Hello again dear readers.
So out of all these short stories this one is my favorite. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The store was packed with mothers chasing after kids that were running here and there. The sounds of mothers scolding one child while trying to keep the other in the basket filled the air. Hannah sighed as she pushed the cart, Emma sitting calmly in the child seat. Ahead of her walked Sam carrying Noah with Ethan in the lead. They were shopping for the perfect outfit for Ethan to wear to school, and the six year old was taking it very seriously. He would stop look at something shake his head and move on. Suddenly Ethan stopped looked up and smiled brightly.
"That one Daddy. Is that one my size?"
Sam reached up and pulled down the shirt his son was pointing at. Looking at the size on the shirt, he nodded. "Yep, is this what you want?"
"Yes please." Ethan bounced. "It's the exact same color as one of yours."
Sam turned and showed the shirt to Hannah, who grinned. It was indeed an almost exact copy of one of Sam's favorite shirts. "Since we're here why don't we get a few more things?" Hannah said. "These two need some more clothes too."
"How about this one for Emma?" Ethan said holding up a boy's shirt that was red and pink plaid.
"Baby that's a boy's shirt." Hannah said.
"But it's pink." Ethan said. "Emma likes pink."
Sam took the shirt and looked at it. "It is the right size."
Hannah sighed. "Then Noah can wear it."
"But it's pink." Sam said scowling.
"Yeah and?" Hannah asked. "You have a shirt that's red white and pink."
"I have it when you're not wearing it to bed." Sam pointed out.
"How about this for Emma?" Hannah asked holding up a very ruffled covered dress.
"Oh that is so not happening." Sam said.
"And what is wrong with it?" Hannah asked. "Girls like ruffles."
"Not my daughter." Sam said taking the dress, and hanging it back up.
Hannah decided now was not the time to argue. "Fine. Why don't you take your sons over to the big boy area, and find you some jeans."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to do some big girl shopping." Hannah said turning the basket and walking away. She glanced behind her to see Sam and his boys heading in the opposite direction. Sighing she walked down the girl isle and pulled out a pretty purple dress with dark blue flowers. "You would like to wear this wouldn't you?"
Emma grabbed the dress and giggled. Hannah smiled. She held it a moment before hanging it back up.
"Uhm excuse me miss." An elderly man stood just a few steps away from her. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to eave drop."
Hannah smiled. "That's okay. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I was hoping to help you." The man stepped forward, a warm and kind smile on his face. "I couldn't help but hear what your husband said."
"About the dress?" Hannah asked, and the man nodded. "Oh that's nothing. We live on a pretty strict budget. We do a lot of hand me downs, and shop at thrift stores like this." For some reason Hannah didn't want this man to think that Sam was a bad father.
The man stepped closer to the basket and winked at Emma. Emma giggled and reached her hand out to him. He held out a finger and Emma grabbed it giggling even more. "Let me tell you a little something I know for a fact. Your husband is a wonderful Daddy. I mean look around. I've only seen him and one other young man here with their family."
Hannah laughed. "The other one is my brother-in-law."
The man nodded. "Sounds like you have a strong family." The man then got a far off look. "I married young, like you. Started a family right off. My wonderful wife gave me six strong boys. But when that seventh baby was handed to me and it was wrapped in pink, my world turned completely upside down. I love all my children the same, but that little girl got a little extra. She had six older brothers watching over her, and in my eyes she could do no wrong. Every time my wife came home with pink and frills and girlie things. I grumbled and argued and fumed. Not because I didn't want my little girl in them. I wanted to hide her, protect her from everything that might hurt her. In my mind dressing her in her brother's old clothes would keep her safe. But my wife knew better. She knew my little girl needed pinks and frills and dresses."
Hannah looked at her daughter who was wearing some of Ethan's old clothes. "Your wife sounds like a very smart woman."
"She was." The man said, a sad smile on his face. "And because of her, my daughter grew up to be a wonderful woman, with three little girls of her own." It was then, that Hannah saw the man had a basket full of stuff for little girls. "Your husband will fight you, and he should, but you should fight right back. For this little angel."
Hannah smiled. "I can tell your smart wife married an equally smart man."
The man smiled blushing slightly. He reached into his basket and picked up one of the dresses. Hannah was surprised to see, that it looked very much like the one she was wearing. "I think your little one will look better in this then my Hazel."
"Oh I couldn't."
"I haven't bought it yet." The man said putting it in Hannah's basket. "Let's just say that I changed my mind, and you decided to buy it."
Hannah smiled. "I guess I can't argue with that. Thank you."
The man smiled. "Just raise this little angel, to be just as sweet and smart as her momma." And with that the man walked away.
Hannah looked at the dress in the basket. "You know Emma I think it's about time for you to have some of your own clothes." Hannah pulled the purple dress back out and smiled when Emma held it close to her. After picking out a few more dresses Hannah also grabbed some pants with sparkles and a couple shirts that had princesses and unicorns on the front. She also got some more clothes for Noah and Ethan. Just as she was about to go in search of her husband and sons Hannah stopped and saw the pink and red plaid shirt. Smiling she grabbed it. Emma squealed taking it from her mother and holding it with the dress. "After all you are your father's daughter."
As she came around a corner Hannah almost ran into Kathy.
"Wow someone has been doing some major shopping." Kathy said looking into Hannah's basket.
"And where's your stuff?" Hannah asked noticing Kathy didn't have a basket, but she did have an arm full of clothes.
"I sent it toward the other side of the store." Kathy grumbled. "Don't get me wrong I love my boys. All three of them. But sometimes a girl just wants to shop."
Hannah laughed. "I so know what you mean."
"Look what I found." Kathy held up a brown leather jacket. "Isn't it cute? I know." Kathy's smile fell slightly. "It's too much money."
"You know what, no." Reaching out Hannah took the jacket and tossed it into the basket. "If they can spend money on guns, ammo, and trips to the bar, then we can buy a few things that make us feel good."
Kathy looked at her sister in shock for a moment before smiling and holding up a cute shear white shirt with a blue undershirt. "So does that mean you'll get this? Because it is so you."
"Momma." Emma said reaching for the shirt.
Laughing the two women continued to shop. Getting mostly practical things, but a few not so practical things. When they finally decided to search out their husbands and sons, the basket was almost full. Neither woman was very surprised to see some younger ladies, idly watching their husbands.
"How's it going over here?" Kathy asked looking around. "And where are the small additions of you two?"
Dean smiled pointing to one of the clothes racks. Kathy reached in and found a wiggling someone and tickled. Ethan let out a squeal and poked his head out. Followed by Noah, Logan and Kaden.
"No fair Aunty."
"We're ready to go whenever you two are." Hannah said.
"We can see that." Dean looked at the basket. "Did you leave any clothes for anyone else?"
"Maybe." Kathy answered. "Did you find pants that didn't have holes in them?"
Dean grinned and winked. "For now."
As the family headed toward the front Sam looked over at his daughter. "Hannah what's that Emma's holding?"
"A shirt." Hannah answered not looking at him.
"I see the shirt I'm asking about the other thing she's holding."
"What other thing?"
Sam grabbed the cart bringing it to a stop. "The purple thing with flowers."
Hannah took a deep breath before facing the man she loved. "Baby sooner or later you are going to have to come to grips with the fact that you have a daughter."
"I know I have a daughter."
Reaching up Hannah brushed a stray hair from Sam's face. Although she knew he was a walking killing machine, there were times he looked completely vulnerable. Smiling she stretched up and kissed him. "Little girls need frills. We need soft things, frilly things, things that help make us feel pretty."
"My girls are beyond pretty." Sam whispered.
"I trust you when it comes to family work." Hannah said softly. "Please trust me on this. Emma needs to be a girl."
Sam looked at Emma. Her green eyes mirroring her mothers. Sam leaned over and kissed his daughter. "You like that?"
Emma giggled holding the dress and shirt out to her father.
Sam sighed. "Fine, you win. I don't have to like it though."
"How about this." Hannah pulled Sam close putting his arm around her waist. "When she's a teenager and wants to start dating, I turn her over to you."
"Just as long as I can be armed."
"Of course."
Sam picked Emma up kissed her then placed her up onto his shoulders. Emma giggled laying her head over onto her father's.
Once everything was paid for the family headed out toward the van and Impala. Hannah smiled at the sight walking ahead of her. Sam still had Emma on his shoulders, he was carrying Noah, and Ethan had his finger hooked in one of Sam's belt loops. Sure Sam was a hunter. He was strong and smart and brave. He also was one of the best father's in the world, and Hannah couldn't be happier.