Sam took a drink and lay back on the lounge, "I have to defend my thesis in two months. I was ready to when the accident happened, I postponed my defense. I'm just now getting back to preparing. I guess I'll head back."
"Do you have to be there to prepare?" I asked.
Sam put her beer down, looked across my sister to me, "No I don't."
"Do you have a place to live back there? Your house?" I asked.
Sam looked down, "No. I had to sell everything. There were bills."
"Friends?" Deb said.
"All my friends were from college and grad school, scattered all over the world."
"Stay here, please," I said.
Sam teared up, "I don't need a handout. Once I have my Ph.D. I have job offers."
Deb looked at me and then Sam, "Helping your family is not a handout."
"Thank you," Sam replied.
We sat in sile
