Chapter 9: My little redhead

A little while later Maria came in carrying a tray with a carafe of hot coffee, cups, and cream and sugar. After setting the tray down she insisted on preparing me a cup. Pat quickly rushed to the kitchen muttering to herself, "I declare, that girl will be having my job before long."

As I was sipping at the coffee Pat returned with a pot of tea and a plate stacked high with finger sandwiches. It looked like there was a variety of different meats and other filling to choose from.

"Do you see this?" Pat commented rhetorically, more to herself than anyone else, as she set the plate of sandwiches down, "Why that girl not only fixed a number of different types, but she even cut off all the crusts and quartered them. She will have my job."

"I did wrong?" Maria asked tentatively while looking at Pat.

Pat laughed as she went over and hugged Maria, "Child, the day you do something wrong is the day that silly Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan will become president of these United States."

"Don't hold your breath Pat. But come November Ronald Reagan will become president." I said taking another sip of coffee.

"Why I never! An actor." Pat exclaimed.

"Pat, Ronald Reagan was governor." Dana informed her.

"And governor of what I might ask," Pat responded.

"Of California." Dana answered.

"Now doesn't that just beat all?" Pat said and then turning to Maria she added, "Just forget what I said about when you'll do something wrong Maria. You never do anything wrong child."

Jen started laughing. Then Kim joined in, then Candy and then Dana.

"What is it?" Katherine asked unable to keep herself from laughing along with the other four women.

"You have no idea how long this house has been without laughter and friendly quibbling," Jen answered. "It feels so good..." and then she started crying. She was soon joined by the others which motivated us into another group hug.

It did my heart good when, while we were all hugging each other, I saw Kim extended her arm out to Katherine. Katherine joined us, and we all hugged and cried together.

Shortly, and once again, through the open drapes I saw the Ford Bronco pull up with Heather driving and Vicky seated next to her. My heart began to flutter once again.

When Vicky and Heather, accompanied by Pat who had gone out in order to usher them in, entered the living room both young women stopped dead in their tracks, then with a cry of joy, Heather rushed to me, and throwing her arms about my neck, sobbed, "Oh Sam, I missed you. I missed you. I missed you."

But Vicky just burst into tears and then bolted for the stairs and rushed up them.

I kissed Heather and then said, "I missed you too my sweet. You feel so good in my arms. Kiss me. Kiss me to show me how much you missed me." And she did, and I believed her.

Heather drew back and then said, "Go to her Sam. Go to Vicky. She's been in so much pain Sam. You'll never know. Go to her now."

"I will my love. And Heather, thank you for taking care of her while I was gone. You're really something special. It had to be god's sweet blessing that you were sent to me. I love you honey. I love you."

She hugged me even tighter and then she whispered, "Go Sam. Hurry."

Breaking away I said, "Heather that's Katherine. She's a very special young woman too. The others will introduce you. I need to go to Vicky now." And I quickly headed for the stairs.

I went upstairs and found Vicky in one of the spare bedrooms laying face down, with her head buried in a pillow crying.

"Vicky," I said softly as I entered.

She abruptly sat up and glared at me.

"You left me!" She choked out the words. "Why didn't you let me go with you, die with you even? Why did you make me love you so much and then leave me alone? Sam, you left me! You left me and made me go on living without you! All you left me with was the dreams and always being afraid of sleeping or waking..."

"Oh Vicky, baby, I'm so sorry. I couldn't do anything about it honey. I would give my life not to hurt you. I had no control sweetie. I swear to you, I had no control over it. Honey, you said all I left you with was the dreams, but that's not true. I also left you with my heart. You own my heart baby. Now and forever it belongs to you."

She looked at me, tears streaming down her cheeks, the mad stare gone, and then she threw her body at me, wrapping her arms and legs around me and buried her face in my neck. I held her tightly drawing her little body even tighter to me in a kind of enveloping embrace, savoring the feel of her, the smell of her, the taste of her.

"Oh, my dear, dear, sweet little redhead, how I missed holding you in my arms, kissing your neck, the feel of those massive breasts pressing against my chest." I said softly.