Chicago,”
“I’ll try,” promised Sam. “But I’ll have a lot on my plate;
the biggest will be my mother.”
“Bunny.” Ian rolled his eyes. “If you need someone to talk
to, I’ll be here,”
“Thanks,” said Sam somewhat touched. “I appreciate it.”
“Take care, Sam.” Ian’s soft low voice touched her with
tenderness and Sam almost melted. Sighing, she went back to work and tried to
stay focused on her task, but the thought of Ian kissing her kept running
through her mind.
****
As the plane made its descent into O’Hare, Sam had a sad
moment. She had lived in Chicago her entire life and the realization set in she
would be leaving, hit hard. She mentally shrugged off this feeling by telling
herself it would be for the better. However, she did not look forward to
listening to Bunny. As she made her way to the baggage claim area, her cell
phone rang and Sam looked at the display and cringed. She knew she better take
it.
“Hey, Mom. Just on my way to get my luggage,” said Sam
hoping to keep this short.
“Well? You didn’t even call me,” said Bunny, making Sam
flashback to being a teenager again.
“I've been really busy. I worked and there is a two hour
time difference. While you’re wide awake and working, I’m still in bed. Don’t
try to make me feel guilty. It’s not that I fell off the face of the earth, you
know.” Sam watched as the luggage belt began to roll. “I have to go. I’ll call
you when I get home.”
“I’m at your apartment so you don’t have to call. I’ll be
waiting.”
“But I have to stop first and get Cracker from the kennel.”
“Too late. I got him out myself,” replied Bunny tersely. “That
poor dog. How dare you put him in the kennel like he's nothing?”
“Fine,” said Sam resolutely. You just couldn't reason with
Bunny. She disconnected the call and waited for the limo to take her home.
The ride to her condo took about an hour while Sam tried to
figure out the best way to approach her mother. She knew what she should do,
but Bunny would fight her all the way. Once she got home, Sam squared her
shoulders and prepared for the onslaught.
“How’s my baby,” crooned Sam as Cracker greeted her
enthusiastically. “I missed you so much.”
“He’s happy to be out of that kennel, he is,” said Bunny. “Well?”
Bunny stared at Sam with her arms crossed, her foot tapping at high speed.
“Like I told you, everything is going to be fine.” Sam
wearily set her purse on the dining room table and sat down. “I leave here on
Sunday night, on Jett’s private jet so I can take Cracker with me.”
“You’re taking my grand dog?” asked Bunny. “Not only are you
deserting your parents, you’re taking my Cracker?”
“Uh, yeah.” Sam looked at her mother as if Bunny had lost
her head. “Cracker is my dog. I want him with me.”
“But it’s too hot in California. He’ll never survive. Sam,
the dog lives for snow. You’re going to take that away from him?”
“There’s air conditioning and lots of people in California
have huskies. I’ve seen pictures of them swimming in the ocean.” Sam stopped
and attempted to redirect her approach. “Mom, why are you making this so hard
for me? I could be going off to Africa to join the Peace Corps, but I’m not.”
“Honey, it’s just that your father and I think you’re making
a terrible mistake. Besides, Samantha, you’re our baby. I’ve already had one
child leave the nest, and I don’t want to lose you, too.” Bunny sat next to Sam
and took her hand. “Please? I know you can find a job here.”
“I know I’m the baby, but I have to grow up. This is a perfect
opportunity for me. I know I can show both you and dad what a good job you’ve
done raising me. If this doesn’t work out, then fine, I made a mistake. But at
least let me try.”
“What are you going to do about your car? What about your
place here? Where are you going to live in California? Have you asked
“I’ll try,” promised Sam. “But I’ll have a lot on my plate;
the biggest will be my mother.”
“Bunny.” Ian rolled his eyes. “If you need someone to talk
to, I’ll be here,”
“Thanks,” said Sam somewhat touched. “I appreciate it.”
“Take care, Sam.” Ian’s soft low voice touched her with
tenderness and Sam almost melted. Sighing, she went back to work and tried to
stay focused on her task, but the thought of Ian kissing her kept running
through her mind.
****
As the plane made its descent into O’Hare, Sam had a sad
moment. She had lived in Chicago her entire life and the realization set in she
would be leaving, hit hard. She mentally shrugged off this feeling by telling
herself it would be for the better. However, she did not look forward to
listening to Bunny. As she made her way to the baggage claim area, her cell
phone rang and Sam looked at the display and cringed. She knew she better take
it.
“Hey, Mom. Just on my way to get my luggage,” said Sam
hoping to keep this short.
“Well? You didn’t even call me,” said Bunny, making Sam
flashback to being a teenager again.
“I've been really busy. I worked and there is a two hour
time difference. While you’re wide awake and working, I’m still in bed. Don’t
try to make me feel guilty. It’s not that I fell off the face of the earth, you
know.” Sam watched as the luggage belt began to roll. “I have to go. I’ll call
you when I get home.”
“I’m at your apartment so you don’t have to call. I’ll be
waiting.”
“But I have to stop first and get Cracker from the kennel.”
“Too late. I got him out myself,” replied Bunny tersely. “That
poor dog. How dare you put him in the kennel like he's nothing?”
“Fine,” said Sam resolutely. You just couldn't reason with
Bunny. She disconnected the call and waited for the limo to take her home.
The ride to her condo took about an hour while Sam tried to
figure out the best way to approach her mother. She knew what she should do,
but Bunny would fight her all the way. Once she got home, Sam squared her
shoulders and prepared for the onslaught.
“How’s my baby,” crooned Sam as Cracker greeted her
enthusiastically. “I missed you so much.”
“He’s happy to be out of that kennel, he is,” said Bunny. “Well?”
Bunny stared at Sam with her arms crossed, her foot tapping at high speed.
“Like I told you, everything is going to be fine.” Sam
wearily set her purse on the dining room table and sat down. “I leave here on
Sunday night, on Jett’s private jet so I can take Cracker with me.”
“You’re taking my grand dog?” asked Bunny. “Not only are you
deserting your parents, you’re taking my Cracker?”
“Uh, yeah.” Sam looked at her mother as if Bunny had lost
her head. “Cracker is my dog. I want him with me.”
“But it’s too hot in California. He’ll never survive. Sam,
the dog lives for snow. You’re going to take that away from him?”
“There’s air conditioning and lots of people in California
have huskies. I’ve seen pictures of them swimming in the ocean.” Sam stopped
and attempted to redirect her approach. “Mom, why are you making this so hard
for me? I could be going off to Africa to join the Peace Corps, but I’m not.”
“Honey, it’s just that your father and I think you’re making
a terrible mistake. Besides, Samantha, you’re our baby. I’ve already had one
child leave the nest, and I don’t want to lose you, too.” Bunny sat next to Sam
and took her hand. “Please? I know you can find a job here.”
“I know I’m the baby, but I have to grow up. This is a perfect
opportunity for me. I know I can show both you and dad what a good job you’ve
done raising me. If this doesn’t work out, then fine, I made a mistake. But at
least let me try.”
“What are you going to do about your car? What about your
place here? Where are you going to live in California? Have you asked
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