C368 Think Carefully

The moment Sarah saw Samantha enter the room, she smiled faintly and slowly adjusted herself against the hospital bed. The events of the day had exhausted her, but compared to the fear she had felt earlier, she now looked much calmer. Samantha hesitated for a moment before walking closer. For some reason, she felt more nervous facing Sarah now than she had when Sarah was kidnapped.

Sarah noticed her hesitation and patted the chair beside the bed. "Come sit." Samantha obediently sat down. For a few seconds neither of them spoke. The silence made Samantha even more uncomfortable. Finally, Sarah broke it. "Sam." Samantha immediately looked up. Sarah smiled softly. "Many things happened today." Her gaze drifted toward the sleeping baby in the bassinet. "I was kidnapped. Alicia almost died trying to save me. I gave birth." She shook her head and laughed softly. "Honestly, I still feel like I'm dreaming." Samantha smiled weakly.

Sarah then looked directly at her. "And in the middle of all that, there is still the matter of you and Faith." The smile on Samantha's face immediately disappeared. She lowered her head. Sarah noticed. "Look at you." Samantha sighed. "I knew this was coming." Sarah leaned back slightly. "I want to be honest with you." Samantha remained silent. "Today I saw how worried you were about me." Sarah's eyes softened. "I saw how you cried when I disappeared. I saw how you panicked when nobody could find me." She smiled. "You didn't only act like my sister today." "You acted like my best friend too."

Samantha felt her eyes becoming warm. "Sarah..." Sarah raised a hand. "Let me finish." Samantha nodded. Sarah took a deep breath. "Because of that, I want you to know that I appreciate you." Samantha's heart relaxed slightly. Then Sarah continued. "But..." The single word immediately made Samantha tense again. Sarah noticed and almost laughed. "But me appreciating you doesn't mean I'm happy about what you did." Samantha immediately lowered her head. "I know." "No." Sarah shook her head. "I don't think you do."

She pointed directly at her. "You kissed another woman while you're still married." Samantha winced. Sarah sighed. "Sam, I love you. That's why I'm telling you the truth." The room became quiet again. After a while Sarah continued in a gentler voice. "However..." Samantha looked up. "My disappointment doesn't mean you can't be happy." That statement surprised Samantha. Sarah smiled. "You're an adult." "You are old enough to make your own decisions." She paused before continuing. "If you want to keep this a secret, then I will keep it a secret."

Samantha froze. "If you decide to continue seeing Faith, I won't judge you." Samantha stared at her in disbelief. "I won't expose you." "I won't lecture you every day." "I won't tell Mom, Dad, Ben, or anyone else." Sarah pointed at her again. "But remember one thing." Samantha swallowed. "You are still married." The words landed heavily. Sarah continued. "You are still my brother's wife." Samantha lowered her head again. "I know." Sarah nodded. "So whatever decision you make, make sure you think carefully."

She looked toward the window for a moment before continuing. "I'll pretend I didn't see anything." "Not because I approve." "But because I trust you to make your own choices." The room became silent. After a while Sarah spoke again. "There's another thing." Samantha looked up. "Have you discussed any of this with Faith?" Samantha shook her head. "No." Sarah frowned. "Then you need to." "Immediately." Samantha looked confused. Sarah sighed. "You keep talking about what you feel." "You keep talking about how confused you are." "But have you actually thought about what Faith feels?"

Samantha froze. Sarah continued. "What if you're interested now but lose interest later?" "What if she becomes serious?" "What if she gets hurt?" Samantha became thoughtful. Sarah wasn't finished. "And what if the opposite happens?" Samantha blinked. "The opposite?" Sarah nodded. "What if Faith is the one experimenting?" The words hit Samantha harder than she expected. Sarah continued. "What if she's only curious?" "What if she's trying to figure herself out?" "What if she wants to know what it feels like to kiss a woman?"

Sarah leaned forward slightly. "And after she figures it out, she leaves?" Samantha fell silent. She had never considered that possibility. Sarah smiled gently. "You need to talk." "You need to know where both of you stand." After a few seconds Sarah suddenly asked, "Does she know you're married?" Samantha looked at her strangely. Sarah immediately shook her head. "No." "That was a stupid question." "Of course she knows." The two women laughed. Sarah then asked another question. "Is she married?" Samantha shook her head. "I don't know. "

For a while neither spoke. Finally Samantha sighed. "Sister, I'll discuss everything with her." She looked down at her hands. "And after that I'll make a decision." Sarah smiled. "Good." She then glanced toward the bassinet. "Besides..." Samantha followed her gaze. Sarah grinned. "Monica finally has someone to play with." The two women burst into laughter. The tension that had been hanging between them since the afternoon finally disappeared. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Before anyone could respond, the door flew open.

Valeria rushed inside excitedly. "My daughter!" She immediately wrapped Sarah in a hug. Sarah groaned loudly. "Mother!" "It still hurts!" Valeria ignored her completely. "My grandson!" "My beautiful grandson!" Sarah laughed helplessly. A few moments later Chris and David entered the room behind her. Chris immediately looked around. "Mother." Valeria turned. Chris pointed at the baby. "Is his head big?" The entire room went silent. Everyone stared at him. Even Tracy and Kelvin exchanged confused looks.

Chris noticed their expressions. "No!" He quickly pointed at himself. "I mean my head!" "Sarah keeps calling me Big Head." He pointed at the baby. "And she said my son also has a big head." Sarah immediately burst out laughing. The others followed. Chris looked offended. "I'm asking a serious question." Valeria wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "We came here to see the baby." She pointed toward the large bag she had brought. "And I brought clothes." Samantha immediately walked over and opened it. Her eyes widened. "So many!"

She started pulling items out one after another. "Look, Sarah!" "Baby blankets!" "Little shoes!" "Oh my God." She suddenly held up a pink romper. "Even pink rompers!" The room exploded with laughter. Valeria laughed too. "I didn't know whether the baby would be a boy or a girl." "So I bought everything." Chris shook his head. "Mother, you were prepared." "The day I learned Sarah was pregnant." Valeria smiled proudly. "I started shopping." Everyone laughed again.

Soon the conversation shifted toward choosing a name. David and Kelvin quickly withdrew from the discussion. "We're not getting involved." The two older men moved to one side while Tracy and Valeria immediately took control. The debate became surprisingly intense. "This name sounds strong." "No." "That one sounds better." "What about this?" Meanwhile Samantha quietly sat down again. She was finally relieved. The issue with Faith wasn't solved. Not even close. But Sarah's words had eased some of her fear. At least she wasn't facing it alone anymore.

While Tracy and Valeria continued debating names inside the room, David and Kelvin quietly slipped out into the corridor. The hospital hallway was much calmer. The two men stood beside a large window overlooking the city lights. For a while neither spoke. Then Kelvin turned toward David. His expression became serious. "Mr. Chambers." David nodded. "Mr. Wood." Kelvin folded his arms. "I know our families rushed Christopher and Sarah's marriage." David listened quietly. "It was the right decision at the time." David nodded again. "It was."

Kelvin glanced toward the room where Sarah and the baby were. "But now things are different." David followed his gaze. A small smile appeared on his face. "You mean because they've become parents." "Exactly." Kelvin nodded. "I think they deserve a proper wedding." David immediately agreed. "So do I." Kelvin smiled slightly. "I think we should arrange one." David thought for a moment. "Do you have a date in mind?" Kelvin shook his head. "Not yet." "But I believe we could organize everything within one or two weeks."

David raised an eyebrow. "That quickly?" Kelvin chuckled. "My allies organized Samantha and Ben's wedding almost overnight." "Compared to that, this will be easy." David laughed softly. "Fair point." "And the venue?" Kelvin shook his head again. "That should be discussed with the children first." David nodded. "Agreed." For a few moments they simply stood there watching the city lights. Then Kelvin's expression became serious again. "There is something else." David immediately noticed the change in his tone. "What is it?"