A SMILE IN A WHISTLE

PART SIX: THE DEPARTURE

Chapter 46

Sam woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast coming from the kitchen. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and gave into a long, broad yarn. The sound of Josephine's jolly whistling reached his ears and incited him to go say hello. When she was within view, Sam couldn't help but admire how she applied herself in cooking the perfect breakfast.

"Ah! You're awake!" noticed Josephine. "Fancy a brunch?"

"It certainly smells good," commented Sam.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Like shit..." he replied honestly.

"I'm sure things will be looking up for you in no time," she said with confidence. "Start your day with a good breakfast and you will feel a whole lot better!"

Sam wasn't as hopeful as Josephine that morning; all he wanted to do was crawl back under the blanket and pretend Sarah was curled up next to him. Instead, he forced himself to look lively. As soon as it was ready, he devoured Josephine's delicious breakfast to make up for the lack of love. Sarah's love.

"How is it?" Josephine asked him.

"Exquisite!" he said, thankful for her hard work.

Josephine enjoyed hanging out with Sam, just like old times. She hadn't smiled so much since their breakup!

Once their stomachs were full and their plates were empty, they tidied up together and washed the dirty frying pans and saucepans. Then, Sam retired to the bathroom and hopped into the shower. He tortured himself as he wondered, over and over again, whether he should pay Sarah another visit. He feared he had given up on her too quickly, but he wanted to respect her wish to be left alone. He also considered sending her a message or giving her a call. He needed to be sure she hadn't changed her mind... and he dearly wished she had.

While going over multiple scenarios that could allow him to get in contact with Sarah, the bathroom door creaked open...

"Do you need something, Jo?" he asked, distracted by her presence.

Josephine didn't answer and closed the door behind her. Sam could see her silhouette through the fuzzy glass of the shower cabin.

"Are you in a hurry?" he tried again.

Still not a sound, apart from the water splashing against the glass. Through the steamy air, Sam saw her begin to undress... First her socks, then her trousers...

"I'll have finished soon, Jo, can you give me a minute?"

Then her t-shirt and bra...

"Jo! What are you doing?" Sam insisted, not amused.

She slid the shower door open. And by that time, she was wearing nothing but her underpants.

"Can I come in?" she suggested with a persistent, seductive look.

"No, Jo, sorry, you can't..."

"We've done this before..." she reminded.

She let her knickers slide down her legs.

"Jo, that's enough!" he urged.

Sam immediately turned the taps off, rushed out of the cabin and wrapped himself in the first towel at hand.

"Don't you want to give it another shot?" asked his ex, sensually swaying her hips as she approached him.

"No," he said, bluntly.

"No?"

"No," he repeated.

"But, remember how happy we were... We can get all that back, you don't have to feel lonely after all that happened with Miss Danton. I'm here for you..."

She reached out her hands to caress his chest, but he gently pushed them away.

"You're right, we were happy," he acknowledged, "but our lives have changed now, and it could never go back to the way it was."

"Let's start a new life together," continued Josephine, ignoring what he had just said. "Maybe do things differently this time... We could start by taking a trip on your sailboat, get away from this place!"

"I don't want that, Josephine," he frowned, causing her to take a step back. "I want to be with Sarah, and if I can't have her, I'll be travelling on my own for a while."

He grabbed another towel from the drying rack and wrapped it around Josephine. Her eyes filled up with tears in no time, and her bottom lip trembled. Sam took her in his arms and held her tightly against him.

"I wish I was Sarah," cried Josephine. "I wish you loved me like you love her."

"She doesn't trust me anymore," reminded Sam. "I can't do much with the love I hold for her–"

"Then come back to me, Sam!" Josephine persisted.

"...but it's still there," he finished. "It won't go away, Jo. And it would make you miserable everyday knowing that my love for her will never rest."

Josephine whimpered in his arms and grasped them tightly. And Sam, he emitted a long heavy sigh, surrendering to his enduring sadness that had only just begun.