King of the Mountain:
Part 17
Lynn Jepsen
Sam ought to write his own speeches.
Last night, not only did he manage to make me cry, in a good way, but he
also apologized for everything I've ever been mad at him for in life.
Just so we're clear on this, he didn't just say "I apologize for
everything", oh no. He named them. He actually remembers each individual
fight we've had, and could distinguish between each separate fight we've
had over his affair - and there were a lot of them. If our relationship
consumes this many brain cells, I'm starting to understand how he can
forget his glasses twice a week. There's just no room left to store that
information.
That's why I made this great sacrifice for this great nation - I forgave
him. We worked our way down his long mental list, and we talked it out. I
even managed not to attack him with the hotel pillows, which were, by the
way, hard as a rock. Now, maybe we can forget about some of those fights,
especially the one about what flavor ice cream he was supposed to buy
back in 1997. Let's allow the taxpayers to use a few more of those brain
cells.
Of course, had we ended the evening with Sam groveling, I wouldn't have
had three cups of coffee for breakfast. I mean, I couldn't just leave him
sitting there, still in his suit, asking me if we were okay. I made a
slight tactical error. Well, error might be the wrong word. Error would
assume I didn't want to kiss him and rake the strand of dark hair away
from his face. Error would also assume that I wasn't enjoying peeling his
suit off of him, and reminding him that for every bit of stupidity he's
engaged in since I've known him, I've always forgiven him - I will this
time too. It might be awhile before he's left alone with another one of
Josh's groupies, but we'll get over this - or at least, we'd better.
That was about the point I realized how long it's been since I've seen
Sam.... like this. My husband is beautiful. Granted, he's not
twenty-something anymore, but he's still gorgeous. Fits right in with the
tanned and toned population out west. Of course, that didn't do a whole
lot for my resolve to punish him for his.... indiscretions. By the time
he started on the buttons of my blouse, I was wondering why the hell I
let him sleep on the couch in California, and why I stopped waiting up
for him.
I take a half step towards the bed, and he pauses to give me this
questioning glance. Okay, look, this is not the time for any sort of
innocent look, Mr. Seaborn. Get over here. We're definitely through
talking for tonight. His lips have settled on the hollow at the base of
my throat, and I can't think of anything except the feel of his skin
beneath my hands. When we tumble backwards into the bed, he pulls me up
towards the rock hard pillows, and I lean forward to whisper in his ear.
The words have been sifting through my mind since I watched him breathe
in the hospital, and behind the passion clouding his vision, I catch what
might have been a tear. Then I kiss him and we don't let go.
*
Waking up this morning was like Christmas. My first thought was "we're
going to the amusement park." Then I took a moment to appreciate the fact
that Sam was wrapped around me with the most adorable smile on his face.
Not that I won't kill him if he so much as looks at another woman again,
but I'm willing to forgive him - once. I got to appreciate the view for
almost a minute before he woke up.... Right then, I knew they were going
to be waiting on us, and I didn't care.
Of course, when we finally make it out of the shower, there's just one
more problem. Now, I grasp the concept of being inconspicuous. I'm not
sure Sam does. Lily, Margaret, Diana, and I poured through our suitcases
yesterday afternoon - while Sam was gossiping with Josh - and found a few
fairly normal looking outfits between the four of us. That's why the
three of them are dressed in jeans and a bunch of old shirts we'd packed
for pajamas and late night crises. I'm feeling pretty good, actually.
It's been a while since I got to wander around in public in battered
bell-bottom jeans and a 'Hoynes for President' shirt I stole from Josh
last fall after Mandygate. Sam, on the other hand, forgot how to dress in
casual clothes. Honestly, I don't think he packed any - that's the
problem.
"Sam, just put it on." I can hear him grumbling through the bathroom
door, and then he asks me for the fifth time what exactly Margaret is
doing with Josh's clothes. Sam, she has an overnight bag for everyone in
the plane's hold. Just put them on already. I want cotton candy and
roller coasters. He staggers our then, wearing a pair of Josh's Levis,
which don't fit quite right, with a white tee shirt and an old flannel
shirt. If nothing else, the press won't even think that Sam would wear
something un-preppy. We're going to be a nice normal couple out for one
afternoon.
*
Sam, get your fingernails out of my arm. "Do you think it's wise to ride
a roller coaster named after one of the world's most deadly snakes?" Yes,
yes, I do, and since you promised me you'd go along with what I wanted,
stop complaining. When I turn to look at him, I see this look of absolute
terror in his eyes. Granted, he'll love it five seconds after we hit the
top of the hill, but the anticipation is killing him. Lily warned me it
took a little over a minute to get to the top of the first hill - I just
didn't expect Sam to have a death grip on my arm the whole way up. Then,
we go over the top, in the first car of a long train. There's this
sensation of floating for just a moment as we hand, suspended, waiting
for the rest of the cars to clear the hill. It's over too soon, and Sam
looks a little queasy.
Diana is waiting at the bottom of the ride, and she offers me a snow cone
while Sam gets his land legs back. "Gover..." I shake my head.
Discretion, remember? "Uh, Mr. Sea..." Nope, try again. "Sam? Are you
okay?" He nods, and after a second the greenish phase passes and he takes
the proffered snow cone. "Margaret and Lily are entertaining your....
keepers." She nods in the direction of the troopers and the other two
staffers sitting in the front row of the music show. Diana, go join them.
We'll be fine. She gives me a questioning look, but she nods and heads
over. Now, Sam, are you ready for a few more rides?
King of the Mountain: Part 18
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