CH 75

The next day after finishing class at the academy Sam asked her driver to take her to the florist shop after Sam told her about friends of Jack just had their babies, so she did.

Sam got both mothers thirty dollars worth of flowers each and helium balloons saying 'It's a boy' and 'it's a girl' on them and a message to the families and whom they were from. Once paid for, Sam left with a smile on her face.

The next afternoon when Sam walked into her room, she smiles when she sees Jack lying on the bed waiting for her. After she put her bag down she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed and bent over and gave him a kiss.

"When did you get here?"

"Ten minutes ago, how was class?"

"Good, how was work?"

"Good but I might be going away a lot" Sam was leaning against him while he plays with her long hair

"Why what up?"

"Thing are heating up over at Iran"

"That doesn't sound good"

"No, it not"

"Well I hope it nothing"

"Same here, so ready to get out of here"

"Sure, just let me sort out my books then we can go"

"Ok" she gives him a kiss before standing up.

Jack watched her sort out her books then she picked up her bags just as Jack got up from the bed and Sampassed a couple of them to him, then they left her room. They had a quiet weekend, Sam didn't have any practice that weekend so she, Jack, Mark and Ann spent the day shopping and playing tin pin bowling and other games for the afternoon.

The next day Sam was in the office all day studying while the others talked and played. That night the phone rang while they were all having dinner, so Jack went to answer it just in case he was called away for a mission.

Sam talked to Mark and Ann about the upcoming engagement party that they were planning on having over Easter weekend cause of the holidays. When Jack returned they all look at him

"Is everything alright?" Sam asked

"Yeah that was Tom and Gary on the phone they called and thank us for the flowers, Bridget and Mary Ann were shock when they saw them"

"I bet, how are the kids?"

"Good, they will be going home tomorrow"

"That good to know"

"It is, and Gail been asking about me wondering if I keep in contact with them"

"What did they say?"

"They said they do and they not giving out any information, which she not happy about"

"I bet" They talk about other things for the rest of the evening. After Mark and Ann left, Jack and Sam went to bed since they were going to be up early in the morning.

Month later it was the Easter holidays, Mark and Ann were staying at Jack and Sam place for the holidays. Their family and friends were staying at the hotels in Colorado Springs.

Mark and Ann were having their engagement party at the academy hotel since that is where the families are book there and another hotel close by.

When Mark connected his parents about the party, it was his mother who answered the phone.

"Hello"

"Hi mum it Mark"

"Hi Mark, how are you?"

"I'm good, I'm calling to let you know when the engagement party is"

"When is it?"

"Over Easter, we having it here in Colorado springs"

"Oh I'll talk to Jacob and see what he says"

"Mum I know what he will say"

"Mark don't be like that"

"Like what I know that he will make up some excuse for not coming. Ann is looking ford to meeting you both"

"I know you know I can't make any promises"

"I know if you do come it going to be at the academy hotel at six on Saturday night, I hope that you both will come, if not…"

"Not what?"

"Then what sort of parents are you, I better go I hope you both will come, bye mum" then he hung up knowing all he can do is wait and see if they do show up.

On Saturday night Mark, Ann, Jack and Sam were at the hotel early. Sam was wearing a blue mini skirt and silk blouse and shoes. She was wearing makeup and her hair was done up since both her and Ann went to the Beauty parlour and spent the day getting pampered.

Jack was wearing black pants navy blue top and his black leather jacket.

They walk into the room where the party was being held and look around the room then they walk over to where the bar is and got themselves a drink while waiting for the others to show up.

Few minutes later their first guest showed up so Mark and Ann greeted them and introduced Jack and Sam to them. Theytalked for a couple of minutes before more showed up.

It was just after six when everyone found a table and sat down. Ann was looking around for Mark, when she couldn't see him she walk over to Sam and Jack

"Sam have you seen Mark"

"No is everything ok?"

"No you mum and dad didn't show" Sam nodded knowing that they wouldn't come and how it is hurting Mark

"I think I'll know where he will be, I'll look for him"

"Thanks" Sam passed her drink to Jack before walking out of the room, and walked down to where the indoor garden is. When she found him, she walk over to him

"Hey" he turned and looked at her

"Sam were you looking for me?"

"Ann was, she ask if I seen you, and I know what you are like" she sat down next to him

"I should of known that they wouldn't come"

"I know but at least we got our other families who is here"

"I know but it not the same"

"I know" she held of to his hand

"At lest we got each other and you got Ann and I got Jack"

"Yeah, that true" sam stood up still holding his hand

"Come on don't let mum and dad spoil your engagement party"

"Thanks Sam"

"That is what little sister are for, come on big brother let go and have fun"

He smiled and stood up and they put their arms around each other as they walked back to the hall. When they walk in everyone was talking to one another, Sam look at Mark

"Go on, everyone is hungry I know I am" he smile

"Ok Sam" they both hug and walk over to the main table. Sam sat next to jack and he lean over

"Everything ok?"

"In time" he nodded then Mark got every one's attention, just as Ann stood up next to him.

They both thank everyone for showing and wish them all a good time and that dinner was ready. So people started getting up and walking over to where the food was.

Over the next four hours everyone enjoyed themselves, eating, drinking, dancing, having a wonderful time. Jack, Sam, Mark and Ann finally walk into the house just after twelve. They were all tired so they said their good nights to each other before going to their own rooms for the night.

The next day Ann's parents showed up to Jack's place for lunch. The six of them talk for the rest of the afternoon. Sam was showing Ann's parents around the house. When she shows them her room

"This is my room" she open the door and walk in with them behind her

"Nice room, Sam what doesyour parents think of you living here on weekends?"

"I haven't spoken to them in almost three years"

"Oh why is that?"

"With dad he doesn't want me to join the airforce after I told him my dreams, with mum well to me I'm a worker, not a daughter"

"Oh"

They look around and they walk over when they see Sam metals in a wooden case with a glass front and two photos just above it. They were shocked when they saw what metal they were and who was in the photos. The turn and look at Sam

"You must be some hero"

"Na, I just happen to be at the right place at the right time so to speak" she said smiling

They looked around and saw more photos, one was at her high school graduation and seven was for winning her martial arts competition in the last two years just from Colorado alone. When they saw other awards on the wall and photos, it gave them an idea that Sam is. When they turn and look at her.

"Sam you are gifted, talented amazing young lady"

"Thanks" Then they walk out of Sam room, and then she shows them Jack room

"Wow now this is what i call a master bedroom" Mrs Cole said

"I know, have a look outside the French doors" they walk over to the French doors to see the garage roof with Jack telescope on it

"What part of the house are we at?" She asked

"Outside there is the garage" Sam stepsforward and opens the doors and walks out onto the roof. They follow her outside and look around

"Wow it beautiful here" when they saw Pikes Peak

"Yes it is" Then they saw the backyard, every thing

"Jack sure got a beautiful home"

"Thanks, I help him look for a house just after I move to Denver since he only had a one bedroom apartment. So we went looking at houses when we heard about this one being open up for tenders, so we came and check it out and fell in love with it and he brought it"

"That must of cost a lot of money"

"Well Jack was saving up for a house and this house didn't have a concretedriveway, a garage, trees around the house, a garden, barbecue area and a swimming pool"

"Ok sounds like he spent a lot of money on this place"

"Yes he did and he is happy"

They look around one last time then they walk back in side and back down stairs after Sam close the doors. They found the others in the games room playing. They all talked for the next two hours before it was time for them to leave since they were catching a plane back to New York.

Mark and Ann took her parents to the airport then they were heading back to the academy. After they left Jack and Sam walked into the kitchen to get a drink.

"Well that went well" Sam smile

"Yes it did, so what are you going to do now?"

"This" he pulled Sam towards him and he gave her a kiss. When they pulled apart Sam was smiling

"What are you going to do now besides holding me in your arms?"

"Go and see Andy, he called while you were showing the Cole up stairs, he got some information for me"

"Ok, while your away, I'm going to do some study"

"Ok" they both kisses before Jack left to go and see Andy.

Sam walked down to the office and she started on her homework for the next few hours.

Three hours later Jack walk in side and could smell something cooking, she he walk into the kitchen to see Sam cooking up some dinner, she smile when she saw him

"Hey how did it go?"

"Ok, dinner smell great"

"Thanks, so what did manage to find out about Joanne?"

"A lot, she from a broken home, got seven brothers and sisters, high school drop out and she got a record for drink driving, position of drugs and assault"

"Ok, anything else?"

"Nope but her boyfriend well he was in prison for five assaults, drug processions, car threats when he was thirteen. Been in and out of Foster homes, his mother was a drug addict and a prostrate and father unknown and a high school drop out and he the same age as her"

"Sounds like they both have had a hard life"

"Yeah"

"what about Joanne's family?"

"She the baby of the family, her parents divorce when she was a year old, her father left them for a younger women who was also his mistress and a millionaire, they been married for five years got two kids, he died in a car accident"

"Wow, what about her mother?"

"Nurse, she died two years ago from breast cancer, as for the brothers and sisters, clean record they all graduated from high school and university, married with kids of their own"

"Ok so Joanne mum never married again?"

"Nope"

"Ok anything else?"

"Yeah Joanne boy friend is a suspect in a murder investigation of a known drug dealer, other that that, that it"

"Ok and the marriage?" jack smile

"The friend of dad's is an old war buddy whom dad save his life while in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, they both serve together and dad was best man at his wedding"

"Ok so what does he do these days?"

"Retired and a billionaire himself. Him and dad were partners in business in LA, then they sold their business ten years ago for eight billion dollars"

"Wow, what was the business?"

"Build homes for the rich and famous, they started on that since they both got degrees in building and designing. They started with designing at the end of the Korean War, for three years then they brought a carpenter business and within two years they got two hundred workers and word spread around. Then they set up shop in Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francesco, Washington, Florida, Texas, and places like that. Then they were called in to do their tour of nam. When they return and found out that over the next few years while the war was going on their workers were sent over there, but Dad promise when they return that their jobs will still be there for them"

"That was good of him"

"It was… twenty were MIA, fifteen died, thirty came back with lost limbs, five ended up in a wheelchair. But he keeps his promise. Then one day they decided to sell their business and settle down since his friend Jeff became a grand father and he wanted to spend more time with his family, so they sold it, they do keep in contact with each other"

"Ok so Jeff help your dad with the marriage set up"

"Yep after dad ask him if he could find out any thing about her before they got married, you see one of his son is in the FBI and another son is Las vegas detective, so they were able to find out a few thing and pass it on"

"Ok so how did Andy find out all of this?" jack smile

"Well I just found out that Andy uncle is none other than Jeff" Sam was shock

"You're joking?"

"Nope, when Andy called up his cousin for some information and found out that someone else was also looking for that same thing. When Andy asked who it was and his cousin said dad name, well everything click into place so Andy told him who I am and who my father is, well it sure was a shocker"

"I bet"

By that time Sam had dinner and they were sitting at the dining room table. They talked some more while having dinner then afterwards, Jack did the dishes while Sam returned back to the office for the next three hours before Jack went to check on her, then they both went to bed since it was a long day for them both.

The next day, Jack had to work so Sam did some spring-cleaning and finished her homework.