SUNDAY- JULY 4, 1976

Sam stepped off the tour bus, looking around, yawning, he had slept the entire bus ride; the little blond kept him ocuppied until dawn.

"Where are we?" He asked Tex, who was in front of him.

Tex grabbed Sam's bag out of the undercarriage hold, throwing it at him. "It's Sunday and we're in Amarillo, peckerhead. You know, the big fourth of July. The bicentennial."

Sam grinned cockily at Tex as he neatly caught his bag, one handed. "Hey, man, no need to be so pissed. Just because I got the blond last night." He laughed, hearing a growl come from inside the baggage hold as Tex reached in to get his own duffle.

Tex emerged with his bag and walked past Sam, whispering under his breath. "I get the blond tonight."

Sam laughed as he caught up to him, "We'll see about that. Double or nothin'."

Sam gave Gisette a cool nod as he held out his hand for his room key. She slapped the diamond shaped, plastic key fob into the palm of his hand, muttering under her breath. "Please tell me that blond was over 18."

Sam laughed, wickedly. "I didn't ask."

"You know what, Sam? I mean all business when I ask that. As a road manager, I sure as hell don't want an asshole band member to get arrested for fucking an underage groupie."

Sam tipped her chin up with a fingertip, squinting his eyes, he growled. "Next time, I promise to check their id. Will that make you happy?"

Gisette looked into his mocking blue eyes, "No, as your wife, I would be happy if you would come back to my bed."

Sam dropped his hand and looked away, clearing his throat. "I don't think I can do that, Gisette."

He stepped around her, shouldering his duffle bag as he headed down the hall towards his room.

Gisette caught up to him as he opened his door, following him into the room.

Sam threw his duffle on the bed, and turned on her. "What is it now?" He confronted her.

Gisette looked back at him, angrily. "You know, you've given me this pissed off attitude before, when you first came back to the tour with Sarah. But I thought we had made it past that. Sarah's gone, Sam. She's not coming back. I thought we were going to start over. We made mistakes, we hurt ourselves and others with our actions. All of that is in the past."

Sam rubbed his hands over his face, then crossed his arms over his chest, his hand massaging over his heart.

"She knows that we got married, and not only married, but we did it on her birthday. Trish was right! My god! That was the shittiest thing we could have ever done to her! Don't you feel any shame over that, Gisette?"

Gisette narrowed her eyes at him. "We didn't plan it, Sam!"

"You have no idea how ashamed I am. I loved her, so much more than I have ever loved anyone. And all I did was hurt her, and drive her away. I fucking know that she's not coming back! I am going to start my life again, without Sarah. And without you."

Gisette walked slowly towards the door, the hurt showing on her face. "Okay, if that's what you want. Start again, but I'm not taking myself out of the picture, yet. I will go on with my life also. We'll see how it goes."

Sam turned his back to her, looking out the window. When he heard the door close behind him, he pulled the necklace out of his pocket, staring at it.

With a sigh, he crossed over to the desk drawer and found an envelope with the hotel stationary. He slipped the necklace carefully inside, tucking the chain around the heart, and he licked it closed, sealing it. Sam put the envelope in the bottom of his duffle, zipping it closed.

It was time to move on, as he had told Gisette. His eyes rested on the tattoo, the blue image jumped out at him. He had gotten it to remind himself to never fall so completely in love again, to remind him of the pain it caused him.

But it also reminded him of Sarah, a daily reminder that he once had the perfect love, and he had fucked it up.

***

Sarah walked around the crowd gathered on the street in front of her parents house. She had completely forgotten that it was the fourth of July.

The small city had a parade on the fourth, every year, and it always ended on the residential section of the main street.

The parade had been just the beginning of a big day for her and her friends when they were children. Pete used to ride in the float that his softball team had decorated. She and Midgie were the unofficial cheerleaders of the team, and were always given a spot beside the team. Together, they all threw candy at the onlookers.

As teenagers, they would spend their entire day on the beach, filled with picnics and swimming, ending in the fireworks over the lake. They would sit on the beach, huddled under a blanket. The fireworks was always the time for the last kisses or heaviest petting to be had for the evening.

This year's events were touted to be even bigger and more spectacular, and the crowd was even bigger, blocking off the streets from all traffic.

Sarah just wanted to get through them and into her parents house. She wasn't in the mood to celebrate this year.

As she entered the front door, she could hear her parents in the kitchen, getting ready for the big day. She could smell the beans, baking in the oven, their brown sugary smell caused only a slight queasiness.

Walking towards the kitchen, she saw her dad, at the sink, washing the breakfast dishes. Sarah watched as her mother came up behind him and circled her arms around his waist; smiling as she laid her cheek against his back.

Pain flared up in her chest, as she stood in the hall and saw the love that flowed between them.

"Sarah!" Jane stepped over to hug her. "I was wondering what time you were coming. I was going to call and see if we should come pick you up, but I don't think we'd get out of our driveway. That crowd outside is impossible to get through."

"I decided to walk." Sarah looked at her mother, questioning. She was wondering when she should tell her father.

Jane shook her head slightly, as she crossed over to the oven and took the beans out, setting them on the stove top. "Have you had breakfast? I can make you some toast. Sorry, but we're out of coffee."

Sarah kissed her father on the cheek as he grumbled. "Your mother says we're out, but I know I saw a full can of Maxwell House in the cupboard yesterday."

Jane packed the plates and silverware in their picnic basket as she spoke. "I told you that you were imagining things, honey. There is no can of coffee in the cupboard. Will you go get the gallon jug, please? I need it for the lemonade. I think it's down on the shelf in the basement."

Sarah watched her father, as he went into the basement, then stepped closer to her mother. "When should I tell him?" She whispered.

"He's not in a real good mood right now." Jane glanced towards the basement door. "I'll let you know when it's a good time today."

"I'm not going to the picnic today! I plan on staying here, the farthest I'm going is the front porch." Sarah said.

She had called her mother last night and explained her new relationship with Pete, as best as she could.

Jane eyed her daughter, "Listen to me, for once in your life. If you want people to know that you and Pete aren't together, then you have to get out and let them see you, just you."

"And what if Pete's there?" Sarah asked.

Jane paused, then crossed her arms. "Midgie will be there, and so will I, we won't let you down, Sarah." She smiled, sadly, at her daughter.

***

The day was going smoother than Sarah had expected. They had taken their picnic baskets and coolers to the tent; this was the gathering place for the yearly picnic with the Newsomes; who were at the campsite also, dropping off their things.

Sarah had found out from her mother that Pete's parents didn't know the reason for the disagreement, only that Pete and Sarah, both, had no desire to see each other. She was relieved to see that he wasn't with them.

After awhile of standing around talking and drinking beers, they all agreed to walk to the beach, together.

Delly drew Sarah back as they walked the path, "Sarah, you know you're like a daughter to me. You always will be."

She sounded sad as she continued. "This thing that is going on with you and Pete right now sounds really serious. When I talked to Pete this morning, I was shocked when he told me that something had happened, something so bad that you didn't want to see each other. He said that he didn't get much sleep last night, so he's at the apartment now, sleeping. He knew you would be with your parents, and wanted me to tell you that he will be there for a few hours. He said he'd be here later, and that you could decide if you wanted to stay then or not."

Sarah felt her heart as it sped up, pounding at the thought of seeing Pete. She wasn't sure if she should stay or leave before he got there. He was leaving the decision up to her.

***

Sarah was sitting on the quilt with Midgie and Dave, watching the people as they played in the waves. "I'm glad you found me in this crowd. I didn't mind sitting with my parents and the Newsomes, but after the first two hours, it was getting boring. I just wish I had my suit on, I could've gone swimming."

"Don't you have that old one in the tent?" Midgie remembered. "It's a couple years old, but it would still fit."

Sarah's face lit up as she remembered the suit also. "Yeah! I forgot all about it!" She jumped up, and slid into her sandals. "I'll be right back!"

***

Midgie and Dave were gone and Pete was on the quilt. Sarah saw him as soon as she stepped off the path. He turned his head in her direction and she could tell, even with the dark glasses that he wore, that he had seen her.

His head swiveled away, as he looked over the crowd, then he turned back towards her once more, and she knew that he was watching her as she thread her way through the other sun bathers.

She lowered her eyes, as she stepped cautiously, her heart was pounding and she was feeling very dizzy.

It came upon her fast. It seemed like a never ending path of feet and blankets, and she felt like they were closing in on her. She knew she had to get to the quilt, quickly, and get her ginger ale and crackers. She could feel her body giving way, her elbows hit the sand, as the blackness closed around the perimeters of her vision.

"What happened?" She opened her eyes, to see Pete's face above hers.

"Nice entrance, baby." He whispered as he tried to cover his worry with sarcasm.

He sat her up and helped her to stand, leading her by the elbow, back to their quilt. The other sunbathers, all settled back on their own quilts and towels, talking about how they saw her fall, and how fast Pete had gotten there.

Sarah reached for her drink and crackers as soon as she reached the quilt.

Pete watched as she ate the cracker, then washed it down with the ginger ale. "You have to eat, you can't just survive on crackers."

Sarah looked around the crowd. "I do eat. It's just that there's not a lot of food that agrees with me." She took another cracker out and started nibbling. "Sorry about the entrance, as you called it."

Pete shrugged his shoulders, "We've seen people pass out on the beach, it's a hot day and you've been out in the sun, right?" The questioning tone in his voice, caused her to jerk her eyes back to him.

She wished that she could see his eyes through the dark lenses.

He lowered his voice, "You're alright now, right? I mean, it was just because of...." He couldn't finish the question.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be here when you arrived. I don't know how long I'll stay."

Pete looked out over the lake. "Baby, I was hoping you wouldn't be here today." He paused and swallowed hard, as he thought of how to say the next words. "We have to act like we are still just friends. When Dave and Midgie come back from the water, I'm going to get up and do what any normal, single guy would be doing. I'm going to cruise the beach. Just, please, don't take it personal. I am in no way trying to hurt you."

"I understand, Pete." Sarah said, softly.

Pete glanced up towards where their parents were standing and folding up their quilt. "Our parents are leaving now, maybe you could go back with them?" He sounded hopeful. He really didn't want Sarah around, if he planned on talking to other girls.

Sarah agreed, readily, with him. She didn't want to sit and watch Pete with other girls, any more than he did.

Pete walked with her, over to their parents, and they stood and talked for few minutes. Then Sarah turned and followed them up the path and Pete stepped through the crowd, making his way back to the quilt.

***

Pete lit a cigarette, then leaned back on his elbows, starting out at the sunbathers through his sunglasses.

He watched as Midgie threw herself down, breathless from running through the sand.

"Where's Sarah?" She asked. "She was going to get her suit on and join us."

"She was here, but she went back to the tent." Pete explained.

Midgie wrapped her towel around her shoulders. "How are you handling it? And by that, I mean, both of you."

Pete leaned his head back, squinting at the sky, as he let the sun's warmth soak into his skin. "Honestly, Midgie, this sucks! For both of us."

***

Sarah was grateful to her mother for making her a baked chicken breast. While the others ate their juicy grilled hamburgers and hot dogs at the picnic table, she took her plate and sat on the ground by the tent.

Even being near the smell of the food was making her stomach churn. Her mother had promised her that this morning sickness, which lasted nearly all day, would eventually go away. Sarah couldn't wait for that day, she was already getting tired of the waves of nausea that would come and go, catching her off guard at times.

Passing out on the beach had scared her, too. She knew it was because she hadn't eaten much, but a steady diet of crackers and dry toast was getting tiresome. She ate her chicken, happy to have found something else that she could tolerate.

"I think you can talk to your dad anytime now." Jane sat down beside her, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. "He's got his belly full and thankfully, he had some coffee. We're getting ready to go over to the marina. We decided to take the boat out, so we'll be out there the rest of the day. Delly thought it would be fun to get away from the beach, and watch the fireworks from out on the lake."

Sarah looked at her father as he talked and drank beer with Tom and Delly Newsome. He was having such a good day, she hated to be the cause of ruining it. "What if I came over after the fireworks?"

"That will work. What will you do for the rest of the day? Pete is at the beach."

"I think I'll just stay here at the tent for now, I'm tired." Sarah replied.

Jane patted Sarah's shoulder, standing up to join her husband and friends. "It will get better, honey. The nausea and tiredness will go away. You just have to hang in there for a few more weeks."

After everyone left, Sarah went into the tent; opening the window flaps to allow the breeze in, she rolled out her sleeping bag and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

***

She was awakened by voices outside the tent. Looking at the clock, she realized that she had been sleeping for over 2 hours. Sarah laid her head back down, cocking her ear towards the side of the tent, listening as she recognized Pete's voice.

"I know we have beer, or maybe some..."

Sarah heard the ice and water slushing as he dug through the cooler,

"Pepsi or....." Pete brought up a can of ginger ale, and quickly put it back in the icy coldness. "Pepsi."

"Beer, please. This is a hell of a hot day, I need a good cold beer!"

Sarah bit her lip as she heard the female voice reply. It wasn't a voice that she recognized.

It dawned on her that Pete had done as he said he would. It was definitely not what she wanted to be eavesdropping on.

"Please leave. Please leave." Her mind screamed the words, while she bit down harder on her lip.

She sat up and covered her ears. She could still hear the voices, though now muffled, as they moved around outside. It didn't sound like they were leaving soon, they were now stopped in one spot.

Sarah knew, from the direction that they came from, that Pete and his unknown friend were sitting at the picnic table. She also knew that she was stuck here in the tent.

She looked around, trying to decide what to do, then slowly lowered her hands from her ears. As long as Pete didn't know that she was here, then no one had to know.

All she had to do was sit, very quietly. She wrapped her arms around her bent knees; resting her forehead on them as she tried to control her rapid breathing.

Pete sat by Toni, handing her an opened beer. "Are you hungry? There's some leftovers from lunch, if you want anything."

"Nope, I'm good." Toni ran her hand through her long black hair, pulling it away from her face and leaned back, stretching out her legs. Her Italian heritage showed in the beautiful golden color of her skin.

Pete's eyes traveled up the length of her legs, over the curved hips and flat belly, stopping at the lushness of her full breasts.

His eyes jerked up at the sound of her giggle, to see her watching him and he got lost in her deep brown eyes. She had wide, full lips, that looked as if they were naturally reddened.

"You know," Toni paused and smiled, coyly. "I had a crush on you in our senior year."

"Really?" Pete smiled, surprised. "That's the year that I tutored you in math. You had a crush on me?"

"Yep, I did!" Toni laughed and Pete smiled as he heard her, his heart flip flopped at the sound of it. "I just acted like I didn't know math, so I could be with you."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Pete asked.

"I thought I gave you enough hints! My god, don't you remember how I used to lean against you and the tops I wore!"

Pete chuckled as the memories came back. At the time, he had been wrestling with the idea that he may have been homosexual. Toni's boobs had been a major distraction, but he never knew that she was hitting on him. His life may have gone a whole other way, if he had been smarter!

"I do remember. I never knew you were interested in me. Weren't you dating the quarterback, Clark something?"

Toni flipped her hair back again and gave him a cool look. "Yeah, off and on."

"Not so good, huh?" Pete asked, sympathetically. If nothing else, he did know how it feels to end a relationship on a bad level.

"No, it wasn't. I finally ended it permanently, just last month." Toni shook her head.

She scooted closer to Pete, and he lifted his arm, drawing her against his side. Her head rested just below his collar bone and her hand played on his chest, making circles and moving closer to his nipples.

Pete felt his heart pounding in his chest, threatening to break his rib cage. He knew, for sure, that Toni heard it too. She knew the effect she was having on him. And she was having an effect on him!