Hey guys!

So, i promise it will get a bit more interesting.

You meet her dad in this one.

And Vick makes an important decision.

Chapter 12

And How They Loved

Part VII

Victor

We stayed at a hotel that night and drove to Sidney, Nebraska.

It took about two hours so we had loads of time to talk.

"Peas or chocolate?" She asked.

"Peas." I joked.

"Get out of my car!" She yelled and I peeked through the window to see a busy motorway road.

"Let me think about that."

She laughed. "Ok, Europe or Africa?"

"Africa."

She winced. "Ooh, I always felt I've been there too much. I know I haven't, but Afghanistan feels the same climate wise. I want to go to Rome and Paris and Berlin and Florence and The Vatican."

I shrugged. "We can do all of that. We have a lot of time and my boss said that if this goes well I get a promotion. That means a lot of cash coming in."

"Really?!"

I nodded, pleased at her excited response. "Yup."

She squealed and nearly killed us both by kissing my cheek quickly while driving."

"Marian! Look at the bloody road!"

She groaned. "Ah, road shmoad. I have more important things to worry about. My baby's getting a promotion."

I laughed. "Not yet sweetheart. I have to catch Lucky first."

She snorted. "Piece of cake. You got me now."

Again I laughed.

"Hey Vick." She said and I turned to look at her.

"What?"

She grinned. "Justin Bieber or One Direction?"

…

"Here we are!" Marian said as we pulled up outside a small white house. It had a picket fence and yellow flowers in the window.

"Really?" I asked.

She put her hands on her hips. "Oh yes really!"

I breathed deeply. I was about to meet my soulfinder's dad.

Oh shit.

"Hey, he'll love you." She kissed me.

"Hm." I said, unconvinced.

She pulled back and raised an eyebrow. "What did I say Benedict?"

"He's gonna love me." I said, still not convinced.

Marian waved a finger in my face. "Say it!"

"He's gonna love me." I said so she could hear.

"Louder!" She shouted.

"He's gonna love me!" I shouted back and she kissed me.

It was worth the embarrassment.

…..

"Marian? Is that you baby?" A greying man opened the door and squinted out at us through some grimy glasses.

"Yep, it's me Daddy." Marian leaned in and kissed his cheek.

He laughed loudly and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh, thank god. You know, I get greyer every day thanks to you and this stupid fighting. Why can't you learn to sew and cook and be a housewife so I can keep an eye on you?"

She laughed. "Daddy, you've seen me try and sew. I think I can do more damage with a needle and thread in than five years out in Afghanistan."

She pulled me forwards. "Daddy, I want you to meet Victor."

Mr Turner pulled back and scrutinised me. I felt like I was back on my first day of training.

"Boyfriend?"

I shook my head. "Soulfinder."

There was silence. Marina started shifting around.

Mr Turner started to smile.

And he didn't stop.

"Thank God. Oh, my darling boy, come in. You can call me Tom."

He pulled us into a small, clean sitting room and pushed us down onto the sofa.

A massive golden retriever bounded up and jumped on us.

"Mara!" Marina squealed and hugged it.

"Marian! Don't kill the dog!" Tom's voice shouted from the small kitchen.

"You've been saying that for the last 20 years!" She shouted back.

"Doesn't stop you though does it?" He replied.

He came through with three steaming mugs of what smelt like coffee.

"Ooh yay! Am I old enough for it now?" Marian clapped her hands.

He grumbled. "No, you will never be old enough for coffee. It's a grownups drink, you're still five. But it's a special occasion."

I laughed and he looked at me approvingly.

"So, Dad. How is everyone?" Marian asked and cupped her hands around her mug.

Tom froze.

Then jumped up and grabbed the phone.

"Matt, its Tom. Guess what, Marian's back! Yep, you gotta get over here. And bring Paul, and Gladys and Seb and Bob. And cake and cheese and apple pie and sausages. What? You've got the Henderson's round? Bring them too! Ring up everyone and bring them over! My baby's back from Afghanistan!"

He slammed the phone down and sagged back into his chair.

"Well brace yourselves." He said to me. "You're about to meet a lot of people."

Marian laughed. "Another party Dad?"

He snorted. "What? No. This, my darling, is another party."

Marian sighed and leant back into me. "This is gonna be fun."

….

It was.

Really fun.

I met all the people that had been a part of Marian's childhood. Matt and his wife Gladys had helped Tom bring Marian and Amy up when he needed to work.

The Henderson's had been their school gate friends and their son had beaten up the guy who was bullying Amy once.

Bob had found Marian trespassing on his land once when she was five and had caught her stealing blackberries from the bushes by the fence. So, he built her a small gate of her own and she returned the favour by baking him a blackberry and apple pie every other Sunday.

"Some party hey?" Tom asked when Bob tossed Marian over his shoulder and sang the national anthem.

I laughed. "It's really nice, you know some great people Tom."

He smiled and watched his little girl hit Bob's back. "Now, Vick. I can't say I know much about Soulfinders. I'm not a Savant myself but my wife Katherine was and she left before she could teach the girls anything. There will be some things Marian doesn't know, because I don't know them. You will end up surprising her every day with how amazing it is. Be careful with her."

I looked at him and saw trust in his eyes. "I will Sir."

He held out a hand and I shook it.

"Now," He said. "Let's join the party."

I know, awesome dad.

See ya soon!

Maybe tomorrow.

xx