The Path to Love

Chapter 78

"The baby is late," Sam said to me.

"What?" I asked her. It hadn't been a whole nine months of the pregnancy already, had it?

"Almost a week to be exact."

"And you haven't gone to the doctors?" I asked her, standing off my chair in her office.

"I didn't know I was supposed to," she replied.

"Well, Samantha, it's not rocket science. Even I knew about it."

"Maybe she's just not ready to come out."

"I still think you should call your doctor," I replied.

"Fine, I'll call him."

"Now, Samantha."

"Fine." She picked up the phone and dialed his number.

I listened to her side of the conversation, since I couldn't hear the other side. "Hello, this is Samantha Dawson." She paused and listened. "Yes, I'm nine months pregnant now." She paused. "No, my water hasn't broken yet." She listened to what the person on the other line was saying. "Great, I'll be there first thing in the morning." She paused, again. "You have a good day too. thanks so much for your help, bye." She hung up the phone.

"There, happy now?" She asked me, turning to look at me from hanging up the phone.

"Yes, what did the doctor say?" I asked her.

"I need to go into the hospital tomorrow to get induced. They're not worried about me not being able to give a natural birth."

"And you're not sick of being pregnant? You don't want the baby out yet?"

"The world is a dangerous place, Hunter. I can't protect her from everything and the thought of her getting hurt because of this world is enough for me to never want her to come out." She looked at me pointedly, like she was hinting at me about the world being a dangerous place.

"She has two loving parents who love her so much, Sam."

"Yeah, two parents who don't know what the fuck they're doing," she said to me.

"What two parents are prepared though?" I asked her honestly.

"We're under-prepared compared to most parents, Hunter."

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"She doesn't have a room yet, or a house for that matter."

"I can have one bought tomorrow," I said.

"That's not what I mean," she replied. "Her parents are a hot mess. We're not ready, do you think maybe we should just give her up?"

"No." I responded immediately. "So what if she doesn't have a stable home yet? Her parents aren't together, so what? Not a lot of kids' parents today are actually together, and they end up perfectly fine."

"I don't want that for my child though, Hunter. I want her to see what true love looks like her whole life. I don't want her to have to worry about which parent gets her today. I don't want her to hate one of us. I don't want her to be raised in an environment where we choose work over her. I don't want her parents to be like her grandparents."

"Sam, you're worrying too much."

"Am I? It was only two days ago when you decided to stay here and not run off again. We are currently living in a hotel, Hunter."

"It wouldn't be hard to turn the top floor into a house, Sam."

"I don't want that, Hunter! I want a house, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. I want a big backyard, with a pool. I want our kid to be able to run outside and play on the swing set in her backyard. I want to wake up in the morning next to the father of my child and realize how much he loves me. I want the perfect life they write about in the novels."

"Sam, you know I love you."

"But not in the way I want you too."

"Sam, we'll figure it out together. We always do."

"I want to be alone for a while. Can you leave please? You probably have stuff to do at your office anyways," Sam said, turning away from me.

"Sure, yeah, I'll leave you alone." I replied, walking to the door. "Call me after, okay?"

"I will," Sam mumbled.

I walked out of the room. I do love her the way she needs me to, don't I? We had a relationship on the go before we both ruined it. She's the only girl I could picture spending my life with, waking up next to her in the morning and kissing her nose and then her lips. She's the one I picture when I picture my future.

I called Angelica. "Start a house hunt for me. I want you to start looking for a five-bedroom house, with a big backyard, a pool, two additional rooms for offices and the other necessities. I want a list by the end of the day."

I hung up the call and started walking to my office. Picking up the phone again, I dialed the only number that I knew would be able to help me. She picked up on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Mom, how did you know you wanted to spend the rest off your life with dad?"

"Hunter? Why are you asking me this?"

"Just answer the question, mom."

"I didn't know." She admitted. "I just knew I was pregnant, and he was the father. He left right after I found out I was pregnant with you. Your father was only supposed to be a one-night stand. I found him by mistake after I applied for the job. When he met you for the first time when you were five, you both immediately clicked. I knew at that moment I felt something for him." My mother admitted.

"Well, that isn't helpful at all."

"You love for Sam is different, Hunter."

"How do you know that, mom?"

"A mother knows her son. Your love for Sam stems back to when you were eight and you saved her from her uncle. Your love is like a knight saving his princess. Sam is your number one priority, and you have always protected her, no matter the cost, because you loved her. Your love became more intimate when you both slept together. You fell in love with her. I know it's hard to admit to yourself because you see her as your best friend. Hunter, you would do anything for that girl. You left the country because you thought you were keeping her safe. I know you cannot see it for yourself right now, but you're in love with that girl. You two have a connection I have never seen before. Your father and I don't even have that intimate of a connection you both have. That's the kind of love the two of you cherish forever. Don't let her go again Hunter. She won't wait for you a third time."

"Thanks, mom." I spoke into the phone.

"Hunter don't ever let her or your daughter down. Be better parents than we were to you."

"I will be, mom. I love you, bye." I didn't wait for her response before I hung up.

Was she right? Did I love Sam the way she thinks I do?

I thought about it. Letting her wear my clothes, sleep in my bed with me, all the times I kissed her cheek, beating up her uncle, getting furious when Novak tried to take advantage of her, the fights, make ups, night drives, laughing until we both cried, and finally, the night we created our daughter.

Holy shit. My mom was right, it all finally made sense.

I was in love with my best friend.

I was in love with Samantha Dawson.

And I had been this whole time.

Holy fuck.