Warm Winter Love by Constance Walker Read Free Book Online

Maryland and to Jason. Yes, she’d go back to Jason and… and that would be it. All this time with Sam would be a lovely memory—nothing but a lovely memory—and when she spoke the words in her mind she felt her eyes mist slightly. She shut them and when she opened them again the haze was gone, but now she felt the small knot in the pit of her stomach as she repeated to herself that this would all be only a lovely memory.
    She reached for the butter and started putting it on her potato. Looking at Sam, she wondered what he was thinking. Did he feel anything for her besides friendship? As he spooned globs of sour cream onto his potato, he saw her watching him and he smiled.
    “Can’t help it. I know all about cholesterol and all that stuff but I love it. Anyhow, this is my vacation. I swear I never eat like this on the road. I never have time. I’m too busy hopping on airplanes.”
    There, he had said it again—“on the road.” There was something about those words that reminded her of all the times she had been alone and lonely while growing up. All those times her father had been away from home. She watched as Sam spread the sour cream across the top of the steaming potato, oblivious to her thoughts. Jason wouldn’t travel much—schoolteachers were never shifted around that fast—and when he did go away, it would only be for a class trip or a vacation and she would probably be with him. She’d never be lonely with Jason.
    She watched as the butter melted on her own potato and formed rivulets to the dish. No, Jason would always be around in case she needed him. She picked up her fork and held it, thinking that Sam had been quiet, too quiet. She glanced up for a second and saw him looking out the window at the mountain.
    “You know what’s happening to us, don’t you Katie?” Sam asked the question quietly and for a moment she wasn’t sure of his words, and when she realized what he had asked, she chose not to answer. She didn’t want to answer. No, that wasn’t honest. It was more than that—she didn’t even want to think about what he was saying. It was too close to her own thoughts and if she allowed herself to think about it, it would only present problems to her life. Problems that would hurt and confuse her.
    “You do know what’s happening, Katie,” he said again and this time she knew that she had to answer him. But what could she answer? She could deny what he was saying and what she had been thinking.
    He said it a third time: “You know what I’m talking about, Katie, as sure as I do.”
    “Whatever it is, Sam, I don’t want to talk about it.” She put down her fork, afraid to eat, afraid that the food would stick in her throat like the words she really wanted to say.
    He continued to look out the window. “We’re falling in love, Katie. We have fallen in love,” he corrected himself, acknowledging it as something that had already happened. He turned to look at her and she saw his eyes, earnest and clouded, questioning her, searching her face for a confirmation of his words.
    She shook her head. “We can’t talk like this,” she said, and added, “We mustn’t.”
    “Why not?” He took her hand and held it. “Is it so wrong? Isn’t that what happens when two normal, healthy adults meet, have fun, and then realize that there’s something else about their relationship? An attraction, a very strong attraction to each other?” He pressed her hand. “You’re feeling it too. I can tell.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it. “You’re attracted to me, Katie. I’m not alone in feeling it—you are too. Yesterday—”
    “No… no, Sam. It’s impossible.”
    “Why?” he asked, and then suddenly looked at her left hand. You’re married?” he asked hesitantly. “You never spoke about a husband.” Carried away with the thought, he leaned against the back of his chair. “Hey, if I’ve overstepped, I’m sorry. I just thought that you were alone here and that