Chapter 29

“You know I didn’t help with that part.” Said Nick laughing.

“I know, Jake’s her father… as weird as that sounds, but none of this would have happened if it weren’t for you. I’d probably ran off and killed myself or died in that wreck or just lost my mind.” Said Samantha as Jake walked back into the bedroom, “I wouldn’t be here with Jake and we wouldn’t have Megan.”

“Yeah well.. you got her now. Megan would probably be there spoiling her already if she was still here.” Said Nick laughing.

“Yeah she would…” said Samantha laughing, “Well….. I better go… I’m tired.”

“I know look what you did yesterday.” Said Nick.

“Yeah.. I know….” Said Samantha as she started to smile, “I’ll see you soon okay.. soon alright.”

“I’m gonna try..” said Nick, “Bye.”

“Bye.” Said Samantha as she hung up. She looked over at Megan who was sound asleep and got up, walking into the bedroom to see Jake sitting there on their bed. She crawled up on the bed and put her arms around him and he looked back at her.

“What?” asked Jake.

“Nothing, just came to see where you went.” Said Samantha.

“Nowhere…” said Jake as he sat there looking down at the floor, “I’m gonna get my mom to keep Megan on Valentine’s Day.”

“Why?” asked Samantha.

“Me and you, we’re going out… it’s gonna be even better than last year.” Said Jake as Samantha smiled.

“Last year was nice.” Said Samantha.

“I know.” Said Jake as he kissed her, “I’ll be back in a little bit.” As he got up and walked out, leaving Samantha sitting there on the bed as she looked around.

“Nick, you okay?” asked AJ as he walked into the green room where Nick was sitting, holding the phone still.

“Yeah…” said Nick as he put the phone in his backpack and stood up, looking around, “I’m fine.”

“You sure?” asked AJ.

“Yeah.. perfect..” said Nick as he put his backpack on, and pull his baseball cap down on his head, trying to cover his eyes.

“No hell you’re not.” Said AJ as Nick didn’t look at him.

“I’m going back to the hotel.” Said Nick as AJ stopped him, and took his hat off to see Nick about to cry.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” asked AJ, “You’ve been weird all day yesterday and all day today.”

“Just turning 19, I realized I’m growing up… everybody does.” Said Nick.

“Growing up.. you mean having a kid.. you’re talking about Sammy aren’t ya?” asked AJ as Nick grabbed his cap back and put it on.

“Maybe.” Said Nick, “It’s just weird and she doesn’t need to be with Jake…she doesn’t.”

“Because of what happened at Thanksgiving.” Said AJ.

“He hits her… I know he does. Back in July when she came on tour with us man, she had bruises all on her arms and stuff and just little things I’ve noticed over time, especially since like last Spring, he hurts her and it finally came out at Thanksgiving, but she had he hasn’t done anything sense then.” Said Nick, “And now she’s got a baby with him and she won’t leave him and I’m scared because it’s a little girl and just…it’s messed up but what the fuck can I do?”

“Nothing, it’s not your place.” Said AJ as Nick looked at him and started to walk off.

“I know…” said Nick as he walked out and AJ shook his head, walking out behind him.

A week and a half had passed and it was now Valentine’s Day. Samantha and Jake were both getting the hang of having a baby around 24/7 but Samantha loved it. Jake had started back working and Samantha stayed there at home with Megan while she was still on maternity leave from the radio station.

Samantha tried to talk to Nick as much as she could but she didn’t want to make Jake jealous so she mostly talked to him in the daytime while Jake was at work and Megan was sleeping. It worked out pretty good because it was night over on the other side of the world where he was. He made sure every time they talked to find out if Jake was doing anything to her again and she told him the truth, that he wasn’t, but he still didn’t believe her and he still didn’t trust Jake.

“I don’t like leaving her with them.” Said Samantha as her and Jake were driving home from the restaurant they ate at that evening.

“She’s going to be fine. They know how to take care of a baby.” Said Jake as he looked over at her and smiled, “You look nice tonight.” As Samantha looked down at what she was wearing which wasn’t nothing special.

“Thanks.. I guess, I still haven’t lost all the baby fat…” said Samantha.

“Nah.. you look great.” Said Jake as they continued to drive, “So did you like dinner?”

“Yeah it was nice…. I was trying not to eat that much but… well who cares..” said Samantha as Jake started to laugh, “Where are we going now?”

“Home..” said Jake as Samantha looked over at him and looked back.

“What about Megan, she’s still at your parents?” asked Samantha.

“My mom’ s gonna bring her over in the morning.” Said Jake.

“Jake, no… I want her with me tonight. She’s not even a month old she can’t go off spending the night with anybody.” Said Samantha.

“Sam, calm down, she’s okay, trust me.” Said Jake as they pulled up at their apartment and Samantha looked over at him.

“What are you planning Jake, we can’t do that yet…” said Samantha.

“God damn Samantha! Who the fuck said I was planning something like that, just sit back, shut up and don’t ruin anything damn!” yelled Jake as Samantha looked away from him and looked down at her bracelet that Nick had given her.

“Fine..” said Samantha.

“Don’t smart back…” said Jake.

“Okay.” Said Samantha.

“Sam stop!” said Jake. Samantha just sat there until finally Jake got out of the car and walked over, opening the door for her and she got out, “Come on..” as he took her hand and they walked into the building, and walked up to their apartment door, “Now… don’t ruin anything okay.”

“Okay..” said Samantha as Jake looked back over at her.

“Close your eyes..” said Jake.

“Okay…” said Samantha as she closed her eyes and Jake opened the door, leading her into the living room while he shut the door and walked up to her, facing her.

“Alright open your eyes.” Said Jake as Samantha opened her eyes to see candles lit all around.

“What’s this?” asked Samantha as she started to smile.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” Said Jake as he hugged her and Samantha hugged him while looking around. They stopped hugging and Jake looked at her, “Hold on a sec okay..”

“Okay..” said Samantha as Jake walked over to the stereo and put on some music, “What’s that?”

“Celine Dion…” said Jake as Samantha started to laugh, “Don’t ask.. my mom said all women love that shit… I hate it.”

“Well.. it’s cool, she’s just annoying.” Said Samantha as Jake turned the radio off.

“Okay…” said Jake as he walked back up to her. They just stood there looking at each other until finally Jake started to say something, “Uhh.. I don’t know how to do this…”

“Do what?” asked Samantha as Jake smiled.

“You know, no matter what I love you don’t you?” asked Jake as Samantha nodded her head a little, “And that Megan has been the best gift that anybody could ever give me because she’s ours.”

“Yeah..” said Samantha.

“You know how we said that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together and everything…. How nothing will ever come between us.” Said Jake.

“Yeah…” said Samantha.

“Well…” Jake said as he pulled something out of his pocket and took Samantha’s hand, kneeling down on one knee, “Will you marry me?” Samantha just stood there, not saying a thing while Jake waited for her to say something, “Sam? What do you say?”

“Jake… I can’t… are you crazy?” asked Samantha as Jake stood up and looked at her.

“Are you telling me no??” asked Jake in shock.

“Jake, yes I’m telling you no. I can’t marry you.” Said Samantha as Jake threw the ring across the room and grabbed her arms, shaking her, “Stop damn it that hurts!”