I finally ask, “Sam haven’t you seen a thunderstorm before?”
Sam shakes her head no before saying, “I lived in Oregon with my grandma. I never saw anything like this before.”
Sam is paying a lot more attention to the storm now that she feels safe in our arms. I have to admit their site to watch. This is easily the most intense thunderstorm we’ve had lately. Another loud boom causes Sam to bury her face into the blanket. She gingerly lifts her eyes back up to see what’s going on.
Flash of memory from my premonition I say before I even realize it, “Sam see the big oak tree near the end of the meadow. Sam shakes her head seeing where I am pointing. It’s almost like a countdown in my head as I point to the tree and tell Sam, “Watch.” I snap my fingers just an instant before a large bolt of lightning strike the tree sharing off several limbs only on the side nearest us. This off balanced the tree and then a gust of wind finishes the job as the tree tumbles away from us.
Kathryn and Sam so in shock at the site that they both don’t react until the huge boom shake them. They both squeal hiding their faces against me. I chuckle and say, “I guess we better get in now.”
I lift both in my arms and carry them as they giggle.
Once inside Sam notices the smell and giggles. Sam states, “You two were hugging each other and making funny noises again.”
Another loud boom of thunder and a squeal from Sam answers my question before I even asked. Too frightened by the storm to be alone right now, one of us will have to stay with Sam. I asked Kathryn, “Do you want to take your shower first or should I?”
The crack of rolling thunder and Kathryn’s eyes go wide. I know neither of us is going to have a shower until after the storm has finished. I take used pajamas and put them on. Lay back in the bed Sam immediately scrambles to my chest holding me tightly. Kathryn follows my example lays down in her pajamas beside me. Every flash of lightning Sam’s face is up with wide eyes. When the boom of thunder follows Sam hides her face against me.
After the next flash I count aloud, “one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three” boom and Sam hides her face against me again I tell her. “What were you afraid of Sam that was very far away?”
Sam doesn’t get a chance to answer is another flash fills the room. And I count aloud, one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four then the boom of thunder but Sam doesn’t hide her face this time. With a smile I say, “See Sam the thunderstorm is leaving it won’t last much longer.”
Sam asks, “How do you know Daddy?”
Sam gets her first physics lesson. I start by saying, “Sam you know thunder is the sound lightning makes, when you’re very close to the lightning the sound sounds like it’s the same time. But the light moves faster than the sound so the farther you are away from the lightning the longer it takes thunder to get to you.”
Sam’s face lights up with another flash more relaxed this time and she counts with me as we get to one thousand six the boom of the lightning reaches us. With a smile Sam asks, “That means is getting further away?”
I tell Sam, “The lightning is, the rain should start real soon.” And just as soon as I finish saying that the heavy rain began.
Again Sam’s eyes widen before she asks, “How did you do that Daddy?”
Kathryn echoes, “Yes, how I did you do that?”
With a chuckle I said, “Well if I told you. How would I have any surprises left? What you know the secret it’s easy, but for right now let’s get some sleep.”
I get two groans from my two loves that cause me to chuckle some more.
“Okay I guess I’ll tell you. I saw it in a premonition my beautiful Princess.” Kathryn knows which premonition I’m speaking of. But because Sam is now our life I wondered how much will change from that premonition. I see now how many things have changed; Marshall and Misty instead of having a wedding announcement in the same paper will probably have a birth announcement. Alyssa. Joan and Johnny now live with us, Kathryn’s and my wedding was on her fourteenth birthday instead of on her sixteenth birthday. We helped four of our friends so far to be financially independent. And the biggest change of all Sam. None of these changes Kathryn and I would undo for anything, especially Sam.
I continue, “Sam some things I saw about my future have come true. Other things are much better. Having you in my life is much better than what I foresaw. You’re the prize that our good deeds have won us. Maybe your Angel Daddy and Mommy knew we would help you from what we’ve done before. They changed my future to help you. I love being your Daddy Sam, and I would never change that. If they changed my future they changed it for the better.”
Sam with wet eyes says, “I love being your Princess Daddy. I love being your beautiful little Sam Mommy. I think they did change your future Daddy. I know Lester didn’t want to come here. But old Mommy wanted him to. She had to beg him to come. Then old Mommy made him leave me outside. Lester had whipped me a couple times because I ran away. Lester was very bad to me Daddy. I’m glad he’s dead.”
Caressing Sam’s back I say, “Me too Sam.”
Kathryn gives Sam a kiss is tears run down her cheeks. Outside the rain still falls but not nearly as having as it did before. Thunder is gone far into the distance and soon the storm will pass. Tomorrow will be bright and sunny just a little more humid and the downed tree will be the only signs of the storm tonight. Course my premonition told me of the treasure we will find. That needs returned to Sam’s great grandma.
Tomorrow morning bright and early before grandma has a chance to leave, I’ll take Sam over to discover her great grandma’s treasure.
It doesn’t take long for Sam finally relaxes and goes to sleep. Kathryn whispers softly, “Are we going to give the gold back? You know she’ll say you bought the land it yours.”
I whisper in return, “That’s why I will have Sam find it. I’ll make her say Sam’s family and since family found it, the gold is still hers.”
Kathryn giggles before whispering back, “That’s my husband, devious with a heart of gold.”
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