Worst Summer Ever... (Book 7 of Adopted by Jenna and Tyler Joseph)

6. Tyler

After the interview, once everyone had packed up and left, Samantha went back upstairs and went to sleep for a few more hours. She wanted to be rested for the following day. Friday was going to be crazy busy for her. I knew she wanted to rest as much as possible.

We spent the day keeping the little kids busy. Rosie kept wanting to wake Samantha up but we managed to keep her away from her big sister at least long enough to let Samantha have some decent hours of sleep.

Around two in the afternoon, I noticed Sam's sugar was starting to trend low so I quietly went upstairs, knocked quietly on her door and carefully pushed it open.

Samantha was sprawled out on her bed arms splayed out, mouth hanging open and just a slight snore coming from her. I smiled. This was the way I remembered her sleeping before the assault and before the kidnapping by her birth father.

I sat on her bed and gently shook her shoulder.

"Wha-?" She startled awake.

"Hey there," I said quietly. "Sorry to wake you up, but you haven't eaten since really early this morning and you're starting to trend low. I thought maybe you'd like real food instead of treating with a juice box later."

Samantha stretched and yawned. Her hoodie sleeve came up and I saw the tail end of the tattoo we'd gotten done for her after her hospitalization after the shooting. I grabbed her arm and pushed the sleeve up, admiring the work my artist did.

"This still looks really good," I said. Samantha smiled.

"I love it," she said. Then frowned. "I'm sorry I cut those words into my arm, but I love how we covered it. I can focus on that instead."

"That was the point," I smiled at her. "Look, let's get you downstairs. Besides, I'm not sure I would have been able to keep Rosie away for much longer."

Samantha smiled as she sat herself up and grabbed her crutches.

"Well, let's not keep the little Miss waiting," Sam smiled. Even when Sam had been at her worst, she almost always had room for Rosie. There were a few times where Samantha needed space and Rosie sometimes got the short end of Samantha's temper, but Sam always apologized if she'd been short with Rosie. And Rosie always forgave her big sister.

"Sammy!" Rosie cried as Samantha made her way into the kitchen, passing Rosie's playroom.

"Hi there little Miss RosieRo!" Samantha said, as Rosie hugged her leg.

"Uppies, Sama!" Junie said, toddling up to Samantha.

"Let me go sit down, Junie," Sam said. "I'm not wearing my leg."

I picked Junie up as Samantha crutched her way into the kitchen.

"Sam. I was just making you a sandwich. Is grilled cheese okay?"

"Oh. Yeah. Thanks, Mom," Samantha said. She sat down and I gave her Junie, while Rosie climbed into a chair to sit beside Samantha.

Rosie was telling Samantha a story that I wasn't able to follow, but Samantha seemed rapt about whatever she was being told. She seemed to be asking the right questions and commenting appropriately because Rosie hadn't corrected her or said she wasn't listening. Whatever it was, it was between them.

Junie was trying to get Samantha's sandwich and kept reaching for it while Sam was eating.

"Junie, would you like a bite of my grilled cheese?"

Junie nodded enthusiastically. Samantha laughed. I watched as she dipped the corner in ketchup and held it to Junie's mouth. Junie took a small bite and then Rosie asked for a bite, which Samantha obliged, of course.