ChapterThirty
After turning on the dishwasher and wiping down the counters in Bianca’s kitchen, Sam found herself with nothing to do. Technically, it was her day off, and for the first time, she didn’t feel the pressing need to ‘work’ through it.
The threat to the Black family had been neutralized. The only reason Sam was still staying in the Black Diamond Building was to finish establishing her company’s presence as they transitioned to a long-term contract protecting the family and Black Diamond’s assets. There were plenty of changes to be made. Starting with the flimsy, easily picked locks on the doors of the residences. Sam had overseen their switch for herself.
She was also still here because of Bianca, who was currently at a family meeting up in the penthouse. Vivianne was finally laying all her cards on the table, and her youngest daughter was helping relay the information to everyone who didn’t already know.
Sam took a seat at the island counter, tapping her fingers against the granite. It had been a week since Bianca was released from the hospital and the family was allowed to start healing. While there was much to sort out, both personally and interpersonally, Sam was prepared to help. Especially if it meant she could spend more time with Bianca. Now, they finally had the breathing room to openly pursue a relationship and truly explore their love.
The idea still felt strange to Sam. If you’d told me I’d fall in love on this job, I’d never have believed it. But she wouldn’t change a thing, even if she could.
The front door opened. Sam looked up from her phone, preparing herself for the fallout of the meeting.
Bianca let out a dramatic sigh as she joined Sam at the counter, taking a seat beside her. “What a mess.”
Sam turned her phone over so she wasn’t distracted by the slew of notifications coming in from the subcontractor putting together the new security system in the building. “I take it the meeting went well?”
“As well as things usually go when our whole family gets together in one place. Parker was so pissed.”
“Uh-huh. Can’t say I’m surprised by that.”
“No, you don’t understand. She was pissed. Really, really pissed. And rightfully so. Our homophobic mother is bi, and she has a secret college lover from the 80s who turned out to be the family’s stalker? I’ve heard her fight with Mom before, but this was something else. She called Mom all kinds of curse words I’d never even heard before. Scarlett had to hold her back from spitting fire.”
“Well, Scarlett has always been more level-headed,” Sam said.
“No, no. Scarlett got some words in, too. They both let Mom have it. And she just sat there… taking it. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“How about your dad?”
“He already knew. Apparently, while I was in the hospital, Mom broke down and confessed everything. He wasn’t angry. He was relieved. He knew all along that Mom wasn’t telling him the whole truth about Ellen, so he was just glad that she finally told him. He’s been very supportive.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“Right? You know, a couple of days ago, Mom told me that back in college, she decided to start seriously seeing Dad because of how well he treated her. She kept saying that he was so different from Ellen, and I don’t think she meant because he was a man. My parents have their flaws, but they really do love each other. And it sounds like Ellen was a real piece of work back then. But I guess I’ll never know the unbiased truth.”
“Maybe it’s best left in the past,” Sam said. “After all, it’s been forty years. Your mom got pregnant with the guy she was cheating with, married him, and moved on with her life. She made a bad decision in not ending her previous relationship the right way, but since then, she’s just been trying to do right by her family. I’m sure your sisters will come to understand in time.”
“Well, Scarlett will. I don’t know about Parker. I don’t think she and Mom will be talking for a while, but that’s not unusual. You don’t know how terrible Mom was to her for years. Some of my earliest childhood memories are listening to them fight.” Bianca shuddered. “I think I’ll suggest to Mom that she suggest to Parker that they get therapy together. That’s the relationship that needs mending the most.”
Sam rubbed her girlfriend’s back. “I’m glad your family can finally start healing.”
Bianca sat up straight. “Oh, I didn’t have the chance to tell you yet. When I was having lunch with Mom yesterday, she said something else. Something really, really big.”
“Based on the smile on your face, it's good news. It wouldn’t happen to do with grad school, would it?”
“Yep. She said I can go to Cali! I mean, I was going to go anyway once things settled down, but…”
“Having her blessing means everything? It’s like a weight off your shoulders? Trust me. I know all about that feeling.”
“Can you believe it, though? SoCal! UCLA! I can finally go somewhere new, do something new. But…” Bianca shook her head. “I don’t think I need to go anymore.”
That was not what Sam expected to hear. “What do you mean? This is all you’ve wanted since I first met you.”
“It was what I wanted. But only because it was something that I chose for myself, not my family, not anyone else. Something I pursued for me. But do I really need grad school? Plus, my acceptance is still good for another year. Maybe I’ll think on it.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Bianca avoided Sam’s gaze. “I… I don’t want to leave when things are just starting between us.”