Page 49 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“Afternoon, ladies and gentleman.”A familiar deep voice entered the room.“And children, of course.”
My head shot up, eyes narrowing.
Sam stopped cold.“My love, it’s good to see you.Is something wrong?”
“It is good to see you,” I said, abandoning the camera and heading straight for the bodyguard.“Surprising to see you even.”
“What’s with that tone of voice?”
“Guess.”
“You’re very, very angry.”He slid an arm around my waist.I didn’t knock it away.Not yet at least.
“Four days, Sam.Four days with barely a fu…” I looked down just in time to catch Gibby attaching himself to my leg.“Freaking word.”
“Sam-Sam-Sam.”The small child grinned, reaching out to pat the black slacks of the big man.The one in seriously deep shit.
“Hello, Gibby.”Sam smiled then exhaled.“Martha, I’ve been busy at Jim and Lena’s.I texted to tell you that.”
“One single text.That’s the best you could manage.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed.“Ah…”
I said nothing.
“I should have at least made the effort to call you.You’re right.”
“Keep going,” I encouraged.Still not smiling.
“It’s possible I have some workaholic tendencies.And well, we’ve been very busy…and, um…” His gaze darted around the room, seeking inspiration or pleading for help from the other adults.So nice to have everyone witnessing yet another dramatic moment.
“May I remind you that you said working twenty-four-seven no longer appealed to you,” I said.“That you wanted to make time for more in your life.Like a relationship, perhaps?”
His mouth opened slightly, but nothing came out.
“Given the old saying, begin as you mean to go on, does disappearing with barely a word for four days sound like a relationship to you?”
“I definitely should have made more of an effort to stay in contact with you.”He licked his lips.“It was an error.I can see that now.”
“And the next time there’s an emergency situation?”
“I’ll call?”
“Not good enough,” I said, turning away.
“Love…”
“If you want me to be all in on this, then you need to make an effort to be there.Things will always come up, needing your attention.I get that.”I attempted to smooth down Gibby’s hair a little.It didn’t work, but it was quite calming.“But you can’t talk marriage and children to me, even jokingly, and then disappear for days.”
“I wasn’t joking,” said Sam, voice low and serious.
“Marriage and children?”The whites of David’s eyes seemed huge.“Really?”
Sam made a noise in his throat.“Yes, Dave.I love her.Is that a problem?”
Holy shit.I just kind of froze.
“No.Just a…no,” said David.“You two?Right.Um, none of my business.Sorry, I—”
