She recorded everything. Literally everything. Ava was determined to not miss a single moment. She had recorded her first crawl, her first steps, her first words, and her first birthday, literally everything. She recorded a little bit every day in hopes that she would one day show Sam. Not a day went by that she didn't think of him.

It was a Saturday just like any other. Five-year-old Samantha had a soccer game. Ava may have been biased, but Samantha Taylor did fairly well at the sport for her age. Ava had already recorded every other soccer game. She was determined to record this one too.

There was no denying that the child had her fathers looks. She had long shiny black hair. She was tall. In many ways, she favored her father, however, she favored Andy as well. Samantha had both her mother's doe-eyes and her lion's heart. She was kind, sweet, and always shared. Andy never had a problem with her around other kids. And, just like her mother, Samantha was allergic to silence. She would talk and talk.

In a way, Samantha saved Andy. Samantha would always come home from school to find her mother upset. The child would do her best to cheer her mother up. Andy couldn't help but laugh. She wasn't depressed, but she wasn't happy. There was a void that could only be filled by Andy McNally's life. Every day, the child reminded her of Sam. Samantha was just like her father. They had the same dimples, laugh, and mannerisms. She was a curious child as well. She always asked questions and never forgot a word she was told.

Samantha never really asked about her father that much. She had asked before, and she soon understood it made her mom sad. The first time she did ask, her mom cried.

"Mommy?" Four-year-old Samantha piped up. They had been watching The Little Mermaid.

"Yes, rookie?"

"Why don't I have a daddy like my friends do?" Samantha asked. Andy never really expected her to ask that question. She new one day Samantha would ask, but she wasn't prepared to answer that.

"Well, sweetheart, you do have a daddy." Andy said plainly. She started to tear up. She was happy Samantha wanted to know about her daddy, yet she was heart broken. Growing up, Andy vowed that her future child would grow up with two parents in a loving family. She prayed that her future child would never be raised the she had been.

"Well why isn't he here? Does he not love us? Did he die?"

"No. Mommy wishes he were here. I know your father wishes to be here. He loves us so, very much." Quite truthfully, Andy had no idea if Sam was alive or if he had moved on. She had not heard from Frank in about a year.

"Well, where is he?"

"He's-uh- in Canada working."

"Oh Canada? Mommy! I know where that is! It's- it's the big country above us."

"Agh! How did you know that?"

"Because I'm smart!"

"Is that so?" Andy chuckled to herself.

"Mommy, what is Daddy like? Where does he work?"

"Well, let's see. He has dark hair and dimples just like you. He's tall and very handsome. He's a police officer. He's very funny, and he likes to makes jokes just like you. He hangs out with your Uncle Ollie and Uncle Frank and Aunt Noelle."

"I have aunts and uncles?"

"Lots of them."

" Can we go see them?" Samantha said excitedly.

"I wish we could, but not for a while."

"Okay, Mommy."

As Andy cheered for Samantha, Rachel, a fellow soccer mom tapped on her shoulder. She had been friends with Rachel for a while. Rachel was one of Andy's first clients. After learning that Ava was new to town, Rachel offered to show her around.

"You know, Ava, that man over there is starting to creep me out," she said nodding her head in his direction. The man leaned against the y'all pine tree. His blue eyes stared Andy up and down. Who was he?

Andy couldn't quite place where she had seen that face before. She thought long and hard about it. Was he from a case home? Was he a former client? That's when she realized. Scott Newport, Dalton's nephew. She froze. He found her. Andy began to tense up. She couldn't breathe. Her heart was racing. How had he found them? She had to leave.

"Ava, are you okay? Do you know that man?" Rachel asked.

"No. Um- uh he just looks like someone I used to date in college," Andy lied. "Hey, uh do you mind if Sammy spends the night with Catherine tonight? I just remembered I have a dinner with a client."

"Yeah, sure. You sure you're all right?"

"Yes, just tell Samantha I'll pick her up in the morning." Andy said quickly collecting her things.

She walked out to her white Chevy Malibu. She fumbled for keys and her phone when she heard a gun cock from behind her. Scott. Andy turned around slowly. She felt faint. She was screwed. Without hesitation, Andy knocked the gun from his hand and kicked it under the car beside them. He pinned her against the side of her car. Andy struggled as she fought against him. His hands constricted around her neck until she could barely breathe. Andy put all her energy into her last attempt to break free. She threw a kick between his legs, and Scott fell to the ground in pain. Andy reached for her purse and her keys from the ground and jumped into her car and drove away.

Her mind was racing. How did he find her? She had no idea where to go or what to do. Her cover was blown. She was made. Without thought, she dialed the one number she knew by heart.

"Hello?"

author's note:

keep the the reviews coming! I would love to hear what y'all think. Of course if anyone has any suggestions or ideas, PM me! I'm all ears!

Also to clear things up...

AllMcSwarek Andy did not find out she was pregnant until after she had left. There was no way she could tell Sam without possibly endangering her life and the baby's.

R&R

-ELS