I point out, “Your Mom and Dad have it raise the limit yet on us, that’s for her babysitting Sam, and a little bit of advance on that. Be sure you explain that to Kara when you give her the card.”
Kathryn giggles, “You’re devious when you need to be.”
I chuckle hugging my wife. I said to her, “Just remember I’m always on your side.”
Kara’s birthday party would be tomorrow night, after trading today Kathryn, Kara, Sam and I drive off to the mall. To take Kara shopping, I was along to carry the bags and Sam. Sam always wants to be with her Mommy whenever possible. It’s always good for her too. Sam is becoming more and more secure about being our daughter. She even told us, she want to visit great grandma for a week in the summer like Kathryn did when she was a girl, Of course Sam assumed we would come too. We probably would I love grandma just as much as Kathryn.
Next summer with have a three-month old with us. It would be nice to pick berries with Sam. Grandma can show Kathryn how to make the jelly from them. Sam wants to see the location from the bear story.
A minor setback at grandma’s house she’ll be staying for another two weeks, as some termite damage needs repaired. That’s something I’m really happy about I enjoy having her here. She seems to enjoy it as well she does spend a lot of time with her Granddaughters, and now Great-Granddaughter.
Sam sits in my lap wide-eyed listening to stories from her Great Grandma. A few of her stories I’ve heard before, but she has new ones that she shares with Sam and me. Some are very happy while others bring tears to our eyes. Michael’s older brother was among the few that lost their lives during the first Gulf War. When a missile warhead smashed into the barracks they were living in. She tells a few stories about him. He was a career airman and would have finished his twenty years of service shortly after he died.
For the first time Sam talks about her parents too, Sam’s memory allows her to relate the story of them leaving, first her father left for Afghanistan than a week later her mother left for Iraq. The story brings tears to our eyes. I hold Sam as she cries it may not have been something that Sam got to do before. She’s never finished grieving for her parents. I think of my father and cry too. Maybe no one finishes grieving totally.
That night I bring Sam to bed with us, I know she needs to feel secure right now. Kathryn understands as we lay down with Sam on my chest she places her arm over and kisses her good night. Sam asks, “Mommy is it okay if I miss my Angel Mommy.” Sam refers to her birth mother as Angel Mommy.
Kathryn draws in a breath, it’s almost like I hear her silently plead for the right words and she says, “It’s okay Sam, I understand that you miss your Angel Mommy. I’ll do the best I can to be your Mommy. I hope your Angel Mommy gives me a hand when I need it. I hope she always looks out for you my beautiful little Sam.”
Sam gives Kathryn many kisses holding to her tightly, and Kathryn returns everyone. Without a thought I say, “Honey stop calling Sam little, she’s our big girl now.”
Sam begins laughing and she looks up into my face she says, “Angel Daddy would say that all the time whenever Angel Mommy called me little Sam.” I make a mental note right there never to refer to Sam as little again. Sam’s father referred to her as his big girl no wonder she hated me referring to her as little.
I smile and say, “That’s right my Princess Sam you’re my big girl.”
Kathryn sticks her tongue out at me making a sound that gets Sam’s attention and starts her giggling. Kathryn says, “She still is my beautiful little Sam.”
Sam kisses Kathryn and they both giggle. I rub Sam’s back she does look up at me and I ask, “Should we tickle Mommy for calling you little?”
Sam shakes her head no and says, “Mommy can call me little if she wants to. But you can’t Daddy I’m your big girl.”
I smile and say, “In that case my big girl should get some sleep.” Almost on cue Sam yawns kisses Kathryn one more time than drops her head to my chest. I hear Kathryn whisper, “I love you my beautiful little Sam.”
Sam whispers back, “I love you too Mommy.”
I whisper, “I love my girls, now get some sleep my Loves.”
Kathryn whispers, “Love you Hubby.”
Sam whispers, “Love you Daddy.”
They seem to fall asleep almost instantly after that. I wonder if the two will ever realize how much I truly love them, as I too fall asleep.
The next morning dawns bright and clear but I feel a sense of uneasiness even as I come awake. My two girls are right where they were the night before. The site of them sleeping makes me feel a little calmer but something doesn’t feel right about today. Mom, Alyssa and Johnny aren’t leaving until Wednesday. Kara’s birthday party is tonight. It’s a Tuesday and Marshall and Misty came back last night from their weekend. We can start trading early today. I can’t figure out what’s wrong, what would give me a feeling like this.
If I can’t figure out what’s got me worried, I’m not going to worry the two beautiful girls sleeping with me. I force it out my mind before I say playfully, “Get up you sleepy heads, we got laps to do.”
Kathryn groans, “Just five more minutes.”
Sam raises her head and looks into my face she says, “You heard Mommy five more minutes.” Sam rests her head back on my chest. For some reason it looks like the ladies in my life are in charge. They do outnumber me and if my premonition still holds true eventually it will be fourteen to one. Kathryn given me twelve daughters and we adopting Sam make it fourteen to one.
I chuckle and say, “Five more laps for five more minutes.”
Kathryn raises her head then says, “If you are going to be that way about it.” She starts tickling me, which causes me to jump and buck, Sam hangs on for a wild ride until Kathryn stops.
Sam giggles as she says, “That was fun Mommy. Do it again.”
I warn Sam, “Be careful Sam once you get Mom started tickling she will get you too.” I give Kathryn a wink.
Kathryn has a devilish expression and Sam catches it right away Sam jumps up and runs to the bathroom followed by Kathryn as both of them giggle. I chuckle and stretch out I get five more minutes in bed.
I act like I’m asleep once I hear the shower shut off. I know the girls will be coming out in their ropes to dress in their bathing suits. I’m waiting to get Kathryn back for tickling me this morning.
The bathroom door opens and I hear Sam’s footsteps running down the hall she doesn’t even slow as she jumps on the bed Sam screams, “Daddy, Mommy needs you. She’s sick.”
No payback for Kathryn’s earlier actions as I go to the aid of my wife. I scoop Sam up into my arms on the way back to the bathroom. I set her down at the bathroom door and I moved to Kathryn is bent over the toilet. I can tell she is sick from the sound. I go and gently hold her hair out of the way. I tell Sam to get a washcloth with cool water, I hear the water run and know Sam is doing what I asked.
As Sam hands me a washcloth Kathryn begins to straighten up and I clean her face with the cool cloth. Kathryn goes to the sink and washes her mouth out than brushes her teeth. She won’t get near me knowing I will kiss her. Sam is nowhere in sight.
This is the first time Kathryn had morning sickness because of her pregnancy, something not unexpected it doesn’t worry me or Kathryn. Sam seems to be scared to death when she ran to me. She almost pushed away when I picked her up. I wonder what scared her so badly. As Kathryn is brushing her teeth, I relieve myself once the sink is free I wash my hands.
In a matter-of-fact voice I say to Kathryn, “We need to explain this to Sam. I think she doesn’t understand why you were sick this morning.”
I wasn’t really paying that much attention when it happened, Sam ran from the bathroom without her robe, and she is a modest 4-year-old girl. It must’ve scared her very badly for her to overcome her modesty or simply forget it. Sam sits on the edge of the bed now dressed in her robe, her hands plays nervously with the cord that ties the robe. Silent tears run down her face.
Kathryn can’t help it she immediately runs to Sam picks her up and wraps her in her arms. Only an instant later I have both of them wrapped in my arms. A frightened Sam looks into Kathryn’s face she shyly asks, “Mommy, are you sick? My grandma was sick like that a lot.”
Kathryn giggles and says, “No my beautiful little Sam I not sick. It’s because I’m pregnant.”
Sam’s expression is priceless, one of total relief followed quickly by confusion. Sam asks, “My sister is making you sick?”
Kathryn says, “It’s not her fault Sam. Women get what is known as morning sickness when their pregnant. It’s because their body is changing to help the baby grow.”
Sam’s eyes light up no longer worried about her Mommy. Kathryn elbows me off to the bathroom telling me to shave. She hates the way my beard feels against her face. I shower and shave before returning to my girls and dressing in my trunks.
We had downstairs to do our laps and meet Marshall and Misty already there. Misty snacking on crackers and Kathryn goes to get a few as the two women giggle. Misty asks, “Were you?”
Kathryn nods her head as she eats a cracker. Sam goes over and asks, “Mommy why are you and Aunt Misty eating crackers before breakfast?”
I warn, “If you tell her, you better tell her not to tell anyone else.”
Misty giggles, and then she says, “It’s not like something I’ll be able to hide very long anyway. Sam I’m pregnant too.”
Sam’s arms wrap around Misty with her ear pressed against her belly. Kathryn warns, “Don’t squeeze too tight Sam.”
Sam instantly loosens her grip on her Aunt Misty. Then she looks into Misty’s face and says, “I’m sorry.”
Misty says with a giggle, “It is okay Sam. If you kept squeezing me like that, I may have to run to the bathroom.”
Sam asks, “You having morning sickness too?”
Misty answered, “Yes Sam, it won’t last all that long. Mom only had it for a couple weeks each time she was pregnant.”
Kathryn groans, “I hope I’m not like Mom when it comes to morning sickness. She said she was sick for three months with me.”
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