by J. D. Walker
I felt my cheeks heat. “I say it’s a date.”
“Excellent!”
Minutes later, Samantha came running toward us, sweaty and happy. My heart turned over to see the joy in her, after such a tragedy in her life. It seemed that kids had a greater ability to bounce back than most adults.
“I want a dog, Unka Martin,” she said as she slammed into my knees, then climbed into my lap.
“Do you, now?” I said.
“Uh-huh. Can we have a dog? Please?”
Man, those eyes of hers would melt stone. “We’ll see. Maybe in a few months.”
“Yeah!” she yelled, and my ears felt the full brunt of those decibels. She scrambled off my lap and grabbed Ryan’s hand. “Come on, Ryan. I want to play hides and seeks.”
Ryan let himself be led away and glanced back at me. “Later,” he mouthed, and went to have fun with my niece.
* * * *
Thankfully, Sam was so exhausted from her day that she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow that night. I tucked her in gently, kissed her forehead, and went back to the living room where Ryan was waiting with a movie he’d selected.
I brought a blanket with me to cover us both as we got down to the serious business of snuggling, popcorn, and a flick. Ryan felt good against me, his warm body fitting so well with mine.
How quickly things had changed, and I’d been blessed with a friend who was rapidly becoming so much more. Halfway through the movie, Ryan fell asleep in my arms, and I cuddled him under my chin before closing my eyes, too. Man, was I ever a lucky guy. I had my sister to thank for all this. Ryan and I remained like that for the rest of the night.
Sunday morning, Ryan, Sam, and I made breakfast together. Ryan changed into some clothes of mine—they were big on him—so I could wash what he’d worn yesterday. Cooking was a messy business but hearing Sam’s shrieks of pleasure as flour flew around the kitchen more than made up for it. The three of us went to the mall later that afternoon, and then the grocery store.
Ryan advised me that I needed to get some DVDs for kids and he also suggested some good parenting titles while we visited the bookstore.
After another wonderful day, Ryan had to leave because of work the next morning. He kissed Samantha good-bye as she sat in front of the TV watching one of her favorite cartoons, I found out. I walked Ryan to the front door.
“I had a great time with you this weekend,” he whispered as we stood in the open doorway.
“I did, too,” I murmured, pulling him into my arms and resting my forehead against his. “I want to do more of it, and soon.”
Ryan wrapped his arms around my neck. “Me, too.” He kissed my nose, then my forehead, cheeks and chin. “This dimple of yours, by the way, drives me crazy.” He licked it and then used his teeth to tug on my bottom lip.
“What about my scars?” I asked.
“I love your scars, Martin. They’re a part of you and tell a story of survival. I find that beautiful. You are beautiful, and Sam is lucky to have you in her life. I am, as well.” And with that, Ryan finally kissed me.
His lips were warm and perfect. They fit against mine just right, and the way his tongue caressed mine soothed my soul. It spoke of coming home, of two men who were made for each other and had met when the universe said it was time.
“See you tomorrow,” he said when he stepped back.
“See you then,” I replied, and watched him walk away.
* * * *
The next morning, after dropping Sam off at the center and giving Ryan a quick kiss, I decided to do some house hunting. I still hadn’t figured out what my next move would be regarding a job, but I had enough time to figure something out.
While doing my research, Rita Lomax from Social Services called to see how things were going. I told her that Sam and I were adjusting to each other, and that I would definitely be keeping her with me. Rita was happy to hear it.
I spent most of my time searching for houses online and found a few prospects which I would definitely investigate. Ryan came over that evening to spend some time together, and I showed him some of the places I was considering. He liked all of them.
After visiting the third residence for sale on my list the next day, I decided I’d found our new home. It had been sitting on the market for months and was available immediately. The dwelling sat on five acres of land, with an old barn and a huge vegetable garden included. In my mind’s eye, I could see Sam and a dog or two running around the place, chasing each other.
It was exactly what I wanted. Ryan would fit here, too, if we ever got that far in our relationship. I thought we would.
That weekend, the three of us took a road trip and Sam was so excited. “Can we have a dog now, Unka Martin?”
She had a one-track mind. “Yes, we can, sweetheart,” I said.
While she investigated the overgrown vegetable garden, Ryan and I kept an eye on her as we surveyed the land before us. “This is a great place, Martin,” he said. “Have you decided what you want to do, yet? I mean job-wise?”
“I dunno, but it’ll likely be something online, so I can have time to spend with Samantha.”
“That’s great! What about school for her?” Ryan put an arm around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.
“There’s time, yet. I think she’ll miss the daycare center—and you—if she doesn’t go during the week, so we’ll keep that up. Maybe there’s something closer to this place though. I’ll have to check it out.”
“And me?” he asked, kissing my neck.
“You, I’ll take however I can get. I’ll drive a thousand miles to see you, hon, if that’s what it takes.” I bussed his cheek and spied Sam chasing birds in the fields.
“I feel the same. It’s fast, I know, but the minute I saw you that day, toting a sad little girl in your arms, my heart was yours.”
“I feel the same, love. I feel the same.”
“Unka Martin! Ryan!” Sam yelled. “Come look! There’s a cat here, and kittens.”
“And so it begins,” I said, and smiled.
* * * *
It took a month, but Sam and I moved into our new home and settled down together. She still had nightmares from time to time and missed her mother badly.
We learned a lot from each other, and it was a joy to have Ryan in our lives, too. He visited as often as he could, and we also met his huge family. His siblings were a riot, and his nieces and nephews got along with Sam, as well.
As for my old job, Henson called me, apologized for his behavior, and asked me to reconsider my resignation. I said “no.” John Willard, who I had put in charge of the department, had left the company before being let go, along with the rest of my old staff. The corporation was in chaos, but that was no longer my problem.
Ryan ended up opening a daycare center of his own, as time went by, and I ended up doing part-time consulting online, as well as volunteering my financial expertise to local businesses. I also taught virtual business courses.
We grew closer together, so close that after two years of dating, Ryan and I decided to get married. Sam was our ring bearer, and the wedding was held in the field behind our house. I thought of Louise and hoped she was smiling down on our union from somewhere up above.
Our wedding night was beautiful, and when Ryan and I made love, I was overcome at the joy I’d found. It was tender and perfect, just the way I’d always wanted it to be, deep down.
Life was good, and I would never have thought such bliss was possible until a sad little girl had showed up at my door not so long ago. I had all this, because of Sam.
THE END
ABOUT J.D. WALKER
J.D. Walker likes to keep her stories short and sweet, with the occasional novel or novella. A multi-published author, she is also a musician, artist, language enthusiast (German and Spanish), and lover of all things knit and crochet.
For more information, visit lifebyjo.com/jdwalker.
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