Page 180 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“The Fourth is a busy time—especially for a bar, but Sam was determined to go.”

“Why?”

“She was—I don’t know exactly, but I think it had something to do with her boyfriend.”

Callie sat up straight again. “My mother was seeing someone?”

“Yes.”

Now they were getting somewhere. “What was his name?” Nate asked.

“I don’t know.”

Or maybe not. “You don’t know?”

Danielle shook her head.

“Weren’t you and Samantha close?”

“Yes. Sam was my best friend, but she wasn’t interested in talking about that part of her life, so I didn’t intrude. She was always so busy with Callie and work. She was entitled to have something of her own. Sam was happy for quite a while, so that was good enough for me.”

“You have no idea at all?”

“No.”

Why did he find that so hard to believe? “Could she have confided in someone else? Another friend?”

“Sam didn’t really have friends other than me. Maybe a couple of acquaintances, I guess. But if she wouldn’t even tell me…” Danielle shrugged. “She kept to herself—focused on her child and her goals.”

“Would you say that Samantha was promiscuous?”

Danielle narrowed her eyes. “Not at all. She was all about Callie, her art, and making a better life for her family.”

Loyalty even after twenty-plus years. “I don’t mean to offend, but I have to ask the hard questions too.”

Danielle nodded. “Sam had a good head on her shoulders.”

“Do you know where Samantha and her boyfriend met?”

“I’m pretty sure at On The Rocks.”

“Could he have worked there too?”

“No. Or, I don’t think so. I got the impression he had money.” A small smile touched her lips. “I could always tell if she’d worked a shift when he came by.”

“How’s that?”

“Her eyes were brighter and she smiled more. I would tease her about it, but still, she never said anything.”

“When did they start seeing each other?”

She frowned. “Mmm, late February or early March—somewhere around in there. She met up with him on Thursdays. That was always my day off. Typically, Sam would leave for a couple of hours so she could get some painting done, but then she stopped bringing her art stuff with her all of the time. Some days she would come home with a white calla lily—her favorite flower—and her lips would be swollen as if she had been…” Danielle’s cheeks grew pink. “I could just tell she’d been doing something other than running errands or painting.”

“You’re implying they were having sex?”

Danielle raised her brow. “That would be my guess. She was young and gorgeous.”

“You said you think he had money?”