The two of them: chapter 15

I

n our last chapter we discovered Sam was afraid of thunderstorms. Hopefully not as much after we try to calm her down and show there was not much to be afraid of. But I got a feeling every night there’s a strong thunderstorm Sam will be sleeping on my chest, not that I mind.

Mom and Alyssa are stuck waiting on the court to finalize the divorce this upcoming Monday, five more days before they can return. Today I have to assistance a friend’s father and mother continue their way of life, and keep my favorite restaurant open.

The restaurant is a fixture in our little town in it wouldn’t be the same town without it. It may be a symptom to a larger problem. That worries me, I love living near our small town. I would hate for it to become a small ghost town.

When times are good people love to eat out. Young people date when they have the money and dinner out is just a part of the dating process. When times are tight, eating out is usually one of the first things that people cut back on. Restaurants do well when the rest of the community is doing well. When restaurants fail, it’s a sign the greater community is in distress. My economics classes, when into some of these details and causes. The community needs new jobs and new businesses to create them. With more employment the economy of this community strengthens. Some small communities like this even a small number of jobs can have a drastic effect. A few more people employed can be the difference between the community failing or prospering.





A second thunderstorm last night woke Sam and she came awake with a scream. Apparently she wasn’t the only one frightened by the storm. Joan was awake and hearing Sam screaming came in after a quick knock at our door. She was almost as afraid as Sam. Joan too had never experienced a thunderstorm before tonight. She said she spent the last one in the safe room. Joan was on her way there when she heard Sam scream.

Joan and Sam both calm down seen that Kathryn and I were not upset or frightened by the storm. After a while, as we watched the storm both seem to be enjoying Mother Nature’s light show.

Sam, Kathryn, Joan and I counted between lightning and thunder to see how far the storm was away. We even looked it up online, because the difference in speed of light and sound roughly five seconds equals one mile away. Living in the country there’s not a lot of extra noise during the evening, and sound travels very far on a wind. Sometimes you can even hear the thunder up to sixty seconds or more after the flash of lightning that created it. It’s hard to tell because there’s usually more flashes of lightning within that timeframe. I warn Sam and Joan, “If you see lightning and count to ten or less get home or indoors as soon as possible. If you count less than five between lightning and thunder go to the nearest house and stay there and you give Mommy and me a phone call. Or you can stay in a car either way is safe enough for just a thunderstorm.”

Kathryn warns, “Never stand under a tree, even a small one. Remember what happened to the tree at the end of the meadow.”

Sam wide-eyed says, “That was scary.”

Joan has a frightened expression and asks, “What happened to what tree?”

Sam excitedly says, “Daddy snapped his fingers, lightning hit the tree and then the boom in the tree fell down. It was a really big tree too.”

Joan looks at me suspiciously from the end of the couch where she is all wrapped up in a warm blanket. Just on a whim I snap my fingers and the closest bolt of lightning flashes overhead with less than a second from the flash till the thunder. Sam grabs my hand and pulls it to her. Wide-eyed she says, “Daddy don’t do that to anymore trees.”

With a chuckle I say, “Sam that was a coincidence, I really can’t do that. I guess somebody up there has a good sense of humor though. It sure made Joan jump.”

Joan giggles and she says, “By just snapping your fingers you can’t make lightning.” And she snaps her fingers trying to prove a point. Of course I guess someone has a good sense of humor, right as she snapped her fingers a huge flash and loudest thunder yet happens. Joan’s expression nearly had me rolling on the floor I was laughing so hard. Kathryn was too.

Sam still with large eyes says, “Please no more snapping fingers.”

I tell them, “That’s why we stay indoors, or under the roof of a house. The way houses are built, they are not normally struck by lightning.”

Sam says, “I’m happy right where I am at. I feel safe with you and Mommy.”

We were on our couch looking out the doors to the patio watching the lightning through them. Kathryn was in my lap and Sam in hers, with my arms wrapped around all three of my loves. Kathryn being pregnant counts as two, because she’s carrying our baby Amanda. Although I have some time before I get to hold Amanda just about eight months now.

After the storm we go back to our beds, I had to agree to let Joan return if we have any storms.

We awaken a sleepy Sam and Kathryn takes her to the bathroom with her. Sam stretches as she walks to the bathroom following Kathryn. The funny thing is Sam stretching the same way Kathryn is. I don’t even know if Sam realizes that she’s copying Kathryn more every day. I don’t mind I find Kathryn’s little habits endearing. If Sam picks up every single one of them it would not bother me. I wonder if Amanda will do the same, either copying Sam or Kathryn. Sam still plays with her hair which Kathryn doesn’t do, but that’s a habit I don’t care about. Actually I think is charming the way she runs her fingers through her hair then twists a strand around her finger.

As soon as it’s my turn in the bathroom, I take a quick shower, shave and brush my teeth. Dressing in my robe I return to my girls. They’re dressed in cutoff jeans and T-shirts, and I dress in jeans and a T-shirt just perfect for looking around the fallen tree.

As we walk down the walkway to the boat house following the steps down the hillside. Sam gives me a tug and I put her up on my shoulders. Sam loves being on my shoulders, and almost every time we’re outdoors she will try to get me to let her ride as much is possible.

Kathryn even got me to let her ride once. After a hundred feet or so I had the let her down she was getting too turned on by the friction of my neck against her pussy. Although that was an interesting way to get her turned on, I much prefer licking it verses necking it. Fortunately it doesn’t have the same effect on Sam, but when it does I’m sure Sam isn’t going to like having to stop. Amanda probably will like riding on my shoulders as well; Sam will give it up let her little sisters ride their Daddy shoulders. Of course they will be copying Sam doing that.

We cross the meadow on our way to the tree with Sam on my shoulders she’s quickly spots the Mason jar now wash clean by the rain last night. The glass jar full of gold coins reflects the morning sun into Sam’s eyes. With her hand in front of her face Sam asks, “Daddy what is that shiny stuff in the tree roots?”

I look up and carefully remove the Mason jar bring it down for Sam to look at. Sam asks, “Is that gold?”

With a chuckle I say, “It’s really old gold coins. Like from when grandma’s grandpa lived here.”

Sam says, “If they belong to her grandpa that means there hers.”

I say, “Let’s see if we can get them back to her. I bet he meant for them to be hers, because this tree fell over just now. It could have fallen over any time in the last four years, or any time after this. It’s good that it fell over while she’s here.”

Sam still setting on my shoulders giggles as she brushes the dirt away from another jar. Clean of the dirt the gold coin show through reflecting the bright morning light.

I tell Sam, “Let’s leave that one right where it is at so grandma can find it.”

Sam pokes her finger at the base of another jar and more dirt falls away revealing a second jar still in the tree roots. Sam giggles, “That will make it easy for grandma to find that one too.”

Kathryn says, “We better go get her. She wants to leave fairly early this morning.”

While we were walking back I take a good look at the jar. The jar’s lid coated in tar formed an airtight seal. Once buried the tar around the lid kept it from rusting. At the bottom of the jar are gold coins, some silver coins above them, and some bills that I can’t make out the dollar amount from outside the jar. We know of at least two more jars probably exactly like this still in the roots the tree. I wonder what story grandma will have about her grandpa’s money.

Marshall and Misty were in the solarium and I show Marshall the jar. Marshall’s eyes light up seeing the coins he says, “I used to collect coins when I was a kid. I had a few Morgan’s that weren’t really valuable. I learned a lot about coin collecting and grading. Did you know some Morgan’s silver dollars can be as valuable as the double Eagles or even more?”

With a smile I say, “That’s really good to know. I think these belong to grandma, her grandfather once owned this land and probably buried them here a long time ago.”

Walking upstairs we find grandma finishing breakfast for us. Sam runs to her and says, “Great Grandma look what we found. It’s your grandpa’s ball jar treasure.”

Grandma giggles, “The family was looking for that the last fifty years Sam. We would’ve found it by now if it was out there.”

I slipped the jar behind my back; I want to hear the story before we surprise her with the jar. Marshall takes the jar just like I handed off the football to him many times before. Kathryn grins as she blocks grandma’s view. She says, “Tell us the story again about great grandpa’s treasure.”

Sam has a frustrated look not being believed. I hold my hands up and I tell her, “Let’s go wash our hands Sam. We need to get them clean for breakfast. Grandma, can you tell us the story over breakfast?”

Grandma giggles, “Sure, just don’t waste your time looking for the treasure. It’s almost like it doesn’t want to be found.”

Once in the bathroom with the water running I tell Sam, “I know Sam. We’ll get grandma tell us the story first. Then you can hand her the jar. Your uncle Marshall and I hid them from her right now so after the story. We’ll make sure you have the jar and you can give them to your Great Grandma. I want to get my camera to get a picture of her face when you give the jar to her.”

Sam giggles, “I bet she’ll make a funny face.”

With a chuckle I say, “I know she will Sam. I want to make sure you have something of her you can keep. This way you have a story you can tell and show the picture to your grandkids.”

Sam giggles, “I’m still too young to have kids.”

I kiss Sam on her forehead and tell her, “You will not always be Sam. You’ll grow up, and find a nice man to love you. Then one day you will have kids of your own. I will tell them the story of how on a very special day, your Mommy and me found our Princess Sam.”

Sam giggles, “I think I’d like that. But bring the bear skin, and Mommy can tell them the story of how you saved her, and my Aunts from the bear.”

I say, “We always can save that one when you come home for Christmas.”

Sam gets confused look before she asked, “What is Christmas?”

I never thought of it, I have no idea what religion if any her grandmother or parents followed. It’s not that Kathryn and I are very religious. After all we were having sex before we were married. Not something most religions would openly approve. We have always celebrated Christmas although we never followed a religion.

While Sam and I wash her hands I ask, “Sam did your grandmother or parents follow any religion?”

Sam shakes her head no and says, “My grandma said there wasn’t a God, to let her daughter die on the same day her son-in-law did. Mom and Dad were gone a lot and I remember lots of lights and trees during the winter. Grandma never had any. I don’t remember one when Mommy and Daddy were alive.”

With a chuckle I say to my beautiful Sam, “Well this year you’re going to have a Christmas. I’ll explain everything about it. First let’s surprise your Great Grandma.”

Sam giggles, “I like surprises, and I think Great Grandma does too.”

Kathryn comes in and washes her hands quickly and says, “You two better hurry up, grandma might think you’re up to something.”

I explain to Kathryn, “This is going to be Sam’s first Christmas this year. Her grandmother didn’t celebrate them.”

Kathryn looking at Sam says, “Well we’ll just have to make this a very special Christmas for you Sam.”

Sam giggles and says, “I think I’m going to like Christmas.”

We walked back to the kitchen and join everyone else for breakfast sitting in my chair is the jar and Sam sets in Kathryn’s lap today. Michael senior, the Coach is there next to my chair and he leans over and whispers in my ear. “Marshall told me.” He shows me the camera and gives me a wink.

Near the end of breakfast grandma starts her story, “Back when I was a very little girl even younger than you Sam, my grandpa that would be your great, great, great grandpa Sam. It was 1929 and people talking about how bad it was for everyone’s finances. They were tell me banks were closing their doors, they gotten stock with their customers money and then the stock was it worth anything. My grandpa was of rich men but even he lost most of his money. What he had he wasn’t going to put it in a bank, so he told me this riddle. Three by three I hide for thee. Under a young oak tree I hide for thee. Three away and three deep I hide for thee. Those a few more lines but I didn’t memorize them. But he did tell me one time just before he died they’ll stay hidden until the entire family comes home. These to be a house right on this very spot it was a really big house with lots of rooms. But it burned down a long time ago. Nobody died here Sam so don’t worry about it being haunted. But the family lost his fortune, and we been looking for it ever since.”

Michael asked, “Mom any of the biscuits left?”

They were a couple left on the pan and she was close to them when she turned I put the jar in front of Sam. When grandma turned around to hand Michael the biscuit she couldn’t help but see the ball Mason jar filled with money sitting in front of Sam. Sam giggles and says, “I guess all the family came home.”

Grandma has her hand over her mouth and tears run down her cheeks seeing the money in the jar. She finally says, “Sam you try to tell me you found it didn’t you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. My great-granddaughter I think you’re right the family is finally home.”

Alyssa, Mom and Johnny walk in the door, now that’s a surprise for me. I get up to walk to my Mom and throw her in a hug I really missed her. If it wasn’t for Kathryn and Sam and the classes, I would’ve been in California the day after she left. Mom giggles, “I missed you too son. That’s why we hurried home. We really wanted to surprise you last night. Those thunderstorms delayed our flight and we were really tired so we just waited and left early in the morning from a hotel.”

Grandma asks, “Is that all just the one jar?”

Sam giggles saying, “I don’t think so great grandma. Remember the riddle; three by three I hide for thee. I bet there are two more jars.”

Grandma says, “Let’s go find them, where did you get that one.”

Giggling Sam says, “It was under the tree that Daddy hit with lightning and pushed over.”

That caused some very confused expressions around the table, but Kathryn and Joan just giggle.