“Samantha I’m worried about you.” He brought her head around so her eyes met his. “Please tell me what is going on here.”

“The whole thing is really rather embarrassing. You’re going to think I am a complete mental case.”

Howie scrunched his brows together. “Why would I think that Sam?”

“I wanted to finish as much work as I could early this week so I could take today and Monday off to spend time with you. I worked last weekend and I put in 10-12 hours Monday through Thursday this week.” She paused. “I didn’t want to come back on Tuesday to half finished projects. It is almost like starting over again when I do that.”

“What does your work have to do with your being sick Sam? Did you overwork yourself to the point of exhaustion? Sam you didn’t have to…”

“I’m not tired or sick Howie.” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and pursed her lips slowly. “Remember when we first met and I told you my eating habits were atrocious?” Howie nodded. “Well, ummm…I sort of haven’t been eating like I should this week.”

“So you almost passed out because you haven’t eaten today?” Howie asked somewhat relieved to know she wasn’t under the weather.

“Not exactly.”

“What do you mean ‘not exactly’ Sam? Have you eaten today?” Samantha didn’t answer the question. Howie’s eyes grew wide. “When was the last time you ate anything?”

“I was busy!” Samantha exclaimed defensively.

“Samantha, when was the last time you ate?” Howie asked urgently, his voice edgy with irritation.

Samantha looked at the ground. “I just got so busy I didn’t really think about food or eating. I wasn’t hungry.”

Howie took Samantha’s chin in his hand and turned her face to where he could see her eyes. “Samantha” he said slowly. “How many days have you ‘forgotten’ to eat?”

Samantha tried to lower her chin in an effort to avoid his gaze but he would not release her. “I” she hesitated, attempting to remember what she had eaten over the past few days. “I had a big lunch on Wednesday. Tim brought me Chinese.”

“Good Lordy Sam!” Howie exclaimed, his eyes growing wide. “You mean to tell me you haven’t eaten in over 72 hours?”

“Calm down! I had a bagel for breakfast yesterday morning.”

“Yesterday morning? That really changes a lot Sam!” He lifted her off of his lap and set her down on the couch. He stood up. Running his fingers through his hair he mumbled “Brian was right.”

“Brian was right about what?”

Howie looked at Samantha. “Brian told me thought you had an eating disorder after we spent that first weekend with you.”

“That is ridiculous Howie! I got a little too wrapped up in my work and I didn’t think about eating! I don’t have some freakin’ eating disorder!”

“People don’t just ‘forget’ to eat Samantha!” Howie cried out shaking his head.

“I wasn’t hungry!”

“Obviously you were since you almost passed out a few minutes ago!” Howie exclaimed. Samantha didn’t respond. “Has this ever happened before Sam? Have you ever ‘forgotten’ to eat and passed out before today?”

Samantha hinged and unhinged her jaw as she considered what to say to Howie. “Once or twice.” She whispered. She didn’t look up. She didn’t want to see the Howie was staring at her. ‘He thinks I am freak with an eating disorder. How could I have been so stupid? I should have said yes when he asked if I was air sick.’

“Once or twice? Sam!” Howie shrieked as he sat down beside her. He took her hands in his. She was still shaking. “Sam, honey. You have to eat. You should never be so busy that you can’t find a few minutes to eat something.” He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. “Sam you’re a doctor! You better than anyone should know what happens when you don’t eat.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you sweetie. I don’t like seeing you do something like this that could have effects on the rest of your life. Sam, look at me.” She turned to face him. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“Howie I am not going to die because I skip a few meals!”

“You could Samantha!” Samantha threw him an annoyed look. “Suppose you were driving on the freeway and something like this happened? You could cause an accident. Even worse, you could be killed Sam!”

“Howie you are way overreacting! Something like that is not going to happen.”

“How do you know that? Did you know before hand you were going to almost pass out today?”

Samantha bit her lip. “No.” She whispered.

“You see what I mean?” Howie pulled her into his embrace. He kissed her hair. “Sam, please promise me you won’t do this again.” He pushed her out to arm’s length. He brought her eyes even with his. “You promise?”

Samantha blinked slowly. “I promise to be more careful.”

“Not exactly what I meant but it will do for now.” He kissed her softly. “I love you Sam. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I know.” She bit her lip. “I don’t have a problem Howie. I am not one of those freaks you see on TV. I don’t starve myself on purpose.” She looked away from him and out the window of the plane.

“I didn’t say you were Sam.” He turned toward her. “Hun, I am sorry if I implied you have more of a problem than you do. You have to admit Samantha. You are thin. You exercise several times a week, you take dance classes, you swim and you don’t eat like you should.”

Samantha turned her head to face Howie. “Can we drop this discussion please? There is nothing wrong with me.”

“Fine Samantha. Just think about what I said OK?”