Masterpiece- part 3

"They put it in their budget," Nick said defensively. "Every one of
them puts in an item for pilferage or shoplifting. Besides, they screw
us on other stuff to make up for it."

"You're a shoplifter?" I asked, with incredulousness.

"I'm not malevolent about it," he said easily. "I just figure, hell,
they can afford it. It gives me a thrill."

"Have you ever gotten caught?" I asked.

"Nah."

I shook my head. He might be gregarious as hell, but the more I was
around this guy, the less I liked him.

We gathered the take-out and drove back to the Carson home. Nick and
Sam broke out the goods in the kitchen and all collected around the
breakfast bar for our early morning snack. When burgers and fries had
been consumed we agreed it was time to call it a night. Nick and
Deanna retired to their upstairs room leaving Sam and I to clean up
the clutter.

As we collected the various papers and cardboard from our feast, Sam
was reserved.

"You're troubled by something," I said. "Do you want me to go?"

"I'm embarrassed," she said.

"I don't see why you should be," I told her. "You're not him."

"True,' she admitted, "but I stay."

"Look, Sam," I tried to console her, "we all have to make choices. I
can't begin to understand what your life is like and why you make
yours. And, I'd be the last person to judge you.

"They've gone upstairs again," I continued, "out of our sight and, for
the time being, out of our lives. Let's just be together."

Sam threw the refuse in the trash bin, rinsed her hands in the sink,
then dried them on a paper towel. She crumpled it and tossed it toward
the bucket. Sam turned and faced me.

"You're right," she said with finality. "Let's go to bed."

Deanna and I left at four the next afternoon. We had enjoyed each
other's company time and time again in the early morning hours and
throughout the day.

"Do you know how jealous I am of Deanna?" Sam asked in one of our
quieter moments.

"Really? Because she's sparked Nick's interest?"

"Actually, no. I'm jealous because she gets to go home with you. Do
you suppose she'd be open to a more permanent swap?"

"You're joking, aren't you?" I asked.

"Halfway," she said, stretching beautifully on the massive bed. "Maybe
she'd be inclined toward a part-time arrangement. Say, I get you for
six months and she can have you the other six."

"I don't think that's going to happen," I said.

"I'm willing to share," Sam groused. "What the hell does she want,
anyway?"

"Okay, now you really are joking."

"I suppose so," she said, rolling over to look in my face. "But, I do
like having you around. I feel so serene and comfortable." She kissed
my lips lightly.

"That's just because you know I worship you," I said.

"Do you?"

"You're a masterpiece, remember?"

"That seems so long ago," she whispered.

"I'm sorry you feel so unhappy," I said quietly. "I wish there was
something I could do for you."

"Perhaps there will be," she responded. "The day may come when I will
need you. Will you be there for me?"

"I'll do whatever I can," I promised.

The thirty-minutes it took Deanna and me to drive to our home was
silent. Deanna wore the clothing Sam had loaned her the night before,
her blue gown hung under plastic in the back seat. Sam's loan of the
clothes was an unspoken affirmation of our verbal promises to see each
other again.

Still, two weeks passed without a word from Nick or Sam. The telephone
call came through at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday night. It was Sam.

"Can you come to the house?" she asked.

"Of course. Is there something wrong?"

"I'm afraid so." She sounded sad. "I didn't know who else to call,
really. I think I'll need to draw on some of your strength."

"Should I bring Deanna?" I asked.

"Yes, of course," she said. "If you must."

"What's happened, Sam? Can you tell me?"

"It's Nick," she said. "He's been arrested."

"They caught him shoplifting?" I asked her.

"No, darling," she said. "Embezzlement. It's really serious. I think
there going to put him away for a long, long time."