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“… AND DON’T YOU DARE EVER LEAVE ME HERE ALONE! DO YOU HEAR ME, AERON? ANSWER ME! YOU UP AND LEFT ME HERE TO WAIT, THINKING YOU WERE GOING TO THROTTLE ARMADILLO’S SON AND YOUR GRANDBABY’S FATHER… THEY ARE IN LOVE AND GETTING MARRIED! NOW, I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES TO GET YOUR BUTT BACK HERE, BEFORE I GET A RIDE FROM ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS – AND YOU WILL NOT LIKE IT – AM I CLEAR, FLYBOY?”
“Whoa…” Toby whispered, grinning at Samantha.
“Yes ma’am,” his father said quietly, causing her to chuckle nervously as the large man got to his feet, dug his keys out of his pocket, and stayed on the phone listening as he walked towards the vehicle he drove over.
Before she could say anything, she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see her father standing there. Her dad extended a hand to Toby to help him up from the grass where he was sitting.
“Why don’t you two come back to the house and let’s finish dinner,” her father said quietly, looking between the two of them. “I’m starving and barely got to touch the wonderful dinner Samantha’s mother made. This isn’t our fight, and I don’t envy Valkyrie, Armadillo, Toby’s sister, or Luke right now.”
“Plus, there’s pie, too…” Samantha smiled, winking at Toby.
“And there’s my favorite pie, too,” her father chuckled, before pulling Toby into a headlock. “I guess you’ll do, kiddo…”
Toby was laughing and glanced up at Samantha from where her father was roughhousing with him – to see the happiness and joy reflecting in his blue eyes. She quickly realized that things were going to be okay for the two of them – and that her father was attempting to accept her choice.
Toby.
She smiled tearfully and nodded – as her mother hugged her.
“Let’s go home.”
15
Samantha felt such a sense of peace stealing over her soul as the evening progressed. They returned to the house and her mother microwaved each plate like it was an everyday occurrence… while Toby and her father talked.
They actually talked!
“Do you watch any sports, son?”
“Occasionally I watch football, but I spend little time near a television on base. When I have downtime, I usually end up at the gym or doing crosswords to keep my mind fresh.”
“Crosswords?”
“My mother likes them, and we used to help when we were little. It was always a fight if someone started a crossword and didn’t finish it,” Toby smiled easily.
“So, you are used to completing projects, then?”
“Very.”
“And my Samantha? Is she a project for you to check off your list of activities? What are your intentions towards her?”
“I plan on discussing that with her first, sir,” Toby smiled politely. “No offense, sir.”
“None taken,” her father chuckled, shaking his head, and Samantha realized her dad was taking a shine to Toby. He probably thought he was outrageous and bold by standing up to him or teasing him – but it was nice to see the two of them interacting.
“What’s your favorite food?”
“Mrs. Sloan’s roast,” Toby grinned, smiling at her mother before winking at Samantha.
“Oh, you think you’re cute, don’t you?” her father retorted glibly – and Toby’s smile widened even further.
“So long as she thinks that I’m cute,” Toby hedged, looking at Samantha, “then that is all that matters…”
“Looks fade,” her father said bluntly – and hesitated. “Except for my wife. Harley is more beautiful every day…”
“Good save, Jackson,” her mother retorted from the kitchen, causing Samantha’s dad to laugh easily.
“What do you like about my daughter – and careful how you answer it, boy…” her father growled protectively as Samantha sat there quietly, realizing that maybe they weren’t actually having a conversation, but rather her dad was grilling Toby to see what kind of man he was.
