A Summer of Discovery

Chapter Twenty Two

Lucy had been quiet at lunch while Mrs. Clayton and I had visited and caught up on our lives, now as we walked back down to Pops house I could feel tension in the air, she was too quiet. Her hand lingered by my side not holding tight but loosely hanging unsure of herself. As we got closer to the house I caught sight of Caroline on the porch swing, her arms were wrapped around Sam like she was a praying mantis with a fresh kill.

"Oh god no" I whispered stepping up my pace and leaving Lucy two steps behind as I made my way across the yard.

"Emery darling look who I've met" Car sung out teasingly. She ran her freshly manicured hand down Sam's shirt. Sam shot me a look of a deer that was about to be hit by the bullet of a hunters rifle.

"I'll be inside" Lucy said passing me on the steps and disappearing behind the screen door. She didn't hear my "Wait" as the door closed. I took a deep breath and turned to Sam and Car. "Caroline take your paws off of Sam he's not a piece of meat"

"I have to disagree he's very...very meaty" She purred climbing onto his lap.

Sam stood up as Caroline slipped off of him, landing back on the swing. He backed up until we were side by side leaning into my ear as not to be heard "Is she for real" He asked. "I'm afraid so" I replied. "She's real and she's thirsty, real thirsty Sammy boy" I said slapping his butt and giggling. I moved past him and sat beside Caroline, Sam sat beside me keeping his distance from Caroline's wandering hands.

"Emery your bestfriend from high school is a freaking god. He's straight off of a commercial where the guys are strutting around in underwear. He's hot as hell" Caroline said reapplying her red lipstick.

"Caroline play nice he's not used to women being so forward. Try scaling back the hands and talking. Get to know him he's actually pretty darn great. Just don't fall in love with him for god sake, we go home tomorrow and I can't handle your sobbing at work for the next three months"

"I don't sob... I reflect. I'm an emotional person Em, you know that. I'm the maid of honour and he's the best man right?" She asked. "Yeah I guess" I replied. "Then we are fucking it's already decided by tradition" She said peaking around me at Sam who was checking his cell phone. "One problem Car with that theory. It's at the wedding you fuck and not the engagement party" I replied with a smirk. "Fuck" She whispered.

"Can I interrupt you ladies and ask when we are leaving for this party" Sam asked.

"An hour" I replied. "I have to go change and so do you Caroline" I said "You though Sam... you look amazing in what you are wearing already" He was wearing casual tan slacks and a light olive shirt. He looked smart. I never usually saw him in anything other than shorts and a T-shirt. He was handsome and charming and he didn't have a clue. "You got your hair cut too" I noted looking him up and down. He had a neat shave to the sides and his floppy hair was trimmed back smartly." I thought I better make an effort you never know who you're going to meet at a party with out of towner's. Like I told you the other day there's no one left in this town for the picking"

"I'm ripe for the picking" Caroline said pushing herself forward, her breasts threatening an exposure.

"That you are" Sam replied staring at the booby twins. I stood up throwing out my hands "You two" I said pointing like a mother about to go ape shit "You two are not to hook up you hear me? I do not want to have to choose a side in a divorce or pick my favorite in a feud. So don't touch, don't look, and keep it friendly" I said walking back into the house.

Caroline looked to Sam, they both had a look of sheepish children "Whenever my mom told me no...You know what I did" She asked him. "You did it anyway" He whispered back with a deep laugh. "Me too" He chuckled. "She just made this a thing" Caroline said scooting over to Sam's side and leaning in for a kiss. Their mouths were touching about to kiss. "Caroline" I called as I watched them through the screen. She jumped and kissed his cheek waving and heading indoors. "Sorry mom" She said coming in and standing beside me as I got a cold drink from the cooler. "What's up with Lucy" Caroline asked taking my drink for herself. "I have no idea she didn't say more than one word all the way back from the manor" I replied taking the drink back and sipping slowly.