But it feels like everything is better

 

There was nothing left when they came back. Sammie knew Gabe was devasted. It was like their past vanished in the mold and mildew of what was once their apartment.

"And people still live here," Gabe grimaced. Of course, they took refuge at his mother's. She told him it would be OK, but Sammie wasn't sure she believed that either. 

Only a few studio apartments were hit by the force of the flood. Sammie could see the wall flood line and hated to think how bad it had been for Rico. At least he was recovering at home now. Vada told her all about it. Of course, she didn't tell her about Justin saving him. Carmen filled her in.

"What were you two thinking?" Sammie shouted into her mobile while on their Adventureland holiday when Carmen called about the matter, now she wondered if she would have done the same thing. 

It wasn't long until Carmen and Justin showed up while Sammie and Gabe were looking at the aftermath.

"It's just amazing we weren't home," Gabe admitted.

"Good thing you two were on your honeymoon," Justin slightly grinned.

Gabe nodded as he looked into the black hole they once called home. There was no power now and it smelled of the past. Sammie pulled him away. It was too much. There was nothing that had sufficed.

Soon enough they went up the stairwell to Carmen's. It was crazy how people were OK here but not the basement. Justin mentioned that maintenance was on it, but he didn't think anyone could move down there until sometime in the fall, and that was only a maybe.

Carmen got them sodas and brought out the snacks from the kitchen.

"Where's Tristan and Dale?" Sammie asked.

"In bed," Carmen said they both caught something on the fourth and we were down with the flu, perhaps.

She heard a cough then. She guessed they were not well.

"So did you guys have fun?" Carmen smiled.

Gabe cracked a smile. "Yeah, I'm not very good on all those rides, like Sammie."

"He gets a little queasy," she smiled back to him, "But we felt like kids, you know, ate too much on the fairway."

"You didn't get drunk?" Justin teased. 

"Of course, not." They chuckled. They'd let Carmen and Justin think it was all of a G-rated movie, but Sammie knew Gabe had some moves she would always keep a secret. Although, she couldn't help but giggle a little. They hadn't spent every minute on a rollercoaster. Yes, she'd worn that skimpy camisole piece he got her. However, it fell apart once the passion began in their hotel room. 

And to think she'd put him off just a little when she went to see how many channels were on the TV.

"Will, you two live here?" Carmen wanted to know.

Sammie shook her head, no. "Deano says we can have the place where Megan's grandparents lived, over the pizzeria. They got in at Mable Rose, a retirement village."

She guessed she might never get away from childcare. But she loved Cora and the little ones. She couldn't say no. They were family.

"Don't forget about us," Carmen told her.

Sammie looked at Carmen and Justin. Were they a couple now?