“I was hoping I’d catch you before it was dawn.” Her father said from the chair in the living room. “ I expected you to come in with blood and gore all over you, holding Luis’s severed head.” His tone was serious, but his eyes laughed at his sly joke.
Sam didn’t know whether to laugh or be afraid. Though, the joke got to her. Her laughter filled the house, she couldn’t hold it in. He mother peaked her head out of the bedroom, wanting to know what was so funny. Sam smiled at her mother before she could shut the door, giving Sam and Rodger time to discuss what it is that was on his mind.
“Sorry, dad, Luis and I stuck up an interesting conversation.” She really didn’t lie, they did have an interesting conversation, she just wouldn’t say about what.
“I don’t think you could have said much. With all the hugging and kissing of cheeks and hands, sweetheart.” His voice was light, knowing in a way. The ‘sweetheart’ hit Sam, he had never used terms of endearment towards her, she didn’t know how to take it. “I thought you’d be a lesbian before being with Luis?”
Heat began rising in Sam’s cheeks as she recalled her statement form earlier that night. “Well, dad, you and mama went at each other’s throats before either of you realized how you felt towards each other.” The smirk on her father’s face was unforgettable, Sam knew she won this one.
“Yes, we did.” He said as he got up and walked to where Sam was standing. “I’m just glad you realized what we all seen from you two in the beginning. At least we don’t have to worry about you trying to kill him every minute of everyday.”
What happened next shocked Sam, she felt her father pull her into an awkward hug. Picking her off the ground and swinging her around in a tight circle, Rodger chuckled slightly at her surprised gasp.
“I know I haven’t really.. Ever done that, but I felt this was in appropriate time.” He said, a smile tugging at his the corner of his lips. He caught sight of tears in Sam’s eyes and hugged her again. Sam felt little in comparison to her father, he was massive. “Sam, I love you. Don’t you ever forget that!”
The tears that had formed fell nonstop, there wasn’t anything she could do to keep them at bay, she never heard her father express his feelings, not even to her mother. Pulling out of his hug, she quickly wiped away her tears, embarrassed to have her father see her this way. Rodger chuckled and caught a tear on her lashes that she had missed.
“I love you, too, dad.” Sam said as she sniffled.
“Goodnight, Sammy.” Rodger said as he headed to his room. “Oh, and if Luis is idiot enough to hurt you, tell me. I’d like to be the first to get my hands on him. Your mother wouldn’t be so nice about it.” The chuckle that came after was priceless, Sam had always thought her dad never cared about her, but her assumptions were wrong. She started to feel a little guilty for hating him her whole life.
She walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator,
As she began reaching in to pull out the chicken, seeing as how she hasn’t ate all day, the phone rang. Quickly, she answered, in hops it didn’t disturb her parents. She wondered who’d be calling this time of night.
“Hello, Grant residence, this is Samantha.” She said anticipating who it would be.
“Samantha!” A loud voice called through, “It’s been how long since we’ve used that? Five years or so. You need to grow up, you ain’t a kid anymore!”
The laughter behind the loud voice on the phone was clear. “Sherry, c’mon! Don’t pester the kid! Give me the phone! Hey Sam!”
“Tell Sherry, she can kiss it!” Hey, Jess!” Sam replied, stifling a yawn. “Why y’all calling so late, or so early, or whatever?”
“Tell mama to hurry up, I’m tired and want to lay down!” Jess replied through a series of yawns.
“What are you talking about, Jess?” Sam asked confused by her sister.
“We’re at the airport, tell mama to come get us!” It was Sherry this time, clearly aggravated.
“Oh! Gimme a second.” Sam said as she put the phone down and swiftly tip-toed to her parent’s room and opened their door.
Seeing that they were in a dead sleep, she closed the door and went back to the phone. Not knowing how to get her sisters’ home for the night, she picked the phone up.
“Hey,” She said looking at her father’s truck keys, “She’s on her way! Best be ready!”
“We will, see you when we get home!” They both called through the phone.
Sam muttered “Or sooner.” as she hung the phone up and snatched the keys from the table. She headed out of the house and towards her father's truck. "I just hope I remember how to get there.”
She thought about leaving a note for her parents, but she wanted to surprise them with the girls. The thought of having them home for a time, made Sam’s heart pick up pace. It’s been a while since she seen her sisters, now to only have her brother home. The thought of her brother made her sad, she missed him more than she lead on. Arel was the oldest of the four, he always spoiled Sam.
One day, while hunting with their father, he went over a cliff. The side of the cliff was riddled with jagged rocks, and the home of many poisonous snakes. They spent several days looking for him, though his body was never found. Every year, on his birthday, Sam would go to his grave, though it was void of his body, and place a small daisy on his headstone. By the end of the day, a daisy would be sitting on her window seal. Sam had always blamed her sisters or parents for placing it there, they all knew how much she and Arel loved daisies.
As Sam thought about Arel, she remembered his love for daisies. Deep down, she knew that she named Daisy that for a reason, but didn’t want to admit to herself. it’s been four years since Arel has been gone, and Sam’s pain hasn’t subsided since she first learned about it. She loved her brother more so then she could say, and his absence was depressing. His empty seat at the dinner table was disheartening, she hasn’t ever thought of him as dead, she’s always thought he was out there somewhere, in the world living his life away from Valdesh.
She could remember the day he went missing as if it were yesterday, the joy in the house as he and their father got ready to begin the day’s hunting.
“Arel,” Tonya yelled from the kitchen, “Its time for breakfast, your father is wanting to leave early this morning!”
“Comin’ mama!” A husky voice called from the bathroom.
“Son, now!” Rodger called after him, “Get in here and eat, the more time you waste getting ready, the less time we have to hunt those monsters!”
“Jeez, I’m coming!” The voice called again.
“Arel,” A young girl called, “Dad is eating up all your food!”
“Well, Sam-Butt, keep him from eating it!” Arel told his sister as he rounded the corner. His hair was a dark brown, his eyes were a hazel color. He had a strong build, much like his father’s. He had a stubborn chin, his skin looked like it was never touched by branches, though he’d come home from hunts with scratches and scraps.
“Mom! He called me Sam-Butt!” Sam said as she leaned to over the back of her chair.
“Arel, you know what I’ve said about calling your sister that.” Tonya said with her back turned to the family at the table, hiding a giggle.
“Sam-Butt, I only call you that because I love you so much, you’re the only one I’ve given a nickname to, Jessica and Sherry are the dumb ones.” Arel whispered to Samantha, “Hey, if you don’t believe me, ask mama!”
Sam’s eyes grew big, she was shocked by her brother calling her sisters dumb. “Mama, is that true?” She asked her mother.
“Yes, it’s true. You’re the only one he’s nicknamed, but I don’t think it’s because your sisters are dumb.” Tonya said as she walked to the table. “I just think it’s because he loves you so.”
Arel grabbed the plate of bacon, shoving half of it onto his plate. His actions left Sam scowling, she reached over the table and snatched half of his bacon off of his plate. Arel broke out into a thunderous laugh, as Sam continued to scowl.
The memory of Arel’s laughter was forever etched into Sam’s heart, just hearing him laugh made her day. Now, as she can’t hear it anymore, the memory is all that brings her happiness. Though, she smiles when she thinks of him, she weeps when she turns to find him not there.
Sam whipped a tear away as she turned into the parking lot of the airport. Her sisters were standing near the door, her spirits were lifted as soon as she seen them.
“Hey, that’s dad’s truck! Still as crappy as last time we seen it!” The short one said as she leaned down to pick her suitcases up, her short brown hair falling over her face.
“Sherry! That is dad’s baby, he loves it more than he loves us.” The taller one said as she slapped the shorter one on the back. “Be nice!”
“Guy,” Sam said as she got out of the truck, “C’mon! They don’t know I’m out here!”
The taller girl ran up to Sam, enveloping her in a tight hug. She looked a lot like their mother, tall and lanky. Spider like legs, and skin that looked like it was never touched my the sun.
“Jess, it’s great to see you!” Sam said returning the hug, excited to have her sisters home. “Sherry, aren’t you gonna say hey?”
Finished with stowing her luggage, Sherry walked over to Sam. Jess released her hold on Sam, as Sherry bowled into her.
“Samantha Jay! It’s been forever!” Sherry said as she pulled back form their brief hug. Her hair was the same color as their father’s, only with light blond highlights throughout it. She was a similar build to their father, only she has a womanly appeal to her.
“Sherry, Jess, we need to be getting home.” Sam said as she turned to the driver side of the truck. “If mama wakes up, you know she’ll be pissed.”
Sam started to climb into the truck when Sherry stopped her, grabbed the keys and pushed Sam out of the way.
“If we’re going home, I’m driving!” Sherry said climbing into the driver’s side of the truck. She stuck the keys into the ignition when Sam popped the hood. Pulling the spark plug out, Sam slammed the hood shut.
“If you want to go home anytime soon, dear sisters, you’ll give me the keys.” She said tossing the spark plug up in the air, only to catch it on the way down. “We could stay here all night, if you want. I don’t have a problem with it.”