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“Daddy…”
“SAMANTHA GET IN THE CAR!” her father roared.
“Sir – do not talk to her like that!” Toby snapped, his own facial expression getting tense and dark in the glare of the headlights from the truck. This was the second time he’d stuck up for her this evening, and her heart turned over in her chest with awareness.
Her father stood there for a minute, his chest heaving in anger… and she realized he was trying not to come unglued in front of her. His expression told her that he would like to cheerfully throttle the young man before him, and she had never seen her dad in such a rage before.
“Sir, I would like permission to date…”
“NO!”
“Why?” Toby asked bluntly. “You’ve always said ‘no’, but I’ve always been too scared to ask why…”
“You should be scared,” her father growled. “I told you ‘No’ and you have disobeyed me for the last time, kid…”
“I’m a grown man that cares deeply about your daughter – and would like your approval, not your anger…”
His calmly spoken words made her heart flutter wildly. She’d always known, but hearing it aloud was touching, and made her feel something deep within her.
Toby took a step to the side, directly in front of Samantha… and she realized he was drawing the line in the sand for her father. He wanted to be the one for her… and she was glad.
Samantha stepped forward, putting a hand on Toby’s shoulder in support and looked at her father, realizing he was going to be devastated by this – but she needed to live her life and desperately wanted him to accept her choices… and Toby was one of them.
“Daddy, I’ll be h-home shortly. W-We were just f-finishing up dinner,” Samantha began calmly, her voice trembling. If Toby knew it, he never said a word, and she was pretty sure that if she let go of his shoulder, she’d collapse on the ground.
Instead, Toby laid a hand on hers in silent support.
Her father’s expression cooled as he looked at her in disbelief, his eyes shocked and concerned, before he turned to Toby.
“I’ll be expecting my daughter home in a bit, young man.”
“Yes, sir.”
“No more kissing,” he said bluntly.
“I plan on kissing her goodnight when I return her home,” Toby said candidly, standing there unflinching in the light.
“You’ve kissed her enough.”
“No sir, I haven’t,” Toby replied, extending his other hand towards her father in a gesture of peace. “I really do care for Samantha and would like to do this the right way.”
Her father glared at the hand, glanced at her, before he reached out, clasped Toby’s hand tightly, and stood there unflinchingly, shaking it for a moment.
“Sam, your mother is making pot roast for dinner tomorrow night. Toby, we eat at six sharp. I will assume you will be joining us,” her father said begrudgingly. “Don’t make me regret not pounding you into the ground, boy.”
“You wouldn’t want to do that in front of Samantha – and I’ll bring a dessert, sir.”
Her father muttered something under his breath – and walked back to the truck without another word.
“One hour, young lady…” he announced out the window, before backing up and pulling out of the parking lot.
Toby stood there for a few minutes until the truck was just out of sight before letting out his breath, then turning and looking at her.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
“Are you?”
“Yeah,” he smiled knowingly. “Get your purse. We’re leaving.”
