Summary

In Chapter 8, “Samantha,” Sam spends the night at the hospital. The next morning, she learns that Lovie will be having several tests. Sam goes home to shower and to work at Sweeney's. She tries to convince Jamie to help at Sweeney's, but he refuses. She stops by Lovie's condo and cleans up a little before going to the market. She finds Faith has Bisty with her. Curtis is inside, but he refuses to do what Sam asks on the showroom floor. She sends him to work in the kitchen. Curtis makes a suggestive remark, calls her “Sexy Sammie” (82), and presses against her. She threatens him with a knife.

Curtis and Faith had announced their engagement in 1997. Jackie was pregnant with the twins and was clearly miserable. She made a rude comment about the “seedy apartment” (85) where Faith and Curtis were living and another...