Abused And Broken

Chapter Twenty-five Life's Getting Better

Bryan was in the kitchen, busy preparing a soup for Samantha. He carefully followed the recipe that the doctor had given them to ensure that Samantha was getting all the nutrients that she needed. As he was stirring the pot, Samantha walked in, smiling at him.

"Hey, how's my favorite chef doing?" she teased, walking towards him.

Bryan chuckled, "Oh, just preparing a feast fit for a queen."

Samantha giggled, "I'm just glad you're here to make sure I eat the right foods. I don't know what I would do without you."

Bryan turned to face her, "You know I'll always be here for you, Sam. I promised to take care of you, and I intend to keep that promise."

Samantha's eyes teared up at the thought of how much Bryan had done for her. "I don't know how to thank you enough, Bry. You've done so much for me and the baby."

Bryan smiled, "Just seeing you healthy and happy is enough for me. And besides, I have a vested interest in making sure the baby is healthy. I want to be the best uncle ever."

Samantha laughed, "Uncle? I thought you wanted to be the godfather."

Bryan winked, "I'll settle for both."

As they sat down to eat, Samantha felt a strong kick from her baby. She winced, but smiled at the same time.

"Looks like the little one is already making his presence known," Bryan said, grinning.

Samantha nodded, "Yeah, he's been quite active lately. I can't wait to meet him."

Bryan reached over to place his hand on her stomach, feeling the baby kick again. "He's going to be one lucky kid to have you as his mom, Sam. I know you'll be an amazing mother."

Samantha savored every spoonful of the warm soup, feeling her body being rejuvenated by the nourishment. "This is delicious, Bry," she complimented, a small smile forming on her lips.

Bryan's eyes crinkled as he returned her smile, "I'm glad you like it. It's my mom's recipe."

Samantha's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Your mom is a great cook, then. Thank her for me."

Bryan chuckled, "I will. By the way, Sam, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Bry," Samantha replied, looking at him curiously.

"When we started keeping in touch again after all these years, did you ever have feelings for me?" Bryan asked, looking at her with a serious expression.

Samantha's face turned a little red, and she hesitated for a moment before answering. "To be honest, Bry, I did have feelings for you when we were kids. But I thought that it was just a childhood crush and that it would go away eventually."

Bryan's face lit up with a smile, and he let out a chuckle. "Well, I must admit that I had a crush on you too when we were young."

Samantha couldn't help but laugh as well. "It's funny how we both had feelings for each other, but we never got the chance to tell each other."

Bryan squeezed her hand and said, "We will always be friends, Sam. And I promise to take care of you and your baby."

Samantha leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of comfort that she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew that she was lucky to have a friend like Bryan, and she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out all right.

Bryan gave her a reassuring smile, "I do. Now, get some rest. I'll see you soon."

Samantha nodded, feeling the warmth of the blanket enveloping her as she watched him leave. She couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have someone like Bryan by her side in these trying times.