Chapter 2: Daddy’s Home

The pickup went smoothly, if you consider a diminutive, shoulder-high, redhead, squealing, hugging, weeping, bundle to be smooth. She was petite and wore new jeans and a yellow tee with ‘Daddy’s Girl’ surrounded by a red heart. Her curves were well started, and her pokies were showing. Oh crap, we were going to need an early-on discussion of bras and the wearing thereof.

However, my first challenge as a new father came when Chastity wanted to ride to our hotel on my lap. Sam, a skinny gray-haired dude and an experienced father, supported my negative by stating, “Car won’t run unless all seatbelts are fastened.”

Once we were away from the airport, it was a pretty short trip along the bay. We passed the cruise ship terminal and Sam pointed to a monster docked there and told us, “Quarantined. Not going anywhere for a while.” Then we passed the retired aircraft carrier, USS Midway, made a left turn, and parked at the hotel.

“I’m known here, so you’re already checked in,” Sam said as he handed me a small folder with two key cards and my room number written inside.

“Run up, dump your bags, and meet Chastity and me in the atrium. We should be able to have one before the evening reception shuts down and we decide what to do for dinner. You have time to change, but don’t get lost in the view. You can see the Midway from your suite.”

Sam paused, “Still, the line can get pretty long at the bar. Chastity can grab and hold a table while I get the booze. You want Bourbon, Irish, or Scotch?” When Chastity started to raise her hand, he said, “Yeah, I remember, you drink root beer.”

I told Sam I wanted a single malt Scotch if they had it or Irish if they didn’t. Then, I pecked Chastity on the cheek, grabbed my duffle, and headed up. My bag went onto the king-size bed, and I did a two-minute soap and rinse in the shower. While drying, I looked out the window at the Midway, and then I threw on slacks, polo, and loafers.

When I returned downstairs, Chastity was sitting at a secluded table with several plates and bowls of ‘hospitality’ snacks. It was still several minutes before Sam was through the line and arrived with two brimming glasses on a tray and a large frosty mug of root beer.

I looked a question, and he laughed, “I tip big here, especially at the evening reception, and the staff takes good care of me, real good care.” He seated himself, took a generous sip, and asked, “You want to ask, or want me to just roll it out?”

“One, maybe three questions to get started, and then you roll,” I told him. “First, I assume you aren’t contagious and two, do we have a funeral to attend? Three, how did you get Chastity away from her grandfather?”

“Nope, I’m cleared and not contagious. I’m not taking any chances with our girl, though. I haven’t been back to my condo, all my clothes are new, and I’m driving a rental. Chastity and I’ve been staying here. We’ll move her to your suite after dinner,” he explained.

“Mister Sam took me to Macy’s to shop for me and him,” Chastity injected. “It’s only a few blocks from here, and I’ve never had nice clothes before.”

“No funeral services – yet,” Sam continued. “Sarah’s ashes are in a nice urn in my room. She wanted you and Chastity to take her back to a special place. Said you’d know the spot.”

God help me; I blushed. Chastity stared, and when it dawned, she giggled and squeezed my hand. “That spot, right?” she asked, and I nodded. “That will be a good thing, a very good thing. It was probably the last time Mom was happy.”

“So, anyway,” Sam continued, “I knew from Sarah that extracting Chastity wasn’t going to be a cakewalk. I called a friend who helps off-duty cops find supplemental employment and rented two that he told me had experience with domestic disputes and a record of maintaining control. Then I called a judge I know in Family Court. I ended up FAXing her the will and Sarah’s letter detailing her last requests.”

“Based on the two documents, she granted me temporary custody, told me to find you and get you both DNA tested so paternity couldn’t be contested.” Sam paused his story for a minute to tell me, “You both have an appointment tomorrow with GenTrace to give them samples, AND I managed to get a sample from her grandfather. More on that in a minute. Anyway, they promise expedited results in three business days, and our meeting with Judge Reynolds is scheduled the following day.”

“So, six days ago Sarah died, and two days later I was released from the quarantine ward waiting out front holding a cardboard container with Sarah’s ashes. I already had my PA looking for you, and she dropped off a new set of clothes from Macys and a rental car. I changed clothes and drove straight here to book a two-room suite.” His grin was wicked when he looked from Chastity to me. “That turned out to be a waste. You’ll find out, Miss Chastity refuses to sleep alone. No hanky panky, mind you, but nevertheless, not alone.”

Chastity blushed, then looked stubborn, “He’s right. Not alone. I can’t sleep alone.”

Sam looked back at my still blushing daughter and offered, “You’ll also find that she chases squirrels. ADD but not hyperactive.”

“Back to the story,” he told me after taking a long pull from his glass. “I cleaned up and drove over to pick up the custody papers from the judge’s clerk. As luck would have it, my two huge rental cops were getting off shift and available. I swung by their station, briefed them, and had them follow me to pick up Chastity.”