Free Forever and Always by Beverley Hollowed Page A

Melanie was going to get hurt in the end when the time came to come home and leave Sam behind. Melanie reassured Sarah that she knew what she was doing and that she was aware she was going to have to eventually have to say goodbye to Sam. And she had completely accepted that she and Sam could never last. But she told her she was having fun.
    Melanie sounded so convincing she almost made herself believe what she was saying but deep inside she knew it was going to break her heart to leave Sam behind. She knew no matter how things worked out with Sam she would never feel about anyone else the way she felt about him. He would be the guy she would measure all the rest against. And if she was completely honest she wondered if there could ever be anyone else.
    Melanie woke up one morning, about four weeks after she had arrived at the beach house. She reached over to switch off the alarm on her phone but she realised that it wasn’t actually buzzing. It wasn’t her phone that had woken her up. It was Maggie talking on the phone. Her voice was tense. Something was wrong.
    Melanie quickly climbed out of bed and hurried out to the lounge area. Maggie was pacing up and down the floor. She seemed upset. Melanie felt her stomach knot, something was defiantly wrong and she knew it wasn’t going to be good.
    “Ok” Maggie said the worry very clear in her voice. “I will be there as soon as I can. Ok. Goodbye”.
    “What’s wrong?” Melanie asked fear tying her stomach in knots.
    “We have to go back to Boston” Maggie said sadly realising what her words would mean to Melanie.
    “Why?” Melanie asked as the breath was sucked from her body. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly. She quickly sat down on the sofa before she fell down.
    “Your remember Mark” Maggie said. Mark was Maggie’s ex. everyone thought they would get married, including Mark. Mark proposed to Maggie on the last Valentine’s Day. But instead of getting the yes he expected. Maggie said no and finished with him. No one knew why. She had refused to talk about it.
    Melanie nodded trying hard to keep her breathing steady.
    “He was in an accident” Maggie said as she slumped down into the chair facing Melanie. “He still had me down as next of kin so they called me. He is badly injured”.
    “Oh that’s so awful” Melanie said trying hard not to think of the awful thing that was about to happen to her.
    “I need to go and be there for him Mel” she said her eyes filled with guilt. “I am sorry but we have to leave this morning”.
    “Why can’t I stay here” Melanie blurted, she couldn’t believe she said it out loud. She wanted to be supportive and less selfish but she didn’t want to leave Sam. Not yet.
    “Melanie I can’t leave you here unattended” Maggie said wishing she wasn’t the one that was about to break Melanie’s heart. “Your Mom and Dad would freak”.
    “What if they say I can stay” Melanie begged. But even she knew the likelihood of that happening were very slim.
    “I don’t think that is going to happen” Maggie replied her eyes filled with regret. “I think your Dad would go ballistic if he knew you were left here alone.
    “But I wouldn’t be alone” she said desperately. “Sam would be here”.
    “Mel I know Sam is a great kid” Maggie said moving closer to Melanie. “But there is no way your parents are going to give permission for you to stay here with someone they haven’t even met”.
    “They might Maggie” Maggie said giving her a knowing smile. “If you were to put a good word in for me”.
    “Mel I don’t think...” Maggie began to say but Melanie didn’t wait for her to finish.
    “Maggie, please” Melanie begged. “In a few weeks I will have to go home. This is the only time we are going to have together. Please Maggie please”.
    “Ok ok enough” Maggie said. “I will call your Mom but I can’t promise anything”.
    “Thanks Maggie” Melanie said handing her the phone.
    “You want me to