Oh Ms Believer

29. Tyler

Sam and Jenna were up when I got up to leave the next day. I was leaving early, as I usually did, and I loved that they got up with me. It allowed me to check in with Sam and say goodbye to my wife.

"Be good, Samantha," I smirked at her. She nodded. I pulled her into a hug. "I'll be home in three weeks. It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine."

I felt Sam nod. I held her at arm's length and I could see the tears in her eyes.

"Have fun, say hi to Mark and Josh," Jenna said, giving me a kiss and putting her arm around Samantha.

"I will, of course," I smiled.

I picked up my bags and headed towards the door. Suddenly arms were around me from behind.

"Please don't go?" Samantha whispered. I put my bags back down and turned around.

"Sam, it's going to be okay. I'll check in with you every day, okay? You're going to be fine."

Jenna came, pulled Samantha away, gave me another kiss, and led Samantha back into the house. I felt horrible leaving now, but I had to.

I went out the door to the car waiting to take me to the airport. My heart felt heavy for the first time. I honestly felt like cancelling everything and staying home. The look on Samantha's face was heartbreaking. She was still so vulnerable and recovering from the shooting.

When I got to the airport, I met up with Josh and Mark and added my luggage to the pile between them.

"All good?" Josh asked me, frowning.

"No," I said, simply.

"What's up?" Josh asked.

"Samantha had a really hard time with me leaving today. She's still dealing with the shooting and everything."

"How is she doing generally?" Mark asked.

"Okay, for the most part. She's seeing Doc still, obviously. Physically she's completely healed. Mentally, she's doing better but I'm worried she's going to backslide a little while we're away. She knows logically it's highly unlikely for what happened to happen again, but that doesn't stop her from being scared about it."

"I bet," Mark said.  "I'm sorry she's dealing with all this. It's insane. Why is this happening so often?"

I shook my head. I was not the person to talk to about gun laws and reform. I was way too close to the issue now.

Eventually, our luggage was loaded, we were on the plane and we were on our way. I was finding it a little bit harder to be as excited as I usually am about tour with Samantha weighing on my mind. Jenna and I had talked and Jenna was going to do her best to make sure Sam talked to her about anything and everything. She'd keep an eye on her and an ear open. And I'd promised I would call at least once a day. But I still couldn't help that pit in my stomach from forming.

I sighed. Josh shot me a look but I know he knew why I was sighing.

"It's three weeks, Ty."

"I know. I'm just worried about Sam."

He nodded. He understood.

"I am too. Debby's going to check in and maybe try to get Sam to come stay one weekend and have a girls weekend."

"That's sweet of her," I smiled.

Josh and Debby love our kids. But Josh was tight with Sam. After all, he'd flown in from California when Sam came into our lives very suddenly. I'd promised to tell him what was happening the week we met her and kept putting it off or getting distracted.  So he'd taken it upon himself to come out and insert himself into the drama that was the first three months Sam lived with us. He'd stayed through everything. And because of that, he and Sam had forged a very close relationship. He was fantastic with her.

I couldn't thank him enough for everything he'd done for Sam and the family. He'd taken Sam for a few days when the press was overwhelming during our custody trial with her uncle in England. He'd taken both girls when a doctor opened a DCS investigation on us. He'd been there for many big moments - good and bad.

I must have fallen asleep because Josh was poking me awake, and we were descending into the airport.  I stretched and gathered up my stuff. As soon as we deplaned and were waiting for our luggage and equipment, I called Sam's cell phone. With the time difference, she should be on her way home from school if not already home.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hey superstar. It's Dad. How're you doing?"

"Hey Dad. I'm okay."

"Good. How was school?"

"Okay," she said.

"Just okay?"

"Yeah. Just okay. Someone mentioned Blaine today and a bunch of us got all upset because, well, you know. Plus, the boys' basketball team had a practice today. Tristan is the new captain and it did not go well."

"You were there?" I asked.

"Yeah. The whole girls' team went to support them. They lost Parker. They're hurting. And Tristan was a good assistant captain, but he didn't want to get captain by Parker getting killed."

"I imagine not," I said, glad that Sam was talking more.

"Everyone cried when Coach formally named him captain."

"Who's coaching the boys' team this year?" The teacher who had coached until last year was the one killed in the shooting.

"Ms. Auburn," Sam said. That was the girls' coach. She was a good coach. The boys' team would do well. But I knew they'd all be missing Ryan Atwell.

"Dad?" Sam said.

"Yeah kiddo?"

"Are you going to call later tonight?"

"I'm going to try. But I wanted to check in with you."

"Okay. I miss you."

"I know kiddo. I'm home in three weeks."

"I know," she said, her voice shaking.

"I love you, Samantha," I said. "I'll speak to you later, okay? My luggage finally showed up."

"Tell her we say hi!" Josh called out.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yeah," Sam said. "Me too."

I hung up and looked at my phone. Sam sounded so defeated. I hated how this had affected her in so many ways. But I was really proud of how she's handled it so far. She was struggling, yes, but she was talking and hopefully being honest with us.

I made a mental note to remind Jenna to keep a close eye on her.