Chapter40
At breakfast, Sam went upstairs to get his stuff. Ashley waited downstairs. His phone buzzed; it was a message from “Sweetest Tanya“. Ashley paused. She always respected his privacy; she’d never snooped. But seeing the notification, she thought for a while and then took his phone. She saw that Sam messaged Tanya every morning and they chatted extensively. Hearing the elevator, she put the phone back.
Sam saw Tanya’s reply–she didn’t text back because she was still asleep, and she missed him too.
was going on. He beamed. Ashley looked back and immediately knew what
In the car, Sam chatted with Tanya, occasionally checking if Ashley was watching him. Luckily, she focused on driving. After half an hour, he stopped chatting.
“Mom, are you free this afternoon?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Just answer me yes or no.” Sam didn’t tell her what the matter was.
“I’m busy this afternoon. What’s going on?”
Sam smiled.“Nothing.” Mom wouldn’t pick him up, so he could see Tanya after school! At school, Ashley talked with Sam’s teacher, who then took them to his classroom. A sweet voice called, “Ashley!”
Ashley froze. A little girl ran into her arms. Ashley recognized her: Kelly, the girl she’d saved from a dog.
Kelly was adorable. Ashley said, “Kelly, are you at this school too?”
Before Ashley could speak, Sam pushed Kelly. Ashley caught the falling child. “Kelly, are you okay?”
Kelly cried, “Why did you push me…”
Sam didn’t like the girl in Ashley’s arms. He scowled.“You’re ugly and disgusting!”
