Read Online The Samantha Project by Stephanie Karpinske - Free Book Online

definitely not a good cook. But I promise you, Sam, I’ll do my best to help out and be here whenever you need me.” His eyes started to tear up. He took me in his arms so I couldn’t see his face as he composed himself.  
    “Um, maybe I should get going now.” Colin was at the door, looking unsure of his place now that Dave was back. “Are you okay if I leave, Sam?”
    “Yeah. Thanks, Colin. For everything.”
    Dave got up and went to the kitchen to give Colin a chance to say goodbye.
    I got up and met Colin at the door. “Sorry to ruin your whole Saturday.”  
    He gave me another hug. “Don’t say stuff like that. You didn’t ruin anything. I told you I’m gonna be here for you, whether you like it or not.” He gave me a quick kiss, then squeezed me tight once more. “Call me anytime, any hour. I mean it. I’ll stop by tomorrow,” he said, closing the door behind him.
    “I really like him,” Dave said, peeking his head out from the kitchen. “He’s such a nice guy. And mature, like you. I was never that mature at his age.”
    I followed Dave into the kitchen. He opened the fridge, looking completely clueless as to how to make a meal. “So I’m guessing you haven’t eaten all day. You must be starving. Let me make you something.”  
    “I’m not hungry. I want to know what happened today. What did the police say?”
    Dave shook his head in a gesture of frustration. “Really, Sam, the police didn’t say much. And I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about it.”
    “I want to know. Please. Just tell me.”
    Dave sighed. “Well, I guess there was some night construction going on at Stevens Point Road. Your Dad must not have seen that the one lane was closed.” Dave’s voice drifted off, as if he were imagining the scene in his head.  
    I tried to imagine it, too, but it didn’t make sense. My dad was a super cautious driver and he was always aware of road construction.  
    “But Dad checks that stuff all the time.”
    “I know, I know. He kept that state DOT site bookmarked on his computer. He was always so worried about you driving.”
    “What else did they say?”
    “Well, apparently the car slammed into a telephone pole and then rolled down the ravine that’s there. You know that area right after Woody’s garage? It’s kind of a sharp curve.”
    “Yeah, I know the area.” His description was bringing the scene to life for me in a way that was far too vivid. I quickly changed the subject, wishing I had never asked about the accident. “So what else did you do there? At the station?”
    “I had to identify . . . you know, just to be sure. I didn’t want to have to talk about this Sam, but I know . . .” Dave took a deep breath, tears forming in his eyes again. I felt numb, like he was talking about someone else. “Basically, the car was pretty much in pieces and part of it was on fire, so you can imagine—” His voice was shaking, so he stopped to breathe again. “Well, it was bad. I don’t want you to ever have that image of them.”
    We stood in silence, the image forming in my head despite Dave’s warning.  
    Dave could see my mind working, so he continued on, trying to change the subject, but the next topic wasn’t much better. “I don’t know if you knew this, Sam, but your parents wanted to be cremated. Their ashes will be in urns at their memorial service, which I’ve tentatively scheduled for Wednesday at First Street Church. But I wanted to talk to you before I confirmed it.”
    “That’s so—it’s so soon! Can’t it wait? This just happened. I’m not ready.”
    “I know. Believe me, Sam, I know. It all seems rushed, but that’s how it works. And I know it’s not fair. It seems like the whole world should come to a stop and give us time to grieve. But it doesn’t.” He sat down at the kitchen table, looking hopeless and overwhelmed.  
    “So it has to be Wednesday?”
    “No, of course not. It can be any day next week, but the minister