Because yes, that’s what Sam wanted.
Because yes, she had fallen in love with the man.
And in turn, her love for Logan had only intensified. She needed him more than ever and he seemed to know that. Then again, he seemed to know that Elijah needed him too. They’d become friends in the past few weeks. Sam knew they talked, knew that Logan always offered to be an ear for Elijah should he need it. And, possibly because of Logan, Elijah had been opening up more.
He spent more time out of his house, hanging with them or with an entire group. They’d gone to dinner several times, once with Ashleigh and Alex, once with Luke, Sierra and Cole. They’d also gone to the club, spent some time talking to Xander and Mercedes. All of them.
And as the days passed, people seemed to be seeing them as three, not just two plus one. And that made Sam’s heart happy.
So now she felt that there was one thing left to do. Because Elijah had sought Logan’s approval, Sam wanted to show Elijah that she understood what that meant.
Now it was her turn.
~~*~~
The sun was shining.
A gentle breeze was blowing.
But other than that, time seemed to stand still as Elijah stood in front of Beth’s headstone, two dozen white roses – her favorite – now resting next to the inscription.
Upon their arrival a short while ago, the three of them had emerged from the car, but as soon as they stepped outside, Sam and Logan had stayed back, offering him a few minutes alone with Beth.
How they had known that he needed that, he wasn’t sure. But he appreciated it nonetheless.
“God, baby,” he whispered to Beth now, tears forming in his eyes. “I miss you so much.” Elijah paused as a strong breeze pushed against him.
Sometimes he felt as though that was Beth’s way of responding to him, letting him know she was there. It only happened when he was out here with her though.
“I brought someone here to meet you. Two someones, actually. Logan and Samantha. This was their idea. For them to come here. Sam really wants to meet you.” Elijah was crying, tears streaming down his face and he couldn’t stop them.
He’d been totally overcome with emotion since Sam asked him if the three of them could come to visit Beth. At first he’d been shocked by the invitation but only because he had called her, simply to hear her voice. For the last two days, he had been out of town and with as much time as the three of them had been spending together, he found that he missed her. Enough to call her just to hear her voice.
Another breeze brushed against him, stronger this time. Elijah looked up, expecting to see clouds, maybe a thunderhead moving toward them. Nothing. Not a single cloud in the brilliant blue sky that went on for miles.
He turned his attention back to Beth.
“Sam’s the best thing that’s happened to me since you died,” he told Beth now.
A strong hand landed on Elijah’s left shoulder and he felt Logan’s presence. On his other side, Sam moved up next to him, but she didn’t touch him. He figured she was giving him space, but he didn’t want space. Not from her. He reached out and took her hand, linking their fingers as he continued to stare at his wife’s headstone.
Elizabeth Michelle Penn
June 2nd, 1973 - January 17th, 2010
You will forever be in my heart,
Your love always my guide,
And though I cannot touch your hand,
I know you are by my side
“That’s a lovely inscription,” Sam whispered, her fingers tightening around his.
“It’s true,” he told her now. “She’s here with me. She’ll always be here with me.”
“We’re glad you are here with him, Beth. He needs you… And we need him.”
Elijah closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears, but he couldn’t seem to shut off the waterworks. He couldn’t look at Sam or Logan, his watery gaze focused on the headstone. Sam’s words echoed in his head, and we need him. He needed them too but he was too scared to tell them. Especially here.
An even stronger breeze cut through them and Elijah tightened his grip on Sam’s fingers.
If that wasn’t Beth, it was certainly an eerie coincidence. And if it was, Elijah only prayed that was her blessing because… He was pretty sure he was not going to be able to let Sam go. Not today. Not ever.
~~*~~
Logan remained quiet, although he kept his hand on Elijah’s shoulder, letting him know that he was there.
He had known that this was going to be an emotional reunion, and it was. Especially now that Sam was talking to Beth. He would’ve thought it strange that the two of them were talking to a dead woman, but Logan had done the same. Many times.
He spent years talking to his parents after they died. And when his grandfather had passed away, he’d done the same with him. It wasn’t until Sam came along and mended his heart with her love that he had stopped.