Chapter 21
"Okay, you guys all set?" Tom asked as his two kids walked down the stairs.
"I think so" Sam said with a huff, as he dropped his duffel bag by the front door. "Where's Sasha?"
"She was called into a last minute meeting. She'll be here soon." Tom said, while checking to make sure they had everything. "Actually, it's kind of a good thing" he said lowering his voice, although he wasn't entirely sure why. "I wanted to run something by you two"
Sam and Ashley looked at each other then back at their father "are we in trouble?" Ashley asked.
Tom carefully watched his kids, a small smirk on his face "have you done something, to be in trouble for?"
Again, Sam and Ashley looked at each other then shook their heads "no" they both answered.
"Good" Tom smiled. "And no, you are not in trouble. I um...well, I" he sighed, trying to find the words. He was certainly going to have to do better then this in a few days "Sasha and I have been dating for over, half a year now. And she's moved in...obviously. And we are all very happy. I think. You guys are happy, right?" As he started to ramble.
Sam, looked at his dad confused, while Ashley giggled a little "are you going to ask her to marry you, or not?"
Tom laughed a little and let out a sigh, as he nodded "that's the plan, yes"
"Is that why we're going to grandpa's cabin for the weekend?" Sam asked.
"Not originally. We've both been so busy at work the last couple months, we thought it was important to get away. Just the four of us. Spend some time together" Tom said as the three of them loaded bags into the back of his truck "I've been wanting to ask her for a while, but there never seemed to be the right time. I thought this would be just about perfect"
"I think it's a great idea, Dad" Ashley smiled, hugging her father "Can we see the ring?"
"Yeah, of course" he said reaching into his bag "but you both have to promise not to say anything. I want it to be surprise, Okay?"
"We promise" Ashley nodded, impatiently waiting for her father to open the small black box in his hand. "Wow, it's really beautiful Dad"
"Yeah" Sam added "I think she'll like it"
"I think so, too" Tom smiled, snapping the box closed again before tucking it away, back in his bag. "You guys are on onboard with this then?" He asked, looking between his two kids.
Ashley smiled as did Sam, and both nodded in agreement "we definitely are" Sam said.
"But I think you need to work on your speech a little" Ashley smirked "you were really nervous just talking to us"
Tom scoffed, as he saw Sasha's, car heading down the street. "I'll take that under advisement" he mumbled "now remember. Not a word" he said as she pulled into the driveway.
Ashley and Sam laughed as Sasha stepped out of the car "what are you two laughing about?" She asked as they both greeted her with a hug.
"Something dad said" Ashley smirked.
"And what did he say?" Sasha smiled, giving them both a kiss on the top of their heads.
"Can't tell you" Sam said as he and his sister pulled away and jumped into their fathers truck.
"I see" she said as Tom walked up to her "I think the three of you are up to, no good" she smiled, as Tom, wrapped his arms around her back.
"Usually are" he smiled, giving her a kiss. "Hello, by the way. How was your meeting?"
Sasha sighed, returning the kiss "awful. I'll tell you about it later" she mumbled, giving him a hug.
"Okay" he said placing a kiss on her neck, before pulling away "go get changed. I've already loaded your bags. So we're ready to go"
"I'll be down in 5" she smiled, squeezing his hand before going into the house.
The sun was just setting when the foursome walked into the old cabin. "Maybe I should have come up a couple days ago and cleaned" Tom coughed, opening up a few windows.
Sasha laughed a little as Sam and Ashley ran up to their room, that had bunk beds in it. "We can worry about that tomorrow" she said looking around the main floor "I can see why your dad would have liked it up here" Sasha smiled, opening the doors to the porch out back.
Tom smiled, and followed her out "when he retired, he spent most of his time up here. Always brought the kids up here for a week, during summer vacation. Darien and I, basically had to take them home, kicking and screaming"
Sasha raised her eyebrow "your dad. A doting grandfather?"
"I know" Tom laughed "I could barely believe it myself. But from the second Ashley, was born, he was a completely different man. I was too, I suppose, but he softened up. Spoiled them even"
"I always knew he was a giant teddy bear, underneath" Sasha smiled as she wrapped an arm around Tom's, waist.
"Easy for you to say. He loved you. I swear, he was more devastated when we broke up, then I was" he smirked, placing a kiss on her forehead as they looked out over the valley of trees.
"I'm a loveable person" Sasha smiled "I do wish he was still here though. I would have loved the chance to see him again"
"He would have too" Tom said softly "and you are very loveable" he mumbled, reaching down to kiss her, only to be interrupted by shouts from upstairs. Tom sighed, closing his eyes "fighting over the top bunk"
Sasha laughed, and gave him a quick kiss "go. I'll start unpacking the food. Kids still want hot dogs on the campfire for supper?"
"If they haven't killed each other" he said as a thump could be heard on the floor above them "once I've straightened them out, I'll get a fire going outside" Tom said as he hurried upstairs.
"Alright" Sasha chuckled, shaking her head as she went out to the truck to grab a few bags.
"Here you go" Sam beamed as he handed Sasha one of his hand crafted s'mores. "Dad couldn't find any marshmallows, but we found lots of chocolate and peanut butter"
"I can see that" Sasha laughed, as both ingredients oozed out, between the two crackers "it looks delicious. Thanks kiddo" she smiled, taking a bite "and it tastes heavenly"
"They were better with marshmallows" he smiled, sitting down on her lap as they all sat around a large campfire.
"Mmmm" Sasha mumbled, licking her fingers "but you can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter"
"As I recall, you used to live off of it" Tom chimed in, from across the fire.
Sasha pursed her lips, catching his eyes "says the man that couldn't even make scrambled eggs"
"You couldn't make eggs!" Ashley laughed, sitting down next to her dad.
"That's slightly exaggerated" Tom scoffed.
"Ah no. It's not" Sasha smiled, leaning back in her chair, as Sam leaned against her. "Your father actually put me in the hospital, with his cooking. Food poisoning. 24 hours in the ER"
"That was not from me" Tom defended "it was from that awful little donair shop down by the waterfront. The one you insisted on eating at"
"From the eggs" she whispered in Sam's ear, causing him to giggle.
Tom shook his head, smiling. "Probably because your stomach was shocked to eat something other then peanut butter, crackers and Mac and cheese"
"Possibly" Sasha agreed, with a smile. "But I was on a budget. And those three things were cheap"
"Didn't your parents buy you groceries?" Sam asked, as if the thought was unfathomable.
"No, not exactly" Sasha said laughing a little. "I left my Ivy League college to join the academy. Let's just say, my farther was not impressed. He threatened to cut me off, financially, if I didn't go back"
"So why didn't you?"
"I was rebelling" she answered honestly "and I couldn't stand the thought of being around those people for the next 50 or 60 years of my life. So, I left college. I had excellent grades, and spoke 6 languages at the time, so the Navy had no issues recruiting me. Then all of a sudden I was on my own. Just crackers, peanut butter, Mac and cheese, and myself"
"And dad" Ashley smiled.
Both Tom and Sasha laughed a little as they looked at each other across the flames "that came a little later, but yes, your dad too"
"I think I'd stay at home with the free groceries" Sam yawned.
"That's because you think with your stomach" Tom smiled "and I think it's time you two headed up to bed"
"Daaaaad" Ashley sighed, throwing her head back.
"I'm glad you know my name" he said kissing the top of her head "come on. We have a long day tomorrow if we are hiking to the lake, for a swim..." Tom smiled "which we can't do if you are, too tired to walk"
"Fine" she sighed giving in. "Night dad" Ashley said giving him a hug
"Goodnight Ash. I love you" he said hugging her tightly.
"Think you can keep your eyes open long enough to make it to bed?" Sasha smiled, brushing Sam's hair back with her hand.
Sam shook his head "you better carry me"
"Ha!" Sasha laughed, shuffling him off her lap "youre a funny kid" she smiled wrapping the blanket they had been using around him "ill see you in the morning"
"Night" he smiled, before going over to give his dad a hug, then both he and his sister walked into the house and up to bed.
"You never did tell me who ended up with the top bunk" Sasha smiled, grabbing two beers out of the cooler.
"Sam" he said sitting down with his back against a bench "I flipped a coin. He chose heads, and that's what it landed on. Not one of my finer parenting moments"
"They seem to have forgotten all about it" she said handing him a bottle as she sat down between his legs with her back against his chest.
"I told you. They love it up here" he smiled, taking a drink before setting his bottle down and draping a blanket over him and Sasha.
"I can see why. It's beautiful. Peaceful. Quiet. No noise pollution, no light pollution. Though that's not exactly like it used to be. Still, it's a nice change of pace" she sighed, settling her head against Tom's shoulder.
"It is" he nodded, placing a kiss on Sasha's temple, wrapping his arms around her "so. You want to tell me about that meeting now?"
"Not really" she sighed, slightly frustrated at the thought. "I have to go to the Middle East for the better part of a month" she mumbled, taking a drink.
"A month" Tom said, shocked to say the least. A dozen thoughts running through his head. He wasn't always privy to the intricacies of her work. Though he knew, if he asked, she'd tell. He didn't like putting her in that position though. And sometimes, he thought it was easier not to know everything.
Sasha nodded, staring at the flames "they wanted three or four months. I said one month. Tops"
"I can't imagine that was a popular demand"
Sasha snorted a little and shook her head "I said I'd be happy to go make boat loads of money in the private sector, where I could make my own hours. That's where the meeting ended"
Tom smiled "as much as I hate the idea of you leaving for that long, in that part of the world, I know that you are the best person for the job" he whispered, squeezing her gently.
Sasha took his hands and unraveled his arms, just enough to turn around and sit in Tom's lap, facing him "I would have walked out" she mumbled, holding his gaze.
Tom was surprised by her admission. He had never known the woman sitting in front of him to quit anything. For any reason "left the navy?"
She nodded, looking down "I'm done with being away, more then I'm home. I love my job, and I don't mind leaving for a couple weeks here and there, but as far as long term "deployments" go, I'm done with that. And if senior command can't get on board, then they'll have to find someone else"
"I love you" he smiled, placing his palms on either side of Sasha's, cheeks. The perfect moment. Just the two of them, romantic setting, Everything was perfect except for one little thing. As Tom thought about everything he was about to say, one tiny little thought crossed his mind. *the ring*. He left it in his bag, which was still unceremoniously tossed to the side at the front door. Tom was kicking himself, for not being prepared. For letting this perfect moment pass by.
Sasha smiled a little as she searched his eyes. She had the impression he had something else to add, but when he stayed silent, she simply moved forward, placing a tender kiss on Tom's lips. "I love you too" she whispered, her lips still against his, as she trailed her fingers down his chest, slipping them under the hem of Tom's shirt.
Tom let out a soft moan as his hands grabbed her hips, pulling Sasha closer as he kissed her. When they separated to catch their breaths, Tom opened his eyes and smiled "let's go to bed"
"No" Sasha whispered, shaking her head as she slowly lifted his shirt up his torso.
"You're undressing me, but saying no" he smiled, lifting his arms to accommodate her demands.
"No" she said again. This time a smirk, spread across her lips "I said no, to going to bed" she whispered In his ear, after tossing Tom's shirt to the side "I'm perfectly happy, right here"
Tom smiled, grabbing ahold of Sasha, as he rolled over and pinned her beneath him. The missed opportunity, was definitely not going to put a damper on their evening.