The Chair

"It was a horrible dream," Sam said again.

"Yes," Holly said, not sure what else to add.

"I love you," Sam ended the hug, his hand caressing Holly's face.

"I," Holly took his hand, seeing Sam's sweet smile to a woman he thought is his mother. She kissed his hand.

"I love you too, son."

Chapter 4

"I can't tell him. Not yet. He can't go through it again," Holly thought, pacing back and forth outside of Sam's hospital room the next morning.

"I'll go along with it. I'll have to," Holly sighed, waiting for the doctor to arrive. "I want to."

She thought about her own failures as a parent, thinking that perhaps Jon was onto something, she can make things better, by pretending to be Sam's mother - temporarily she hoped.

"Ok," the doctor said, exiting Sam's room. "He'd going better than expected. Speech is fine, vision is fine. He seems to know who he is, where he is, and so on."

"What about other memories? He seems to think I'm someone else, not his aunt."

"Yes, the brain is repairing itself; there could be some ongoing confusion. Now, if personality changes occur, I can recommend a great therapist. In the meantime, we'll continue to run tests on motor functions and - "

"Should I go along with it?" Holly interrupted. "Him thinking I'm someone else?"

"Oh, well, that's up to you. I'd be very careful though. If he gets confused, he may be upset. I've seen cases where the memory returns and eventually things like that get sorted out - it just takes time," the doctor explained.

"I see," Holly nodded, thinking about what to do next. She watched the doctor turn the corner down the hall and reentered Sam's room.

"Hey mom," he beamed.

"Hi sweetie," Holly said, giving him a hug. It lasted a long time. She couldn't remember the last time she had a genuine hug. Jon hardly did, he was all about sex, and filming it.

"You smell good," Sam said when the embrace ended.

"Thank you," Holly sat next to his bed once more.

"You look as beautiful as ever, too."

"Sam, that's very sweet of you," Holly blushed.

"I can't wait to get home," Sam placed his hand on Holly's. "I can't wait to, you know, be with you."

"Yes, you'll be here with me," Holly said without thinking.

After realizing what she suggested, she added, "But our house looks a little different. You were, um, asleep for a while. Do you know where we live?"

"Charleston, right?"

"Um, actually, we've moved to Miami, but it's ok," Holly patted his hand. "The doctor said some memories will be fuzzy for a little bit. What's important is that you're awake and will get better each day."

Sam held her hand, looking into her eyes. Holly couldn't put her finger on it, but the look Sam was giving her was as if he was looking at a girlfriend, like a love-struck puppy.

Holly cleared her throat, "Anyway, um, just letting you know in case you were confused about it."

"Mmhmm," Sam nodded, his thumb caressing Holly's hand. "What about our bedroom?"

"Our bedroom?"

"Yeah, our room."

"Um," Holly was thinking of what to say next.

"Did you paint it?"

"Um, no, actually. I, uh, didn't get a chance too."

"Oh," Sam chuckled. "Well that's fine. We'll be able to do it together, after all."

"Right. Yes. We will paint, um, our room," Holly agreed.

"I can't wait to get out of this bed and into ours."

Holly's eyes widened, she nodded, a goofy smile on her face. She wanted to ask if Sam and Sharon were sharing a bed, and if so, why.

A few days later, most of the bandages removed, and Sam walking around unaided, Holly knew they'd be going home soon - her home. She couldn't say no or tell him the truth yet.

On the day they left, Holly told Julie of the situation, in which Julie adamantly insisted Holly was doing the right thing. Julie thanked her and started planning her next visit.

On the way to Holly's home, Sam was looking out the car window, taking in his surroundings - surroundings he had never seen, and under the impression his memory wasn't back to normal yet.

Anger swelled in Holly's stomach when she saw Jon and a woman, walking into the home together. They must've arrived a few seconds before she and Sam did.

"Who's that guy?" Sam asked.

"Oh um, he's - "

Sam gave Holly a heartbreaking look, "Mom, you aren't married are you? I thought - "

"No! No, I'm not married, sweetie," Holly lied. She continued with a half-truth, "That's um, that's Jon, he's a roommate sort of. That's his girlfriend. I can't remember her name, heh."

She watched relief wash over Sam's face. "Oh," he smiled.

Holly found the exchange odd, but ignored it for now, helping Sam into her home. She guided him to the couch, glancing to her closed bedroom down the hall. Jon was in there with that woman. "He'll never stop this swinging crap," Holly thought.

She brought Sam some water, sitting next to him. He finished it and leaned into his aunt. Holly closed her eyes, holding him in her arms. She thought of Sharon, thinking her and Sam must have been very close. She fought tears and ended the embrace.

"Can I see our room now?" Sam asked.

"Uh, sure, yes," Holly stood, extending her hand to Sam.

"Wow, it looks great. I can see you cleaned," Sam noticing upon entering a rarely used guestroom.

"Yeah," Holly chuckled.

"Thanks, Mom," Sam said, turning to hug Holly once more. He held her against his body, her head against his chest, he kissed the top of her head.

She smiled and nodded, "I'll fix you some lunch. Rest here."

In the kitchen, Holly prepared a sandwich for her nephew, thinking about dinner plans. "I'll feed him, I'll take care of him, it needs to be done."

After Sam finished his sandwich, he remained on the bed, lying against his aunt. Holly wondered how long this would last as she ran her fingers through his hair.

She looked down to Sam's face, just above her left breast, seeing his eyes closed and a curl to his lips - a subtle smile.

Holly sighed, "I could get used to this."

A little later she wiggled her way off the bed, leaving Sam sleeping soundly. She covered him up and closed the door behind her. Holly found Jon in the kitchen rummaging for a meal of his own.

"Hey," he said. Holly nodded, putting away a few clean dishes from the dishwasher.

"So how long is he staying? A few days?" Jon asked.

Holly rolled her eyes. "It's going to be longer than that. His memories are still damaged, and he has no place to go - "

"Charleston. Send him back up there," Jon interrupted her.

Anger was swelling again in Holly once more, "I'm not doing that. He'll be alone again. Once his memories are back to normal, he'll need someone to be there for him."

"Ugh. Fine," Jon shook his head.

"Look, it doesn't affect you at all! Your life will not change. You can still go out with your girlfriends and live out your idiotic fantasies!"

"Hey, relax, calm down. I just want to know when the kid will be gone so we can both get back into it."

"I told you, I'm done with all that. I don't see any more boyfriends and I'm not performing on film for you anymore. I'm done," Holly glared at Jon, making her way to her bedroom to grab a few clothes.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Jon asked, watching Holly exit their bedroom with an armful of her clothes.

"I'm sleeping in there with Sam."

"Why? Does he need supervision or something?"

Holly ignored Jon's questioning and made her way back to her sleeping nephew. She hung a few clothes in the closet, and folded the pajamas and underwear she brought.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the rocking chair of the guest room, keeping an eye on Sam. He looked so peaceful sleeping. Holly saw herself holding him later that night when they'd go to bed.

She woke him up for dinner, assisting him to the kitchen. Sam watched his aunt cook a pasta dish for him, Jon was nowhere in sight.

They sat at a small table in kitchen. Sam holding Holly's hand as he ate. She watched him, loving the feeling of this thumb caressing her hand. Her food was getting cool when she remembered to eat.

Afterward, she put the dishes away, refusing to let Sam help her. She led him to the living room, instinctually sitting next to him, his arm around her.

"I'll be back to normal soon," Sam said.

"Uh?"

"You know. Normal. My body?" Sam said, glancing down.

Holly wasn't picking up on Sam's meaning. "Yes, I know. You'll be able to move better, walk better, everything."

"I'm so glad I'm here with you, Mom," Sam kissed the side of Holly's head, and pulling her closer against him, her breasts mashing against his side.

Holly closed her eyes, smiling warmly, "I'm glad you're here too."

**

She helped him into bed a couple hours later, making sure he was comfortable. Holly left to change into pajama pants and a tank top.

"So what if he's my nephew. I'll be in there with him in case he needs me. It's no big deal. Maybe he and Sharon did share a bed. There's no harm in that. Maybe she needed comfort after that bad breakup," Holly thought, pulling the tank top over her bare breasts.

Sam beamed when she re-entered the room.

"Hi there. I'm pretty tired too, today has been a long one!" Holly said, climbing in bed with Sam.

"Sure has, Mom. So glad to be able to hold you once more," Sam said.

Holly thought about Sharon and wishing Sam could hold his real mother one last time. She snuggled against him, resting her head on shoulder. "Let me know if you need me to move or if you get uncomfortable."

"I will. Good night, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too," Holly rose to kiss Sam's cheek. At the same time Sam turned his head to her, the peck landed on his lips, causing Holly to giggle at the accident.

"He's so sweet," she thought before sleep caught her.

Chapter 5

The next morning Holly was cooking breakfast and felt Sam appear from behind her. He kissed her head, sliding his arms around her, resting his hands on her flat stomach.

"You smell good," he complimented her.

"You sure it's not this bacon?" Holly joked.

"Heh, nah. I probably don't smell good. I need to shower today," Sam said.

They sat and ate in peace and quiet, Jon had left for work already.

They held hands taking a walk around the neighborhood. Holly loved the feeling of her fingers entwined with Sam's. Something about it was so simple and precious to her. She was never like this with her own kids. Before guilt and regret overtook her, Holly resumed her focus on caring for Sam.

After a small lunch, Sam asked if he could take a bath.

"Of course, I'll draw it for you," Holly volunteered.

Testing the water to make sure it wasn't too hot, Holly moved some large soapy, bubbles around. "There, that should be good."

Sam was standing behind her, a towel wrapped around his waist. Holly noticed he looked so skinny. She recalled his younger years, what little she saw of him, he was never this small. She assumed after Sharon died, Sam didn't have much of an appetite.

He dropped the towel, causing Holly to gasp and look away out of respect. "You ok?" Sam asked.

"Yes!" Holly smiled, maintaining eye contact. She helped him into the tub, careful not to look at anything private.

"Ok there you go. I'll be back later to check on you," she said.

"Wait, Mom, can you stay with me?"

Another question she couldn't say no to. "Sure, sweetie, I'll be glad to."

"Thanks. After waking up from that awful dream, I don't want you to leave my side!" Sam smiled.

"I won't. What exactly happened in the dream? Can you remember?" Holly asked, taking a seat on the toilet next to the tub.

"Yeah. I dreamed something really bad happened to you, while I was asleep after my wreck. I dreamed," Sam paused and sighed. "I dreamed you died. It was horrible."

Holly listened to her nephew speak of his mother.

"In the dream we were at a cabin somewhere in the woods, it was cold, and dark and," Sam shook his head.

"It's ok, it's fine," Holly went to her knees next to tub. "it was just a dream."

"I'm so happy it wasn't real. That you and I are here together. I promise I'll be back to normal soon and we can," Sam giggled, glancing down. "I'm having trouble with everything working."

"Working?" Holly asked herself. "Does he mean - " she shook her head, unsure how to respond.

"Sam, don't worry. The doctor said your brain will heal, things just take time."

Sam rested his hand on Holly's. They looked into each other's eyes. Holly felt love pouring out of his into hers. "It's for Sharon, not me," she told herself.

Holding the towel up, obscuring Sam's privates from her view, he stepped out of the tub, into it. She left him alone to change into some of Jon's pajamas she took for Sam.

They once again found themselves in bed, in one another's arms. Sam's hand was sliding up and down Holly's back.

"Mmm, so warm," he said.

"So are you."

"Alright, another day down, more to go. I love you, Mom. Goodnight!" Sam surprised Holly when he playfully slapped her ass.

"Uh, goodnight, sweetie!" she chuckled awkwardly.

Before sleep found her, Holly wondered again, just how close Sam and her sister were. "Best friends? Flirtatious even?"

She heard Sam breathing slowing, already asleep. "I think that's ok. A little flirting isn't a big deal. It's kind of cute."

Chapter 6

The next day Holly took Sam shopping for clothes. Some of Jon's loosely fit him, but she wanted to buy him his own clothes. She had no idea how much longer Sam would live there, but for all she cared, it could be forever.

"You look great," Holly said, watching Sam spin around in changing room, wearing cargo shorts and a new shirt.

"I take after my gorgeous mother," Sam joked. Holly agreed with him, Sharon was beautiful. Holly felt Sharon was the most attractive of the three sisters. Her eyes were a sparkling blue, her face had a sophisticated beauty to it. Her hair was platinum blonde, but much shorter than Holly's. It was in a bob-style and came just past her ears. She didn't have bangs, which added to Sharon's elegance.

"I'm nowhere near as pretty as Sharon was, yet he thinks I'm beautiful?" Holly asked herself, watching Sam look through more clothes in the store.

Jon was still absent when Holly and Sam returned home. Holly found herself caring less and less about Jon or his whereabouts.

"So how long has he been here? That Jon guy. He pays rent I guess, right?" Sam asked at dinner.

"Yes, something like that," Holly told more half-truths. "He's been here quite a few years. He comes and goes, has different girlfriends and so on."

"I see."

"Why do you ask?"

"Oh, well, I just don't remember him," Sam said, looking around the kitchen. "The house looks so different."

"Oh no," Holly thought - the charade could be ending soon. She wondered where that would leave her. Most likely alone and empty again.

At bed time, Holly tickled Sam's side, initiating innocent flirting. "Get in bed!"

Sam extended his arms, inviting Holly to snuggle. He pulled her practically on top of him, kissing her head. "I love you so much, Mom. I wished I could hold you forever."

"Sam," Holly rose up, looking in his blue eyes, Sharon's eyes.

"Hmm?"

"I love you too," she quickly kissed his cheek.

More warmth, softness, love radiated over aunt and nephew. His hands roamed over her body, up and down her back, into her shirt, against her soft skin. Before he went to sleep, his hand gently glided over the rise of her butt, barely patting it and caressing it with his thumb.

Holly was wide awake, lying on Sam. She didn't want to leave; she wanted to be held by him forever, taking the place of his mother.

**

Jon showed up briefly the next day, while Sam was taking a nap. "He still here?"

"Yes," Holly said, doing dishes.

"Ugh, geez, Holly. You aren't the kid's mom. Pack him and send him back up to Charleston. Julie can deal with him. She was before, right?" Jon complained.

"Shut up! Just stop!" Holly struggled not to scream.

"I'm just saying, he's not your responsibility!" Jon called out to her, as she headed down the hall to Sam's room.

That night she took Sam to dinner and a movie. They held hands the entire time the movie played, continuing in the car ride home.

Sam complained of a headache, sitting on the side of the bed. Holly was next to him, rubbing his shoulders. "Want some water?"

"Sure. Thanks, Mom."

Holly patted his leg as he drank. "You ok?"

"Yeah, just tired, and my head hurts. Mind if I go to bed earlier?"

"Of course not," Holly watched Sam stand and rummage through his new clothes looking for pajamas Holly bought.

He began changing into them in front of her; Holly looked away once more out of respect. She started for the door, "I'm going to make a phone call."

"Mom," Sam said, grabbing her hand, stopping her from leaving. He hadn't yet put on a t-shirt, but had his pajama pants on.

"Yes?"

Sam smiled, ran his fingers through Holly's hair, his other hand on the small of her back, pulling her against him. He kissed her. Their lips touching, his pressing gently against hers.

"I'll see you tomorrow. This headache is killing me."

Holly's mouth hung open. "Um, sure."

"Please pick up, please pick up," Holly paced back and forth in the kitchen, calling her sister, Julie. There was no answer.

She thought about calling one of her own kids, but chickened out. The kiss Sam gave her wasn't a quick little peck, but something more. "Were they? No, it can't be. It's just in my head. Sharon and Sam weren't - "

"Mom!" Sam called out to Holly in distress.

"Sam! I'm here!" Holly ran to the bedroom, seeing Sam on the floor, clutching his head. She called 9-1-1.

A few hours later, the doctor was talking to Holly outside Sam's room. They were keeping him over night.

"He seems fine. The MRI revealed no new damage or lesions. I think it was a severe migraine. But you did the right thing by bringing him here."

Holly took a deep breath, seeing the doctor off. She entered Sam's room.

"Hey," she whispered, holding his hand; he held hers back, his face solemn.

Holly watched Sam drift off to sleep, sitting by his bed once again.

Chapter 7

The next morning Sam was released from the hospital. He was different, quiet, never smiling.

"Are you sure you're ok, sweetie?" Holly said, pulling into the driveway.

"I'm fine," Sam replied, grabbing his bag, making his way to the front door of Holly's home.

Holly spotted an unfamiliar car in the driveway next to Jon's. She rolled her eyes - another lady friend.

She kicked off her sandals and turned to talk with Sam. He was already in his room, the door was slowly closing.

She cleaned the kitchen, hoping her nephew was ok. Holly spoke with Julie, advising her of the situation. She was planning on flying down to Miami the following weekend. The sisters ended their call, agreeing that Sam was tired. Holly let him rest.

Near dinner time, Holly warmed up some leftovers, glancing toward the hallway, hoping Sam would join her. He never did.

Sitting on the couch alone, flipping through stations, Holly grabbed the pillow, thinking about Sam. She hadn't seen Jon all day, and didn't care; Sam was all she cared about now.

"Holly," a voice called from behind her. Her heart raced, she turned around and saw the source of the voice.

"I'm leaving. I'm going home, to Charleston," Sam said.

Holly stood, "You, you know that I'm - "

"You're my aunt."

"What about, I mean, what else do you remember?"

"My mom is gone. It's time for me to go home, get things in order, get my life in order," Sam said.

"How will you go?"

"Bus, I guess," Sam shrugged, turned around and went back to his room to pack.

Holly didn't know what to say, she paced back and forth, she thought about calling Julie. She didn't want him to leave, but she couldn't stop him.