I shut the bedroom door behind me and sat down on the edge of the bed. It was still unfathomable that AJ had gone to such great lengths just for me. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to wait all the way until August for our trip. To see pieces from my favorite artists up close was something that I’d never imagined would come to pass. I pulled the necklace from the bag again and draped it across my hand. It was way more expensive than any other piece of jewelry that I’d ever owned. I smiled to myself as I realized that I was a little nervous to put it on, fearing that I’d lose it or it would somehow get broken.
When AJ came into the room he startled me from my thoughts. “It’s good to see you smiling again,” he said as he shut the door and came toward me. He took the necklace from my hand and reached around my neck to fasten it, his warm hands grazing my neck as he lifted my hair, sending a chill through my entire body. I looked up at him allowing my eyes to follow him as he walked over to the dresser to remove his shirt and watch just like the night before. I was beginning to get used to being here with him. If it hadn’t been for his generosity, I don’t know where I would’ve gone. In my hour of need he’d swooped in on his white horse and rescued me……just like Prince Charming would have done.
The next morning, I was awakened by the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. I was surprised to see that my father had sent me a text message. Partially because I didn’t even know he knew how to send a text message, but mostly because I wasn’t expecting to hear from him – especially not this soon. I held the phone in my hands, and after a few deep breaths I opened the message.
“We need to talk, baby girl. Call me or come by when you get the message.”
I’d fully expected to go the rest of the year without speaking a word to my father, so naturally I wasn’t sure how to react. I leaned back and rested my back on the headboard as I let different scenarios run through my head as to how this could play out. I wasn’t sure if he was feeling apologetic or if he wanted to finish yelling at me. It was hard to tell all that from a text message. I nearly chewed my lip off as I thought. AJ shifted a little in his sleep yanking me from my thoughts. Part of me wanted to wake him to tell him about this new development. He was the best sounding board I had, but he was too peaceful to even think about disturbing him. But as he often did, he sensed that I was troubled.
“Everything ok?” He asked without even having to turn over and see that something was on my mind.
“My dad messaged me and he wants to talk. What should I do?” I asked half panicked.
“Well, call him back and see what he has to say. It can’t hurt to hear him out.” He paused for a few seconds. “You need me to step out for a while?”
I considered his offer for a second. There wasn’t anything to hide from him, but I didn’t want him to overhear anything that daddy might yell out at me in anger. So, to protect his feelings I replied, “Maybe just for a little while.” He climbed out of bed and dressed quickly. “But don’t go too far.”
He smiled. “I won’t. I’ll be right downstairs if you need me.”
If I was going to do this I’d have to dial quickly before I lost my nerve, so as soon as the door shut behind AJ I made the call. My heart felt like it was beating a mile a minute. “Samantha?” He answered.
I could hardly even speak. “It’s me. I just got your message.”