Dare...

15

After everyone returned to Eliza's house they got into some comfortable clothes and sat around the fireplace enjoying the peace and serenity of Midvale. There were steaks, chicken thighs and sausages on the grill that was checked here and there along with the vegetables that sat inside tinfoil. "It smells so good!" Ruby exclaimed. "Thank you Ruby, it all will be ready in a little while then we can eat out here." Eliza replied. "Is that something you do often?" Lena asked. "Oh, every time the girls come home for a weekend, or their vacations." Eliza replied. "In summer we try to come up for longer periods, especially around the fourth. There's fireworks, and a whole carnival in town, it's loads of fun!" Kara explained.

"Maybe we'll have to come back up here for that then darling. I'd love to go to this carnival with you." Lena replied with a smile. "We can make that happen Lee." Kara stated. "Can come back to mom?" Ruby asked looking at Sam with puppy dog eyes. "If it's ok with Eliza we can." Sam replied. "Of course its ok with me! The more the merrier!" Eliza replied with a smile. "Yay!" Ruby replied. A little while later the food was ready and everyone had a plate full of delicious food on their laps and various drinks on their chair armrests.

After dinner Eliza and Sam did up the dishes while Kara, Ruby, Lena and Alex gathered some firewood for the fire pit. "So? You and Alex hmm?" Eliza asked. "Uh...I think so...I'm not sure yet...why? Has she said anything?" Sam asked. "No dear, but a mother can always tell these things. I'm not blind Sam, I can see the way you two look at one another. Alex deserves to be happy and seeing how the three of you get along so well makes me happy. I can already see Ruby loves her, and Alex recuperates that feeling. Now it's up to you two to decide whether or not you should give it a go." Eliza explained. Sam just nodded letting Eliza's words swim around in her head as they finished the dinner dishes and returned outside.

Eliza took her seat back and began conversing with Ruby on how her school was going. "Alex...can we talk elsewhere?" Sam asked softly as she walked away from the house with Alex following close behind her. "What's up..." Alex began to ask however she was cut off by Sam smashing her lips against her own. "Woah!" Alex exclaimed as they pulled apart. "Yea.." Sam replied. "What was that for?" Alex asked with a dopey smile on her face. "Alex, I like you! And Ruby likes you! And I'd like to see where this could go, if you'd like that too...and I know I have a kid...but I really want to give this a go!" Sam rambled. "Sam! Sam! I'd like to give this a go too!" Alex replied as they shared a hug before heading back to the fire.