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“Because I see the other half of my soul shining in them,” he breathed, leaning forward as if to kiss her. “I love you with everything I am – and always will.”
“I love you, too,” she replied, her fingers lightly stroking the back of his head before pulling him towards her to kiss her.
16
Toby smiled fearfully at his parents and felt an anxious laugh escape him, as he shook his hands to get rid of some of the nervous energy bubbling within him. This was actually happening!
“Thank you for telling us,” his father said, smiling at his mother, who stood nearby, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue and looking at him proudly.
“You’re not mad?”
“Never… why would I be?”
“Because of Nicolette and everything lately.”
“Babies are a beautiful thing,” his mother began. “Do I wish she did things differently? Sure. Would I change any of it? No, because it’s not my life or my choices. You have to make your own decisions – and we will always support all of our children.”
17
Samantha smiled at her parents as they walked up the steps to the Saxon’s house for dinner this evening. Her mother made a German chocolate cake, and her father was carrying a bottle of wine, making this feel almost like a formal event.
And it kinda was…
Her family and Toby’s would meet not as long-time friends, but as the parents of two people in love who could someday be united as one. This was their second chance at a life that kept throwing them together, and she had fought against it tooth-and-nail for so long because of fear – and that fear was now gone.
In its place was such a sense of wholeness that was staggering, yet incredible, to experience.
The front door opened before they got to it and she saw Toby’s smiling face, right before she glimpsed the rest of his family standing nearby, waiting.
“Thumper, Harley… y’all c’mon in,” Toby’s mother, Marisol, interjected quickly, stepping forward. “You know the drill…”
Everyone chuckled as the tension was broken immediately, recognizing that while this was new and strange? It was also so much of the same.
Toby stepped forward to greet her father.
“Sir,” he smiled, glancing for a second to Samantha nervously.
“Kid,” her father began, rolling his eyes. “You can call me Thumper, you know? Or you can address me as Mr. Sloan… or whatever, but ‘sir’ makes me feel downright decrepit.”
“Anything but that, sir… Thumper,” Toby grinned, extending his hand and shaking it quickly, before stepping aside to make way for them to enter.
“But I am not calling you, Bambi,” her father groused, causing several of them to laugh as they clapped Toby on the back. “But it would be funny on a nametag.”
Samantha was the last to enter the house – and Toby was right there beside her, quickly sneaking a kiss that made her smile and blush nervously… especially when his father looked at the two of them, smirking knowingly.
“Enough of that, you two…” Mr. Saxon teased quietly.
It was chaotic and wonderful in their home. There were so many voices talking over each other. It surprised her to see that not only was her family there, but several of her father’s friends.
Armadillo’s family, including the infamous Luke who was going to be a father, was there. Firefly’s family, Reaper’s family, Romeo and his wife, along with several others, had already arrived and were cutting up laughing. Toby was standing there, talking to her parents and his dad, as she looked around and said hello to several others.
There was a picnic table set up in the yard, a few card tables, and the formal dining room table was dressed – as well as the kitchenette and breakfast bar.
Toby’s childhood home was breathtaking and full of memories, with a wall crammed with photos of every size. There was an older photograph of the entire team of flyboys when they had been in the Air Force. She recognized almost every single one of those faces, as she had grown up with most of them in her life.
There were pictures of Toby in Cub Scouts, photos of the family standing in front of the house at various ages, pictures of his parents hugging each other and obviously in love… and to her surprise?
There was even a photo of her – with Toby – as children.
