We walked back over to the bench, and I give Sam a cookie and open her milk for her. Sitting beside me on the bench is Sam eating her cookie, the Coach on the other side of Sam. I’m nibbling on my cookie watching Sam enjoying hers.
About half of Sam’s cookie is gone when Kathryn and everyone else has finished their shopping. Kathryn comes up and put her hands on her hips looking at me she says, “Where did those cookies come from?”
Kathryn’s Dad says playfully, “The cookies shop just down the mall.” Kathryn may be acting mad but her eyes give her away, they are green and playful.
Kathryn says, “Why would you spoil Sam’s appetite.”
Sam’s expression turns into the same pouty one she used on me. It makes Kathryn giggle; she leans forward and gives Sam a kiss. She whispers, “Sam that works on your Dad every time. But it doesn’t with me sweetie.”
I pulled out the full bag of oatmeal cookies from where I had them hidden. Marshall hands a carton of milk to me, I hand both the Kathryn. Kathryn slides into my lap opening the bag to find her favorite cookie. With a giggle Kathryn says, “Now that’s my husband he really does know how to spoil his girls.”
With Sam’s little girl giggle she says, “Daddy sure does Mommy.”
The Coach says, “Makes it hard for me, I have to work so hard to keep up with you JJ.”
Marshall says, “Amen, JJ you’re a hard act to follow.”
Misty giggles sliding into Marshall’s lap, “Marshall you’re doing just fine. You know I love you a lot.” Marshall hands Misty the bag of cookies and after one look into the bag she just melts into his arms giving him a passionate kiss.
Sam giggles as she licks her fingers clean of the chocolate. Helen comes by takes the bag of chocolate chip cookies takes one hands the bag to my Mom who also gets a cookie. Kathryn sisters grab the oatmeal, before long most of the cookies are gone. Sam takes the opportunity as I pay attention to Kathryn, to take a few bites out of my cookie. The coach chuckles and says, “He was eating it to slow right Sam?”
I chuckle as Sam’s eyes go large then I hold the cookie close to Sam. Sam relaxes quickly and grabbed a bite with a giggle.
With the cookies to sustain us for a while, we go to a sporting goods store. We pick up some lifejackets two small enough for Sam, and a few more for the boat. Couples ski vests, Marshall said that should be easier for me to learn with one of those on. They also have swimwear there. We pick up three extra swimsuits for Sam. Marshall Misty and MC pick up swimwear themselves.
Next we make a quick stop at the furniture store and Sam and Kathryn pick out furniture for Sam’s room. When we suggest a single bed, Sam says no. We had to buy a full-size bed that way, Kathryn, a grandmother or aunt can lay down with her. I have to admire her logic, for a small child she is very intelligent.
Once home Sam had fallen asleep on the drive home and like most small children as soon as the car stopped she was wide awake.
Sam hasn’t forgotten about us telling her the story. She climbed up into her Aunt Michelle’s lap and asks, “Aunt Michelle, are you going to tell me the story about the bear who wanted to eat you?”
Kathryn giggles and says, “That’s my story I tell, but Aunt Michelle can start it.”
Grandma says, “Hold it for a moment. I need to get something for Sam so she can be really comfortable for the story.” She gives her granddaughters a wink, and scampers off. She comes back with the rolled up bear skin she spreads it out covering the couch, setting Sam in the middle of it.
Sam says, “This is nice. It feels like a puppy dog. What is it?”
Grandma says, “We will tell you at the end of the story Sam.”
Kathryn and Michelle giggles, “Michelle starts the story, two years ago Sam near grandma’s house up the mountainside, JJ and Kathryn were kissing when I saw the bear. I was not the first and when my sisters started to run I turned to run too.”
Now Kathryn takes over the story when we heard them screaming we turn to see what was the matter, and there was this huge black bear running down the hillside after them as they ran away. Your Daddy, JJ stood there and shouts at the bear but the bear was intent on my fleeing sisters. So he stepped in between your Aunts and the bear. That caused the bear to stop, but the bear stands on his hind legs and he was bigger than your Daddy.”
Sam watches with bright large eyes listening to every word. Michelle added her part, “I turned my head to see how close the bear was, only to trip and fall. Before I get up off the ground I looked and the bear stopped less than 50 feet from me, about half as long as the pool is Sam. Your Daddy was there shouting at the bear and he made it stop. Your Daddy really saved my life right then, at the risk of his own life. Kathryn was only a few feet behind your Daddy. Your Aunt Kara helps me to my feet because she saw your Daddy had stopped the bear. We ran the rest of the way down the hill to grandma’s house.”
Kathryn continues, “Your Daddy stood there shouting at that bear, the bear was not so smart if it had been it would run for his life. The bear lumbered forward on its hind legs, growling at the top of its lungs. Your Daddy stood there shouting at the top of his lungs hoping the bear would leave. The bear continued on toward your Daddy and your Daddy started moving toward it still shouting.
A closer your Daddy got to the bear the bigger the bear looked. The more scared I got, by this time I’m shaking and too frightened to run. I thank your Daddy knew this, and he continued on towards the bear. The bear kept coming towards your Daddy.
He wasn’t going to let anything hurt his family, not if he could help it. I think the bear got louder and so did your Dad. Maybe I was so scared it only sounded louder. After two quick steps towards the bear the bear pulled back one its clawed hands like it was going to strike your Dad. Your Dad so fast he kicked the bear so hard it actually raised off the ground and flew back a foot or two, and then the bear hits the ground.”
Sam’s hand was running through the fur of the rug she set on. With wide eyes Sam asks, “Really Mommy? What happened to the bear after that?”
Grandma looks at Sam and says, “Sam, you are setting on it.”
Sam looks down and for second it looks like she’s afraid the skin will come back alive with the bear inside of it. Then she begins to giggle before she says, “Daddy really is tough.”
Michelle laughs before she says, “He is that, and brave and strong too. He is so in love with your Mommy he’ll do anything to protect her. Sam your Daddy loves you too. I see it in his eyes every time he looks at you.”
Sam gives her Aunt Michelle a hug and says, “I love Daddy too, I love Mommy and you.”
Michelle says, “I love you too Sam. I love your Daddy too, he saved my life.”
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