Chapter 7

Caroline Raven got home to find her kids sitting quietly together at the kitchen table doing their homework. Sam looked much better, and she felt a little surge of relief at seeing him so well. She had been so frightened for him -- frightened that he would never wake, that she would lose him, as she'd lost his father.

Joan was dressed to go out, in a pair of tight jeans and a shirt with the top three buttons unfastened. I really shouldn't let her dress so provocatively, Caroline thought absently, but she does look nice. And so does Sam. They're really handsome kids; and growing up so fast! Oh, well. It wasn't as if Joan were going out with a boy; just with some of her girlfriends. Joan did date a bit, but as far as Caroline knew she had no special boyfriend. Time enough to worry about *that* yet! She just hoped when Joan did find one that he would be trustworthy. It wasn't an issue she could raise with Joan; their relationship was a little too touchy for that, though shared worry about Sam had brought them closer recently.

Sam and Joan both got up to set the table, but Joan made him sit down again even though he claimed to feel perfectly well. Caroline made dinner, and they ate together, talking about their days.

"Did Mrs. Severson look after you?" Caroline asked Sam.

For some reason this question seemed to amuse him, but he answered "Yes. She was very nice."

After dinner both Sam and Joan cleared the table, at Sam's insistence. With the dishwasher running, Joan hung out with Sam and Caroline at the kitchen table until her friends arrived. Afterwards, Caroline sat and read a book to relax, while Sam continued to work on his homework. When he finally finished, the two of them played cards for a while. It was fun. She really should spend more time with her kids.

Joan came home earlier than usual, and surprisingly decided to join in the game. Really, it was remarkably pleasant. Caroline couldn't remember the last time they'd all done something together, except at meal times, yet here they were, chatting and laughing over a silly game of cards. At length, Sam finally said that if he was going back to school in the morning he should get some sleep. Caroline was surprised to realize that it was after eleven; time had just flown by.

"Yes, we should all go to bed," she said, gathering the cards together and putting a rubber band around them. "I didn't realize how late it was. Good night, sweetheart." She leaned over the table and kissed him good night, his lips warm against hers. She was oddly aware of her nipples rubbing against the inside of her blouse. It must be a little chilly in here, she thought. That was it.

"Good night." Joan kissed Sam as well, which was unusual, but it was good they were getting on so well. Caroline made sure the doors were locked and turned out all the lights downstairs, while the kids went up to get ready for bed. By the time she got to her bedroom both Joan and Sam had their doors closed, with no light showing. Caroline closed her own door and brushed her teeth in her bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. Not too bad for a woman with two kids practically grown up. Caroline had married Joan and Sam's father right out of high school, and she was only thirty-nine now. Her parents hadn't at all liked her marrying a half-breed, or marrying so young; she'd barely had contact with them the whole time she was married to James, and rarely saw or heard from them even now. After he had died, she'd gone back to school and finished her degree while raising two small children, with no help from her parents at all. It should have taken its toll, but there was little sign of it in her unlined face.

Caroline did something she hadn't done in a while. Before putting on her nightgown, she looked at herself nude in the floor-length mirror of her bedroom. Really, she still looked good, even after two kids and almost forty years. She turned and looked at her breasts, which sagged only a very little. She touched them, and they still felt firm. There was a little softness around her belly and rear, and she made a mental note to get to the gym more often. But still, plenty there to attract a man, if she'd ever had time for one, or met one who wanted a woman with teenaged children. A man like her husband. Sam was really remarkably like him, Caroline thought, hefting her breasts again absently. Same dark looks; same intensity. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of her hands on her own body. It had been a long time.

Oh, well, she thought, putting on her nightgown and getting into bed. Maybe she'd meet another man like that someday. Someday.

The next morning Sam felt as strong as he ever had, or even stronger. His muscles moved easily. He felt awake and alert, his senses especially keen. The faint roaring in his head was still there, but he barely noticed it now. It had become almost a part of him, oddly comforting.

Caroline, looking fetching in her well-cut business suit, gave her reluctant consent for him to walk to school along with Joan. The school was only a few blocks away; handy, since Caroline couldn't afford a second car for the two of them. Sam and Joan walked together in comfortable silence, not arm in arm, but close enough for their hands to occasionally brush. Sam felt content, and Joan seemed to enjoy his company, but feel no need to talk.

At school they separated and went to their different classes. Sam's appearance attracted a fair bit of attention. Everyone had heard about his collapse in the museum, and he felt many curious eyes on him; looking for evidence of brain damage, perhaps, he thought with amusement. Those who spoke to him, though, were friendly. His teachers made a special point of asking him how he was and congratulating him on his recovery, as did a number of his fellow students, including some he had never been particularly friendly with.

The biggest surprise was when Katarina Miller stopped by his locker between classes to ask how he was feeling. Katarina was widely considered to be the most beautiful girl in his class, with long, perfect blonde hair, full lips, high cheekbones, and a slim but definitely womanly figure. She had never given any evidence of knowing that Sam existed before, though they shared a couple of classes.

"I'm fine," Sam said to her easily. "Thanks for asking."

"If I can do... you know, anything to help," Katarina said, tossing her honey-blonde curls back and smiling, "just let me know."

"Thanks," Sam said. "I will. See you in class." He watched Katarina saunter off with a noticeable sway, as if she were inviting him to look after her.

"Boy," Cameron said in his ear, "I'm ready to collapse into a coma any time you say, if that's the kind of interest you get."

Sam laughed and turned back to his friends. They kept their lockers together, as they did most things. "It's just being sick. Girls find it interesting. Brings out their maternal instincts, or something."

"Yeah," said Gina skeptically. "She looked real maternal." Imitating Katarina's breathy voice, Gina said "If I can do... *anything*... to help, just let me know." She added a flutter of eyelashes and an exaggerated sway of the hips. "Anything at all... " Laughing, she ducked away as Sam threw a mock-punch at her.

"Speaking of help," Sam changed the subject, "could you guys come over to help me study for the algebra test Thursday night? Mrs. Gray said she'd give me the make-up test on Friday after school."

"Sure, I'll be there," Gina said promptly, but Cameron shook his head.

"No can do. Choir practice." Gina hooted a little at that, and Cameron pretended to glare at her. "You don't need my help anyway... you're both better at algebra than me."

"No problem," Sam said. "Thanks, Gina."

Sam had plenty to think about for the rest of the day. First Jenny, in the hospital; then Laura -- Mrs. Severson. Today, Katarina Miller was practically coming on to him, and some of the other girls, too... even some of his teachers. And his sister and mother seemed to have been affected, somewhat, as well.

What was more, he himself had been affected. He remembered how comfortable he had felt, talking to Katarina; how easily he had accepted the actions of Jenny and Laura. His old shyness around women was gone. Instead, he felt confident, strong, secure in his attractiveness and sexual prowess. The actions of the women around him seemed, more and more, to be just what was appropriate. After all, what was the big deal about sex? It was a way of sharing pleasure, a great deal of pleasure, with people you liked or loved. There was nothing wrong about it. And he felt confident that he would share it with a great many women; as many as he liked.

After school he walked home alone. Joan had dance class after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Large drops of rain were starting to fall just as he made it home. Feeling a little chilly, he lit the gas fire in the living room and took out his homework. Might as well get it out of the way.

He had just finished it when Joan got home. It was raining steadily by then, and she was soaked to the skin. She dropped off her backpack and came into the living room to stand by the fire. She was still in her dance clothes, which offered little protection from the rain.

"I guess we should have listened to the weather report this morning," she commented. Her auburn hair was plastered to her head, and her leotard clung wetly to her skin, taut nipples visible through the fabric.

"I guess so," Sam said. "Sorry you got wet."

"No biggie," Joan said, turning to warm her other side. "The fire feels nice."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, no, I'm fine," Joan said. She shook her head and started to leave. "I'll just go change clothes and dry my hair."

Sam heard the blow-drier start as he was tucking his completed homework away in his book bag. It sounded somewhat louder than usual. Wandering up to his room, he realized why. Joan had left her door open, and was standing nude in front of her mirror, blow-drying her hair. She looked up as he walked by and blushed a little, but made no effort to close the door or cover herself. Not wanting to stare, Sam continued to his room. She really did have a nice body. He'd rarely seen it before today.