“Samantha”

“I’m right here EJ?”

He was alarmed at the sight of the bandage and the sling. “Are you alright sweetheart? I tried to protect you.” He sighed, “Doesn’t appear I did a bloody good job of it eh?”

“Stop that!” She pointed to her shoulder, “This could have been a lot worse. You saved me. Like you always do.”

He smiled, “Well I’m glad you’re alright. I was worried.”

She absentmindedly stroked his hand with her thumb, “God EJ I was so scared.”

He looked at her with a bit of confusion, “Scared? Why would you be scared Samantha? I know that you don’t care about me? So why would it matter if I got shot. Honestly I thought you would be elated that you could have been free of me finally.”

Sami sat there in shock, “My God EJ. What you must think of me? Of course I care. You are the father of my child and my husband for god’s sake.”

He looked away from her, “Samantha please. You’ve told me over and over again how little you care for me. Why should I believe you now eh? You just feel pity and I don’t want your pity.” He pulled his hand away from her.

“EJ don’t tell me how to feel damn it! I said I care about you and I mean that.” She put her hand to his face and forced him to look at her. “I don’t want you to die and I certainly didn’t want you to have to suffer”

“That’s rich Samantha. Weren’t you just promising me a marriage from hell. Well you’ve got it darling. I’m in hell. Happy now?” He looked away from her again. “Just go home Samantha. Go home and leave me alone” He leaned back and closed his eyes, praying she would just leave.

She stood up and put her hand on her hip, “I’m not leaving EJ. I’m not leaving and you can’t make me”

He turned to look at her, “God you are stubborn. But Samantha, honestly, I can’t bear for you to look at me with pity in your eyes. I’m not about to saddle you with an invalid husband. So I release you. Go home. Be with Lucas. Just leave me alone.”

She sat down next to his bed and took his hand in hers. She cast her eyes down and merely spoke at a whisper. “I’m not leaving EJ. Look I took vows okay. Vows that I take very seriously. I’m staying here because you need me and I am your wife.”

“No Samantha. Go home to Lucas and the babies. Just let me die in peace.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. She squeezed his hand tightly. “Don’t you dare talk like that EJ! You have to live!”

His face was turned away from her but she saw the tear that slipped down his cheek as he squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He spoke haltingly. “What…is…there…to live for now?”

She stood up and climbed into his bed next to him. She pulled him close and whispered, “Live for me.”

He laid there in her arms for what seemed an eternity. He was just drinking in the moment. The feel of her skin on his. The sweet smell of her perfume. God how he wanted to believe her. Believe that she cared. Her voice broke his revelry. “What are you thinking about EJ?” She stroked his hair as though he was a child.

“That you’re awfully hard to get rid of”

She brought his face to hers. “EJ, look, I do care about you and I want you to live. Not just for me but for our son. He needs both of us. Don’t make him grow up without a father. Please.”

“Don’t you see Samantha? He would be better off without me. I don’t want him to have to spend his life taking care of me. That’s not fair.”

“No EJ. Abandoning him would be unfair. Gianni needs his father and I need you too. Together we can beat this.”

“Samantha…I know that I need to be there for my son but….god. This is so hard. I suppose I deserve this”

She pulled him close again. “EJ no one deserves this. With a little perseverance and a lot of hard work we can beat this. Together. I’ll help you. We’ll make a miracle.”

“Oh. Ha. Hallelujah” He chuckled.

“Well you’re smiling. That’s a start. But you still don’t believe that I care about you do you?” He looked at her and said nothing. “Well I guess I’ll just have to show you” She drew him close and hesitated briefly before gently kissing him. He was shocked by the gesture at first but began responding to the kiss. She deepened the kiss and he pulled her into him. She felt the wetness of his tears and pulled away. “What’s wrong EJ?”

“God. Samantha. I so want to believe you. I love you so much.” She leaned in for another brief kiss. “Believe me. I want you to live. Live for me and our son. Do that.”

“And?”

“Do that” She smiled at him. “And I will make our marriage work. That’s a promise.”

He cupped her face in his hands and drew her into a kiss, “I promise”