Kathryn and I say in unison, “No, Sam we didn’t.”
Shaking Sam asks again, “Mommy and Daddy you’re not going to leave me here?”
With a comforting voice I say, “I can’t see my life without you my Princess. I would miss you too much to leave you for more than I do now. Every morning when I go to work leaving you and your Mommy is the hardest thing I ever do.”
Kathryn saying in a comforting voice, “Sam I couldn’t leave you with your aunt the afternoon I went to school. How can I stand to leave you here? You are my daughter, and I don’t have to go and be a soldier like Angel Mommy, or Angel Daddy. All I have to do is be your Mommy.”
Sam holds us tightly for a long time. Sam finally asks, “If you didn’t bring me here to leave me, why are we here?”
I’m trying to ensure Sam of our intentions. I say, “Sam I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you. We came to get your pictures, toys and anything else you want to bring back home. We never meant to scare you my Princess.”
Sam reinsured of our love says, “We came just so I can get my pictures and toys.”
Smiling Kathryn replies, “Yes my beautiful little Sam that’s the only reason you had to come. You have to tell us what you want to bring home.”
With a giggle Sam says, “Can I bring my playhouse.”
Looking around for a moment I think of how exactly to explain to Sam. I say, “I think it’s a little too big to fit on the airplane. It’s an awful long way to have it shipped on the back of a truck. We can bring all your toys from inside back with us.”
Sam giggling says, “It would look really funny on top of the car.” That starts Kathryn giggling, and I finally begin to chuckle as well.
Sam begins to pick up her two stuffed animals. She looks longingly at the tea set. Seeing her expression I say, “We’ll figure out a way to bring those, Sam.”
Sam takes a deep breath before she says, “Daddy those were Angel Mommy’s, this playhouse was hers too. These are my teddy bears. I used to play like there were my little sisters.”
Kathryn giggles and says, “Sam you’re not going have to pretend you have little sisters very soon.”
Sam moves to her Mommy giving Kathryn a hug. Tears were rolling down Sam’s face, but they are happy tears. As I pick her up into my arms Kathryn and I both kiss one of Sam’s cheeks and her tears away. Giggling Sam kisses us both back and then hugs us tightly around the neck. Once Sam releases us in a very happy voice she says, “I keep getting my wishes to come true. I wished I had a little sister and I’m going to. I wished you would be my Mommy and Daddy and you are.”
Chuckling I say, “Making your wishes come true Princess Sam makes us happy. Sam you’re being our daughter makes us happy.”
Kathryn kisses Sam’s cheek again before she says, “My beautiful little Sam you are my daughter and that makes me happy.”
Ron and Reese had moved away from the door letting us and Sam have our time. After a few more moments Sam gives me a kiss and the cheek that signals she wants me to let her down. She takes her two teddy bears, and then looks around the room one last time. Coming over to Kathryn she takes her hand and says, “There some pictures in the house Mommy.”
I follow the two out on my knees. At the door I transition and step out. Ron and Reese are a little ways away. Ron has her up in his arms spinning her around like a small child. Reese is giggling merrily. Reese finally begins to slap his shoulder and says loudly, “Stop or I’m going to be sick.”
Chuckling Ron sets her down and hugs her because she is very wobbly. Ron seeing us approach, smiles brightly before he says, “JJ, Kathryn and Sam I would like to present my fiancée and the mother of my child.”
Reese giggles and says, “I’m making the captain make an honest woman of me.”
Kathryn and I congratulate the two of them. Sam gives Reese a hug and asks, “Reese since Ron is my Godfather will this make you my Godmother?”
Reese kisses Sam quickly then gives Kathryn and me a look that says oh please. I have my hand interlaced with Kathryn’s, with this physical connection our bond allows us to get the impression of what the other is feeling and I feel agreement from Kathryn. With a chuckle I say, “I was going to ask if you would. Now that you’re engaged to Ron, Reese up on your wedding would you agree to be Sam’s Godmother?”
Giggling Reese says, “Only if I get to play with the Princess once in a while too.”
Giggling Sam says, “Well I get to read to the baby?”
Kathryn and Reese both dropped their hands to their bellies and say in unison, “yes.” They look at each other and crack up laughing. That starts the rest of us laughing as well.
It takes most of the morning but we managed to pack up most of everything, including the tea set. We had to go to a shipping store to have most of it shipped home for us. Sam had quite a bit of stuff for a four-year-old. Kathryn and Reese went through Sam’s closet and found several outfits that would be good for Amanda. A lot of the other stuff went to Goodwill. We managed to go to the grocery store and pick up some fresh groceries before noon.
At noon Steve and his nephew arrived, we set at the kitchen table and I talk about what I need for them to do. I hand them to prepaid credit cards as they fill out the paperwork for their employment. The young man has a truck they will use as transportation and to get building supplies.
When Steve’s nephew asks about how much I’m going to pay them. I say, “I was thinking about sixty thousand a year, plus room. I’ll allow you to stay here as you take care of the place. This place will need a lot of work, if there’s anything the two of you can’t do give me a call. We will arrange for either specialist or additional help for you.”
The two of them set there open mouth at my statement. Steve asks, “You mean thirty thousand a year for each of us?”
Chuckling I say, “No I mean sixty thousand for each of you. It looks like at least two years’ worth of work to get this place in shape.”
The two of them looked like someone just said you won the lottery. They are ecstatic at hearing what I’m willing to pay them. I know I’m paying high above the average for most people doing work like this but Steve had a hard life, and his nephew looks like he would be destined for the same type of life. I decided I will change as much of that as possible.
I tell them, “The two prepaid cards there are your sign-on bonus. There’s five thousand each. Here is another, this is your petty cash use it for gasoline, hardware and any other thing you need for the house. Send me the receipts and I’ll reload it. This one is for major purchases, like if you need a new refrigerator, roofing or other expensive items again send me the receipt and I’ll reload it.”
We are nearly finished with getting Sam’s personal items. My two new employees have finished their paperwork and don’t wait to get started on the house. Removing the last of Sam’s items from the house the back of the SUV is nearly completely full.
Steve shows me a short punch list of items of repairs to the house that need immediate attention. I point to the second prepaid card still on the kitchen table, I tell them they need any help have them fill out employment paperwork and I’ll be glad to pay them. I lay six copies of the unfilled out paperwork on the kitchen table.
Sam’s personal items are finally gathered, packed or shipped headed home. As I leave I tell them, “I’ll see you too fairly soon, get a phone line put in all want to hear how everything is going at least once a week.” With that I start the SUV ready to leave, the two men think us and tell us goodbye as we leave.
Sam is quite happy to be on her way away from her property, and when the place is in better shape we may just sell it. We stopped by another packing store. We arrange the shipping for about fifty percent of what’s in the SUV. Sam keeps her teddy bears with her, that’s the first thing that reminds me that she’s actually a little girl.
That night Sam sleeps with her teddy bears. Kathryn and I take advantage of the bed to ourselves, well at least until Sam got up in the middle of the night and crawled on my chest. As Sam relaxes on my chest I’m actually thankful no teddy bear replaces me.
In the morning we fly back to Texas dropping Ron and Reese off for them to go back and start their military separation. We’ll see Reese in two weeks, and I hand her a set of first-class tickets telling her will be there at the airport. Kathryn and Sam give Reese a hug, as I shake Ron’s hand as we tell them goodbye. I tell Ron, “When you have a date for your separation make sure we know. I’ll have tickets ready for you.”
As we depart and they began to walk away I can’t help but notice they go back into the habit of hiding their relationship. They’re good arm’s-length apart as they walk away. We board the airplane after a quick stop at the magazine vendor for a couple magazines and some drinks. We wait a few minutes as the plane refuels. Once again airborne Sam loves looking out the windows and she is constantly moving from one side of the plane to the other to see something new.
By the end of the flight, Sam is pretty tired and sleeping on my lap after dark. Kathryn giggles watching Sam has one of her teddy bears in her lap and she snuggles into my chest holding her teddy bear close. Sam has a very contented smile on her face as she sleeps.
In a whisper after we land Kathryn says, “You’re such a good Daddy and a great husband. Sam and I are lucky to have you.”
I whisper back, “I’m lucky to have you two also. My life would not be worth living without you.”
It’s late Sunday, and we put Sam to bed. We just shower and we chase each other back to our bed only to find someone bouncing and wide awake. Considering all she slept on the plane it’s no wonder she’s awake. Kathryn and I just kind of groan realizing were not going to have any fun right now. Sam giggles at us being nude. Kathryn gives me a kiss and says, “Next time we will make sure she stays up longer.”
Kathryn slips on a T-shirt and pair of panties, boxers and a T-shirt for me. Sam still bounces on the bed giggling. I catch her and we throw her down playfully on the bed and begin to tickle our Princess. Kathryn Sam and I laugh then hug cuddle enjoying each other’s company.
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