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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Eddie called from the hospital asking Sam to pick them up. The big Mercedes in the garage had not been sold and proved itself useful. It was the only car John owned that was not a sports car. On the ride home it was impossible not to notice a piece was missing. They pulled in front of the house at Tanya’ s insistence. Opening the front door proved more than Eddie could bear. Sam watched as he steadied himself and quickly closed the door. She saw the tears pour from his eyes.“ Take them to your house. I have a mess to clean,” he said to Sam.“ No. You are all coming to my house. I’ ll send someone to clean,” she said, herding them back to the car. Sam climbed behind the wheel.“ This house is going to be a constant reminder. Please come live with me,” Sam begged.“ It would be as if he made us leave. I can’ t do that to my son,” Tanya spoke for the first time since leaving the hospital. Nicole began to cry.“ Someone has to call Shelby,” she said through the tears. Tanya held her daughter as the sobs racked her body.“ Do you know where she lives?” Sam asked when she calmed. This was not the kind of news you handed out over the phone to ones girlfriend, no matter how short the relationship.“ I think so,” Nicole said and suddenly felt worse because she wasn’ t sure which house it was. She began to cry again.
Nicole managed to direct Sam to the correct street. With the car creeping down the street Nicole was able to narrow it down to three houses. Sam stopped the car and decided someone would know Shelby. Sam walked up the first driveway and rang the door bell. She was glad she had taken the time to put on makeup and nice clothing. She hoped the occupants didn’ t think she was a door to door salesperson.“ Avon calling!” was all Sam could think when she heard the chime from inside the house. There was no answer and Sam headed toward the next house. She was almost to the door when a car pulled into the third choice. She backtracked down the driveway in high heels. Figuring she could catch the driver before he or she made it to the door. Shelby recognized Sam as she got out of the car. Her mother was riding in the passenger seat.“ Do you know our neighbors?” Shelby asked.“ I was looking for you,” Sam said. Justin wasn’ t in school today. I tried to call but he never called me back,” Shelby said as her mother stepped around the vehicle.“ This is Justin’ s Aunt Samantha. The one who had the party,” Shelby explained to her mom.“ He is such a nice young man. He was here yesterday.” Sam opened the car door.“ Sit down please,” she said to Shelby.“ What’ s going on?” Shelby asked.“ There was an accident and Justin... died.” The words sounded surreal to Sam.“ No! No! No!” Shelby screamed as her mother helped her take a seat.“ Was he driving?” Shelby asked trying to understand the word“ Accident”.“ He was trying to play a joke on his father. It went terribly wrong.”“ He wanted to scare his dad,” Shelby said. The horror spread across her face.“ His father thought it was a burglar and shot him,” Sam said.“ His dad doesn’ t have a gun. I told him he could get shot. He said his dad hated guns. They only went fishing. His father wouldn’ t even let Justin have a BB gun. I could have stopped this,” the words slipped from Shelby and she searched Sam’ s face for an accusatory look.“ Don’ t you dare put this on yourself,” Sam’ s tone startled the young girl.“ All of us who knew him could make that same statement. Did Justin mention my husband passed away recently?” Sam asked. Shelby nodded.“ I could certainly have blamed his passing on the fact that he died having sex with me. You did not know him long enough to carry that guilt.”“ You are rather blunt,” Shelby’ s mom said.