Page 91 of Theirs to Treasure

“Actually, part of the problem was that I needed prescription eyeglasses. They figured that out on one of my last doctor visits,” Sam explained. “And Chance, while I really appreciate the offer, that’s not where my heart is,” Sam admitted. He shifted closer to Josie on the couch.

“Yeah, I see where your heart is,” Chance said wryly, as he hooked Josie’s leg over his. Sam laughed.

“No, really. As much as it pains me to admit it, I needed to get my ass in to see the doc that Leif recommended. The nightmares happen a lot less, now, and I’m coming to grips with my time overseas. Now, I’m ready to move onto something new. You both have played a big part in helping me see that.” Josie rested her head on his shoulder, content to let him continue.

“Working with the kids on the basketball team is a rush. I’m loving it. It reminded me how much I enjoyed mentoring new recruits in Afghanistan, but the ones I really gravitated to were those that had problems. I feel the same kind of passion about the kids on the team. Tonight, I had to drive Kenneth home because his parents forgot to pick him up for the third time. Things aren’t going well at home.”

Sam bent down and kissed the top of Josie’s head. “You’ll understand this, Baby. He has a younger brother that he feels responsible for, and it sounds like he has taken on some of the parenting role. This team returns something priceless to him, the chance to be a kid. Our drive time home tonight after practice gave him a safe place to vent.”

“Do you want to work with kids as a profession? Maybe teach? Be a coach?” Chance asked.

“Social work,” came Sam’s decisive answer. “I know you didn’t have the opportunity to deal with social workers very much, but I did. Some were good, some were bad. But the good ones really made a difference. I want to make that kind of difference.” Josie gripped Sam’s hand tightly. She understood what he meant, but she also knew the emotional toll that kind of job could take on your very soul, and that worried her.

Sam looked down at her. “What, Baby?”

“That’s a lot to ask of yourself,” she said delicately.

“I’ve talked to my psychologist about it. It’s not something I think I could do tomorrow. I still have some personal things to work through. And even though I have my bachelor’s degree, I’d still need to go back to school to get professional training to learn the coping skills I’ll need to deal with some of the shit I’ll see. But, Josie, this feels right.”

“Oh, Sam!” she reached up and kissed him.

“Sam, that’s tremendous! There’s no way in hell I could do that kind of job. I really admire you.” Chance reached around Josie and clasped his brother’s shoulder. Sam grinned at him.

“I think this calls for a celebration!” Josie enthused, continuing to kiss on Sam. Sam looked over her shoulder to Chance.

Chance shrugged. “If the lady insists on a celebration that might need to happen in the bedroom, who are we to disappoint her?” Chance tickled her from behind, then tossed her up over his shoulder. She giggled with delight, happy in the way life was going with her men.

* * *

Low whimpers woke Josie. Then she heard a shattering “No,” but it was in the voice of a child. Both she and Chance sat upright. The lamp crashed to the floor as Chance reached to turn it on.

“Sam! Oh, Honey, wake up. I have you, it’s all right, I have you,” Josie crooned.

Huge shudders wracked through Sam’s body as he jerked awake. He pulled away, his eyes bright with tears. Josie reached across the space he’d created, and pulled him back into her arms, embracing him tightly. She felt him struggle, so she said the words she knew would quiet him. “Settle down, Sam, you’re hurting me.” He immediately stilled, like a deer in headlights.

* * *

Chance had gotten the lamp back up on the nightstand and turned it on. In the sudden light, Sam met his friend’s eyes over Josie’s shoulder. He saw love and compassion, and immediately burrowed his face into Josie’s neck. Breathing her in, feeling her soft locks, centered him.

It was time. He gently pushed himself back from Josie, looking into her soft honey-brown eyes, and gave her a soft kiss.

“It’s the kids I’m coaching, and the goddamn shrink I’m seeing. It’s just stirring up a lot of shit that I—apparently—need to deal with.”

He looked at the two people who had become the center of his world, and realized it was safe to tell them. In fact, it was right to tell them.

Josie squeezed his hands while Chance locked eyes with him, and it took Sam back to that time when he had shown him his broken ribs. There hadn’t been pity, just acceptance and love, even back then when they were twelve years old.

“My old man was an abusive asshole, who beat the hell of my mom and me. I was still puny when I was fourteen, and I remember us being dirt poor. He’d beaten me pretty badly, and that’s how I’d ended up with the Hutchins the first time. The second time, he was in prison so I thought life would get better, but Mom hooked up with the same type of guy, and we got it just as bad. That’s how I ended up with the Hutchins the second time.”

He paused and Josie gave him a soft smile to continue.

“When Dad got out of prison, they sent me back to live with them. He was supposedly rehabilitated. Dad couldn’t get a job, so we had no money, and he started taking it out on us again.”

Up to that point, Sam had been telling the story easily, but now he paused and took a deep breath. “One night after he beat the shit out of Mom and me, he invited over an old prison buddy. We were due to be evicted. It’s why he was so pissed off. His buddy was a big guy. He told dad he’d give him the cash for rent if Dad would do him a favor. I was on the couch with my mom when I heard him say that. I hoped they’d try to rob a liquor store again or something and dad would end up in prison. I remember saying a prayer and everything. Mostly, I just wanted them gone, because I was going to try to convince Mom to run away this time. But that wasn’t the kind of favor this guy wanted.”

Sam stopped talking. He stopped moving.

Josie felt her gorge rise. She cut her eyes over to Chance, but it was obvious he didn’t know where the story was going.