Part 20 (1/2)
Observing the emotions play across her face, Fritz c.o.c.ked his head. ”You seem almost happy that you were drugged . . .”
”I'm not,” she said with a shake of her head. ”It's just-” She gave a rueful laugh, but it ended with her voice cracking. Clearing her throat, she continued: ”Anne has told me how fast the stories fly around here. How much do you know about my injuries?”
”I heard you were attacked and suffered a head injury,” he answered gently.
”Yes . . . and it put me in a coma.” Sam gnawed on her bottom lip and grasped the porch railing. ”And when I woke up . . . nothing was the same. My left leg didn't work right; I couldn't go outside without feeling like I was being watched; I've had nightmares-”
Fritz placed his hand over hers, but said nothing.
”But lately, I've been getting better,” she continued in a firm voice. ”My leg is stronger; I'm not as afraid as I was; and the nightmares aren't as frequent-” Her voice dropped and her eyes filled with tears. ”When Jackson told me how I'd acted at your party and I couldn't remember doing any of the things he said, it scared me.” She swiped her eyes. ”I thought I'd had a relapse.”
”But if Teddy drugged you, there's an explanation.”
”Exactly,” she replied with a sniff.
He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. ”You poor dear. You've suffered so much.” His face tightened. ”And now that young man plays an evil trick on you-it's inexcusable. I'll speak to Irene.”
Sam's hand shot out. ”No, please don't. We can't prove it.”
”Are you sure you don't want me to say anything?”
”Yes,” she said, letting out a long breath.
She felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Thanks to Fritz, she could stop taking her nightly medication without guilt. Jackson was wrong-the blackout hadn't been caused by withdrawal-she was sure of it. But the mistake wasn't his fault. Teddy had made a good impression on him. He would never have expected that kid to drug her. And she couldn't wait to tell him-he had to be as relieved as she was when he learned that there was a logical explanation.
Chapter Twenty.
Walking back to the cabin, Anne noticed the change in Sam's mood. She gave her a sideways glance. ”I'm guessing that you apologized to Fritz?”
”Yeah, and he was very kind about it,” Sam said with a frown, then related the whole conversation. Finished, she looked over at Anne. ”You look skeptical. You don't agree?”
Anne waited before speaking. ”It's possible. I wouldn't put anything past Teddy-but Dr. Van Horn seemed so convinced it was a reaction-”
”Anne, I only took the nightly pill sporadically at the beginning, and now I haven't had any for days,” Sam insisted. ”And while I'm being honest, I've quit taking the antidepressants.” Her chin went up a notch. ”And I've felt better without them.”
”But-”
”Can we give it the rest of the week and see what happens?” she pleaded. ”If I have another episode, I'll go back on them.”
Anne tugged on her lip. She believed a patient's input was an important part of her recovery, but not to the point of disregarding her doctor's orders. And Dr. Van Horn had been insistent that Sam continue the medication. Her memory went back to the first day she'd met Sam. She'd wondered if Sam's lethargy had been a result of the medication.
”Please? If you're worried it will get you fired, don't,” Sam said, rus.h.i.+ng the words. ”I'll take full responsibility.”
With a sigh, Anne made her decision. ”Okay, you can skip the pills tonight, but you have to agree to an appointment with one of the doctors at the hospital. Then, if they say it's okay-”
”Thanks.”
”I'll try and get you in tomorrow.”
”Okay,” Sam replied, wandering over to the dying plant by the porch steps.
As she neared the plant, Roxy let out a low whine, but Sam ignored her.
Surprised, Anne followed and watched as Sam bent and stroked one of the dying leaves.
”Poor thing,” she said softly while her eyes seemed to lose their focus, ”you've been neglected, haven't you? Love Lies Bleeding-so beautiful . . .” Her voice trailed away as she continued to finger the leaves.
”What did you say?” Anne asked, lightly touching her arm.
Sam snapped back from her reverie. ”Nothing. I-ah-just wondered what kind of a bush this is.”
Anne c.o.c.ked her head. ”You called it Love Lies Bleeding.”
”I did?” She fingered Roxy's leash. ”Oh, I probably saw a picture in some magazine and recognized it.” Sam took a small step onto the porch, her eyes avoiding the plant. ”I'm hungry. Are you hungry? Why don't we-”
She stopped abruptly at the sound of a car coming down the road. Anne turned and, shading her eyes against the setting sun, watched a black Town Car slowly roll to a stop in front of the cabin. Sam groaned when the driver exited the vehicle.
”Dad,” she hissed. ”Jackson didn't waste any time calling him.”
With purposeful steps, Lawrence Moore crossed the yard, his eyes hidden behind aviator sungla.s.ses. At the bottom of the steps, he stopped and whipped off the gla.s.ses. ”Anne,” he said tersely before turning his attention to Sam.
”Hi, Dad,” Sam said with false brightness. ”What a surprise.”
The air grew heavy with tension as his lips curved down in a frown. ”Is it?”
Sam stiffened, and Roxy, sensing her unease, moved closer to her side while a low growl rumbled deep in her chest.
Lawrence, noticing the dog's reaction, took a step back. ”I heard about that,” he said, waving a finger at the dog. His eyes s.h.i.+fted to Sam. ”Really, Samantha. Tomorrow you'll take it back to wherever you found it.”
”No, I won't.”
His eyes flared at Sam's defiance. ”What?”
She stood her ground. ”I said no. I love that dog and I'm not giving her up. I'm keeping her whether you like it or not.”
”Fine. We'll discuss the dog later,” he said, striding past Anne and his daughter and into the cabin.
The two followed him, but once they were inside, Anne was struck by Lawrence Moore's presence. It was as if he filled the small cabin, sucking the air right out of the s.p.a.ce. She dreaded what was to come.
Pulling out a chair, he sat down and, leaning back, glared at Sam. ”Do you want to explain what happened last night?”
”Why? I'm sure Jackson has already told you. It's why you're here, isn't it?”
”Jackson is concerned. He told me that you're not living up to your end of our agreement. You're not following through with your medications and no one's guaranteeing that you are.” Leaning forward, he raked Anne up and down with his eyes. ”I'm worried we made the wrong choice in your therapist.”
Anne's stomach dropped. Great-she was getting fired for sure. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but Sam's hand on her arm stopped her.