“Hey mom,” he beamed.
“Hi sweetie,” Holly said, giving him a hug. It lasted a long time. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a genuine hug. Jon hardly did, he was all about sex, and filming it.
“You smell good,” Sam said when the embrace ended.
“Thank you,” Holly sat next to his bed once more.
“You look as beautiful as ever, too.”
“Sam, that’s very sweet of you,” Holly blushed.
“I can’t wait to get home,” Sam placed his hand on Holly’s. “I can’t wait to, you know, be with you.”
“Yes, you’ll be here with me,” Holly said without thinking.
After realizing what she suggested, she added, “But our house looks a little different. You were, um, asleep for a while. Do you know where we live?”
“Charleston, right?”
“Um, actually, we’ve moved to Miami, but it’s ok,” Holly patted his hand. “The doctor said some memories will be fuzzy for a little bit. What’s important is that you’re awake and will get better each day.”
Sam held her hand, looking into her eyes. Holly couldn’t put her finger on it, but the look Sam was giving her was as if he was looking at a girlfriend, like a love-struck puppy.
Holly cleared her throat, “Anyway, um, just letting you know in case you were confused about it.”
“Mmhmm,” Sam nodded, his thumb caressing Holly’s hand. “What about our bedroom?”
“Our bedroom?”
“Yeah, our room.”
“Um,” Holly was thinking of what to say next.
“Did you paint it?”
“Um, no, actually. I, uh, didn’t get a chance too.”
“Oh,” Sam chuckled. “Well that’s fine. We’ll be able to do it together, after all.”
“Right. Yes. We will paint, um, our room,” Holly agreed.
“I can’t wait to get out of this bed and into ours.”
Holly’s eyes widened, she nodded, a goofy smile on her face. She wanted to ask if Sam and Sharon were sharing a bed, and if so, why.
A few days later, most of the bandages removed, and Sam walking around unaided, Holly knew they’d be going home soon – her home. She couldn’t say no or tell him the truth yet.
On the day they left, Holly told Julie of the situation, in which Julie adamantly insisted Holly was doing the right thing. Julie thanked her and started planning her next visit.
On the way to Holly’s home, Sam was looking out the car window, taking in his surroundings – surroundings he had never seen, and under the impression his memory wasn’t back to normal yet.
Anger swelled in Holly’s stomach when she saw Jon and a woman, walking into the home together. They must’ve arrived a few seconds before she and Sam did.
“Who’s that guy?” Sam asked.
“Oh um, he’s – ”
Sam gave Holly a heartbreaking look, “Mom, you aren’t married are you? I thought – ”
“No! No, I’m not married, sweetie,” Holly lied. She continued with a half-truth, “That’s um, that’s Jon, he’s a roommate sort of. That’s his girlfriend. I can’t remember her name, heh.”
She watched relief wash over Sam’s face. “Oh,” he smiled.
Holly found the exchange odd, but ignored it for now, helping Sam into her home. She guided him to the couch, glancing to her closed bedroom down the hall. Jon was in there with that woman. “He’ll never stop this swinging crap,” Holly thought.
She brought Sam some water, sitting next to him. He finished it and leaned into his aunt. Holly closed her eyes, holding him in her arms. She thought of Sharon, thinking her and Sam must have been very close. She fought tears and ended the embrace.
“Can I see our room now?” Sam asked.
“Uh, sure, yes,” Holly stood, extending her hand to Sam.
“Wow, it looks great. I can see you cleaned,” Sam noticing upon entering a rarely used guestroom.
“Yeah,” Holly chuckled.
“Thanks, Mom,” Sam said, turning to hug Holly once more. He held her against his body, her head against his chest, he kissed the top of her head.
She smiled and nodded, “I’ll fix you some lunch. Rest here.”
In the kitchen, Holly prepared a sandwich for her nephew, thinking about dinner plans. “I’ll feed him, I’ll take care of him, it needs to be done.”
After Sam finished his sandwich, he remained on the bed, lying against his aunt. Holly wondered how long this would last as she ran her fingers through his hair.
She looked down to Sam’s face, just above her left breast, seeing his eyes closed and a curl to his lips – a subtle smile.
Holly sighed, “I could get used to this.”
A little later she wiggled her way off the bed, leaving Sam sleeping soundly. She covered him up and closed the door behind her. Holly found Jon in the kitchen rummaging for a meal of his own.
“Hey,” he said. Holly nodded, putting away a few clean dishes from the dishwasher.
“So how long is he staying? A few days?” Jon asked.
Holly rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be longer than that. His memories are still damaged, and he has no place to go – ”
“Charleston. Send him back up there,” Jon interrupted her.
Anger was swelling again in Holly once more, “I’m not doing that. He’ll be alone again. Once his memories are back to normal, he’ll need someone to be there for him.”
“Ugh. Fine,” Jon shook his head.
“Look, it doesn’t affect you at all! Your life will not change. You can still go out with your girlfriends and live out your idiotic fantasies!”
“Hey, relax, calm down. I just want to know when the kid will be gone so we can both get back into it.”
“I told you, I’m done with all that. I don’t see any more boyfriends and I’m not performing on film for you anymore. I’m done,” Holly glared at Jon, making her way to her bedroom to grab a few clothes.
“What are you doing? Where are you going?” Jon asked, watching Holly exit their bedroom with an armful of her clothes.
“I’m sleeping in there with Sam.”
“Why? Does he need supervision or something?”
Holly ignored Jon’s questioning and made her way back to her sleeping nephew. She hung a few clothes in the closet, and folded the pajamas and underwear she brought.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the rocking chair of the guest room, keeping an eye on Sam. He looked so peaceful sleeping. Holly saw herself holding him later that night when they’d go to bed.
She woke him up for dinner, assisting him to the kitchen. Sam watched his aunt cook a pasta dish for him, Jon was nowhere in sight.
They sat at a small table in kitchen. Sam holding Holly’s hand as he ate. She watched him, loving the feeling of this thumb caressing her hand. Her food was getting cool when she remembered to eat.
Afterward, she put the dishes away, refusing to let Sam help her. She led him to the living room, instinctually sitting next to him, his arm around her.
“I’ll be back to normal soon,” Sam said.
“Uh?”
“You know. Normal. My body?” Sam said, glancing down.
Holly wasn’t picking up on Sam’s meaning. “Yes, I know. You’ll be able to move better, walk better, everything.”
“I’m so glad I’m here with you, Mom,” Sam kissed the side of Holly’s head, and pulling her closer against him, her breasts mashing against his side.
Holly closed her eyes, smiling warmly, “I’m glad you’re here too.”
**
She helped him into bed a couple hours later, making sure he was comfortable. Holly left to change into pajama pants and a tank top.
“So what if he’s my nephew. I’ll be in there with him in case he needs me. It’s no big deal. Maybe he and Sharon did share a bed. There’s no harm in that. Maybe she needed comfort after that bad breakup,” Holly thought, pulling the tank top over her bare breasts.