The Marriage Counselor

17. You Win.

Samantha

Fourth of July. A day to celebrate freedom and independence. But on this day, she feels trapped, chained, bound. Her future, her relationship with Henry, their happiness together, it's all dependent on the Chambers family.

After their meeting with Agent Hansen, the couple returned to Henry's home. They drank wine on his back patio and discussed the semantics of it all. Sam revealed her reluctance to believe any of it would work. There's a reason the Chambers have gotten away with things for as long as they have. She refused to think about the poor FBI agent that lost his life to this investigation. Henry maintained his belief that all of this would work out, that it simply had to, that the two of them together are more powerful than anyone could ever predict.

Then they stopped talking about it. It was their last night together— for who knows how long. They wanted to make the most of it. Like two felons at the end of a long run, enjoying their last moments together. They made love right there in his backyard, and then again on the dining room table, then later on the staircase, until they finally settled for the night in his bed. They only ever pulled away from each other to take care of their basic human necessities. At some point, completely exhausted, Henry fell asleep next to her. But she stayed awake all throughout the night, praying over and over again for things to go right, for her to finally win in life, for the two of them to get the happy ending they so deserved.

He dropped her off at Rebecca's house in the early morning hours. Obviously they couldn't arrive to the party together anyways.

"Nolan said he'd be over with his people around noon to get you set up with the wire and everything." Henry explained.

She only nods but her face says all the other things she's keeping inside.

His hand strokes her hair. "The only thing you need to worry about is what you want me to make for you for dinner tonight."

His words cause her to smile softly in spite of herself. She wants to believe it. She wants to return to his house tonight, which has become a place of safety and warmth over the last two weeks. She wants to wake up next to him and go for their daily walk with Red. She wants to start living her life by her own rules.

"I want Alfredo." She answers, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "And breadsticks. Endless breadsticks."

He smiles and leans forward to kiss her forehead. "I can do that."

"Tell me one more time that everything will be okay?"

"It'll be better than okay." He says in a voice that makes her think he genuinely believes it. "If things don't go according to plan, we'll give each other the signal, and I'll whisk you away from there."

It takes another 10 minutes for them to say their final goodbyes before she exits his vehicle and heads inside to Rebecca's house.

"Hey, hun," Becca mumbles into her hair as she hugs her best friend tightly. "Thought you could use this."

A glass of champagne is placed in her hand. Despite the sun barely being up, she accepts the drink graciously, tipping her head back as she swallows the liquid contents.

"Julie and Ann are already here." Becca says, gesturing towards the staircase.

The two friends walk up the staircase arm in arm, into Becca's huge master bathroom where the makeup artist and hair stylist have already set up shop. The Chambers Fourth of July party is an annual thing where everyone who's anyone is there. It's like Coachella for the socialites, influencers, and business executives of New York. There's even been past presidents and first ladies in attendance.