Page 64 of Securing Samantha

Whiskey nodded. Leo exited the truck and threw him one last glance before walking to the front door. He recalled the team practicing hand signals with him. If he touched the side of his nose, Leo knew Whiskey indicated his ability to handle staying with his parents. If he touched his ear, Leo stayed put. If he displayed his hand on his leg with two fingers, it meant he required more time to decide, and Leo would wait.

He glanced back at Hope, who seemed to nod her head in encouragement. Leo left the window down for her and once Whiskey made his appearance, Leo planned to retrieve her.

He slid from the truck and walked to the back yard. He smiled as he remembered how his mum always let fresh air into the house in the morning even in winter. She never locked the back door, much to the chagrin of her overprotective husband and son.

“Why don’t you take a seat?” He heard Leo ask his parents.

Whiskey waited with bated breath as he heard his mum’s voice as she settled her husband. His da made a career in the military, but his mum acted the part of a general.

“As I mentioned on the phone, I made the trip today to bring you some news,” Leo started.

“Let me grab you something to drink after such a long trip. Did something happen to LJ or Samantha?” He momentarily panicked thinking his mum headed to the kitchen.

“No. Please, Mrs. O’Neil, my news can’t wait. I’ll let you fetch a drink in a few minutes.” Leo stopped her. Whiskey let out the breath he held.

“I’ve come to tell you I found evidence your son didn’t die all those years ago. I went back to find him. That’s why I came today?—”

“What? Our baby boy? He’s alive? Who do we need to contact to get him back,” his mum rushed. He heard the emotion in her voice. “Leo, please tell us. Oh God our Samantha and LJ, she should be here. She prayed every day you were wrong and now her prayers are answered. Tell us, where he is, we need to get to him.”

Whiskey closed his eyes in pain at her words over Samantha. He denied her his homecoming. He shook his head. He reminded himself to keep moving forward. He stepped from around the corner.

“I’m right here, Mum and Da,” he said softly to keep from startling them.

“Oh sweet boy” his mum cried out. She jumped from the couch and clung to his neck. He held her tightly and soaked in the floral scent of his mum. He had forgotten she smelled like flowers. He watched an older version of his da struggle to get out of his favorite armchair. Leo helped him as the older man shook in his excitement. The usually gruff and tough man cried at the sight of his son. He pulled his da into a hug with his mum. She refused to let him go. He didn’t know how long they stood there holding each other.

“Why don’t you sit down?” Leo suggested.

He moved the three of them to the couch. They sat on each side of him as Leo handed his mum tissues. His da clung to his hand.

“My son. Oh, my boy, how we missed you,” he sobbed.

Whiskey gave them each a few moments to calm themselves. He scanned the room. Time seemed suspended. Their living room never changed from the two days before the mission when he and Samantha drove up to share dinner with them before he left. Beside the pictures he remembered hanging on the walls were photos of LJ and Samantha. He smiled as he saw Samantha continued his tradition of making birthday hats for them and took a picture each year on their birthdays. They hung in a row next to their most treasured possessions, pictures of him.

“Where are Samantha and LJ? Does she know?” His mum asked as she blew her nose.

“Yes, Mum. She’s aware. She didn’t come with because she and LJ flew to New York. She received an offer for her skincare line. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” Whiskey informed his parents. He didn’t know how to explain everything concerning Samantha. He decided to stay silent on the matter until they figured out their situation and how to tell his parents together since they remained a big part of her and LJ’s life.

Leo appeared a bit misty eyed as he walked out to retrieve Hope.

An hour later, he touched the side of his nose. Leo stood and promised to join them for dinner very soon. He retrieved Whiskey and Hope’s belongings from the truck and left them by the door. He smiled and nodded at him.

Contentment fell over Whiskey. Although he missed his parents, his decision to hold off meeting them worked to his advantage. He gained weight and to the disconcerting eye, he appeared normal. Certain things his parents would never be told. They didn’t need to know the hell he suffered. His mum accepted his explanation of being held captive. He held her close while she cried. His gaze traveled to his da, whose wise old eyes knew his son experienced something, but for now, they silently agreed to spare his mother.

They spent the weekend getting reacquainted. Sunday night came all too soon. He promised to bring LJ up on his next visit and they agreed to drive down the weekend after the New Year. His mum clung to him as he said goodbye. His da pulled her away.

“Let our boy and Hope get back to work. We’ve got phone calls to make. Maybe Samantha and LJ will talk him into taking a trip to Ireland to see the family. Imagine their faces when he walks in.”

His da winked at him as his mum reluctantly released him to call her sisters, already distracted about taking a trip with him.

“They were overjoyed. They don’t harbor any resentment over you keeping the secret. They understood the necessity,” he assured her.

“They’re great grandparents to LJ. Once a month since his birth, they traveled to me, or I met them. Your mother even took him for the weekends as an infant and endured all my calls with such patience and grace. My mom loves LJ, but as soon as dad passed, she packed her bags and left as if her butt was on fire. I understand how difficult it was to watch dad slip away. She visits my son about twice a year.”

“Our son,” he corrected.

She smiled. “Yeah, our son. Thank you for earlier. I nearly suffered a panic attack.”

Whiskey’s face grew serious. “He knew better. I thank you for letting me handle it. I worried you might think I overstepped my bounds.”

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