𝔁. girl + sam talk

written – 12.10.23 | re-written - 9.6.24

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH

"I'M ASSUMING THE DATE WENT exceptionally well?" Emily inquired with a knowing smile as Roni stepped through the doorway, her face adorned with a subtle yet unmistakable expression of joy.

"You know, I've never experienced a first date before. But I can say with absolute certainty that this was the most incredible first date I could have ever imagined." Roni's voice was filled with excitement as she carefully placed her newly acquired treasures on the table, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Sam's curiosity was piqued as his gaze fell upon the soft, pink teddy bear now sitting proudly on the table. "What's that you've got there?" he asked, his tone a mixture of interest and amusement.

"Oh, you won't believe it! He took me to the arcade!" Roni exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. Sam and Emily couldn't help but chuckle at the girl's unbridled excitement as they settled into their seats at the table. "It was absolutely amazing! I managed to beat him at every single game, naturally. But what really stood out was how incredibly kind and thoughtful he was. He even held doors open for me! Can you believe it? Paul, my own brother, doesn't even do that. And guess what? I shattered my previous ticket record!" Sam, caught up in Roni's infectious joy, extended his hand for a celebratory high-five, which Roni enthusiastically reciprocated.

"When it came time to choose our prizes, he had the sweetest idea. We picked out these adorable matching teddy bears! I chose the pink one because, surprisingly, that's his favorite color. And he picked the blue one for me since that's my favorite. Oh, and we couldn't resist the photo booth! We both insisted on paying, so we compromised and split the cost, each contributing a dollar." Roni's smile widened as she carefully retrieved the photo strip from her bag, treating it like a precious memento.

The photo strip captured four perfect moments of their date. In the first snapshot, Roni was leaning her head gently on Embry's shoulder, while he rested his head atop hers, creating a tender and intimate pose. The second photo showcased their playful side, with both pulling silly faces that spoke volumes about their comfort with each other. The third image depicted Roni and Embry in a back-to-back pose, their hands raised as if holding imaginary guns, channeling their inner action heroes. The final photo was perhaps the most heartwarming: Roni planting a sweet kiss on Embry's cheek while he beamed at the camera, his happiness radiating through the image.

"Oh, these are absolutely precious! I simply must make copies," Emily cooed, leaning into Sam so he could get a better look at the endearing photos.

"It's truly remarkable," Roni mused, her voice taking on a more reflective tone. "I initially thought this whole imprinting phenomenon would be overwhelming and perhaps even a bit frightening. And truthfully, it was at first. But now that we're actually embracing it and allowing ourselves to explore this connection, it feels absolutely incredible. It's not awkward or forced like I had feared it might be. Instead, it just feels so...natural, like this is exactly how things are meant to be." Sam and Emily exchanged a knowing glance before turning their attention back to Roni. The teenage girl's gaze was fixed on the photos, a contented smile playing on her lips.

"We're genuinely thrilled to see you so happy," Sam affirmed, nodding his head and offering a warm smile. Despite the challenges Paul often presented, Sam had always harbored a special fondness for the younger Lahote sibling. Emily shared this sentiment wholeheartedly. In many ways, the soon-to-be-married couple had come to think of Roni as the daughter they had always longed for.

"I'm equally thrilled," Roni admitted, her tone momentarily becoming more somber. "I haven't felt this alive, this full of hope and excitement, since before Terrance started drinking." Her words caused a fleeting frown to cross both adults' faces. Quickly realizing the shift in mood, Roni brightened again. "But let's not dwell on that. Did I happen to mention that I absolutely crushed my high score?"

"Yes, you did mention that," Sam chuckled softly, noticing Roni's evident fatigue as she let out a loud yawn. "But I think all this excitement has worn you out. How about we get you settled in for some well-deserved rest?" His voice was gentle and paternal as Roni nodded in agreement. "Would you like me to carry you to the couch?"

"Would you mind? My feet are absolutely aching from all those rounds of Dance Dance Revolution," Roni confessed with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. Sam couldn't help but laugh as he carefully lifted her and placed her on the couch, making sure she was comfortably tucked under a warm blanket. "Goodnight, Roni," he said softly, his voice filled with affection.

"Goodnight, dad," Roni murmured, already drifting off to sleep, the word 'dad' slipping out naturally and effortlessly.

"She... she called me dad," Sam whispered, turning to Emily with a look of wonder and emotion. His voice, usually so composed, trembled slightly with joy as he repeated, "She called me dad!"

Emily's eyes glistened with unshed tears of happiness as she gazed at her fiancé. "Oh, Sam," she said softly, "you have no idea how many times I've heard her refer to you as 'dad' before. I wanted you to experience that moment organically, to hear it for yourself when the time was right." She reached out, gently taking Sam's hand in hers. "But now, my love, I think it's time for us to get some rest too. It's been quite an eventful evening." Emily tugged lightly on Sam's hand, guiding him towards their bedroom. Sam followed, his heart full of love and newfound paternal pride, chuckling softly as they made their way to bed, the events of the night playing over in his mind.