A Rose in Shadow

Chapter 52

THURSDAY

Thursday morning Samantha called her folks, hoping to catch them both before they left to start their respective work days. She had an early morning lab herself so was dialing as she walked from the parking lot to the nursing building after Adam dropped her off.

"To what do we owe this pleasure?" came her Dad's teasing voice as he answered the phone. She smiled. "Good morning, my pops" she answered cheerfully. "Just wanted to catch you both with some news before you left for the day" And before you heard it from Mac, she added in her head.

"Okay, here's Mom too, you're on speaker"

She moved around a couple sitting right in the middle of the steps leading to the building. They were extremely into each other and didn't notice the others trying to go in and out. She tried not to hit them with her backpack as she steered around and then thought that they probably wouldn't even feel it. It was becoming almost pornographic and Samantha had to look away. She felt like a voyeur.

"So, you both know that I've been seeing someone."

"The cop" her dad said.

"Right. Adam is a detective here." She glanced at her watch and started jogging up the stairs to the second floor while she spoke.

"Well, we've decided to move in together"

"Wait a minute, young lady" this time it was her mother's voice that cut in. "You hardly know this guy".

"Mom, Dad" she stopped and walked to one side of the hallway to stand against the wall out of the way.

"I'm 24. I'm responsible and mature. I can promise you that I've thought about this and it's what I want. Adam is who I want to be with.

A heavy sigh from her mom again before her dad spoke up. "Okay, Smalls, if you're sure, but it's hard for us being here and hearing this when we haven't even met the guy yet. I mean, Mac says he's a decent fellow but I'd like to see for myself"

"I know and I'm sorry that you haven't met him yet. We hope to get there next month for a visit when we both have a weekend off." She looked at her watch again. "Look, I've got to go. We can talk more about it later and I know that Adam would be happy to talk to you both over the phone before you meet face to face. I'll call tomorrow night on my break, okay?"

"Okay, honey. We'll talk to you tomorrow" and as she was hanging up she heard her mother say "Pete, you better call Mac. I want to hear from him" She rolled her eyes. Like her big brother was still in charge of her.