Sam saw her smile at him in the most wonderful way, so he was a bit confused when she got up from the table and ordered him to stay seated before she buzzed off toward the kitchen.  He shrugged to himself and to those who were seeming to be surprised as they watched her.  He grinned to himself as he wondered what she was up to.  He spoke quietly to himself as he ate a bite of the excellent bread that was in the basket on the table.  “God but I love you Irene Markham . . . I truly do.”<br/><br/>He started to rise out of his chair as she came whirling back.  She was in her chair before he was half out of his so he just sat down again.  His smile broadened into a wide grin as Irene set a pint of beer in front of him.<br/><br/>“Thanks darlin.   How the heck did you manage this? ”  Sam took a shallow pull on the malty elixir and licked his lips.  He winked at her in as devilish a manner as he could muster.  “No one got hurt did they?”<br/><br/>He chuckled as if cued Louis brought their food.  He was grinning like a fool with evidence of Irene’s lips on his cheek.  He watched and smiled as Louis set a napkin in her lap.  Sam raised the glass of beer and thanked Louis as the man patted Sam on the shoulder and handed him his napkin.<br/><br/>Sam laughed at Irene's admission and clinked his raised pint with Irene’s  wine glass as she toasted their future.<br/><br/>“Yeah Darlin’ . . . amen to that . . . many more dinners together and mornings waking each other.”<br/><br/>Sam winked at her but couldn’t speak any more as his throat had tightened up on him.  He took a sip of his beer as he tried to relieve the tightness in his throat.  He’d never felt so blessed, happy, and hopeful about his future as he felt in that moment. With his voice back he tried to sluff it off.  He knew it was silly with her.  Sam had a feeling that she’d probably see through but he had a persona to preserve.<br/><br/>“Thanks Irene for this beer . . . I guess I was feelin’ a bit parched.”<br/><br/>He blushed a little as he turned his attention to the wonderfully fragrant food.<br/><br/>“This smells wonderful baby . . . thanks for the heads up.”<br/><br/>