Sam's face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam made her way into the kitchen fighting the tears that threatened to fall. She
felt like a tight band was closing around her chest. She prepared the ice for
Riley's split lip. When the image of Riley as she'd looked when she first opened
the door filled Sam's mind her tears started flowing. " What have I done?" she cried to herself. " This is all my fault. If I'd just left her alone none of this would've happened." She dried her eyes and splashed cold water on her face before
heading upstairs. She didn't want Riley to know she'd been crying. I need to be
strong for her, she reminded herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam stepped into the doorway of the bedroom and stopped in shock. Riley was
standing as if she was frozen in the middle of the room. The place was a mess.
All the drawers were open with clothes hanging out of them. The covers were
pulled off the bed and lying in the floor.
"Riley?" Sam called quietly, not wanting to startle her.
"Why would she do this? What'd she think she was going to find?" Riley cried.
Sam stepped over closer to Riley. "Who? Who did this?"
Riley turned to face Sam. "My aunt. When I came home, my uncle was waiting
for me in the living room. I thought she hadn't come with him. Then she came
down the stairs to join us. She must've been up here... doing this."
Riley looked so lost standing there staring at the wreck of her bedroom. Her
eyes seemed to go dull and vacant.
Sam walked over to the bed and quickly pulled the cover back up and onto the
bed. Riley never moved from her spot in the middle of the room. When she was
done Sam took Riley by the hand and led her over to the bed. Riley just stood
there making no move to sit down.
"Sit down." Sam gently instructed pressing lightly on Riley's shoulders when she
didn't receive a response.
She carefully placed the towel with the ice inside against the side of Riley's face
and lip. She lifted Riley's hand and placed it against the towel urging her to hold
it in place. Sam was starting to get scared by the vacant look in Riley's eyes.
Maybe she should've let Jess come with her. She left Riley sitting on the bed
and went around the room pushing clothes back into drawers. Once she had the
room back into some semblance of order she went back over to Riley.
Kneeling down in front of her, she gently stroked her uninjured cheek. "You okay
Baby?" she inquired softly.
It took several moments but Riley's eyes regained their focus. She looked at
Sam then around the room. "Oh Sam, you didn't have to do that."
"Don't worry about it. How about you get into some PJ's and get ready for bed
then we'll talk."
"Okay," Riley agreed. She opened a drawer and pulled out a tee shirt and pair of
boxers before heading into the bathroom.
Sam once again approached the bed and quickly finished her remake job. She
kicked off her shoes and propped a pillow against the headboard; situating
herself with her long legs stretched out.
She'd just gotten settled when Riley stepped out of the bathroom. Riley's eyes
widened for just a second at seeing Sam in her bed. She made her way across
the room and quickly climbed into the bed on the side opposite Sam. Her
expression was so open and wounded that Sam instantly opened her arms
offering whatever comfort she could. Riley threw herself against Sam's chest
burying her face between Sam's breasts. Sam held Riley tight murmuring
soothing words into her ear as she rubbed her back. Sam spent long moments
holding her. Riley finally relaxed in her arms.
"Want to tell me what happened?" She asked.
Riley took a deep breath before she began. "My uncle was waiting for me when I
got back from lunch with you. I guess they'd left a message on my machine
saying they would be here today but I never checked it. As soon as I walked in
the door, my uncle demanded to know where I'd been. I told him I'd been out
with a friend. He seemed really upset which is strange for him. He never shows
his emotions. He sneeringly asked if it was the same friend that had been
hanging around the hospital. That's when I knew what it was all about. That
bastard Stevens must've called him. I tried to change the subject and avoid the
confrontation. I always knew they'd take finding out I was gay poorly. I guess
that's why I didn't admit it to myself for so long. I wanted them to be proud of
me." Riley started to get choked up then shook her head refusing to cry. "That's
when he told me he wouldn't have his reputation tarnished and be embarrassed
in front of his friends by such deviant behavior and forbid me to see you again.
My aunt threw in her two cents telling me that they knew I wasn't 'that way' and
would get me help."
Sam struggled to keep a hold of her anger knowing there was more to come.
She knew if she lost her temper Riley would never tell her what else had
happened.
"I told them I was gay and the sooner they got used to it the better. I'm 35 years
old and it's time I chose my own path. My uncle was furious. He stormed across
the room and demanded I do what I was told. He said no niece of his was going
to be a queer. It's the first time in my life I've ever stood up to my uncle. My aunt
then proceeded to tell me how ashamed my parents would be of me."
Riley couldn't hold back her tears anymore. The comments about her mother
had truly wounded her.
"Is that when he hit you?"
"No. He told me that my mother manipulated my Dad and that she was just
some white trash slut. He said if my Dad had stayed in LA he'd still be alive."
Riley was sobbing now making it hard to understand her. "I told him my father
loved my mother and had left LA to get away from him. That's when he slapped
me and told me I was the same white trash as my mother and...." Riley was
sobbing so hard Sam couldn't understand her. She cradled her to her chest
trying to calm her. Her words suddenly became clear. "He said I should've died
with her."
Sam was in shock, this man is supposed to be her uncle?" she thought
incredulously. Her temper flared at the pain the bastard had caused Riley.
"Then they left?" Sam questioned praying it was the end of the horrible
encounter.
Riley laughed bitterly. "Oh no, then he told me that I was no niece of his and to
never contact them again. He added not to expect any money from the family
estate. I laughed in his face and told him I didn't want any of his fucking money.
That's when he hit me the second time. I told them to get out before I called the
police and I demanded my condo keys back from my aunt. Then they left."
Sam was torn between guilt and anger. The guilt won out and tears began to trail
down Sam's face. Riley felt Sam's body began to shake and looked up to see
the tears running down her face.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. If I hadn't pressured you into getting involved
with me none of this would've ever happened." Sam tearfully apologized.
Riley was shocked. How could she possible blame herself for this? Riley felt her
anger rise. It was one thing for her uncle to hurt her but now he'd hurt Sam. She
couldn't believe Sam could blame herself for this. She'd set her straight right
now!
Sam took Riley's silence as condemnation. When Riley pulled out of her arms,
Sam's shoulders slumped and her head dropped to her chest, her tears dripping
onto her shirt.
"You listen to me Samantha McKenna!" Riley demanded angrily.
Sam's head popped up at Riley's angry tone. For the first time since she'd
entered the condo, Riley's eyes were full of life and sparking with her anger.
"This is not your fault! I was already dating women before I ever met you. It was
just a matter of time before my uncle found out or I told him. I'm only going to
say this to you one more time! You...didn't... pressure... me... into... anything!
Riley punctuated each of her words with a sharp poke into Sam's chest.
Sam couldn't help it, she grinned helplessly. Riley was just so damn cute when
she was mad. "OK... OK...I get it!" Sam said rubbing her chest where Riley had
repeatedly poked her.
"Good." Riley exclaimed as she settled back into Sam's arms.
Neither woman spoke for some time they just savored the feeling of safety and
comfort offered by the other woman. As the tension of the night finally caught up
with Riley, she yawned widely wincing at the pulling on her split lip. Sam
caressed Riley's hair as she yawned again.
"Maybe I should go. You need to get some sleep."
Riley tightened her hold on Sam. "Please don't go. I don't want to be alone."
Riley pleaded.
Sam slid further down into the bed drawing Riley closer to her. "I'll stay 'til you
fall asleep then I'll crash on your couch...okay?"
Riley pressed against Sam's side and looked up into her eyes. Her lower lip
stuck out in a pout. "No, stay here... in my bed with me." Riley could read the
hesitation on Sam's face. "Please," she added.
Sam couldn't resist the plea in Riley's voice. "Sure Baby, whatever you need."
Riley hugged Sam tight.
"I'm not sure I have anything that would fit you."
"That's alright; I'm fine like I am."
"You can't sleep like that Honey. Let me see what I can find." Riley said climbing out of bed over Sam's protests.
She rummaged around in several drawers before coming up with an oversized
tee shirt. She held it up to herself and it came down to her knees. She pressed
the shirt into Sam's hands. Sam had learned to recognize that particular
stubborn look on Riley's face and knew there was no sense in protesting further.
She headed for the bathroom to change. Riley followed her pointing out where
the towels were and getting her a spare toothbrush. Once Riley was gone Sam
set about getting ready for bed. She stripped down to her bra and boxers.
Changing her mind, she removed her bra before slipping the shirt over her head.
It fit more like a tee shirt on her. It was slightly tight across the shoulders and
chest and did nothing to hide the outline of her breasts. The shirt that had gone
to Riley's knee's barely made it to the top of her thighs and her boxers stuck out
from under the shirt. Shrugging her shoulders she made her way back into the
bedroom.
Riley had turned off the overhead light leaving just the bedside light burning.
She'd removed the comforter leaving a sheet and light blanket on the bed. She
pulled back the covers invitingly when Sam approached. Sam swallowed hard
still not convinced this was a good idea. Buck up McKenna, she chastised
herself, look at her she needs you. She slipped into the bed and settled on her
back. Riley turned off the light. Even though the bed was a queen, there wasn't a
lot of space between them. Sam wasn't a small woman like Riley. Sam glanced
over at Riley. She could just make out her face in the moonlight coming in from
the open drapes. Her eyes were open and she appeared to be staring at the
ceiling.
"Come here Riley." Sam said lifting her arm up.
Riley didn't have to be told twice. She immediately came into Sam's arms resting
her head on her shoulder. Sam's arms came around Riley.
"Good night Riley." Sam whispered softly.
"Night Sam. Thank you for staying." Riley said sighing quietly.
She pressed the length of her body against Sam's side. It wasn't long before
Sam felt Riley relax and her breathing even out. Sam lay for a long time enjoying
the feel of Riley in her arms. She too eventually drifted off to sleep.
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