asked them to come over so we could talk before I saw Sam. About thirty minutes later, I heard voices coming up the stairs and I knew it was them. My bedroom door flew open and the two of them ran into my room and jumped on the bed.
“Spill, Claire. We need details now,” Rachel said.
I smiled as I got up from the bed and walked to the closet to find the perfect outfit.
“It was amazing and the most beautiful experience of my life. He was so gentle , so he didn’t hurt me and he kept asking me if I was okay.”
Ally squealed. “He’s perfect. Oh my God, I want a man like him.”
“Claire, what are you going to do?” Rachel asked.
I turned around and looked at her in confusion. “Do about what?”
“Your parents. You know Corinne and Harry won’t approve and Corinne is known to cause problems.”
“I’m not worried about Corinne. I can handle her. All I have to do is make it through these next few months and then I’m out of here and away from her. She will not control my life anymore.”
“Oh, by the way, good job on Zoey. We saw her when we walked in.” Ally smiled. “I knew that would happen one of these days.”
I laughed as I pulled a sundress from the closet and got ready for my day with Sam.
****
I drove out to Sam’s house this time so I could meet his mom. When I pulled up to his house, she was just getting home from work. She turned to me as she shut the car door.
“Hi, Ms. Snow, I’m Claire.” I smiled.
She had the same smile as Sam . “Hi, Claire, it’s so nice to meet you. Please come inside.”
I followed her in the house and Sam was making a fresh pot of coffee. He walked over to me and he kissed and hugged me like he hadn’t seen me in months.
“I see you two met.”
“Yes , and she’s a very lovely girl, Sam.”
Sam’s mom was an attrac tive woman. She stood about five feet, five inches tall with a small frame and blonde hair that was cut into a bob. I was surprised she never married again after Sam’s father passed away. She was on her way to bed and we were heading out the door.
“It was great to meet you, Mrs. Snow.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Claire.” She smiled as she kissed me on the cheek.
Sam and I had a great day; we bowled, had lunch on a patio outside a small Italian restaurant, took a walk along the beach, and just enjoyed each other’s company. I loved hearing about his childhood and how he grew up. The stories he told about him and his mom after his father passed away were touching. The closeness and the bond he had with his mom was something I wished I could have with Corinne, but she’d always see me as different.
As we continued our walk along the beach, I had something I wanted to ask Sam. “My sister’s engagement party is next month, and I would like it if you would come.”
“I don’t think your pare nts would want me there, Claire. We both know what your mom thinks of me.”
“You let me handle Corinne; I want you there by my side so I can show you off to everyone.”
He smiled and gently kissed me on the lips. “If it will make you happy, then fine, I’ll come.”
“Do you own a suit?” I asked with a smile.
Sam laughed and grabbed the tip of my nose. “Yes, I own a suit, smarty pants.”
I went home early that night because Sam had to be at the garage at the crack of dawn. I walked through the door, only to find Harry, Corinne, Zoey, and Dylan all sitting in the living room having drinks and laughing. That was something I would never have with my family and Sam. Dylan looked my way and gave me the dirtiest of looks for what I did to Zoey. I couldn’t help but smirk at him.
“You’re home early,” Corinne said.
“Sam has to work in the morning. Hey, I invited him to the engagement party.”
Corinne whipped her head around so fast I thou ght she was going to get whiplash. “You what?” she snapped.
“Corinne , calm down,” Harry said.
“I will not have that…”
I balled my left fist this time so