Classifacation: SBR slightly
Rated: G
Authors note: Thank Enni for getting me back in the mood. Enjoy your vacation. It is well deserved. :-)
Sam pulled the book out of the bag and set it down on the desk as she gathered up the supplies to wrap it.
She picked it up again and stared down at it for a bit.
"Hi!"
She glanced up to find Bailey at the door. "Hey."
"Shouldn't you be leaving, the party starts at seven doesn't it?" He said with a look of concern on his face.
Sam bit her lip for a moment and then plopped down into her chair. "Did you ever get the feeling you are about to make a huge mistake but your heart tells you to do it anyway?"
Bailey laughed bitterly, "Yeah, the day I married Janet. What's bothering you?"
Sam grimaced slightly. "Nothing quite that serious, I hope. Its just that, well, I wanted to get something special for Chloe this year. She has had a rough time with the custody case and all. I just wanted something that will connect her with Tom a little. I want her to know how much he loved her."
"And?"
"Well, he told me once, that for his ninth birthday, his grandfather gave him a book that he loved very much. The Chronicles Of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. He saved that book for years and told me that he still had it when we got married."
"Is that the book?" Bailey asked, pointing to the desk.
"Yeah, last week, when I took the day off, I flew to Virginia and got it. It took quite a bit of talking and some begging but I got Charles to let me go through Tom's stuff, as long as this is the only thing I took with me."
Bailey looked very sad for a moment. "That must have been very hard for you."
Sam smiled sadly. "It was for Chloe, Bail."
"Still..."
"Anyway, I thought I would wrap it up and give it to her for her ninth birthday tonight at the party. But honestly, now that I have it, I'm not sure that is the best idea. I don't want to make her sad."
"Sam, you went through a lot to get that book. You could have bought one and just told her the story, but you faced your in-laws and you got her the one that would mean more than anything else. I think she is smart enough to know that it was fought for and given with pure love. And I think she will love to have something that belonged to Tom. It is really very unselfish of you. It can't be easy to give her something that you yourself would love to keep."
"You're sure?" Sam said, a little less doubtful.
"Listen to your heart, Sam. It doesn't usually steer you wrong."
Sam picked up the book and carefully wrapped it as Bailey looked on. When she was done, she picked up her purse and moved around the desk. "You're coming to the party aren't you, Bail?"
Bailey stood up and put his hand on the small of her back. "Lead on my lady, we have yon party to attend." He said in a fake English accent.
Sam giggled. Leaning up to kiss his cheek she imitated him. "Thank you my lord."
Bailey laughed loudly, "Oh that was a terrible accent."
Sam flipped the light switch on the way out the door. "Not any
worse than your own, you critic.