Sam couldn’t have held back a smile had he tried.

“I’ve loaded you up with groceries and the sheets on the bed are fresh. You need anything else?” Sunshine asked.

“A hug,” Beth said, reaching for her aunt. “Thank you for everything.”

Sunshine hugged her back. “I’ll check in on you later.” She hesitated and then suggested, “You might want to call your parents.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Okay, I will, but later.”

“Do it.”

“I will, I will,” she promised.

Sunshine left. As soon as she was out the door, Beth was in Sam’s arms. “I can’t believe you took the day off.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, babe. What do you have on your mind? Anything you want to do? Any place you want to go?”

“Out,” she returned instantly. “Take me out.”

“Anywhere in particular?” Her request didn’t surprise him after being trapped for more than a month in two different medical facilities, first the hospital and then the rehab center.

“No, just out where I can breathe the fresh air and soak in the freedom of being alive and with you.”

That sounded perfect to Sam. They spent the rest of the day together and it couldn’t have been more wonderful. Sam drove her out to view Multnomah Falls. Beth insisted he park so they could get out and view the site even in the rain. He stood behind her, hands on her shoulders, looking for any excuse to keep her close. They ate thick sandwiches and drank coffee at a diner. Beth talked nearly nonstop, full of glee and joy. Sam drank it all in, savoring each moment, praying it would always be like this for them.

And knowing it wouldn’t.

Beth returned to teaching, and while both Sam and Sunshine wished she’d have started off more slowly with half-days, she chose otherwise, too eager to get back to her students. Sam had met a few of the teenagers she taught and she’d told him about several others until he felt like he knew half of her classes himself. He loved her enthusiasm and was fairly certain the teenagers were drawn in by her joyful spirit. He understood that classical music wasn’t the most popular elective, but he didn’t doubt for a moment that Beth made it fun and exciting.

By Friday, the first week she was back, as he feared, Beth was exhausted. Sam checked in on her that evening, not intending to stay long.

“You overdid it,” he chastised gently.

“Maybe. Are you going to say I told you so?” she asked, her eyes wide and beseeching.

“Nope.” He stood, looking down on her.

“Why not?” she asked on the tail end of a yawn. “You were right.”

“Having you admit it is reward enough.” He glanced at his watch.

“Sit,” she said, and patted the space next to her.

Sam shook his head. “Think I should head out.”

She blinked back her surprise. “Already?”

“Yeah, you’re tired and I’ve got things to do.”

“Okay.” She didn’t bother to disguise her disappointment. “Is everything all right, Sam?”

He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

He scowled at her. “It’s fine.”

“Stay,” she asked softly, “just a few minutes more.”

Reluctantly, he sat down on the sofa next to her. Beth leaned against him and reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. “It’s been over a month now,” she said.

“Since the accident,” he said, remembering that first evening they met. He never would have guessed Beth would become this important to him.

“Since everything,” she added. “I’ve seen you nearly every day.”

“True.”

“I’ve spent more time with you than I have anyone in a long time.”

“True again.”

“The thing is, Sam, after all that time together, I’ve come to know you, know your moods. I know without you even having to tell me when you’ve had a good day at the garage or when you’re disgruntled with one of the guys.”

He didn’t know he was that transparent, but it didn’t surprise him. Beth seemed to have the ability to see straight through him.

“Did you call your parents?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Sam!”

“Did you?”

“Yes, and we had a … decent conversation. Now stop and let me finish what I was saying.”

He nodded, although he wasn’t keen to continue.

“Something’s troubling you.”

He shrugged. This was the very subject he’d been hoping to avoid.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked in that gentle way of hers.

“No.”

“I’m a good listener,” she reminded him.

“Not your business,” he snapped.

She sucked in a soft breath in an effort to hide her surprise. “Okay.”

“Can we drop it?”

“If that’s what you want, and apparently it is.”

“Good. Now tell me how the conversation went with your parents.” That should be a safe enough subject.

She hesitated and then said, “Not your business.”

He blinked back his surprise, snickered, and let go of her hand. “Think it’s time I left.” Not waiting for her to respond, he headed for the door. Beth didn’t stop him, which was fine by him. The sooner he left, the better. As it was, he might say something he’d regret later, and he didn’t want to do that.

Sam got all the way to where he’d parked and hesitated and then looked to the sky. Beth was right. He was out of sorts, upset and on edge. With good reason. He hadn’t meant to be gruff and regretted the way he’d handled the situation. Beth had no idea what day this was. He had a knot in his stomach and knew he needed to make this right. He looked back up at her building, wondering if she was stewing the same as he was. Heaving a sigh, he returned to the apartment complex and rang her doorbell.

Beth answered, and for a moment all they seemed able to do was look at each other.

“It’s Lucinda’s birthday,” he said, looking down.

“Your daughter,” she whispered, and immediately reached for him, hugging him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

She couldn’t have known, couldn’t have guessed. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. I should have told you sooner.” Beth was everything good in his life and he wasn’t willing to risk losing her because he was in a sour mood.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. I understand.”

“I’d rather not.”

He kissed her, needing her warmth and her gentleness in an effort to let go of the regret, the pain of never knowing the daughter who was his own flesh and blood.

Later they sat in front of the television sharing a bowl of freshly popped popcorn and watching a movie on Netflix.

Out of the blue, Beth asked, “I wonder how many Peter Hamlins there are in the world?”

“Who’s Peter Hamlin?”

“A man.”

“I got that much. You’re looking to find him?”

“Yup, and I’m determined.”

He didn’t like the sound of that and made an effort to appear disinterested when he definitely wasn’t. “Do you mind telling me why?”

She grinned up at him. “Are you jealous, Sam?”

“Should I be?” He arched his brows with the question.

Her eyes sparkled with renewed life. “Nope.” She entwined her fingers with his and raised his hand to her mouth for a kiss. “Sunshine mentioned him when we were at dinner. She still loves him after thirty years.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.”

Sam exhaled slowly. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

She took her time answering. “I don’t know. I saw the look in Sunshine’s eyes when she mentioned him. It was a slip of the tongue. I’m convinced she never meant to say his name aloud. Whatever happened between them devastated her. I have a feeling my mother knows, but I’d rather not ask her.”