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in Mama’s bed. Sometimes I sleep with her if it thunders.” He frowned, then ducked his head, as if he’d admitted to something babyish. “I don’t like thunderstorms,” he muttered.
    “Shoot, Sammy. It’s nothing but a little noise,” Sam said. “You know what my grandpa used to say about thunder?”
    Sammy’s eyes widened as he considered, for the first time in his life, what it meant to have an extended family.
    “No, what did he say?” Sammy asked.
    “I used to be scared of thunder, too, then Granddaddy told me it was just God poking holes in the clouds so the rain would fall. After that, I wasn’t scared anymore.”
    “Really?” Sammy asked.
    “Really.”
    No wonder Libby Farraday had fallen for this man, Kate thought.
    “I don’t suppose there’s any harm in staying at Libby’s house,” she said. “But you keep it clean, now. Libby doesn’t like mess in her house, you hear?”
    Sam nodded. “I know all about that,” he said. “I caught her mopping the floor at midnight one night when I came in late from work. She lit into me for tracking on her clean floor. After that, I pulled my boots off at the door.”
    Sammy giggled.
    Everyone stared. Sam didn’t know it was the first time in three weeks that Sammy Farraday had laughed, but he could tell by the look on Kate’s face that whatever had happened was a good thing.
    “So, does anyone have a key to the house?”
    “I do,” Kate said, opened a cabinet door and then took a small gold key off a hook inside. “Don’t make me regret this,” she muttered.
    Sam took the key, and then laid his hand on Kate’s shoulder. “I know I’m a stranger to you, but I hope that will soon pass. It’s obvious you’re a very important person in Libby and Sammy’s lives. They are very blessed that they have you.”
    “Well, then,” Kate muttered, took off her apron and hung it on a door knob. “Boys…load up in the car. Mister…. I mean, Sam can follow us over to Libby’s house. Sammy can show him where everything is, and then we’ll come back and let him get some rest.”
    “I appreciate it,” he said, and within minutes, he was back in the car.
    He waited until Kate backed out of the driveway, then followed her up the street. He couldn’t help but notice that Sammy had climbed out of his seat belt and was on his knees, staring out the back window. Obviously afraid to lose sight of him for fear he’d disappear from his life as quickly as he’d come in.
    “Don’t you worry,” Sam said, more to himself than to the boy in the car ahead of him. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.” He then waved to reassure Sammy.
    When Sammy grinned and waved back, Sam knew his life would never be the same. One bridge had been crossed successfully. He’d met his son, who was obviously willing to forge a relationship. Now all he had to do was get Libby well and convince her he was no longer the sorry jerk he’d once been.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    K ATE AND THE BOYS stayed at Libby’s house long enough for Sammy to give Sam a personal tour.
    “Wanna see my room?” Sammy asked. He didn’t wait for an answer as he bolted past Sam and led him down a small hall. “I like Star Wars, ” he said, as he opened a door and turned on the lights.
    Sam grinned at the assortment of Starfighters hanging from the ceiling with fishing line, giving them the appearance of “hovering” in outer space. There were posters of Han Solo and Yoda on the walls and a small stash of toy light sabers in a waste basket that was being used as a storage bin.
    “Look!” Sammy said, as he grabbed one of the light sabers from the basket and punched a button. It immediately lit a bright, pulsing green, and when Sammy swung it, the accompanying sound effects came with it. “Mama got me this stuff for my birthday,” he added.
    “That’s pretty awesome,” Sam said.
    “And look at my Darth Vader cape and mask! Mama made the cape but we bought the mask with my can