[Second Chances 02]California Dreams Read Free

quietly sobbing against his chest. “I hate this,” she whispered brokenly.
    “Were you close to Miriam?” Samuel asked, rubbing his hand up and down her back and wishing there was some way he could lessen her pain at this moment in time.
    “Yes and no. She was an integral part of the community and I remember when I first came here, she kind of took me under her wing. My husband had just been killed in action, I had been forced to pick up and move, leaving the only stable thing in my life behind me.
    “When I arrived, I was so overwhelmed and I remember I just wanted to hide. Kate and Tim tried to involve me in everything, but I wasn’t very receptive. Miriam came over my second week here and wanted to know if I had died along with my husband.”
    Jane broke off as she remembered those dark days and how Miriam’s talk had opened her eyes to the world around her and how wallowing in her suffering was only hurting her and those that were trying to help her.
    Miriam Mercer had pulled her out of the pit of despair she had been mired in and helped her put on a brave face for those around her. Her heart had still been shattered, but each day that she put on a smile, she found a small piece of her heart had begun to heal. She would forever be grateful to the woman who had helped save her.
    Drying her tears with her fingers, she sniffed and soon found Samuel holding a tissue box out for her use. “Here, dry your tears.”
    “I got your shirt all wet,” Jane told him, looking at the dark stains on his shirt.
    “Don’t worry about it. You can cry on me any time you need to.”
    Jane gave him a tremulous smile and took a step backwards.
    “Trent stepped in here few moments ago. I think he was looking for you.”
    Jane nodded, “I should go find him. He’s got to be taking this really hard as well.”
    “Go. It’s almost lunchtime, why don’t I go set out the makings for sandwiches?”
    “You don’t have to do that…”
    “I know I don’t have to, but I’m offering. I’ll find Sara, Grace, and Daniella. You go talk to Trent and join us when you can.”
    Jane gave him a thankful smile and nodded her head, “Thanks.”
    Samuel nodded and then gave her a small push towards the door, “Go.” He watched Jane leave the room and then took a couple of deep breaths before heading towards the kitchen. He hated feeling out-of-control, and faced with Jane’s sorrow, he hadn’t a clue as to how to make it better. Maybe time was the only way to make things better. He had time, and now that Jane was coming to spend some time in California, he would be able to give her as much time as she needed.
    Heading into the kitchen, he found Sara standing in front of the window, overlooking the backyard, her shoulders shuddering occasionally. “You okay?” he asked from the doorway.
    “Samuel. Yeah, we all knew this day was coming, I just wish for her family’s sake she could have had a few more days. Her kids only arrived a few days ago.”
    Samuel walked to where she stood, laying a gentle hand on her arm, “I’m sure the time they had with her was precious, and seeing their mom pain free was a gift worth more than gold.”
    Sara nodded, “She seemed like such a sweet person. I’m glad her kids don’t have to remember her writhing in pain. Those memories take a long time to go away.”
    “But they do go away. And having caring people like you and Trent around means more than you know.”
    Sara looked at Samuel, hearing something in his voice she hadn’t heard before. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
    Samuel looked uncomfortable and shrugged his shoulders. “My mom had breast cancer. She died when I was fifteen. My dad and I did everything we could to help ease her pain, but it was never enough. In the end, we couldn’t even give her the comfort of dying at home. She died in the hospital.”
    Sara touched his arm, tears in her eyes, “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
    Samuel nodded,