i can't lose you too

Chapter 3

Sam pulled a blackberry off the plant and swished it around in the bowl of clean water she had set next to her. She popped the fruit in her mouth and bit down, smiling at how sweet it tasted. She continued to collect the ripe fruits and vegetables she had planted in her garden. Her flowy brown skirt brushed against her legs and she moved around the planters and patio stones. The ground was still a little wet from the hard rain that had fallen the night before and the wet dirt and pebbles crunched under Sam's shoes.

Sam moved around the various plants and bushes as the sound of tires crunching up the driveway took her attention. She turned to see Alyson's truck moving toward the house. Sam's face lit up with a big smile as she saw Alyson's red truck pulling in before stopping in front of the garage. Sam's dark rusty orange skirt flowed behind her as she made her way over to the truck.

"Beef and Broccoli as promised."

Alyson smiled as she spoke and poked out from the truck. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her work clothes had various paint spots spewn about. She looked pretty tired but just happy to be home.

"Ugh perfect. I was getting so hungry I was just eating everything in the garden. How was work?"

Sam wrapped her arms around Alyson's neck forcing her to bend down in the hug. Sam knew it was difficult seeing Alyson was a good bit taller but she felt closer to her hugging her this way.

"Tiring. Some dumbass cut through the main elevator cables we JUST installed. We had to rewrite the entire elevator system. All 95 floors. And since it was out of service we had to take the stairs."

Sam instinctively began rubbing Alyson's shoulders with a soft look of concern on her face. She knew Alyson's job was demanding physically and she knew she could handle it but it didn't stop her from worrying.

"Jesus. How do you accidentally cut through and entire electrical system? Even I know to never just cut into a wall."

Alyson's sighed as she pulled the grocery bag from the back seat before closing the door. The pair walked into the house and Sam set her basket next to the sink and moved to help Alyson unpack the items for dinner.

Alyson set her hands on the counter and sighed with locked arms. She looked exhausted. Sam softly brought her arm around her back and held her softly, kissing her on the cheek.

"Babe go lay down. I'll make this. You look so fucking tired. Like looking at you is making ME tired. Go put on some comfy clothes or something."

Sam's voice was soft with concern but a hit of seriousness and authority came through. She didn't like seeing Alyson run down or sick.

Alyson's nodded begrudgingly but stood up and began to walk towards the bedroom before hesitating and turning around. She kissed Sam with a soft smile.

"Okay. Now i'll go."

Alyson smiled at Sam before walking over and closing the bedroom door behind her. Sam smiled as she watched her go and exhaled softly as she looked down at the frozen prepackaged food and the pan on the stove.

Sam began preparing the food and mixing up a few extra seasonings on top before finally shutting off the stove top. As if she knew it was ready, Alyson emerged from the bedroom. She now had on grey shorts and a comfier looking t-shirt. Her hair was still tied back tight but she walked a little more relaxed.

"Holy shit that smells amazing."

Sam smiled up at Alyson as she slid a plate across the kitchen bar as Alyson sat down at one of the barstools.

"Good. What do you want to drink?"

Sam turned around and threw open the fridge doors, still looking at Alyson.

"We have any Dr. Pepper?"

"No. I drank the last one like 4 hours ago."

"Ugh okay. Coke?"

Sam nodded as she grabbed a cold can of coke from the fridge door before sliding it over to Alyson.

"So did the electrical mishap push back the completion date?"

Alyson picked up a piece of beef on her fork and threw it into her mouth and she sighed dramatically.

"Yeah actually. Estimating August 28th now. Pushed us back a week."

Sam started to put some pieces of food on her plate as Alyson kept picking at hers.

"Please tell me whoever cut the wires was fired"

"That's the thing. We have no fucking idea who did it. None of the camera are up yet and nobody was scheduled to be cutting into the walls. So now we're all getting yelled at."

Sam set her plate next to Alyson's as she swung around the counter to sit next to her.

"God... Well hopefully they figure it out soon"

The sound of the doorbell interrupted their conversation. Both their heads snapped to the front door. Not much could be seen besides the faint hint of blonde hair that was visible through the small diamond shaped window in the door. Sam and Alyson looked at each other, trying to evaluate each others feelings on this.

"The new neighbors?"

Alyson's suggested. Sam sighed and she softly shook her head.

"Fuck. New neighbors"

Alyson nodded, knowing they were both dreading this conversation.

"Let's just hope they say hi and bye."

"Let's just hope you're not wrong."

Jesus. Was she wrong.