FIVE: Suspicious Rumours

I spent a lovely day meeting Sam, we got to know each other better and I was laughing more then I had in a long, long while. I hadn’t realised just how long it had been or how forced my laughter could be with David. I was startled as I thought over how, in general, the most fun I had with David was when we were alone together and how little time I had been having with him. In fact, we’d constantly been going out or having a friend over or he’d go out on his own and leave me. I guessed it was just natural for them when they were going to go out on a mission and thankfully Sam helped me relax about it as I found myself telling him my recent concerns.

“Depends on the guy… by the sounds of it David just feels a little detached from reality. He’s been working much more then normal and probably in much more intense situations so you shouldn’t expect him to do anything rational. Sometimes you never know if they’re actually suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Sam stated with a gentle swig of his tea and it made me feel somewhat more secure to hear him saying things that were actually quite rational. I felt more comfortable now when I was talking with him then I could do talking to anyone else.

Was there even anyone else I could talk to? None of the other guys and girls in David’s profession seemed to have partners that stuck… the few that did had partners working in the same sort of career anyway. I knew very well that guys like Harper were so fluid in their choices of partner that I’d never have a chance to talk to one of their girlfriends who actually knew what he did aside from a booty call!

“What was his father like?” Sam stated gently, looking deeply into my eyes as if he were just reading information flicking across my mind. My body straightened suddenly as I recalled every parcel of hatred and regret David held for his father. I felt pain and sorrow at the strange things that David had tried to explain to me about it all and I winced. Sam’s eyebrows lifted in interest as he quickly called over the barista to fetch me another coffee. I thanked him swiftly before giving a heavy sigh and looking to him knowingly.

“A career soldier into some deep stuff – so deep that when David was about seven or eight he was told his father had been killed. David’s father and he never had much of a relationship at all, in fact his father’s best friend Frank Woods did most of the fatherly duties and he wasn’t exactly the ideal man to teach a guy how to behave. But I’m never sure what really happened… the only clear fact we both know for sure is that his mother died when he was very young and he has no memory of her at all.” I sighed pitifully and Sam looked a bit startled suddenly.

“Wow… that explains a lot… but you know all of this? That means he must trust you a hell of a lot. Not many guys are so willing to share information on their family histories, usually because a good deal of them get into the system because of their parents. It doesn’t matter though ____, Dave obviously cares a lot about you. I suggest you don’t worry about it anymore – if he always comes back to you then why should you really care?” Sam chuckled gently and I breathed a sigh of relief at his words.

Somehow, whatever Sam said seemed to make my mind settle down and my heart beat much more steadily. I had never recalled being around a guy that made me so happy and relaxed before. Yeah, David used to make me feel that content but the more I was with him these days the more stressed he seemed to make me. For some reason I was more worried now about why I was coping with it and whether it was worth the time to always wait for him. With a gentle sigh of sorrow I nearly slumped into the new drink but Sam patted my shoulder affectionately.

“Don’t let it panic you…. When he next comes back you talk to him about your concerns. I know the real question on your mind is whether it will last; you’ve got to tell him that waiting for him can be too much and you need to know he’s serious.” Sam sighed gently and then stood up only to wave goodbye and head on his way. I chuckled gently at him, pleased I could have such a wonderful friend before I realised that he’d slipped money in my purse to cover any costs spent getting to him.

“Gosh if I wasn’t waiting on David…” I chuckled to myself only to shake the thought out of my head and pace toward home. Once there however I found the phone ringing and eagerly I picked it up and had actually been expecting Sam to call up for another suggestion for coffee. I nearly said his name down the phone before David’s voice rang up and my heart flipped for a second – I couldn’t tell if it was a good flip or a bad flip. “David? David is that really you?”

Yeah… listen my buddies and I are going to head on holiday when we get back so it’ll be another week. How are you holding up?

“I’m alright… I just hoped you’d be coming back sooner that was all. But then again you get less time to relax with your friends so I suppose it’s just a little selfish of me to be sulky about it. I just… I just wonder if I mean enough for you to stay or…” The phone had been dead the moment I said alright and straight away I swore and cast the phone across the room. Then I swore at myself for doing it and swiftly put it back on the hook. What could you do?

With a deep sigh of regret I settled into writing up a report that was intended for work; with nothing else to do I felt almost compelled to hang it and stuff down some food whilst hanging about on the couch watching a movie. But doing that alone just seemed so miserable and depressing. Before I knew it I’d looked into films that interested me and purchased one online… it would not arrive until tomorrow so I motivated myself to work instead.

When the film arrived I was still too busy working to take a look at it. One of the other girls had been sick and so I’d been called in as cover and been glad of it. Spending time off working a whole week had been very rewarding as my boss had been desperate for help. Putting the report in early had earned me an extra bonus too and the boss had kindly permitted the three weeks paid vacation, which I’d worked over two years to get the opportunity to book, to be moved on to the following week instead.

Occasionally called in for a quick check up on some files by my underlings at work, I had spent the first three days off prepping for the rest of the time. David had rung up to say that he would be coming back in a week and I had finally found a chance to prep for the film. Now it seemed like a proper reward and though there were no girls in the office who’d been available to come over and watch it with me, someone else had readily agreed… Sam.

The night we were to watch the film I’d spent most of the day cleaning up in preparation for his arrival and been pleased when he’d called to say he was a little delayed. It would be Sam’s first time at my place and I did not want him to think I was moping around or couldn’t keep a clean house – that would be a sin! However my over enthusiasm to clean had led to having only a half hour to try and get some food! But Sam surprised me by arriving with a variety of takeout meals hanging from his arms.

“You can tell I’m a bachelor – I’m so rusty at getting food for friends I forgot to ask what you liked and brought something from everyone. I hope you don’t mind.” Sam had chuckled before bringing the food into the kitchen. I was pleased he did not make a note of the dying plant hanging from the roof and the pair of us began to filter through the food for the best options. Thankfully I liked the look and smell of everything on offer and Sam was very eager to share. When we discussed the romantic-comedy film I’d picked, I had a sudden fear that Sam might not be interested but he gave a cheeky chuckle. “I haven’t seen one in ages – are they any good these days? I’m so used to being re-fed the same old action movies that any change of pace for something more realistic is greatly appreciated.”

“Well… I don’t know if falling in love with the president of another country and being confused as a kidnapper is realistic… but I read the reviews and watched some clips online and it looked very funny. I thought it would be out-of-the-box enough to make the scenario alone worth taking a peek at.” I chuckled in amusement and Sam seemed to light up at my words. I gave another chuckle as he then identified the book I was reading and began to question me about it. His interest and his views were intriguing and I couldn’t help but find it funny. “Hey at this rate we should start our own book club!”

“Not a bad idea… I think we could both use the socialising. David read anything interesting?” Sam questioned only to roll his eyes as I responded.

“He won’t look at anything that’s not a memoir on war or written by Tom Clancy.” I snorted, setting up the DVD player and then pulling the coffee table over to put the food on. Sam settled down on the floor whilst I took the sofa, which made me laugh because he complained after ten minutes of pins and needles! The film was not as fantastic as I had hoped however; the dialogue became so cheesy that we both snorted over it. The film got funnier though when Sam picked up a chicken wing and some Naan bread and imitated the dialogue through them in a way that left me in stitches. By the time the film was over we were both scouring through the film collection in search of something better, it was as we watched an old classic comedy that my door opened.

“Hi ____, I’m just here to pick up my golf set Dave burrowed-” My eyes widened in shock and it was probably not the best expression to be wearing as Harper strolled in and made it to the bottom step of the stairs before he noticed Sam come out of the kitchen with some wine glasses and a bottle. Harper seemed to freeze on the stairs and I nearly swore at him.

So… Dave was supposed to be out with his friends was he? Then why was his best friend Harper over here? I started to grind my teeth furiously and before I could stop myself, I was snapping at Harper. He immediately backed into the wall as I stepped to his side and pointed a finger to his nose, barking about what David was doing and why Harper wasn’t with him. Harper just began to reassure me that he was alone in not being with the crew… he’d had to come back because he’d got a stomach bug. But his words and actions were eyed up suspiciously by Sam and then I backed away as Harper pointed a finger toward my new friend.

“Oh yeah I forgot… sorry Sam, I didn’t mean to scream with you about. Harper this is Sam my buddy from work, Sam this is Harper one of Dave’s co-workers and friends.” I groaned, hopping up the stairs to fetch the golf clubs. For a moment I had assumed that was the wrong thing to do when Harper made a snide comment towards Sam, but thankfully Sam was a grown up about it all.

“Don’t get panicked… I’m just a friend. I already have a girlfriend at the moment and she’s well aware of the fact I’m over here. She’s another on of ___’s co-workers, you can check with her if you’re that paranoid.” Sam had grunted and for a moment I feared the idea that he had a girlfriend. It seemed so unfortunate that he could be taken but at the same time I was happy for him. With the golf clubs passed swiftly to Harper and back to watching the film, we invited Harper to join but he made a mumbled comment to leave and disappeared. I was startled though when Sam turned to me with a pathetic look and seemed genuinely unhappy. “I’m so sorry ____, Dave’s not going to be too happy… I suggest I don’t come back for a while after this, not until he’s back too.”

“It’s okay Sam… I have to cope with his female friends; he should cope with mine… I mean… my male friends not my female friends; he likes them a lot anyway…” I began, getting myself confused and making Sam chuckle. We continued on with the film but it was amazing how swiftly Sam’s prediction was proven and Dave showed off his nasty jealous streak.