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“May I speak frankly?”
“Oh, this should be good… please do,” Jackson replied, crossing his arms over his chest, and looking at Toby dead in the face.
“There is…” Toby looked at Samantha, addressing her, his voice so soft and gentle, her breath caught in her chest as she stared at him, transfixed. “There is a light in her soul that shines so brightly that it’s blinding. I look at her and feel something so right, like a part of me was lost and I’ve found it. Her smile makes me smile… and her laugh makes me understand what Heaven looks like.”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears as she stared at him, his words ricocheting through her, as she realized he was probably the best thing that had ever happened to her.
He gave her a shy, nervous smile that reminded her so much of the boy he’d once been… and recognizing that the fear she’d once held was only the stirrings of an emotion she couldn’t comprehend – until now.
Samantha got up from her chair and moved to sit next to Toby on the couch where he was. She put her arm around his shoulders and felt him turn to kiss her on the forehead before turning back to her father.
Her mother walked in the room from the kitchen with two cups of coffee, handing Jackson one, and then perched on the armrest of her father’s chair, smiling in approval.
“Where are you stationed, Toby?” her mother asked quietly, taking a sip of her cup.
“Well, ma’am, I’ve spent time in Guam, Alaska, Japan, and Iraq. I’m actually up for re-enlistment right now.”
“I see,” her father said quietly, glancing at Samantha, who sat beside Toby and then back at him. “And are you re-enlisting?”
“I haven’t decided,” Toby replied quietly. “I’ve started a career there and am scheduled to pick orders with my reenlistment, but…” his voice hesitated. “It’s been so wonderful being home and I’ve missed out on a lot of time.”
“That’s true,” her mother began knowingly, touching her father’s head tenderly. “It’s hard to be gone so long and life passes you by… but you will always have a home in Yonder.”
“… And a job, if you want it,” her father said quietly, glancing at Samantha.
She felt her heart turn over with love for her father, realizing that he was offering Toby a job to help him out if he stayed.
“I appreciate the offer, sir,” Toby said openly, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t take that lightly either. I know this has been a lot – and I assure you, I have only the best intentions towards your daughter.”
“No phone calls like earlier today?”
“No, sir,” Toby replied. “I would do nothing to harm her opinion towards me – or damage any of this.”
She laid a hand on his shoulder and felt Toby touch it.
Her mother just smiled at her and nodded, getting up from her perch and giving her father a look. It surprised Samantha to see her dad get up, following her mom… and leaving them alone.
Toby looked at Samantha and hesitated.
“Does that mean I passed inspection?” he whispered softly, smiling at her.
“You already did when my dad helped you off the ground earlier,” she replied softly, brushing her nose against his playfully.
“I do love you, Samantha,” Toby breathed, reaching forward to brush a lock of her hair from her cheek before tucking it behind her ear. “I meant every word too. There is something in me that feels complete the moment you walk in the room… and it’s always been like that for me.”
“What’s your call sign?” she asked in a thick voice, feeling so emotional and needing to know his reasoning behind it.
Toby smiled tenderly, cupping her face.
“It’s Bambi, my beloved little Faline…” he admitted huskily. “I’ve always known, always wanted, and always believed that someday God would give me a chance to show you what this is, and how it can be beautiful. Whether we are the best of friends, lovers, or an old married couple someday, there is no doubt in my soul – you are the other half of me.”
“You’ve always been so open, so forward, and so sure of things. Don’t you ever wonder or fear that we are reading this all wrong?” she asked, touching his jaw, feeling such peace and overwhelming love burning deep within her, as she raised her eyes to his.
There was such confidence, such purity of emotion, that she felt her heart clench in her chest and saw his soft smile.
“That, right there. What you are feeling right now… is what I have felt from the moment I saw you, Samantha,” he whispered reverently, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip in a soft caress. “And you still have the most beautiful eyes, darling.”
She smiled tearfully, recognizing the words he’d once said to her.
