

Jenna POV

Sarah came downstairs wiping her eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Your daughter," she smiled. "She is one of the most amazing kids. She reminds me so much of Jess."

"What did she do?"

"She was asking about Jess, and she told me that when you guys were visiting us, she felt like Jess was there with her. More so after the drowning incident. And it's funny. Sometimes, and maybe it's just wishful thinking, I feel like Jess is around."

I gave my friend a hug.

"Samantha is," I started. "She's so hard to describe. She has such a big heart. And in the past few months, she's become so much more confident and just that much more. I don't know. I want to say loveable, but I've loved her since she landed in our backyard. I guess with her confidence and her friends, she's really come out of her shell. She was so skittish when she first came to us. Well, you've seen the change."

Sarah nodded.

"She's a completely different kid," she said.

Sarah and I talked a little more, then the two of us went upstairs to bed. Sarah was leaving the next afternoon and we thought we'd go out for brunch with Sam before taking her to the airport. Sam was well enough to go out and deserved it after her week.

The next morning, the three of us were up somewhat later than normal, but not too late. I went into Samantha's room to check on her. She was lying curled up on her bed under her covers, with her eyes open and unfocused.

"Sam?" I said, a little concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" She said looking up at me. "Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

"Just you were sort of staring off into space and unfocused. I was a little worried you were getting sick again."

"Oh. No. I'm okay. I was just thinking."

"Anything you want to share?"

"I dunno. I'm not sure I can explain it." She said, rolling onto her back and putting her hands behind her head.

"Is it about school? Tour? Iceland, which you still don't know anything about?"

She smiled at that.

"No. I was thinking about Uncle Brendon and Aunt Sarah. And Jess."

"What about them?" I asked, sitting down beside her on her bed.

"We'll, I don't know if ghosts are real or anything, but in California, there was, something, in the room I stayed in. I know it sounds kinda crazy. I'm not saying Jess's ghost is, like, haunting their house. And it just kind of makes me sad that they lost Jess. Because I bet they were amazing parents."

"They were. They gave Jess an amazing life in her last four years. Jess was so appreciative of everything they gave her. And they just, well, if Uncle Brendon could have taken the moon out of the sky for her, he would have. Which is kind of how Dad and I feel about you," I smiled at her. She smiled back at me.

"Now," I said. "Why don't you get up, shower, get dressed, and we'll take Aunt Sarah out for brunch before we take her to the airport."

"I wish she didn't have to go home today," Sam said.

"I know. But, she misses Uncle Brendon, the pups, and she has to get back to work, too."

"I know," Sam said, sitting up and pushing off her covers.

"Do you have any homework left for tomorrow?"

"A little. I'll do it when we get home. It won't even take that long."

"Darn tooting you'll get it done," I smiled at her.

I got up and went to get dressed myself. Sarah was already downstairs with her luggage when I came downstairs.

"I wish I didn't have to go home today," she said.

"Funny. Sam said the same thing. And I agree."

"You guys should really move to California," she said. 

"You guys should move to Ohio," I snarked back, smiling. We laughed.

Sam came down a few minutes later.

"I wish you didn't have to go home, Aunt Sarah," she said. We laughed.

"What?"

"We were just saying the same thing," I said. "Then tried to convince each other to move to each other's state."

"We should move to California," Sam smiled.

"The two of you," I rolled my eyes.

We got Sarah's luggage into the car and headed out to a restaurant for brunch. Sam was chatting animatedly and constantly.

We ate lunch, Samantha bolusing her insulin and ordering a good meal. It was nice to see her eating again as she had not enjoyed the hospital food. Who could blame her?

After lunch, we headed to the airport for Sarah.

At the departures level, Sam hopped out of the car and ran to Sarah and hugged her tight.

"I'm gonna miss you," she said.

"Me too, sweetheart," Sarah said. "But I promise, I'll see you soon."

"Not soon enough," Sam lamented.

"You never know," Sarah said.

"I think I'm sick again. You're gonna have to stay and help Mom," Sam smiled.

"You're a brat. I love you, Samantha Joseph. Be good to your mom. I'll see you soon, okay?"

Sam nodded and hugged Sarah again.  I gave her a hug as well and thanked her for coming and helping.

We watched as she walked into the terminal, turning around to wave at us before the doors closed.

"Let's go, troublemaker," I said to Sam, who turned around and got into the front seat, did up her seatbelt and sighed.

"All good?" I asked.

"Yeah. I guess. I just wish she didn't have to go home. Or that I didn't have to go to school tomorrow."

I laughed.

"You have less than two weeks left. I think you can handle it."

"I dunno, Mom. I think my fever's back," she grinned. I laughed.

"Let's not temp fate, huh?"

As we were driving hike Sam's phone beeped. She picked it up and laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Uncle Brendon texted 'thanks for letting my wife come home.'," she said. "And Pete texted and said he heard I was sick and hopes I feel better."

I smiled. Our friends were so good to Sam.