“Meh.”

“I’m so sorry you had to stay in that cage the entire flight.” I take Sadie out of the cage and put a leash on her. Curious people at the airport point as they walk by. I had her groomed before we left and the girl at the shop kept asking me where Sam was and when he was coming back. I think she has a crush on him. I remember him grumbling about the pink bow, so I took it off as soon as we left the shop.

Tennyson was pouting that she couldn’t come with and madder than a wet hen that I took Sadie with me. Poor Nana was left behind to console her. My mind is racing with different emotions right now. I can’t wait to actually lay eyes on Sam for the first time, yet I want to strangle him for leaving me. I’m nervous about his reaction. I’ll be heartbroken if I can’t convince him to come back with me. I love him and I can forgive him for anything.

I called ahead to make sure a cab will be waiting for me. The cabbie looks none too happy to have a goat jump into his backseat. I roll the window down so she can get some fresh air. I can only imagine other drivers’ reactions as they drive past and see a goat’s head poking out of the window. Sadie and I both gaze out the window at the scenery as we leave the city and enter the more rural areas. The land and pastures are beautiful. No wonder Sam liked his little house, it felt secluded from the rest of the world. The closer we get, the more nervous I become. Maybe this was a mistake, but it’s too late as the cab comes to a stop in front of a small yellow house with an SUV parked out front. I pay the driver and climb out with Sadie.

As he drives off I realize that I wish I would have asked him to wait for me, just in case. “It’s now or never, Sadie,” I say and lead her to the front door. My knuckles make a soft thud as I tentatively knock on the door.

A tall, beautiful brunette opens the door. “Can I help you?” she asks.

I fumble with the address in my hand. “Are you Nashville Rylan?” my voice stammers out.

“No, but I’m her best friend, Anna. Who are you?”

I stick out my hand. “I’m Emma and this is Sadie.”

She shakes my hand. “Why do I feel like I’m supposed to know you?” she says, squinting at me.

I clear my throat. “I’m looking for Sam Sawyer. Do you know him?”

A smile crosses her face. “Oh, you’re that Emma, Sam’s Emma.” She opens the door wider. “Come on inside, but maybe leave your friend there tied to the porch.” Sadie gives her an indignant meh, as if she understood.

“Okay, you can come in too.” She reaches down and pats her head.

“So, do you know where he is?” I ask, looking around her living room.

“He was living here with me until…” her voice trails off.

“He lived with you…” Suddenly I feel embarrassed about being here and wring my hands together.

“It’s not what you’re thinking, we are just friends.”

She’s strikingly beautiful and I can’t help feel a tinge of jealousy. “Do you know where he is now?”

“God, you are drop-dead gorgeous. How did Sam get so lucky? He was an idiot to leave you.” She points to the couch for me to sit down. Sadie jumps up next to me.

“She belongs to Sam.” I rub her back.

“Sam has always loved animals.”

“So, he told you about me?”

She smiles sweetly. “He has some, yes, but I’m sure he’s given August an earful about you. Look, I know Sam, he’s a really good man. Whatever happened between the two of you, I’m sure he had his reasons - albeit stupid reasons - but I’m sure he thought he was doing the right thing.

“Is he still around here?”

“How about you get Sadie and load her up in my car and I’ll take you to him.”

“That would be great, thank you.”

As soon as the car hits the road, Sadie crawls from the backseat into my lap in the front. “This place is beautiful,” I tell her, trying to make conversation.”

“I love it here. I’ve never been to Florida, what’s it like?”

“Hot,” I laugh.

“Did Sam give you any kind of clue as to why he left?” Her eyes cut in my direction.

. “No. That’s why I’m here. He left me a note.”

“He may not be the same Sam you remember,” she says.

“I don’t care who he is, I can’t wait to see him.”

“That’s right, you’ve never seen his face before.” Her mouth hangs open.

“I’ve seen his face, just not with my eyes.”

The conversation goes quiet for the rest of the short drive. “Whose house is this? It’s beautiful.”

“This is August and Nash’s house. Sam lives here with them now.”

“Why did he move from your house?”

“You’ll see soon enough.” She almost whispers it.

Sadie jumps out before I do and starts bouncing around, as if she knows Sam is here. I follow Anna to the big wooden double doors where she walks in without knocking. Sadie pulls out of my grip on the leash and runs ahead of us.

We walk into a massive living room. A man and woman are cuddled up on the couch with a little girl between them. The man holds a baby in his arms. They both look up in our direction when Anna starts talking.

“August, Nash, I want you to meet Emma.”

Nash’s mouth drops open and August puts the baby in her arms, standing and heading my direction. “Emma? As in Sam’s Emma?”

Anna laughs. “I had the same reaction.”

“How the hell did Sadie get here?” A man in a wheelchair comes screeching around the corner and then comes to a dead stop when he sees me.

Everyone turns and looks at him, waiting for him to say something. I know this man is Sam. I can feel it. He’s absolutely gorgeous, even more than I had imagined. Chase wasn’t kidding when he described him as sexy as hell. I take a step toward him.

“Stop,” he says.

Tears immediately flood my vision. “Sam,” I say his name.

He clenches his square jaw and wheels out of the room. Tears slip down as he leaves. Anna holds my hand and Nash joins me. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you. Please come sit down with us.” Her voice is so sweet with its southern drawl.

“I’m sorry about his reaction,” August says. “I’ll go talk to him.” He leaves the room. Anna and Nash sit down on either side of me.

“He didn’t tell you, did he?” Nash asks.

“Why is he in a wheelchair?” I sniff.

“He can’t walk anymore. He needs surgery,” Anna says.

“So, why isn’t he getting it?” I ask, confused.

“Because he loves you,” Nash says.

“That really doesn’t make any sense.” I look her square in the eyes.

“Sam gave every dime he had for you to be able to see again. He doesn’t have the money to pay for it. He’d rather be in that damn chair and you have your vision and your life. That’s how much he loves you.”

My tears turn into sobs and both of them engulf me in their arms. A few minutes later, August wheels Sam in the room. His arms are crossed over his chest and he does not look happy. August motions for the girls to leave the room and pushes Sam in front of me, then leaves.

I scoot to the edge of the couch and cautiously touch his hand. “Sam, look at me.” It takes a few seconds until his eyes meet mine. I reach up and touch his face just as I have hundreds of times before. “You are so handsome.” I smile through watery eyes. “I saw you then, and I see you now.” I touch the wheelchair. “This doesn’t matter to me. You do. The sacrifice you made for me is unreal. I would have never traded my sight for you to be in this.” He catches a tear that falls from my cheek.

His eyes soften and the scowl on his brow relaxes just a little. “I don’t want this for you,” he whispers. “You deserve so much more.”

Anger starts to fill me. Sitting up straight, I sit back a little. “Why do you get to decide what I deserve? Isn’t that my choice?”

The tightness is back in his face. The little gleam of light that I saw in his eyes is gone. “You made a choice for years to be blind out of fear and lack of money. Now, you have nothing to hold you back. It’s my choice what I do with my life and I chose to walk away from you while I still could.”

“Did you expect me to just stop loving you? I gave you my heart, Sam. It wasn’t contingent on whether you had the use of your legs or not.” My tears have turned to anger. How could he not see that this doesn’t matter to me?

“I wish you wouldn’t have come here and seen me like this,” he says behind gritted teeth.

His words feel like a slap to the face. I stand up and straighten my dress. I refuse to cry any more. “I’m sorry I came here, too. I want to remember the Sam that I saw, the Sam I fell in love with. He was not a selfish asshole like you.” I storm off to find a way out.

Anna comes around the corner. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” she says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. She walks me to her car and August comes running out the door.

I roll the window down and he leans his hands on it. “I’m sorry, Emma. Please don’t give up on him. He needs more time.”

“I would have waited forever for him, but the man I fell in love with is gone.”

* * *

“Are you sure you have to leave today? You’re welcome to stay at my place.” Anna says sweetly.

“Thank you for being so kind to me, but I really want to get home. This didn’t turn out quite like I had planned and I don’t think staying any longer is a good idea.”

“I’m so, so sorry. If it’s any comfort to you, I think he’s making the biggest mistake of his life. I can tell how much you really love him, and that’s a rare thing to find.” She hugs me one last time before I go into the airport. Adding to my sadness is the fact that I really enjoyed all of his friends. I can see why he came back here. I wish I had the chance to become part of their circle.