Chapter 1 #3
Hazel’s heart still skipped a beat when she heard Samantha call Jacob “Dad.” Samantha’s own father, Hazel’s ex-husband, had completely disappeared from their lives, and Hazel felt that was for the best. He’d been her high school sweetheart but had not grown up into the man she’d thought he would become.
Jacob, however, who had been her first major high school crush, was a strong, dependable, trustworthy man.
Hazel felt incredibly grateful that things had worked out between the two of them and that Samantha now had a father who adored her and who made her feel safe and loved.
“That’s good,” Hazel said as she parked the car and turned off the ignition. “This storm is starting to look pretty bad.”
Hazel and Samantha left the garage, dashing across the short stretch of yard between it and the house and laughing as they become instantly drenched in rain.
“This is wild!” Samantha yelled.
They were panting by the time they reached the back door and pushed it open. They stumbled into the kitchen, giggling and dripping water onto the tile.
“Wow, welcome home,” Jacob said, laughing himself as he stood up from the kitchen table, where he’d been drinking some coffee and looking over a stack of bills. “You two got soaked out there.”
“It’s raining,” Samantha said.
“I noticed.” Jacob shared a grin with Hazel. “I’ll grab you guys some towels.”
He hurried off to get towels, and Samantha and Hazel took off their shoes. He returned a few moments later and they started to dry off, letting the towels soak up the water in their hair and clothes.
“I’m so glad you got home early,” Hazel said, giving him a kiss as she squeezed the towel around her wavy dark blonde hair.
“Me too,” he said. “What’s for dinner?”
She laughed. “Leftover lasagna. Give me two minutes and then I’ll start microwaving our portions.”
“That’s okay, I’ve got it. I just didn’t want to eat without the two of you.”
Jacob dished three generous helpings of the mushroom, spinach, and alfredo lasagna that Hazel had made the night before onto plates and popped the first one into the microwave. “How was cheerleading practice, Sam?” he asked, leaning against the counter and smiling at his daughter.
“Really good.” Samantha flopped down into one of the kitchen chairs. “But, oh man, am I starving.”
“Me too,” Hazel said. “I love leftovers. It’s always nice to come home and be able to eat right away instead of having to cook.”
“And leftovers always taste better,” Samantha said in a wise tone. “All that time in the fridge helps the flavors smush together and intensify.”
“Hmm, is that the terminology they used in science class?” Jacob teased.
Samantha made a face at him but then her expression brightened into one of delight when the microwave went off and Jacob placed the hot plate down in front of her. “Aww, thank you! Should I wait for you guys?”
Hazel’s heart glowed as she watched her husband and daughter interacting so affectionately. The bond between Samantha and Jacob seemed to be strengthening every day, and Hazel felt so grateful to be a part of the beautiful little family that they’d formed.
“No, you go ahead,” Hazel said, kissing Samantha’s head. “We know you’re hungry.”
Samantha ate in a hurry, and by the time both Jacob and Hazel’s meals were finished heating up, she was all done.
“I’m going upstairs to do my homework,” she said, scooting her chair back.
“Take a shower first,” Hazel advised. “You don’t want to get a chill after getting soaked like that.”
“I think I’m okay, Mom.”
“For me?”
Samantha laughed. “Okay. I’ll take care of myself so that you don’t worry.”
Hazel waved at her as she grabbed her backpack off the floor and made her way toward the staircase. She felt another surge of gratitude that Samantha was such a sweet teenager and a considerate person.
“She’s such a good kid,” Hazel said with a sigh as Jacob set their plates down on the kitchen table.
“Such a good kid,” he agreed. “Although she escaped before we could offer her a vegetable.”
Hazel chuckled. “I’ll whip up a salad quick and bring her up one later as a snack.” She quickly made a salad of pre-washed spinach and lettuce leaves, throwing in some strawberries that she’d already sliced up with the intention of putting them in muffins.
“Oh, amazing,” Jacob said when she brought over the bowl. “A seven-second salad.”
“Cousins to the seven-layer salad.” She arched a brow, and they both laughed like kids over her silly joke.
They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, and Hazel’s thoughts drifted to Samantha and all of the things that they’d talked about together during their car ride. She didn’t realize how nostalgic her expression was becoming until Jacob tapped her arm gently.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
She turned to him with a smile and then sighed.
“I’m just—well, feeling sentimental, I suppose.
Samantha is growing up so fast. And I love interacting with her almost-adult brain and it’s so amazing to see her grow up into this fantastic person, but sometimes I miss when she was a little girl. I really loved the toddler era.”
She chuckled, remembering some of Samantha’s most unforgettable antics, such as cracking eggs open on a kitchen chair seat and stirring them with a carrot, declaring that she was cooking.
“There was something really sweet about the way she depended on me for everything. I kind of miss that, even though it was definitely overwhelming at times.”
Jacob kissed her cheek. “It’s completely natural to feel that way,” he assured her. “The people we love change, and sometimes we miss the way they were before. It doesn’t mean we love them any less.”
“Do you miss the way I was before?” she teased, scooting her chair closer to his.
He shook his head. “This is my favorite version of you. I’m sure I’d feel all sentimental if I saw a picture of us in high school, but I would never trade present Hazel for past Hazel. I’m a hundred percent sure I’m always going to feel that way.”
“Even when I’m old and gray?”
“Especially when you’re old and gray. You know I can’t wait to be a cute old couple with you.”
She laughed and gave him a big kiss. She startled and pulled away from him, however, as a terrific boom of thunder rattled the windowpanes.
“Yikes!” she squeaked, turning toward the windows, which had rivulets of raindrops running down them. “This storm is crazy.”
“It does seem like a bad one.”
For a moment, they paused, listening to the wind howling and the rain patterning down on the roof like the stamping of a thousand watery foot soldiers.
“I hope nothing breaks,” she said nervously. “And I hope no trees fall down and break a window or something.”
Jacob rubbed her back reassuringly. “I wouldn’t worry about it, sweetie. Those trees are all sturdy, and none of them are very close to the house. Besides, if this storm does end up causing any damage to the house, at least I’m a handyman.” He grinned impishly.
She chuckled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “That’s right, I almost forgot. Being married to you has all kinds of nice perks.”
He placed his hand on hers. “I would do my best to protect you even if I knew nothing about fixing houses.”
“I know,” she said softly, feeling a glow of love in her heart for him.
She listened to the storm raging outside, and despite the ferocity of it, she felt safe and comfortable in her home, sitting next to the man she loved.