Sam’s Little Girl by Pepper North
Chapter 2
Hope rolled over the next morning to look at the clock. It was almost nine o’clock. “He’ll be here in an hour!” she thought and felt herself smile in anticipation.
Time to get up and dress.The fair had been so much fun with him. Her fingers traced her lips as she remembered the goodnight kiss Sam had given her after walking her to her car.
“Hope! Get out of bed! You’re wasting time,” her father yelled down the hall.
“Yes, Dad!” Hope promised, closing her eyes to focus on that kiss one more time. She knew she wouldn’t have much time once he wanted her up. Lollygagging in bed didn’t happen in her military upbringing.
Her father was a career man who’d served in many leadership roles. He’d just retired from the service to spend time with her mother. They’d been apart too often over the years. Babies hadn’t seemed possible for the two until Hope was born when her mother was forty-five. She’d been a miracle baby for the older couple, and she’d gotten her name from her grandmother. It had just seemed fitting.
“Hope! Up! Mom’s pouring you a cup of coffee,” he tempted her. “Bingo, go help your sister get out of bed.”
“No, Dad. Don’t sic Bingo on me!” Hope jumped out of bed just as the mini dynamo playfully attacked her feet.
“No, Bingo. Don’t lick my toes,” she protested, giggling as the Jack Russell terrier lavished kisses on her. She snatched the blue dolphin Sam had won for her in the ring toss off the floor and set it on her pillows.
“No, Bingo. Mine.”
When she shook her finger at him warningly, Bingo yipped a protest back before scurrying under the bed to search for monsters, toys, or lost socks. You never knew with Bingo. He always had a purpose—usually one that involved the destruction of precious mementos or just random objects.
She dashed into the bathroom across the hall. After using the toilet, she splashed water over her face. Opening the door, Hope spied the playful dog with his latest victim trapped in his teeth. Without a second thought, she bolted after the beast dragging one special furry sea creature down the hall.
“No, Bingo, that’s mine. Sam won it for me.” She cornered the playful dog in the kitchen and wrestled the stuffie from Bingo.
“Good morning, Hope,” her father greeted her from the table. “Who’s Sam?”
“Just some guy I met at the fair,” she answered as she settled into her normal seat at the table. Seconds later, her mom placed an oversized cup in front of her.
“Thanks, Mom. Coffee! Just what I need,” she celebrated, taking a large sip.
“Someone from school?” her father targeted her with precision.
“No. A military guy.” She waved her hands to ward off her father’s warning. “I know, watch out for a ‘good time’ soldier!” Her fingers hooked the quotes in the air. This was not the first warning she had heard.
“Tell me his name and I’ll have him checked out.” This was not a request.
“He had me take a picture of his military ID. It’s on my phone. I’ll go get it.” Hope stood and started to leave the kitchen, only to turn after a few steps and pick up the coffee mug.
Her mother and father returned to their favorite activity—completing the crossword puzzle as they finished their coffee. Her mom had always held on to the puzzles they started when her father was deployed or sent to work temporarily on a different base. It had been her insurance that he’d come back to help her finish it.
Sighing, Hope wished for a love like her folks had. She’d dated guys in high school and college. She’d even dated a few military guys who been brave enough to come to her father’s front door. Nothing had ever come close to equaling the attraction her parents still felt for each other.
A blinking light on her phone signaled that she had a message. Opening the app, Hope stared at a picture of the two of them—her and Sam. They’d just come from the roller coaster and her hair flew in every direction. Hope hadn’t realized Sam was taking a picture until he said, “Smile.”
She looked happy. Really happy.
“See you soon, little girl,” rolled over her screen as the second message arrived.
Hope looked at the blue box on her bookshelf. By design, it looked so innocent but held so many secrets. “He can’t know, can he?” she whispered aloud.
