Samantha got a taxi from the airport and left straight for her grandma's house. Technically, she wasn't in New York since the house was in New Rochelle. But she always preferred to stay out of the city than in her parent's apartment near Central Park.

Though Sam had to tip extra for the taxi driver since he seemed so hesitant to drive her outside the city. That changed his mood, and he even helped her unload the luggage. She took her bags and went to the stony pathway. The smell of roses mixed with rain reminded her of her childhood.

Sam's grandparents' house was relatively big. Not always been that way, they remodeled a few times, adding rooms to the original structure. The property itself had front and back yards, filled with many trees and flower bushes.

Sam came into the front yard and stared at the house. It seemed almost dark, the light in the kitchen stayed on, which made the house seem black, but it remained dark brown, gray-colored. Going further, Samantha noticed the light reflection on the grass, which showed that someone stayed in Michael's study.

Sam always loved staying in her grandparent's house, not because of the luxury of this house, but how welcoming it always felt for her. Sam went to the front door, taking off her shoes, and leaving her bag in the foyer. The house smelled like pine cleaner and peppermint. Samantha suspected her grandma sipped the peppermint tea in the study. Therefore, she went straight there.

Rose sat in a big armchair. A small table on her left side held a cup of tea. Steam swirled from the cup and the peppermint scent seemed stronger. The book covered her face as Sam reached the study.

Rose lowered her book. "Melissa, my dear," she said softly.

Sam glanced around in confusion. "Grandma, it's Samantha," she explained, examining Rose.

Rose put her book down on the table, placing a book tab in it. "Oh, yes, sorry, dear," she said. Rose stood up and went to greet Samantha. "I didn't know you were coming," she said and hugged Sam, kissing her cheek. "I would've been more prepared," Rose smiled.

Rose was dressed in a long cream-colored robe, her long, gray, thin hair held braided, hanging on the right side of her body. Her eyes resembled silver as the original green eye color seemed to fade away.

"Is Keith coming too?" Rose asked, scanning Sam. "Are you eating properly? You look a bit thin, for your condition?"

"Grandma, are you alright?" Sam questioned, scared and confused. "Sit down, and I will get us more tea," she added.

"Alright, my dear," Rose agreed. She sat back down in the chair, lifting her teacup toward her thin lips.

It seemed clear to Sam something wasn't right with Rose. Therefore, she traveled to the kitchen across the hall, trying to find a housekeeper. Sam heard soft jazz music playing in the background as she reached the kitchen.

Amber's camel-colored hair stayed in a slick topknot. The housekeeper wore a loose cardigan and a pair of black jeans. She cleaned the countertops, moving her wide hips to the tune, humming words under her nose. Amber lifted her head, and a smile appeared on her face, making creases around her eyes more visible.

"Miss Morris, how nice to see you," Amber greeted and hugged Sam briefly.

"What's going on with grandma?" Sam asked, losing patience for any pleasantries.

"Yes, today is the worst of all days so far," Amber explained, knitting her eyebrows. "She needs her sleep. Mornings are much better," she added.

"What does that even mean?" Sam asked, lifting her arms in the air.

"Her Alzheimer's, miss," Amber explained, bewildered.

Samantha sat down in the chair. "Alzheimer's," she whimpered. "I didn't know." Sam glanced at the housekeeper.

Amber stepped closer, taking Sam's palm to her hand. "I'm sorry," she said, glancing down. "I thought mister Richard told you, he promised to break the news to you."

Sam shook her head to the sides. "I have been out of the country. And you know that Dad and I are not exactly on adequate terms right now," she said and rubbed her forehead. "I had to be here. Why didn't you tell me over the phone, when we talked?"

"Well, Miss Rose forbade me to tell you over the phone. She said we should wait for your visit, and your father promised to tell you. You are here now and now you know," Amber explained.

Sam stood up and traveled toward the stove. "I'm going to make some tea. And go talk to grandmother," she said, taking the kettle in her right hand.

"No, no. Be with Miss Rose," Amber said, stepping closer to Sam. "I'm going to make tea and join you in the study," she added, taking the kettle from Sam. Samantha nodded to her suggestion and left.

Amber worked for Sam's grandparents for the last ten years. Since Michel died, he left Samantha to care for Rose. Amber and Sam had an agreement, Sam raised Amber's salary, and she became the living-in caretaker.

Amber would call Sam twice a week for updates on Rose or just to chat. Sam felt furious that Amber left out the part about her grandma's health. Samantha asked her many times about Rose's well-being since her grandmother had a heart condition, and Sam stayed always concerned about that.

The three of them talked for a while, but it felt very hard for Sam. Since Rose thought Samantha was some woman named Melissa. Rose spoke about Keith like he was still alive from her stories, Sam assumed Rose believed Sam was Keith's girlfriend.

It was late, and as Amber said, Rose needed to rest, so Sam walked her grandmother to her bedroom. Afterward, Sam went downstairs and grabbed her bag. As she walked to the second floor, she looked through all the photo frames hanging on the wall, near the stairs, reminiscing about the life she left in New York.

There were a few photos of her and Tom, one from graduation and the other from Michael's birthday party. The pair looked happy in the pictures, but not as happy and in love as Michael and Rose, or Richard and Jennifer. Sam always saw the love between adults in her family as an example of a healthy and harmonious relationship but never realized how toxic she and Tom became to each other as time passed by.

The next morning felt slow as Amber woke up Sam with a tray full of food and coffee. After Sam's stomach was held full, she lay on the bed, scrolling through her phone and texting Ray. Until a loud, willowy voice from downstairs reached her.

Sam rolled from the bed slowly, her attempt to prolong the unavoidable encounter. Sam soon realized why Amber brought her breakfast, she rarely did that. Jen was Amber's favorite person in the family and therefore, she told Samantha's mom that Sam came back to New York. Breakfast in bed signified Amber's attempt to redeem herself to Sam, Samantha was her boss, after all.

Sam went downstairs stopping at the top of the stairs and observing her mother. Jennifer stood in the middle of the corridor, fixing her short hair, and looking in the mirror. She wore a red lady suit with a black blouse and black high heels. Her makeup appeared sharp as usual, red-colored lips parted into a smile when she noticed her daughter.

"Sweetheart," Jen screamed like a schoolgirl, stretching her hands toward Sam.

"Mom," Sam said in a monotone, climbing down the stairs.

Jen dropped her hat on the chair and hugged Samantha, giving her a slight peck on her cheek. "Well, show me," Jen said, lifting Sam's left hand. "Where is it?" she asked, lifting her glance to Sam's face, inspecting her with narrow eyes.

Samantha retrieved her hand from her mother's grip. "Where is what?" she questioned.

"The ring—engagement ring," Jen said and gestured her hands to the sides.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Sam said, shaking her head.

"Tom, sweetheart. Didn't he propose to you?" Jennifer asked, narrowing her black eyebrows.

At that moment, everything had fallen into place in Samantha's mind. Jennifer's and Carol's wedding planning, Jen's sniffles over Tom's absence from her and the questions about Tom's visit, dreaming of how Tom will be her son-in-law soon. Samantha should've noticed everything earlier, but she had other things on her mind, mostly Raymond.

"We should go to the living room and talk," Sam suggested, Jen agreed with a nod. "I will get us coffee," she added.

"Martini for me sweetheart," Jen said. She smiled, walking through the corridor as her high heels echoed against the marble floor.

Samantha could see that her mother's habit of drinking in the early mornings didn't change. Sam went to the kitchen, Amber was mixing the martini already. Sam went to the coffee machine. While the machine poured the drink into a cup, Sam stared at Amber.

"I could fire you, you know," Sam said and raised her eyebrow.

"I know," Amber said and smiled. "But, you won't." She winked with her right eye. "I will get that for you. Go, talk to your mother," she added and motioned toward the kitchen arch.

Before entering the living room, Samantha breathed in and breathed out a big gulp of air. She always had this strange urge to please her parents, even though she felt she will never meet their expectations.

Time spent alone, or not entirely alone, made Sam realize how that necessity affected her. Samantha's determination, which she apprehended in the Netherlands, was about to become a reality. Sam attained a seat on the couch next to her mother.

"You said you would bring drinks," Jen said and raised her eyebrow.

"Amber is taking care of that. Mom, we need to talk," Sam said, settling her hands on her jeans.

"Yes, I know," Jen agreed. " You don't have to worry. Carol and I will take care of everything. Just tell us the date," she added and glanced toward the room entrance.

"There won't be a wedding, Mom," Sam whispered, lowering her head.

"Don't do that to me, sweetheart," Jen said. For a moment, she looked concerned, until Amber came with the drinks. Jennifer grabbed a glass and glanced at Amber. "Thank you," she said and winked at the housekeeper. "Did you already say no to Tom?" Jennifer asked, shifting her eyes to Sam.

"He didn't propose, Mom, but—" Jen's giggle interrupted Sam's speech.

"I ruined the surprise," Jen said, smiling. "I felt sure Tom would propose to you in Los Angeles, he has the ring after all," She sipped her drink. "So, act surprised," Jennifer suggested, bending her head.

"What I wanted to say, Mom. I don't want to marry Tom. I don't love him," Sam explained as Amber walked out of the living room.

"Sure, you do," Jennifer said. "You have been in love with him for what?" She furrowed her forehead. "For seven years or even more." Sam opened her mouth to oppose, but Jen continued her speech. "All that sneaking around was so silly." Sam's eyes widened at her mother's words. "You are not teenagers anymore, so you need to put your life together, sweetheart. You are not getting any younger," she finished her speech, scanning Sam with her hazel eyes.

"You knew about Tom and me?" Samantha asked in surprise.

"Oh, yes. Honey, your excuses for him being in the house in the early mornings were so absurd, and it was so obvious that you have been sleeping together the entire time," Jennifer explained, biting an olive off the wooden stick. "So skip this nonsense and make it official, I was already married when I was your age, you know." She lifted her eyebrow, looking at Sam.

Upon hearing her mother's words, Sam tried to digest everything quickly. She couldn't blame Jen for dreaming about the wedding since now, it seemed clear, Jennifer knew about them all along. Before talking, Sam didn't think too much. She wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

"I have a boyfriend," Sam blurted out quickly, in a loud tone.

Jen narrowed her eyes. "You mean not, Tom?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Not Tom, Mom. His name is Raymond," Sam explained.

"Is it serious?" Jen asked and narrowed her eyes.

"Yes, Mom," Sam nodded.

"Does Tom know?" Jennifer asked, staring at Sam.

"I told him when he visited me," Sam replied and sipped the coffee.

"I can't believe you," Jen said. A tear left her eye. "My poor boy, you broke his heart," she added.

"He is not your son!" Samantha shouted.

"You don't need to be rude, honey," Jen said and finished her drink. "Tom loves you, and he will take you back." She wiped the tears.

"Are you hearing yourself, Mom?" Sam asked. She stood up, full-on with rage. It had always been this way with Jen. No matter what Samantha would say, her mother clung to her own opinion.

"My hearing is perfectly fine, sweetheart," Jen said and giggled.

"Oh, really?" Sam asked, and Jennifer nodded. "So hear this, Mom. Tom and I are not together. Forget the wedding. Forget me being Missis Wade. I don't love him. Did you hear that?" Sam asked and raised her eyebrow.

"Calm down, Samantha. I raised you better than that," Jennifer scolded, standing up from the sofa. "I'm glad you're back. Your father will want to talk to you about all that work stuff." She waved her palm.

"I will not work for Dad." The words sprung out of Sam's mouth.

"With Dad, sweetheart. Maybe we can talk more over the dinner next week?" Jennifer asked.

"We will see," Sam replied and put the cup on the table.

"We are leaving for Italy in two weeks," Jen announced, and Sam raised her eyebrow. "Graham is having an enormous event, and they invited us," she explained and smiled. "I'm assuming you are not going with us?" Jen asked.

"No, mom. I want to stay with grandma," Sam replied, feeling calmer as the topic shifted.

Jen clapped her hands. "That is great." Samantha raised her eyebrow since that seemed like an unexpected reaction. "Then you're going to look after Alyssa," Jennifer added.

"Great. Will you be back for the book signing?" Sam asked, glancing at her mother.

Jen waved her hand down. "Oh, honey, sorry, no. That is not as important as Graham's party," she said.

Samantha just smiled awkwardly. She should be used to this by now. Nevertheless, she hoped her parents would come. After all, this was Sam's first book, and in a way memorial to Michael.

They didn't come to her university graduation or to her high school graduation, they missed her birthday last year. It seemed every time something significant happened in Sam's life, her parents never noticed the need to celebrate with their daughter.

As Amber reappeared in the living room, the conversation turned to gossip. Sam soon left the woman in the living room and went to find her grandmother.

Rose stood in the backyard. In the mornings, she liked to sit there, admiring her roses. She remained more vivid that day, talking to her, and fixed Sam's mood.