My Story: The Winchester House [Completed]

30: Apology

Luke was silent as he helped me wash the clothing that we collected. Syren was Connor, helping him build things in the house. The children avoid Max and the only thing I let him have was to give me a small kiss on the cheek.

"Mommy, why did Father have to yell last night?" Luke asked me and I looked at him. I took a deep breath as I put more clothes in the sink.

"I don't know, baby boy. I think your Father was upset that the man came into our home when he wasn't there," I said, "But I do agree with you. He did not have to yell at the man like that."

"Did you tell him that this morning?" he asked and I patted his head.

"Now, you don't worry about that. You need to go find Syren and get to your practices. I will be waiting for you two when you come back," I told him and he nodded.

"Yes, Mother. I'll phone you when I get to the field to let you know that we made it," he said and I shook my head.

"You are almost eight years old. I can trust you to take care of your little sister, or am I mistaken?" I asked and Luke smiled.

"I will make sure that she gets to practice on time and gets back here safely," he shared with me and I gave him a kiss on his head.

"Remember your coats," I said as I sent him on his way. He nodded and ran out of the laundry room. I let out my breath before turning to the sink again. I took a long look into the sink before I heard someone walk in.

"Mrs. Winchester wants me to escort you to her," Max said and I looked at him as he walked closer to me. I nodded as I dried my hands on my apron.

"Lead the way," I told him as I faced him. He nodded as he started walking. I walked next to him, chewing my lip.

"I'm sorry, Samantha. I was just frustrated that he even dared to talk to you when he didn't even try to talk to me first," he told me.

"I know." He gave me a look as if he wanted me to say more than that. "I'm not upset that you yelled at your father."

"Then what are you upset about?" he asked. I stopped and looked at him.

"You didn't think. Luke walked in and you didn't stop when your son came into the room. You scared him," I said and he took a deep breath.

"I didn't mean to. I just wanted to protect everyone from him," he told me.

"I know. However, you didn't protect us. You made us feel scared in our own home, Max," I told him and he took my hands.

"And I will never forgive myself for that," he told me. I tightened my hands around his, and I took a deep breath.

"You must talk to him," I stated. Max pulled away.

"No."

"Yes, you do. He just wanted to explain to you what happened," I told him.

"I don't need explanations from him. In fact, I don't need anything from him, Sam. I want from him is to leave my family alone," he said.

"Our. Our family," I said, and I walked pass him with tears in my eyes.

~*~

That night at dinner, Max tried to keep the table conversation going, but I certainly wasn't going to keep talking to him. Luke was following my lead but Syren was telling Max about her day and how she was performing at her figure skating lessons.

"Syren, Luke, please go get your books so you can practice reading," I said as we finished our meal. I put the plates in a pile as Max watched like an outsider.

"Samantha, can you please hear me out?" he asked as I put the plates on the counter, and I looked at the pile before turning around.

"Of course, I can," I whispered. He walked into my line of sight so I could see him.

"I just wanted to protect you from my father and I couldn't think straight. I owe you the world for making me the most beautiful family I could have ever asked for," he said as he moved my hair. He leaned closer so he could whisper in my ear. "Burbidge was right to go after you." I looked at him.

"I'm a Jameson and the Burbidge line is complete gone now. Please, just don't mention him again," I told him, and he nodded as he played with my hair.

"I won't because my beautiful wife is asking me to," he told me, and I laughed a little bit.

"You do have a certain charm," I said as I started to fill the sink up with water. He held my waist and kissed me lightly.

"I love you," he whispered, and I smiled at him as I stood on my toes to be eye level with him.

"I love you too," I told him as I stood on his toes. He laughed his musical laugh and I felt two small bodies attaching themselves to our legs.

"Can I read with Father today?" Luke asked, and Max picked him as he put him on his hip. Luke's laugh was like his father's, which made me smile as I picked up Syren.

"Of course. Now what are we reading?" Max asked as he took Luke's book.

"I found Mommy's old book, Studies on Hysteria," Luke said, and I held back my laugh as Max openly stared at the book.

"I'm reading Romeo and Juliet," Syren said and I smiled at her as I walked to the living room to help her read her selection.

~*~

"I'll be up to tuck you in shortly," I called up to the children as they ran upstairs to get ready for bed. I turned around, and ran into Max.

"Pardon me," he said.

"Recreating the moment we met, I see," I told him. He nodded. "I thought that Luke and you hated each other."

"I liked acting like that with him because I had known him forever," he told me. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he swung me around.

"You are silly," I told him, to which I received a nod.