Free Heart's Surrender by Emma Weimann Page B

as it is—presents are his way of saying sorry. You have to accept that.”
    “More his way of buying himself an ‘it’s all right we forgive you’—again.” Sam balled her hands into fists. They would never agree on their father’s behavior and the way he tried to manipulate and buy everyone around him—including his family.
    “Sam.” Victoria reached out and took hold of Sam’s hands. “He is her grandfather. And I really don’t want to lose another part of my family. I want my child to have contact with him as long as she’s up for it. Once she decides that she doesn’t want to see him anymore…” She shrugged. “Well, then it is her decision. But until then, he’s going to be part of our lives. A very small part as it is.”
    Sam shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’ll never get it. But it’s your decision.”
    “I know. Come on, let’s relax a bit on the sofa.”
    “Yeah.”
    They settled on the sofa in the living room, Victoria scooting close enough to rest her head against Sam’s shoulder.
    Anger was still coursing through Sam. Anger about her father’s behavior, Victoria’s decision to let him stay in her life and, on top of all of that, an anger burning about the way all of this still affected her. Even after all of these years.
    “So, what’s up in your life?”
    “Why?”
    “You haven’t stopped fidgeting around like a five year old since you crossed the threshold.”
    “Have not.”
    Victoria just hummed quietly.
    Sam found it hard to breathe. She had been looking forward to and at the same time feared telling her sister about Gillian. Talking about “it”, about Gillian, would make everything real and Sam still wasn’t sure if that was what she wanted. But her mind and her emotions had been spinning in circles over these past days and she needed to tell someone. “I met a woman.”
    “And?”
    “She’s funny. She’s interesting. She’s,” Sam chewed on her bottom lip, “an amazing lover. Sexy as hell.” She sighed. “And she’s getting under my skin.”
    Victoria whistled. “Wow. And?”
    Sam grimaced. “She has money. Loads of it. She’s rich.”
    “Oh no. What a shame.” Victoria laughed out loud.
    “This. Is. Not. Funny.”
    “Oh yes, it is.”
    Sam’s hands curled into fists. “No, it’s not.”
    “I really believe you’re the only person that has a problem with having a rich girlfriend.”
    Sam bit down on the bitchy response that was lingering on the tip of her tongue. Needing some distance, she got up and went into the kitchen. She took a bottle of beer out of the fridge. “It’s not funny at all,” she said to herself, before opening the bottle and walking back to the living room. She stopped in the open door. “I don’t cope well with…you know…rich people.” Though it wasn’t mainly the money but the behavior that came with it. The whole “we own the world and you” attitude that she hated like an ugly rash.
    “So, you can’t cope with us, either?” There was a bite to Victoria’s words.
    “That is not the same.”
    Victoria made an irritated sound deep in her throat. “Why not? And since when have you become such a snob?” Her sister’s voice was so soft that it nearly took the sting out of those words. “Come here.” She patted the empty space next to her on the couch.
    “A snob? Me?” Sam pointed at her breast. “I’m a snob?”
    “Come here, you goof, before I drag you here.” Victoria pointedly stared at the empty space beside her.
    “As if…” Sam grumbled but sat down. She placed her beer on the low table.
    “Oh yes. You are some kind of snob. You don’t judge people by who they are but by how much money they have. And you think you’re a better person because you’re not rich.”
    Sam leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. She couldn’t deny that what Victoria said was true. “Can you blame me?”
    “No, I don’t and you know that. What they did to you was totally, utterly wrong and shitty